Liz Kover earned her Associate of Science degree in Assistance Dog Education and MS of Canine Life Sciences at Bergin University
- Liz Kover earned both her A.S. (in Assistance Dog Education) and M.S. (in Canine Life Sciences) at Bergin University. Upon graduating with her A.S. in 2012, she was offered a job as Marley's Mutts Dog Rescue's Animal-Assisted Activities Director in Tehachapi, CA. There, she established the Miracle Mutts program, through which dogs were trained and certified to provide therapeutic services and humane education to children, teens, adults and elderly residents of Kern County, CA. The dogs visited school classrooms and performed assemblies, helped ease seniors’ loneliness and relieved college students' stress during finals week. They inspired kids and young adults with disabilities, and helped teach vocational and life skills to women and men in drug and alcohol recovery at the Mission at Kern County. In addition to working with Marley's Mutts, Liz became a contract trainer for Good Dog Autism Companions immediately following graduation, and trained private clients' dogs in service and therapy capacities, as well as in obedience and behavior modification. In 2016, Liz & her dog Fred established the first government run animal-assisted therapy program in Kern County. Lovingly named F.R.E.D. (Freedom, Recovery & Empowerment with Dogs) by county behavioral healthcare staff, the program provides AAT to men and women dually diagnosed with addiction and PTSD in a group therapy setting. Aside from the career success Liz has experienced as a direct result of her Bergin education and its associated prestige, Liz says her favorite aspect of attending Bergin was learning from Bonnie Bergin herself. Of Bonnie, Liz says, “she is a visionary who brought an original, paradigm-shifting idea to fruition against all odds. She is the kind of educator, service provider, and human being I aspire to be”.