AP grew up in Connecticut and has spent much of their life teaching, performing, and helping others learn new skills. A lifelong musician, they earned bachelor’s degrees in Music Education and Trumpet Performance, as well as a master’s degree in Trumpet Performance from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.

Over the years, they have taught orchestra and string programs for students ranging from elementary through middle school, coached youth ensembles, and worked with families throughout their career as an educator.

Their love of animals eventually led them into pet care, where they discovered many of the same qualities that make them a successful teacher—patience, consistency, attention to detail, and the ability to build trust. In addition to working with TAILored Pet Services, AP has experience providing pet sitting and drop-in visits for repeat clients.

When they’re not caring for pets, AP continues to stay active in the music community as a performer, accompanist, and music director. They currently serve as principal trumpet for the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra and enjoy sharing their passion for music with students and audiences alike.

Whether they are helping a young musician learn a new skill or making sure a pet feels comfortable and cared for while their family is away, AP enjoys building lasting relationships and creating positive experiences for both people and animals.

Deaven Martinez brings nearly three years of hands-on dog daycare leadership experience, with a strong focus on behavior assessment, group safety, and helping dogs with complex behavioral needs succeed in structured care environments. As a Daycare Manager at The Dog Stop, Deaven worked extensively with dogs displaying people or dog aggression, touch sensitivity, barrier reactivity, and resource guarding, developing a calm, observant approach that prioritizes safety while giving each dog the individualized support they need. His favorite dogs to work with are those who are fearful, nervous, or reactive—dogs who simply haven’t yet learned what the world expects of them.

Born in Texas and raised in Indiana, Deaven grew up around his grandmother’s AKC English Mastiffs and other large working breeds, which sparked a lifelong appreciation for dogs with big personalities. Today, he shares his home with three rescue dogs, two of whom were rehomed to him by former clients. They range in age from just over a year old to nearly four years old. When he’s not at Four-Legged Fun Zone, you’ll likely find him hiking with his dogs somewhere far beyond cell service or continuing to train his own dogs, who are still on behavioral journeys of their own.

Deaven’s philosophy centers around understanding the dog in front of him rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach. He believes every dog communicates differently, and his goal is to meet each dog where they are emotionally, allowing them to progress at their own pace while building confidence through thoughtful introductions, structure, and consistency. Whether evaluating new dogs for group play, helping anxious dogs settle into daycare, or safely managing more challenging behavioral cases, he believes successful daycare begins by helping dogs feel understood.

What Deaven enjoys most about working professionally with dogs is watching that transformation happen. Seeing a fearful or overwhelmed dog slowly gain confidence, overcome anxieties, and realize the world isn’t nearly as scary as they once believed is what motivates him every day. For him, there’s nothing more rewarding than watching the hard work, patience, and training finally click as a dog begins to thrive.

In addition to canine behavior management, Deaven has experience supervising staff, training team members, monitoring employee performance, and helping maintain smooth day-to-day facility operations. His background also includes client communication, medication administration, enrichment services, bathing, nail care, and maintaining the high standards of cleanliness and safety essential to a successful daycare environment.

Deaven is passionate about helping dogs who may not be an easy fit elsewhere, creating safe, positive experiences that build confidence while giving owners peace of mind. Through patience, clear communication, and thoughtful handling, he strives to help every dog reach their full potential and enjoy daycare as a place where they can feel safe, understood, and successful.

For April, working with animals has never been just a job—it’s been a lifelong passion.

As a child, some of her happiest memories were spent running around the yard with family and neighborhood dogs. Those early experiences sparked a fascination with animals that eventually led her to study Animal Science at Oregon State University before gaining hands-on experience in veterinary medicine, rescue work, pet sitting, dog walking, and professional pet care.

Although April ultimately decided not to pursue veterinary school, her love of animals never faded. She worked as a veterinary nurse at a holistic veterinary clinic in Melbourne, Australia, helped manage a pet store and professional grooming salon, and gained valuable experience caring for dogs with a wide variety of personalities, temperaments, and needs.

