Hi! My name is Kayla, and I've been with Paws since 2022.

I grew up on a farm with dogs, pigs, and horses, so I have always loved animals. I went to SDSU and got a degree in Animal Science with minors in Agricultural Business, Agricultural Marketing, and Equine Studies. Although I thought my heart was with livestock animals, it has become clear that I have a great passion for small animals. I got my first dog of my own, Jellybean, two months before college graduation, and he is what kept me sane when navigating my way out of college and into "real" world. Currently, my pets consist of Jellybean (Poochon), Peanut (Cava-poo), Chicken, Waffles, and Nigel (goats). I also recently got married in September 2025 to my best friend, Jace!

Post-graduating, many prayers were needed to help me figure out where I would feel fulfilled working. When I came across Paws and got to experience the environment and the positive impact that is made around the world, I knew this was the place for me! I have impacted so many lives around the community and world through volunteer opportunities, fundraising, and donation drives; while also being poured into personally and professionally through our Leadership group, educational opportunities, and a community of people who invest in each other's growth.

Hi! My name is Allison and I came to Paws in 2020 after having worked in the dog industry for multiple years.

I’ve always loved working with animals and connecting with new people, so I love my role at Paws! I’m married to my best friend, Austin, and we have a daughter and two rescues—a dog named Kona and a cat named Otter. They are bright spots in our world, and we love playing and snuggling with them. I’m a big family person and love spending time with my nieces and nephews.

I love being part of the Paws team. They are always going the extra mile—going above and beyond to provide the best for our clients and their furry family members. One of the reasons I love working at Paws is because of our generosity. This organization gets to provide more than just care and playtime for dogs and cats. They aim to be a blessing to those around them—to local charities and global organizations. What a powerful, God-honoring thing to be a part of!

Hello! My name is Ariana, and I am the Manager of the Day Stay Department at Paws Pet Resort. I’ve been part of the Paws family since 2021! From a young age, my heart has always been happiest when I'm around animals and helping others. My passion for working with animals has grown immensely over the years, and I truly believe that God led me to Paws so I could help others through my love for animals. It warms my heart to see a nervous dog or cat transform on their first visit as their sweet personality shines through and their fear melts away by the end of their stay.

I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD. I met my wonderful husband, Max, in 2010, and we have a newborn son who joined us in early spring 2025! He’ll be growing up in quite a zoo! We have one dog, Molly; two cats, Banana and Blueberry; and three reptiles: Athena and Thor, our bearded dragons, and Apep, our ball python. What a blessing it is to have this life!

Hi! My name is Hailey! I was born and raised in a small town in northern Minnesota. I got into the dog world back in 2019 and I’ve never looked back. Since moving to Sioux Falls in 2021, I’ve been blessed to be at Paws having the upmost passion for your pups, the organizations we work with, the staff, and most importantly growth in every direction. I’ve graduated from Leaders Of Tomorrow, a course dedicated to personal growth and how to become a better leader. Paws has truly given so many opportunities and I’m grateful that I get to love and care for all your dogs and cats everyday!

Hey there! I'm Phillip, or Phil—whatever you prefer, it’s all good with me. I worked at Paws from June 2019 until August 2021, then decided to explore something different. But that didn’t quite feel the same as Paws, so I came back in June 2024 and have been loving that decision since! I started in daycare, then moved over to boarding, and that’s where my passion for caring for animals really took off. Since joining Paws, I've added two dogs (Beth and Maggie), a cat (Bonnie), and along with multiple fish tanks.

Hi! I’m Kaytlyn, and I’ve been part of the Paws team since 2024.

I’ve always loved animals, but dogs have held a special place in my heart for as long as I can remember. I grew up surrounded by dogs—both family pets and hunting companions—but when I got my very own puppy at 13, it sparked a lifelong passion for understanding how dogs think and learn.

Since then, I’ve worked in a variety of dog-focused roles, including at a hunting kennel, as a groomer, as a daycare manager at two different boarding facilities, and most recently as a certified veterinary assistant at an animal hospital.

My connection with Paws began in 2021, when I attended the Annual Dock Diving event with my Springer Spaniel, Sadie. I returned in 2023 with my Dalmatian, Pilot, and immediately knew this was a special place—thanks to both the staff and the wonderful community. That experience inspired me to make the move from Minnesota.

Outside of work, you can find Pilot and me competing in agility, training at our local kennel club, or exploring the trails along Minnesota’s North Shore once the bugs are gone!

Sophie is our Training Manager! She has always had a strong passion for animals, but her love for training really grew when she began taking puppy classes at Paws with her family's pups when Paws first opened. Sophie has been at Paws since 2021 and has loved being able to step into every training aspect we offer. From working with our puppy students, adult dogs, and clients directly, she loves to help coach owners and create strong foundations for a better future with their pets. Along with her training experience, Sophie has also completed her degree in Veterinary Technology with hands on experience in the veterinary field.

