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.

Hilarie’s lifelong love for animals and people has shaped a career rooted in care, consistency, and connection. As an Air Force brat, she spent her childhood moving from place to place before eventually settling in the Southwest desert. Drawn by the Pacific Northwest’s stunning natural beauty, changing seasons, and endless outdoor adventures, she made her way to Washington and quickly fell in love with the region.

Animals have always been a central part of Hilarie’s life. Growing up, her family shared their home with a little black poodle named Dumdee and two desert tortoises, Budgie and Felix. Her first pet of her own was Damien, a beloved black cat she affectionately describes as her “panther kitty.” Through Damien, she learned some of life’s most important lessons about companionship, trust, and unconditional love.

Before entering professional pet care, Hilarie spent more than 20 years in customer service and retail leadership, including a two-decade career with the University Book Store in Seattle. Known for her reliability, leadership, and genuine care for others, she built a reputation for creating positive experiences and meaningful connections with the people she served.

The pandemic inspired Hilarie to take a closer look at what truly made her happy. Realizing that life is too short not to pursue what you love, she decided it was the perfect time to follow her lifelong passion for animals. In 2023, she began her hands-on journey in professional pet care at Tails-A-Waggin’ Dog & Cat Inn before continuing her work with daycare and boarding dogs at The Dog Stop in Bothell.

At Four-Legged Fun Zone, Hilarie combines her customer service background with her love for dogs to help create a safe, enriching, and enjoyable experience for every guest. She appreciates every dog’s unique personality, from the outgoing social butterflies to the quieter observers. While she enjoys all aspects of daycare, her favorite part of the day is simple: playing ball. Whether she’s tossing a tennis ball, interacting with playgroups, or spending one-on-one time with a dog, she genuinely enjoys building relationships and helping dogs have fun.

Hilarie believes that trust and positive human interaction are the foundation of a successful daycare experience. By helping dogs feel safe, understood, and valued, she creates an environment where they can relax, build confidence, and enjoy their day.

At home, Hilarie shares her life with Jasper, her energetic two-year-old Scottish Terrier, and Charlotte, a tuxedo Norwegian Forest Cat who proudly rules the household. Outside of work, she can often be found exploring everything the Pacific Northwest has to offer—hiking, camping, visiting lakes and rivers, enjoying the ocean, and bringing Jasper along for the adventure whenever possible.

If there’s one thing Hilarie wants clients to know, it’s that she cares for every dog as if they were her own. She believes every dog deserves patience, kindness, trust, and plenty of opportunities to play and have fun. Whether she’s tossing a tennis ball, helping a nervous dog feel comfortable, or simply spending quality time with a canine friend, Hilarie is committed to making every dog’s day a positive one.

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

She was born and raised in the PNW but spent the last 13 years traveling in the US and eventually the world. She thrives on the constant change, new place/people/work. But even in the midst of constant change, she believes you’ll always find your way to the things you love. For her, those things include hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, canyoneering, kayaking and DOGS!

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Over the years, she has hiked 1000s of miles in 26 states, spent 130+ nights in the backcountry and summited 26 mountains. In between, she found time to volunteer at many Humane Societies where she felt the work as rewarding as any summit. While living in Thailand, she also volunteered with a small group of people focused on the rescue, rehabilitation, sterilization and vaccination of the many stray dogs and cats in the city.

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After traveling solo for so long, she’s acutely aware of just how important our bonded relationship (both 2 and 4 legged) are to us. She recently moved back to the PNW with the sole focus of rebuilding a foundation based on those relationships and firmly planting herself in positions to express her loves/passions.

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How does Tailored Pet Services fit into her plan? She’s excited and truly honored to spend her time combining everything she loves into one opportunity. She does not take this responsibility lightly and promises your pets will be more than well taken care of. She looks forward to easing the stresses in both her human and furry clients’ lives.

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.