Additional coverage of this same incident evacuated 10 dogs in advance of Hurricane Helene and has reopened at a new facility on Fairview Road in Asheville after its Thompson Street building was left vulnerable and unusable by the storm, owner Tessa Sternbach said.

The move in February followed weeks of disruption for the small business. Sternbach said she and her team made the decision to remove animals from the original site before the storm hit, and that the dogs were “evacuated safely,” according to the business’s account of events. The Thompson Street building, she said, had “nothing protecting it” when Helene tore through.

Sternbach described the immediate aftermath as overwhelming. “I do remember we had gotten out of our neighborhood and gotten to a spot where there was phone service and I just remember talking to my first team member and just bawling my eyes out,” she said. She recalled assessing the site afterward and said the flooding would have ruined equipment and made the facility unusable.

The closure and relocation reflect a set of challenges common to dog training businesses during natural disasters: sudden loss of facilities and revenue, buildings rendered inaccessible, the logistical burden of protecting and evacuating animals in care, and concerns for staff safety and continuity of operations. Those pressures, Sternbach said, informed the rapid decisions her team made as the storm approached.

The crisis also intersected with Sternbach’s personal life. She and her wife evacuated to Charleston during the emergency; within months they welcomed a healthy baby boy. “My focus quickly changed to, ‘I’ve got to get my wife safely out of Asheville,'” she said, reflecting how personal and professional demands converged during the emergency and recovery.

In the months since Helene, Sternbach said Ruff Life secured a new site on Fairview Road and restarted training services in February. The reopening allowed the business to resume classes and one-on-one sessions that provide structure and mental stimulation for dogs — services Sternbach and advocates say reduce stress and the risk of behavior problems that can lead to relinquishment. She credited local clients, friends and family for helping the business through the interruption.

Many training organizations and experts advocate evidence-based, reward-based methods as beneficial for obedience and owner-dog relationships, and they emphasize the role of trained instructors in supporting pet well-being, including during community recovery.

Sternbach’s account emphasized both material losses and the relief of having staff and animals safe during a chaotic period. “I’m very grateful for my community and all my clients and family and everything,” she said, noting that the support made the February reopening possible.

For pet owners looking for trainers, many industry organizations suggest checking for recognized certifications (for example CPDT-KA, IAABC, or Karen Pryor Academy credentials) and membership in professional associations such as the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, which promote evidence-based, humane methods. Those markers, trainers say, help owners find reputable professionals who can provide consistent behavior management and support even in times of disruption.

Local television station WLOS has reported on Hurricane Helene’s impact in Asheville; according to the article, it also covered Ruff Life’s recovery and reopening and documented the move and Sternbach’s experience. The station’s reports include footage of the Thompson Street property after the storm and the new Fairview Road location.

The Fairview Road facility marks a fresh start for the Asheville business. While Sternbach continues to assess longer-term repairs and the future of the Thompson Street site, the reopened training center allows Ruff Life to resume services that owners and trainers say are important to pet health and community resilience.

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Original reporting: view the original article.