Ella

Ella brings a thoughtful, whole-pet approach to animal care, with experience in pet nutrition, training, grooming, pet sitting, rescue, and behavioral rehabilitation. She began her professional career in animal care in 2024 as a holistic pet nutritionist, helping families navigate concerns such as picky eating, digestive issues, and allergies. Her goal has always been to help pets feel their best so they can live happy, active, and fulfilling lives.

Ella has also worked privately with animals who struggled in traditional boarding or grooming environments. Through patient, individualized care, she helped pets build confidence and develop the skills needed to better manage everyday situations. Her grooming experience focused on bathing fundamentals and comfort trims for senior, excitable, anxious, and easily overwhelmed pets who could not tolerate a typical salon setting.

Her passion for education has led her to serve as a guest speaker at CAVIT, the Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology. There, she presented “Mind, Body, Bowl” to veterinary science students, discussing how enrichment, physical activity, and nutrition work together to support a pet’s overall health. Her presentation also explored pet-food processing, the history of commercial pet food, and the ongoing conversation surrounding grain-inclusive and grain-free diets.

A lifelong animal rescuer, Ella’s earliest pets included a crayfish saved from a school project, a sick betta fish, and a disabled leopard gecko who required assistance eating. Her love of animals eventually grew to include cats, dogs, hamsters, and more than 500 gallons of naturally aquascaped freshwater fish tanks that she designed and built herself. She also helped breed and preserve killifish, a unique group of fish that includes several endangered species.

Today, Ella fosters high-risk cats with behavioral challenges, helping them rebuild trust, overcome fears, and prepare for adoption. She also provides around-the-clock care for neonatal kittens and bottle babies. Her current foster crew includes Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Badger.

Ella is excited to bring her patience, compassion, and extensive hands-on experience to our boarding team. She believes every animal deserves to feel safe, understood, and cared for as an individual.