We treat your pets like family
We provide exceptional service levels and extra care and convenience for traveling and busy pet owners 365 days a year. Our mission is to care for our pet guests with love, compassion and professionalism, providing a premium experience for pets and their parents. We value and make the most of the time that your pet spends in our care.
Staff
We attract and retain a staff of pet lovers who serve our customers and their pets as family members. Our staff of specialists is knowledgeable, professional, and passionate about our mission. It’s not just a job; we are a fun place to start or build a rewarding career.
Our training curriculum is designed to provide both new hires and those advancing in their careers with a disciplined, supportive environment for building their skills. Our staff trainers are experienced, dedicated team members focused on bringing out the best in their students. We leverage a combination of clearly written procedures, videos, hands-on mentorship, classroom instruction, and online training to ensure staff are well prepared for the demands of pet care. We also leverage industry-standard training, such as Fear Free and Paragon School of Professional Pet Grooming certifications, to round out our team’s skills.
Values
In all we do, we treat each other with honesty, integrity, respect and service. When we do it well, it sustains and grows our business in a manner that will sustain and grow everyone involved with it.
Meet the Owners: Chris Braund & Karen Van Sickler
In all their years together, Chris and Karen have raised a number of wonderful dogs and have become familiar with many pet lodging facilities in the process. They’ve traveled extensively in their careers and have been responsible for running cities, building software, merging corporations, and leading teams that have fun and deliver exceptional service. But it’s their housemates that have always brought them the greatest joy, so they are purposeful in their involvement in a business that brings them into contact with so many pets and pet lovers. They purchased Pampered Pets Inn in October 2016 and updated the facility, processes, and staffing structure in order to deliver the quality of care they themselves would expect for their pets.
Joining them in this endeavor is Macy, who began her life on the streets and then in a shelter, and Finley, a sweet, lovable boy who is always up for an adventure. They serve as consultants and playmates at Pampered Pets Inn.
Meet Our Senior Staff
Jessica Hammerman
Office Manager
Jessica's favorite part about working at PPI is building great relationships with all the pets and their families. It is very rewarding to provide the best pet care experience in the area! Every workday is different and exciting, and her dog Arrow LOVES coming to daycare to see her friends each week. Jessica is Fear Free Certified.
Emily Bustle
Office Supervisor
Emily enjoys getting the opportunity to meet and fall in love with all the animals that come to stay. Building connections with the pets and their owners is very important and rewarding to her. She also loves the team she works with, which makes every day enjoyable! Emily's pup, June, always loves tagging along to work and playing with her daycare friends. Emily is Fear Free Certified and has an AS from Mitchell Community College.
Megan Staub
Pet Services Manager
RVT, CPDT-KA
Megan’s favorite part about working at PPI is meeting new guests. She especially enjoys helping shy dogs gain confidence. That's always a big win! Megan is a Certified Professional Dog Trainer who works with our clients and their dogs to improve their relationships. She trains staff on dog behavior, helping them learn to work with all kinds of dogs. Megan’s Fear Free training makes her a valuable contributor to our processes and procedures and an effective mentor to team members. As a Registered Vet Technician, she also develops and leads medical training for our staff so they can quickly recognize health concerns. Always interested in gaining knowledge and skills, Megan is also Paragon certified, which allows her to support our Spa team. Megan has an AS in Animal Sciences from Gaston College.
Hannah Kauffman
Lodging & Daycare Supervisor
Hannah enjoys getting to know each pet and watching them grow. It’s incredibly rewarding to see our guests come in as puppies and develop into confident, well-rounded dogs. Hannah is passionate about creating a safe, enriching environment where every pet feels happy, secure, and loved, and also enjoys visiting the cattery and spending time with our feline guests whenever she can. Supporting the well-being of the animals in our care is what inspires her every day! Hannah is Fear Free Certified and has an AA in Graphic Design & Advertising from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Jenna Morris
Lodging & Daycare Supervisor | Dog Trainer
Jenna loves working with the PPI team to provide exceptional care for every guest, ensuring pets have a fun, safe, and comfortable stay. With a formal education background in animal medicine and training, she supports her team through coaching and sharing her passion for animals of all kinds. At home, she enjoys spending time with her three cats, Drain-o, Comet, and Downy. Jenna is Fear Free Certified and has a BS in Wildlife Biology from Lees McRae.
