Wendy McIlroy, VMD graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, practicing equine medicine in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio. She also completed 2 years of graduate studies in epidemiology at The Ohio State University. In 2000 she changed direction, becoming a PADI instructor and moving to Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga, where she taught diving and led dive tours. In 2006 she moved to Kaua’i, where she is actively training her Labrador, Lani, as a Search and Rescue dog and works to protect the endangered Hawai’ian Monk Seal.