Her passion for helping dogs continued through volunteer work with a Los Angeles dog rescue organization, where she cared for rescue dogs and fostered a sensitive Poodle/Whippet mix who forever changed the way she understands canine behavior and emotions.

That rescue experience taught her something she still carries with her today: dogs remember their experiences more deeply than many people realize. Every interaction matters, and kindness, patience, and understanding leave lasting impressions.

Those experiences sparked a lasting passion for dog behavior and canine psychology—a passion that continues to shape the way she cares for every dog she meets. April believes there is always something new to learn from dogs and naturally connects with energetic, playful personalities while enjoying building relationships with dogs of every age, breed, and temperament.

One of the moments that continues to inspire her involved a dog named Lizzie, who struggled with leash reactivity. Through patience, consistency, and careful observation, April watched Lizzie gradually gain confidence until she proudly celebrated her successes with joyful zoomies after walks. Helping Lizzie overcome those challenges reminds April exactly why she chose this career.

April’s philosophy is simple: every dog deserves to feel comfortable, happy, safe, and understood. Her quiet, observant approach sets her apart. Rather than rushing to correct behavior, she takes time to understand what each dog is communicating before deciding how best to respond. She hopes every client leaves with complete trust and peace of mind, knowing their beloved family member is receiving individualized, compassionate care.

After moving to Washington in 2014, April joined Tailored Pet Services, where she spent the next two years caring for clients’ pets and building lasting relationships with both dogs and their families. During that time, she became a trusted member of the team and even helped oversee the day-to-day operations of the company while owner Antigone traveled in Australia for five weeks—a reflection of the confidence and trust she had earned.

April later pursued a career in the nonprofit sector, where she spent nearly a decade giving back to the community in a different way. Although she found that work deeply rewarding, she eventually realized there was something she missed.

“I missed being around dogs,” April says. “Animals change the energy of a room. They’re completely present, unapologetically joyful, and remind us to appreciate the simple things. Being able to make a positive difference in their day is incredibly rewarding.”

That realization brought April back to Tailored Pet Services, where she is once again doing what she loves most—providing compassionate overnight pet sitting, dog walking, and exceptional care for dogs at Four-Legged Fun Zone dog daycare in Everett. She brings with her not only years of hands-on animal care experience, but also the patience, perspective, and compassion gained throughout every stage of her journey.

For April, coming back to Tailored Pet Services wasn’t just returning to a job—it was returning to the work she loves most. She’s excited to once again spend each day building trusting relationships with dogs and helping them feel safe, happy, and understood.

With over a decade of grooming experience, Ashley Dyson is a dedicated pet stylist renowned for her compassionate care, particularly for elderly and special needs dogs. During her tenure at Petco, she has cultivated a loyal clientele by prioritizing the safety and comfort of her furry friends above all else, making her a trusted choice among pet parents.

Ashley’s grooming philosophy centers around creating a positive, stress-free environment for both pets and their owners. She understands that trust is essential, especially with nervous dogs. Ashley ensures that each grooming session is a step toward building confidence and comfort for the animals in her care.

As she transitions to part-time work, Ashley is eager to find a new grooming environment where she can continue to serve her loyal clients, some of whom have been seeing her for years. She remains steadfast in her commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing atmosphere for all dogs and their owners, ensuring that each grooming experience is as enjoyable as possible.

Ashley wanted to be a dog groomer ever since she was a small child. Through a series of happy accidents, she got a job in pet retail, which led to dog training, and finally moved to grooming in 2010. It was as if it was meant to be. Her favorite breeds to work with are little mix breed dogs because each one is so unique. She also has a soft spot for senior dogs who need a little more patience and understanding. In her free time, Ashley enjoys going on walks with her Pomeranian mix Pokie and husband Kyle, doing her nails, working out, and dancing.

