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
Aki, originally from Japan, is a dedicated groomer at Sunland with a passion for working with dogs. She is a proud graduate of the Paragon School of Pet Grooming, having completed Levels 1 through 3. Aki has showcased her grooming skills by competing in a Career Start Contest, where she styled a West Highland White Terrier, and she has also completed a Pet Safety and CPR course to ensure the well-being of every pet in her care.
Aki loves using her creativity to help dogs look and feel their best. Outside of grooming, she enjoys traveling—especially exploring the beautiful Florida springs. Aki is also a proud mother of two children, a son and a daughter, and shares her home with two beloved dogs: Scarlette, a poodle, and Biscuit, a shih tzu.
Ashley
Ashley previously owned a farm in South Carolina before returning to her hometown of Jacksonville. As our Director of Operations, she finds the most fulfillment in creating a safe, welcoming environment for the local community’s beloved pets and building connections through a shared love of animals.
Ashley is a proud mother of two daughters and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Business and Management. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, growing her own food, and engaging in activities like going to the range, hunting and fishing.
Elly
Elly 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 two Pitbull’s named Max & Ruby. 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!
Olivia
Originally from a small farm in Georgia, Olivia recently made the move to Jacksonville. Her lifelong passion for animals began early, and at just 17, she started her first job at a kennel — and immediately knew she’d found her calling.
At Sunland Acres, Olivia loves caring for our four-legged guests, especially bathing the dogs and maintaining clean, sanitary conditions in all of our outdoor runs. Her attention to detail and dedication to animal care make her a valued member of our team.
When she’s not at work, Olivia enjoys traveling, contra dancing, and, of course, spending time with dogs. She’s excited to be part of the Sunland Acres family and looks forward to continuing to grow alongside such an incredible team.
Azia
Azia grew up on a farm in Maine, where her love for animals began at an early age. In 2019, she moved to Jacksonville after meeting her husband and has since continued to pursue her passion for working with animals. In her free time, Azia enjoys fishing, hunting, and spending quality time with her family. She shares her home with a German Shepherd, a Rottweiler/Bernese Mountain Dog mix, and a Siamese cat.
Azia is currently building her career at Sunland Acres as our Enrichment Specialist and Dog Trainer. For her, the best part of working at Sunland Acres is creating meaningful connections with the animals and helping them thrive through play, training, and enrichment.
