Trimble resident, longtime educator and dog trainer Paula Kretzschmar, 73, was born and raised in Cullman County. She spent most of her life in Garden City, formerly serving on the town council.
After graduating from St. Bernard College, Kretzschmar took off to Europe to travel. Vanessa Kretzschmar McCluskey shared about her mother’s ventures.
“On her trip, she managed to call home and my grandmother told her to get her butt home, she had a job,” McCluskey said. “In the fall of 1973, she started teaching at Cleveland School in Blount County and didn’t leave until 40 years later. When she retired the other teachers asked her what she wanted as a going away gift. She simply said nothing – she just wanted to ‘fly away.’ Taking that cue, the faculty worked together to get a hot air balloon to ‘fly’ her away after her retirement party. They gifted her a pair of ruby slippers and she and my grandmother took off from our practice field with the whole community on hand. They even served popcorn and drinks.”
After McCluskey moved to Auburn for college, she said, her mom was a single-parent empty nester.
“She needed companionship and adopted a Bichon Frisé from the Lee County Humane Society,” she explained. “He remained her companion for several years. After his death, she purchased another Bichon Frisé puppy, Jack, who she started to train in simple obedience. As time passed, Jack loved the spotlight more and more. Mom decided to compete with him in AKC-sanctioned events such as Agility and Obedience. She was still teaching (elementary guidance counselor at Cleveland Elementary) and decided to use Jack and his good nature to nurture her students. Jack became a fixture at the school, serving as a reading buddy for the elementary school kids. He even tried out for the ‘David Letterman Show.’ After that, she soon adopted another Bichon, Stella, and began working with the Alliance of Therapy Dogs in 2007.”
McCluskey continued, “ATD provides testing, certification, registration, support and insurance for members who volunteer with dogs to visit hospitals, special needs centers, schools, nursing homes and other facilities. This became her passion and would end up being a lifesaver after an autoimmune illness forced her to retire from Cleveland and ultimately retire from her professorship at Wallace State.”
After her full retirement, Kretzschmar decided to build her own dog training facility at her home in Trimble.
“She has all the equipment for a full agility course, and two rings inside the building one for Obedience and one for Rally,” her daughter said. “She also decided in 2016 to focus more wholly on the therapy dog aspect. She became a certified tester for the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, and has certified police officers, school teachers and business owners and their pets to become a certified therapy team. To pass the test, the team (dog and handler) are required to fulfill a number of requirements and have evaluations in public places such as Lowe’s, Tractor Supply or another location that allows training service animals.”
Before Kretzschmar retired, she was the elementary guidance counselor for Cleveland Elementary School and taught Western Civilization and American History at Wallace State Community College.
“Her days were spent at school and then she taught night classes,” McCluskey said. “In between, she worked in her therapy work and dog shows.”
In 2007 she became a certified therapy dog team with her two Bichons, Jack and Stella.
“Today, she continues their legacy with her Standard Poodle, Finn and her Bichon Frisé, Louis,” McCluskey said. “She serves at the Cullman County Courthouse as an emotional support for drug court, the Cullman County Public Library, Hanceville Public Library and sometimes the Holly Pond Library. They do small groups at schools and she is currently working with the second graders at Cleveland Elementary using Finn and Louis as reading buddies. They also visit CRMC, the Hanceville Nursing Home, DHR and the sheriff’s fun day at Sportsman Lake. She has also served at the Birmingham International Airport with Traveler Loving Canines to help calm anxious travelers.”
McCluskey shared that although her mother remains very active — she has struggled with some health problems, but it hasn’t stopped her.
”Mom is on a walker full time,” she said. “She has Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus, which have crippled her legs. She still keeps going. It is inspiring to watch her push on and do as much as she does…and that is a lot!”
Copyright 2025 Humble Roots, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
