About Pampered Pets Inn

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 that 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.

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, becoming 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 a shelter, but found a home with Chris and Karen. She serves as consultant and playmate at Pampered Pets Inn.

Karen, Chris and dog

Meet Our Senior Staff

pampered pets inn staff member and dog

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.

team member Jessie

Jessie Hickerson

Pet Services Manager

As a Fear Free Certified Professional with a focus on scheduling and procedures, Jessie enjoys developing and performing training classes and workshops with our team. Being part of a family-owned and operated business allows her to directly see the impact her training has on staff to help them learn new topics and assist senior staff in enhancing their pet behavior knowledge. Jessie also enjoys getting to know our clients and providing pet care expertise.

megan staub

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 behaviors, helping them learn how to work with all different types of dogs. As a Registered Vet Technician, she also develops and leads medical classes and training for the staff so they can recognize health concerns quickly.

Laurel Gainey

Laurel Gainey

Lodging & Daycare Supervisor

Laurel’s favorite part about working at PPI is ensuring your pets have the best experience possible and 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.

Dog Groomer posing with shrub

London Teare

Spa Supervisor|Groomer

London enjoys building trust and enriching our spa guests' time with us. By creating a strong relationship, she can watch each pup’s abilities and confidence grow as well as transfer that knowledge to their parents. Helping families have happy and healthy pets is hugely satisfying. As a groomer and Fear Free Certified Professional, London helps each pet reach their full potential by looking and feeling their best.

Claire and dog

Claire Omerza

HR Coordinator|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 interactions and also gives her 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.

Shelby and Logan

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.

Emily Bustle

Emily Bustle

Senior Pet Concierge

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 gets to work with that makes every day enjoyable! Emily's pup June always loves tagging along to work and playing with her daycare friends.

Sr. pet Concierge posing with a dog

Lena Defeciani

Senior Pet Concierge

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!

Staff member posing with a dog in front of the pool

Christopher Guy

Senior Pet Concierge

Christopher enjoys ensuring client satisfaction. It is so rewarding to receive positive reviews and feedback and know our guests thrive in our care. Christopher feels that one of the best things about working at PPI is having new clients join our family and grow with us over time. There is always so much to learn about our guests! Christopher's favorite part about working at PPI is having a great time with such an amazing team of pet lovers and spending quality time with our guests in the Cattery.

Jenna posing with her dog Luna

Jenna Morris

Dog Trainer

Jenna's favorite part about working at PPI is helping pet guests learn new skills so they can have joyful and harmonious lives with their pet parents. Jenna first discovered her love for animal training while completing her Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Biology at Lees-McRae College. She then spent a summer at the World Bird Sanctuary, learning more about training while working with birds of all shapes and sizes. Thanks to the support of PPI, Jenna is continuing her education through the online CATCH Canine Trainers Academy.

Groomer posing with a smile

Samantha Camp

shift lead|Groomer

Samantha's favorite parts about working at PPI are the big tail wags, smiles, and the excitement our reoccurring daycare guests have when they recognize her. She loves bonding with our new guests and helping them feel more comfortable in the spa and in a new environment. She also loves spending time with the cats and playing with them between group rounds to help them feel just as special as our dog guests.

Christopher Hickerson

Christopher Hickerson

shift lead|spa lead

Chris is a senior member of the PPI team, and his favorite part about working here is the connections he makes with every pet that comes through our front door.  It does not matter if they only stay for a single day of daycare or board with us.  They always find their reserved spot in his heart. He looks forward to caring for each of your pets like they are his own.

Spa Lead posing with a dog

Racheal Peters

Spa Lead

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.

Staff member posing with a dog.

Melani Peters

shift lead

Melani enjoys spending each day with new and reoccurring guests. It is rewarding to make new connections and build upon existing ones to make the pets feel as comfortable as possible. She strives to make PPI your pet’s home away from home during each of their stays. Her favorite part about working at PPI is spending each day with her excellent team of Pet Handlers and the world's best guests!

Staff member posing with a dog

Kaylee Wilhelm

shift lead

One of Kaylee's favorite things about working at PPI is learning more about dog and cat behavior. Since she was young, she has always had animals in her home and feels that PPI has given her an opportunity to learn so much more about how they interact with one another. Kaylee loves making all of your pets comfortable, like a home away from home, and working with the best team of coworkers that love animals just as much as she does!

staff member posing with pet guest

Kayla Blackwood

shift lead

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!

Staff member with pet guest

Erin Tucker

shift lead

Erin thrives on creating positive experiences for both pet guests and their owners. She's passionate about ensuring every pet, big or small, feels at home during their stay. Erin values the close-knit community at PPI, where staff members learn and grow together. PPI isn't just a workplace for Erin; it's a second home filled with warmth and a shared commitment to the well-being of our beloved animal guests.

Shift lead posing with pet guest

Hannah McLaughlin

shift lead

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.