Kayla Blackwood
Lodging & Daycare Supervisor
Kayla's favorite part about working at PPI is meeting and developing meaningful relationships with all the different personalities, both pups and people alike. Getting to work with such a large and unique family is so rewarding, and there is nothing like the bonds that have been formed here. It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience! Kayla is Fear Free Certified and has a BA in International Studies from the University of North Carolina – Asheville.
Claire Omerza
HR & Marketing Coordinator
Claire discovers and develops talent with our fantastic staff and enjoys creating social media content for pet parents. Interacting with the pets in their play environment gives her a funny look into pet behavior and an opportunity to put a smile on people's faces every day. Her favorite part about the job is bringing together individuals from different backgrounds with the same passion and love for animals and seeing them in action caring for your pets. Claire has a BA in Organizational Communications from the University of North Carolina - Charlotte.
Shelby Galtieri
Senior Pet Concierge
Maintaining relationships with long-time clients, pets, and owners is what makes working at PPI so rewarding for Shelby. She also enjoys being able to create relationships with our new clients, but most importantly getting to love on all of the pets and experience all of their personalities.
Lena Defeciani
Senior Pet Concierge
SHRM-CP
Getting to work in an empathetic and supportive environment is the most rewarding part of being at PPI for Lena! The smiling faces, both human and dog, brighten each day and make the work more fun. She loves getting to spoil her babies, Tank and MJ, with all PPI has to offer! Lena has a BS in Social Work from Ramapo College of New Jersey.
Racheal Peters
Senior Spa Technician
Working at PPI has been an amazing experience for Racheal, and she's grateful to be part of a team that constantly supports and encourages each other to learn and grow. Racheal thrives in an environment where she learns something new every day, finding fulfillment in applying that knowledge to her interactions with all of our guests. At PPI, she values the collaborative spirit that defines the workplace, making it an enjoyable place to contribute her passion for the well-being of our pet guests. Racheal is Fear Free Certified.
Casey Bush
Senior Spa Technician & Groomer
Casey is passionate about helping pets look and feel their best, bringing a gentle and thoughtful approach to every grooming session. With certifications from Paragon Level 2 and Fear Free training, she ensures each guest is treated with care and comfort. Casey values the family-like atmosphere at PPI and enjoys seeing familiar furry faces walk through the door. Her days are filled with wagging tails, happy kisses, and the satisfaction of making a difference in each pet’s day.
Isabel Kennerly
Senior spa technician & Senior Pet Care Technician
Isabel knows how to keep our guests calm and comfortable. She treats every pet like her own, making sure they always feel safe and cared for. At PPI, she’s built confidence in her grooming and leadership skills, and she loves being part of a team that feels more like family. Her favorite moments are the happy greetings she gets from dogs each day. Isabel is Paragon Level 1 and Fear Free Certified.
Laurel Gainey
Senior spa Technician & Senior Pet Care Technician
Laurel’s favorite part about working at PPI is ensuring your pets have the best experience possible and that shifts run smoothly. There is a lot that goes into each stay, but our guests make it all worth it. Laurel enjoys building her knowledge of dog behavior, giving guests the best spa day, and pampering her own pets, Apollo and Athena. Laurel is Paragon Level 1 and Fear Free Certified.
Melani Peters
Senior Pet Care Technician
Melani enjoys spending each day with new and recurring guests. It is rewarding to make new connections and build on existing ones to help pets feel as comfortable as possible. She strives to make PPI your pet’s home away from home during each stay. Her favorite part about working at PPI is spending each day with her excellent team of Pet Handlers and the world's best guests! Melani is Fear Free Certified.
Hannah McLaughlin
Senior Pet Care Technician
Hannah finds immense satisfaction in building lasting connections with new pet guests and strengthening existing bonds with our recurring visitors. Hannah is proud to be part of a dedicated team of handlers at PPI, where every day brings the opportunity to help our pet guests reach their maximum potential and witness their unique personalities blossom. PPI is not just a workplace for Hannah; it's a place of growth, collaboration, and the shared pursuit of enriching the lives of our beloved guests. Hannah is Fear Free Certified.
Brittney Hodge
Senior Pet Care Technician
Brittney finds joy in building meaningful connections with both new and returning pet guests, as well as her fellow team members. Her background in the military has shaped her into a calm, empathetic, and dependable leader who brings patience and problem-solving skills to every shift. She takes pride in making each pet feel seen and understood, often engaging with them as if they were her own pets. For Brittney, working at PPI is a humbling and heartwarming experience, where every day begins with excitement and ends with belly rubs and smiles. Brittney is Fear Free Certified and has a BA in Geography from the University of Mary Washington.