A Season of Growth

Pawsperity graduate creates a brighter path for her daughter

BY REBECCA SMITH

April Utter is handing down her passion for animals to her daughter.

“A pril” signifies the end of winter, the promise of flowers and anticipated outdoor pleasures, the beginning of bright skies and warm breezes.

For most of her life, April Utter must have thought she was misnamed. Her life was anything but spring-like.

Her father, who died when she was a baby, was practically unknown to her. Her mother, an abusive, alcoholic addict, was all too known. April, her older sister and younger brother were shuttled between an aunt and among various family groups for years.

The one element she remembers bringing her happiness was her pets, which included dogs, turtles, a rabbit, two parrots, a guinea pig and many fish. She loved taking care of animals and fantasized about growing up and becoming a veterinarian.

That plan seemed to be a dead end as she found herself, as a young woman, reliving the bad parts of her earlier life. Her partner was, like her mother, abusive and addicted to drugs and alcohol.

When her daughter was three weeks old, April first heard about Pawsperity from a representative of Headstart, who knew of April’s love of dogs. April was handed a brochure and the possibility of dog grooming (an entirely new idea to her) immediately grabbed her interest. April pursued the opportunity and was interviewed.

Waiting anxiously for acceptance, she worked at Save a Lot for four months, her mind always turned toward the arrival of that magic confirmation letter. She met with “two lovely ladies” at the center and soon was scheduled to shadow a fellow student. Not even the grooming instructor’s description of expressing anal glands as part of the groomer’s task list that first week could dampen April’s burgeoning spirits. Completing the course was, she knew from the start, her best bet at being “the best mother to my daughter.”

Besides offering professional training to improve her career life, Pawsperity was instrumental in removing her abusive partner from her apartment by building her self-esteem. The whole experience was transformational for her and her family of two and more than she could have expected. April’s future finally matches the rejuvenation and growth associated with her name. Her daughter has what she needs and wants; she’s enjoyed pre-school and will soon start kindergarten. She’s had “the best holidays, birthdays” and she delights in watching “Baby Shark and Peppa Pig.”

What April is handing down to her daughter is not the instability and uncertainty of her own childhood but rather the happiest part – a passion for animals. Unlike for April, this exists as just one part of a life filled with love, comfort, support and real hope for the future.

Besides offering professional training to improve her career life, Pawsperity was instrumental in removing her abusive partner from her apartment by building her self-esteem.