There’s Something Happening Here

You may know him by his on-air name David Lee, but David Hamblin has returned to the Valley in a new capacity - as a dog trainer. Hamblin began his career in radio as David Lee in the mid-seventies and worked locally at both K92 and Star Country in recent years, before making the move to North Carolina temporarily to earn a Master Dog Trainer certification. Lee said his life-long love of dogs, and a desire to improve their lives were his main drivers.

“Because I had the luxury of having a microphone [in radio] I started working with local rescues [shelters]. As the years went along, I kept feeling the need to do something bigger. I wanted to make the relationship between people and their dogs so much better.” Many dogs who wind up in shelters are there because they were not properly trained early on.

Hamblin offers classes ranging from basic puppy training to behavior modification. See the Highland K9 Training Roanoke, website or Facebook for more details. Hamblin says his wife's encouragement gave him the motivation to chase his dream of improving the lives of dogs and their people - even in his ‘60s : “my wife always said to me its never too late to be who you might have been. I could have very easily said I’m too old to do this, its too much for me to keep up with. But why NOT do it? What’s stopping me? What do I have to lose?

After six months of intense training in North Carolina, Hamblin began his new career as a contractor with Highland K9 Training. Not long after that though, he began taking clients back in Roanoke. Now, Hamblin says he's bringing it all full circle: “I’m going to be in Roanoke now permanently. Right around Christmas time my gift to myself is to be back home.” What’s on your agenda this year? Something you’d like to do before the clock runs out. A post-retirement second career perhaps. David Hamblin took the plunge.

By Gene Marrano

What’s on your to-do list for 2023 – a late career change perhaps that follows your passion?