May 4, 2024 By Rick Shrum 3 min read

An influential job awaited Elissa Weimer upon graduation from PennWest California. She was first in her class in criminal justice and a lucrative opportunity was on the table.

The offer was from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with which she had previously made an impression with the bureau’s Violent Drug and Gag Squad in Philadelphia as a paid intern.

First, however, Weimer wanted to investigate the possibility of starting her own business.

“My parents were so upset. They thought I wasted my degree,” Weimer said Thursday morning, laughing outside the offices of Paw & Order Dog Training. “Now they’re so proud, they can’t stop talking about it to their friends.”

Weimer launched Paw & Order 11 years ago and has nurtured it into a regional success. She and her business were honored Thursday as the Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year in the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Pittsburgh District. It was a very happy 35th birthday present.

Paw & Order trains dogs and their owners, and offers in-home training, stay-and-train programs and group classes at the farm to local owners.

Weimer operates the business with her husband, Steve Sentner. They work on the 22-acre farm and training center they own in the Bulger section of Smith Township, where they have a staff of 11. Weimer has nine franchised locations in a number of states.

Dr. Kelly Hunt, the district director and a Washington County native and resident, presented a plaque to Weimer acknowledging the honor. It was made during the 61st

annual National Small Business Week.

Hunt and Weimer are military veterans, Hunt with the Air Force, Weimer with the Army National Guard. Weimer used the G.I. Bill to attend PennWest (formerly California University of Pennsylvania).

“The skillset a veteran has is the same as a small business owner has,” Hunt said.

“I enjoyed my six years in the military,” Weimer said. “It helped me see things in a new way and make me realize I could do anything.”

Weimer said she ultimately wanted to be a business entrepreneur, and enjoys the work. She and Sentner have resided on this gently rolling property for three years, a spread that once interested them – if it became available. They moved in three years ago.

“We used to live 10 minutes away (in Findlay),” Sentner said. “We would look at this property as we drove past and felt ‘that’s our dream.'”

Dream became reality when the farm went on the market.

Every dog has his or her day at Paw & Order, including the 12 Weimer and Sentner own. Their 22 acres are home to a literal menagerie, which also features two peacocks, two donkeys, cats, ducks, pigs, a horse and two micro-cows.

Her career has been a lot different than working for the FBI, but it has been richly rewarding – and interesting.