Sophie has 2 personal dogs, Journey, an Australian Shepherd, and Roam, a Golden Retriever. She loves to compete in different sports and activities with her dogs to challenge each other and grow a stronger relationship together. Sophie is also a volunteer puppy raiser for a service dog organization and will have a service puppy tagging along with her as well.

Olivia is our Assistant Training Manager! She has always had a special connection with animals. She grew up riding, training, and competing with horses, which taught her patience, communication, and trust—skills that now shape her work as a dog trainer.

In July 2023, Olivia graduated from Kennelwood Academy for Professional Dog Trainers, where she learned everything from puppy imprinting and agility to scent detection, tracking, advanced obedience, retrieval, and protection work. While there, she also discovered how much she loved working directly with owners—helping them feel confident and capable as they learned alongside their dogs.

Olivia completed her training with her Belgian Malinois, Cisco, who’s now her loyal adventure buddy. Whether they’re hiking, swimming, or working on new skills, Olivia and Cisco are always finding new ways to grow together.

“My number one goal is to be completely transparent and help my clients achieve any goals and expectations they have with their dog,” Olivia says. “Watching that bond strengthen and seeing the success on both ends of the leash is what truly inspires me every day.”

Taryn had a big passion for animals growing up. Being surrounded by dogs her whole life helped guide her way into dog training.

Her first job was working at a dog daycare and boarding facility. While working she received hands on exposure to dog body language and behavior. From there her passion grew and she completed her online Animal Behavior College program for Canine Obedience. She made her way to a Senior Dog Trainer at her last job and continued to get exposure to puppy socialization, solving problem behaviors, clicker training, leash walking, teaching group classes, and she is also an AKC evaluator. She started training and working at Paws Pet Resort in October of 2018. Most days you will see her being a lead trainer in our Puppy University program where she is getting puppies started off on the right track to socializing and learning. She also helps with our Day Trains, and Day University students. She has two daughters, and is also a dog owner to Frost and Zuko her Australian Shepherd’s, Kira her German Shepherd, and Egypt her Pharaoh Hound, She loves to spend time training and working them, and is always excited to learn new things to grow as a trainer.

Hello! I’m Tasha. I’ve been part of Paws for five years now. My passion for working with animals is immense, and I particularly enjoy my time here because I can shower them with love and attention. I also have a red healer dog of my own. I relocated from New Mexico and truly appreciate being here and being a part of Paws . I cherish everything this company is doing for our community, and I love volunteering as it allows me to make a difference

Hello! My name is Lexy and I'm from right here in Sioux Falls. I started at Paws in June of 2022 working mainly in the daycare department, but over the years I have worked in daycare, boarding, and daystay as a back-of-house lead! I have always been passionate about animals, and working at Paws has taught me so much! I have one pup at home - a 3 year old pug/jack russell mix named Freddie. He has grown up here at Paws and absolutely loves coming to work with me every day! I feel very blessed to be able to work for such an amazing company that has such strong values and truly cares for all of the pets we see each day.

My name is Carleigh, and I’m a back-of-house lead here at Paws! Growing up, my family always had at least 3 dogs, so they’ve always been a big part of my life. In 2022, I moved to New York for a year where I started my career with dogs. I worked at a daycare/boarding facility where my interest in dogs and how they learn and behave really sparked. I worked there for about a year as a back of house lead before moving back to Sioux Falls, where I found Paws. I started at Paws in late 2023 and around the same time, I rescued my first dog of my own, a golden/lab mix named Kyle. When I got her, she was very reactive and undersocialized, but through our amazing training team, she now walks around Paws like she owns the place. Through Kyle and Paws, I’ve learned so much about training, behavior, and body language and I am always striving to further my knowledge to serve the pets in our care as best as possible!

Hi, my name is Mayli! I work back-of-house here at Paws, primarily in boarding. I started at the beginning of 2022, when I was looking for a job where I could work with dogs, which is my passion. I instantly fell in love and have been working here while I complete my bachelor's degree at South Dakota State University! I have a rescue pup at home named Junior - Bichon mix that my family rescued from The Dakota Dachshund Rescue about 8 years ago!

I'm Natalie, and as a big animal lover, I've always felt a strong connection with animals. Before my current role at Paws, I worked as a barista. I had an awesome opportunity to work at Paws and it has been a blessing, and I've grown so much since starting. Working at Paws has also taught me a lot about my own pet, a 5-year-old Vizsla named Velvet. We love going on hikes and little adventures around the Midwest together! I hope to grow and continue to connect with other animals and our clients!

I was born in Sioux Falls. I have been at Paws since 2021 where I started in boarding and became a lead and trainer in 2023. I graduated with my bachelors in Exercise Science and am a certified Exercise Physiologist. I am currently finishing my Bachelors in Athletic Training. My favorite part about training is watching dogs and their parents grow their knowledge and confidence. My goal as a trainer is to always put the dogs and their parents in the best position for success.

Bio Coming Soon!

Bio Coming Soon!