Tish
Tish is the Team Manager here at Sunland Acres and, as such, promotes a culture of safety at the forefront of everything happening at Sunland Acres. She helps ensure that Sunland’s promise of customer care is fulfilled.
Tish’s experience working alongside veterinarians in animal hospitals and rescues makes her a uniquely qualified team member. She brings to her job extensive experience with a wide variety of domestic and exotic animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and wild animals. She loves working at Sunland Acres because it feels like home, where animals are cared for and loved as they would be in their own homes.
Tish is a former owner of a dog boarding/grooming business in Miami, where she was also a demonstrator with wildlife shows and exotic animal displays. She currently has three dogs, four cats, two snakes, and a horse. Her favorite breed of dog is a Great Dane; she has owned three of them in her life.
Kristin
Kristin is a lifelong animal lover. She has a special place in her heart for seniors or any type of special needs dogs. Kristen has five amazing dogs at home; although she doesn’t have a favorite breed of dog, if “scruffy with their tongues sticking out” was a breed, that would easily be hers! When she’s not at Sunland she enjoys spending time with her kids and doing anything crafty.
In her former career, she was a hairstylist. It became obvious to her that it is more fun to style hair for dogs. She pursued her career as a dog groomer by completing Levels One and Two of the Paragon Grooming Program. Her passion is to maintain a fun and safe work environment for all teammates and furry clients. She says this is the best job ever! Kristen is originally from Columbus, Ohio but the Navy brought her and her family to Jacksonville, from Washington state.
Aki
As a groomer at Sunland, Aki has completed Paragon School of Pet Grooming Levels 1 through 3. She competed in a Career Start Contest grooming a West Highland White Terrier & attended Pet Safety/CPR class. She loves being able to make dogs look and feel their best while also expressing her creativity.
Ashley
Ashley recently owned a farm in South Carolina before moving to Jacksonville where she originally grew up. Her favorite part of working at Sunland is having the ability to provide a safe and comfortable environment for the local community’s furry family members and connecting with others through the love of animals.
She has two daughters and is going to school to be a Fish & Wildlife Tech. At home she enjoys working out, growing her own food, fishing and the outdoors.
Elly
Elly is our newest Team member. She was a pet bather prior to Sunland Acres and has now completed Levels One and Two of the Paragon Grooming Program. She is currently pursuing her grooming career here at Sunland Acres and is loving every moment. She loves every animal and how each one has their own personality. She strives to make the grooming experience for each pet comfortable and enjoyable. Her Favorite is doing shed treatment on large dogs. We are excited to have her as part of our team at Sunland and watch her grow on her grooming journey!
At home Elly has a Pitbull named Max. She went to college for marine and coastal biology. In her spare time you can find her drawing or painting, as well as enjoying the outdoors and fishing.
Rachel
Rachel was born and raised in Jacksonville, specifically in the Mandarin area. Growing up, she was deeply involved in her family’s kennel, where she honed her skills in grooming and raising puppies for guide dogs. Her passion for working with dogs stems from their playful innocence, and she takes great joy in making them happy. Rachel finds working at Sunland Acres particularly rewarding due to its warm, home-grown family atmosphere.
In addition to Rachel extensive experience with dogs, she has a background in dog showing. Outside of work, she enjoys playing guitar and touring with her band. At home, Rachel’s love for animals is evident with her four mules, one cockatoo, five cats, and two dogs. Her dedication to animal care makes her a valued member of the Sunland Acres team!
Bryony
Bry was born in England and recently moved to Jacksonville. With four years of experience in the pet industry and grooming business, she brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep love for the dogs at camp. Bry’s favorite aspect of her role here at Sunland Acres is the opportunity to interact with a diverse array of dog breeds and personalities each day. Her true joy comes from making sure every dog she meets leaves with a wagging tail and a happy heart.
Bry is enthusiastic for grooming and dreams of one day owning her own dog grooming business. When she isn’t working, she enjoys riding her bicycle and taking her Doberman named Hazel on walks & hikes through nature.’
Christi
Christi, originally from Kansas City, moved to Jacksonville in 2023. Her favorite part about working at Sunland Acres is waking up each day knowing she loves her job and is building a career. She dreams of one day owning her own business, inspired by Sunland Acres’ family values and passion for caring for dogs. At home Christi has 2 dogs, Princess a boxer mix and Smokey a chihuahua mix.
In her free time, Christi loves spending quality moments with family and friends. Being surrounded by a strong support system, both inside and outside of Sunland Acres, brings her immense joy. She enjoys long beach walks, visiting her favorite sunset spots, watching the Chiefs games, and going on adventures to explore the beauty of the world.