With nearly three decades of grooming experience, Karlyn Girnus is a compassionate pet stylist dedicated to helping dogs feel safe, comfortable, and cared for throughout the grooming process. Since beginning her grooming career in 1998, she has worked with dogs of all breeds, sizes, temperaments, and grooming needs, building a reputation for patience, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to each pet’s well-being.

Karlyn’s grooming philosophy centers around trust. She believes every dog deserves an individualized approach, especially those who are nervous, fearful, or have had difficult experiences in the past. By moving at the dog’s pace, working through challenges thoughtfully, and focusing on positive experiences, she helps pets build confidence while ensuring they receive the care they need. Her goal is not simply to complete a groom, but to create a positive experience that strengthens the relationship between the dog, the groomer, and the pet parent.

Growing up with both cats and dogs, Karlyn developed a love for animals at an early age. Her passion for grooming began when her parents opened a family-owned grooming salon, The Great Petender, in 1997. Under the guidance of her sister, an experienced professional groomer, Karlyn learned the craft and quickly discovered that working with animals was exactly where she belonged. After moving to Washington in 2001, she continued grooming while raising her children and later returned to formal training to expand her education in Low Stress Grooming techniques.

Over the years, Karlyn has learned that every dog is shaped by their experiences and that patience, consistency, and compassion can help turn fearful situations into positive ones. Whether she’s grooming a playful puppy, a senior dog, or a pet who needs extra reassurance, she takes pride in earning each dog’s trust and helping them feel successful. She especially enjoys the detailed work involved in grooming poodles and finds the art of bathing, fluff drying, and coat finishing both rewarding and therapeutic.

Outside of work, Karlyn enjoys spending time with her family, including her three granddaughters. She loves attending their sporting events, creating arts and crafts projects, and making memories whenever they visit. She also enjoys exploring Washington with her husband, whether by motorcycle or on long scenic drives. At home, she shares her life with Kala, a rescued Husky mix who came from a severe hoarding situation and has become one of the greatest joys in her life.

For Karlyn, the most rewarding part of grooming is seeing happy dogs and happy pet parents. She believes every successful groom is worth celebrating, and nothing makes her smile more than watching a freshly groomed dog hop off the table, prance around proudly, and head home feeling their very best

Kat’s love of animals started long before she ever worked professionally with them. Some of her earliest memories involve crawling through the grass alongside her mother’s dog and a litter of puppies. Since then, that fascination has only grown.

Today, Kat brings hands-on experience working with dogs of all sizes, breeds, and personalities. Before joining Four-Legged Fun Zone, she worked as a dog handler, supervising group play, monitoring canine behavior, and helping dogs learn to socialize safely and successfully.

What Kat enjoys most about working with dogs is learning their language. She loves observing the tiny details many people miss—the subtle movements of ears, eyes, mouths, and body posture that tell the story of how dogs communicate with one another. Watching new friendships form and seeing how dogs interact over time is one of her favorite parts of daycare.

Kat has a special soft spot for shy or nervous dogs. She finds it incredibly rewarding to watch a hesitant dog gradually gain confidence, build friendships, and transform into a happy, comfortable member of the group through patience, routine, and positive experiences.

Her passion for animals extends far beyond dogs. At home, Kat shares her life with cats, ferrets, and even pet beetles. She has experience caring for a wide variety of species and enjoys learning about the unique needs and behaviors of every animal she encounters.

When she’s not spending time with animals, Kat is an avid reader who can easily finish multiple books in a single day. Her favorite dog breed is the Dachshund, although she also dreams of one day owning a Doberman and participating in dog sports such as agility or flyball.

Whether she’s helping a shy dog build confidence, monitoring play between best friends, or learning the unique personality of a new arrival, Kat loves getting to know each dog as an individual and helping them have a fun, safe, and successful day at Four-Legged Fun Zone.