Our Team
Meet our dog groomers and trainers at Sandy Hill Kennels.
Sandy Hill Kennel's Staff
Management
Stephanie joined Sandy Hill Kennels in January 2023. Stephanie has over 35 years in the retail pet industry, pet grooming, managing and business ownership. Her love and connection with animals shows. She vows to always treat your "fur-babies" exactly the way she would want her own "fur-babies" treated. Stephanie owned her own pet store/groom shop, managed grooming salons for Petsmart and Petco, was General Manager for Petco, and an Animal Care Services regional manager for Petco. Stephanie is blessed with a wonderful husband of 35 years, 3 grown sons, 4 handsome grandsons, and 2 precious pups (Shadow and Yoshi). Stephanie is looking forward to getting to know you and your pets and giving them the love and attention they deserve when they stay at Sandy Hill Kennels. Stop in and say hi!
Nathan Arroyo joined the Sandy Hill Kennels team in February 2023. He has over 12 years of experience in animal care and retail. From starting as a cashier to running his own store, Nathan has always given great care to customers and their pets. When he's not at the facility, he is probably at home laughing at his own "dad jokes" with his son, 2 dogs, or 3 bearded dragons. Nathan looks forward to caring for your furry family members and giving them extra love during their stay!
Zoey Klavon joined our team in November of 2022. Zoey grew up in the area and attended Vet Tech school at Pittsburgh Career Institute and graduated with honors. After working at a local veterinarian practice, Zoey decided to change careers and bring her dog knowledge to our facility. Her passion for animals began when she was younger and she grew up with many animals in her home. Zoey's favorite breed is a Pomeranian. She enjoys spending time her own four dogs, playing with them, and taking them on walks (Baxter the german shephard/lab mix, Mitch the pomchi, Nelly the australian cattle dog, and Bear the pomeranian). In addition, Ms Klavon loves spending time with all the dogs at the facility and getting to know their individual personalities. We're happy to welcome Zoey to the Sandy Hill Kennel's team.
Pet Groomers
Grace Blank joined the Sandy Hill Kennels team in the spring of 2022. Ms. Bash completed her grooming training at the Nash Academy of Animal Arts in Nashville, TN and also interned there upon completing the program. She recently competed at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pet Expo Rescue Round-Up grooming competition and took 3rd place and also received the Best 1st Time award. Ms. Blank grew up in the northern Pittsburgh area and has always wanted to be a groomer since she was a young child. She loves all animals, especially dogs, and enjoys grooming all types but really enjoys doing breed specific grooming. Ms. Blank has 2 dogs of her own, a Springer Spaniel (named Mille) and a Multi-Poo (named Rosie). Grace is excited to meet the all of our client's best friends, their dogs.
Eva is one of our newest stylists of 2023 and she would love to be your fur-ever stylist! She has had 11 years of experience styling pets through various companies from Maryland to Pittsburgh. She has managed multiple salons at Petco. It has been her life's passion to work with animals. She is blessed with a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters. She has two pups that she refers to as her "first babies"; a golden retriever named Benelli, and a Catahoula leopard hound mix named Dobby. She believes in building relationships with pets that last. Her favorite part about grooming is the "transformation." She enjoys taking a fuzzy fur baby and providing the love and extra care they need to feel and look beautiful. Eva loves grooming all dogs but her favorite dogs to groom are Shih Tzus, King Charles Cavaliers, and of course Golden Retrievers like her baby. Eva can't wait to meet you and your pups!
Christine Cherup has been working in the grooming room since 2019. Christine started bathing part-time and has taken on more responsibilities in the grooming room since then. She is a wife and has 2 daughters. She is also a pet mom to 2 cats and 2 dogs. When Christine is with your dog, she is giving them the same love and affection that she gives her own pets right down to the kisses on the forehead. She believes animals, especially dogs, have the same emotions as we do and when not in the presence of their own family, they should still feel loved until they are back home. We are thrilled to have someone like Christine working with your dogs.