HER STORY

Leslie Horton is the founder and owner of Most Fine Canine, Inc. (formerly known as One Fine Canine, Inc.) Most Fine Canine Inc. has been training dogs and their handlers since March 2000. Leslie is a 2000 graduate of National K-9 School of Dog Trainers. She is Pet Partner Team Member with two dogs and is a Pet Partner Evaluator. She holds certifications as a Certified Dog Trainer, Certified Dog Trainer Advanced, Professional Dog Trainer Instructor, and Certified Service Dog Trainer.

Leslie is a final placement trainer for service dogs for children and adults with neurological and mobility disabilities, including, but not limited to, multiple sclerosis, degenerative arthritis, autism, deafness, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries.  She is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP). She received the 2014 IACP Member of the Year Award and was inducted into the IACP Hall of Fame in 2015.

Leslie started the Animal Assisted Care (AAC) Program on the Inova Fairfax Hospital Campus in 2001.  The Inova Fairfax Hospital Campus includes four acute care hospitals and has an 800-bed capacity. She is not the AAC Coordinator for all five Inova hospitals. As the coordinator of the AAC Program, Leslie oversees the handler/canine teams and built an animal assisted care program that is internationally recognized as a leader in animal-assisted therapy.  She and her first canine Pet Partner, Chug, were recipients of the Delta Society 2005 Beyond Limits Award for Outstanding AAT Professionals. 

Leslie and her dogs have been featured in the Washington Post, the Washington Times, US News and World Report, Fox 5 News, WUSA Channel 7 News, and Reuters News. She was a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation Regulation/Negotiation Workgroup looking as service dogs and ESAs on airlines and the Airline Access Carriers Act. She has been a speaker at multiple conferences regarding the laws and training of service dogs. She is a certified American with Disabilities Act Coordinator, Title II and Title III.

Leslie is a registered nurse with over 20 years experience in critical care nursing.  She graduated with a Diploma RN from the Ohio Valley Hospital School of Nursing, Steubenville, OH; a B.S. in Business Administration from West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV; and a Masters in Business Administration from Hood College, Frederick, MD.

Leslie is committed to helping animals and their handlers to respect each other and to exist in a peaceful manner. Leslie loves all types of animals and currently owns two birds, a bunny and three dogs. One of her dogs, a German Shepherd, a mobility service animal, assists her with her own neurological disability. She also has a Chihuahua and a miniature Dachshund.

FULL CREDENTIALS LIST:

• Successfully training pets and service dogs for over 20+ years.

• American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen Evaluator #444.

• Animal Assisted Care Coordinator at Inova Fairfax Medical Campus (IFMC).

• Participant in research studies through IFMC Trauma Services in safety and efficacy of therapy dogs in acute care settings.

• Pet Partner (formerly known as Delta Society) Therapy Team Member and Evaluator since 2001.

• Delta Society Beyond Limits Outstanding AAT Professional 2005.

• Active member of the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) #1112.

• Certified Canine Athlete Specialist,

• Certified Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, Title II and Title III.

• Founder of the IACP Service Dog Committee.

• Founder of the IACP Therapy Dog Committee.

• 2014 IACP Member of the Year.

• 2015 Inductee into the IACP Hall of Fame.

• Graduate of National K9 School for Dog Trainers 2000.

• Speaker at Professional Conferences regarding the Implementation and Safety of Therapy Dogs and in the Training and Access of Service Dogs.

• Participant of the Department of Transportation Regulation/Negotiation regarding access of Service Dogs per the Airline Carriers Access Act.

• Trainer of multiple dogs that have been featured in national and local publications and television programs.