Meet Our Staff
Our team is composed of passionate animal lovers who go above and beyond to ensure each pet feels safe, happy, and loved. From closely monitoring feeding schedules and administering medications to engaging pets in playful activities. Our staff is trained to recognize signs of stress or discomfort, offering gentle reassurance and personalized attention to make each pet’s stay as enjoyable as possible. With a watchful eye and a caring touch, we treat every pet as if they were our own, ensuring peace of mind for their owners while they’re away.
Owners
Jeff & Donna Thompson became owners in December 2021. Donna was raised as a farm girl and has a lifetime of experience with all kinds of animals. She used to train her own dogs for fun and has raised Shih Tzu’s for 38 years. Along with many other animals, bottle raised cows, goats, sheep, pigs, even alpacas. Yes, she’s had to milk an Alpaca for baby milk. Started the first ever alpaca project in Kern County, Ca, was a 4-H leader for 8 years. She decided to become a certified PEMF practitioner 8 years ago to help animals feel better. (Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Frequency). Jeff was born with a love of animals. When he met Donna 28 years ago, he fell right into the animal lifestyle with her. They owned a kennel in CA for the past 13 years. They have raised Gypsy Vanner horses for 6 years now. Jeff is the maintenance aspect of the kennel while Donna is the office side of the business.
Management
Evan has been working at Academy Kennels since 2003. He started as a kennel tech and worked his way up the ladder to management. He is a dedicated worker and knows the clientele.
Ryan has been working at Academy Kennels since 2007. Ryans roles include kennel management, assistant maintenance, grounds keeper, and graphic designer. He is thorough in his duties and takes pride in what he does.
Kennel Techs
Jennifer has been working at Academy Kennels since May of 2023. She has great compassion for animals. She is very hands on and interactive with them. Jennifer is our weekend manager and is our social media expert.
Eli has been working at Academy Kennels since December of 2023. He is very ambitious and enjoys all aspects of his job. He is awesome with the animals and calm with them.
Groomer
Jennifer, Donna, and Meghan combine efforts to get your pet looking and feeling the best they ever had!
Donna has been grooming her dogs for over 35 years.
Meghan has been grooming for over 3 years, and Jenn is quickly learning and perfecting her craft!
Tootie Fruity: Our Resident Bird
