Graham Bloem
CEO / Director
Graham is the Founder, CEO and Training Director of Pacific Pet Resort™. He is the proud recipient of the 10News Leadership Award, Waggy Award for Animal Welfare, American Red Cross Real Heroes Award and the Honeywell Life Safety Award presented by Larry King. Graham has 17+ years of dog training experience throughout the West Coast; from running rescue organizations to managing and directing pet resorts, helping dogs and their owners better understand one another and rehabilitating dogs that otherwise did not have a chance. Graham specializes in all levels of obedience training, as well as dog behavior, aggression cases, service dog training, consulting and public speaking. Graham and his wife, Kyrie, are the founders of Shelter to Soldier, a CA 501c3 nonprofit, to help serve our military men and women suffering from combat-related PTSD and to continue their work in helping rescue dogs.
Kyrié Bloem
VP & Co-Owner
Kyrie is the Co-Founder, Vice President and Director of Operations of Specialty Dog Training and Shelter to Soldier. Working behind the scenes, Kyrié is constantly in motion working in all facets of our organizations. She is someone that wears many hats well and is a real asset. Kyrié is also Co-Founder and plays a vital role in our development team for our school, National Academy of Professional Dog Trainers (NAPDT). Though Kyrié is passionate about animals and our veterans, her academic resume is focused on nutritional sciences.
Nicky Moore
Manager & Enrollment Advisor
Nicky Moore is a graduate of Animal Behavior College’s Professional Dog Training Certification program and came to us eager to put her education into practice with the Specialty Dog Training and Shelter to Soldier organizations. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Nicky has a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Management. After years of training her own dogs, pet-sitting, and working with animals at a veterinary hospital, she decided to transition her lifelong love of dogs, and over 10 years of customer service experience into a dog training career.
Anthony Perez
Assistant Manager
Anthony Perez has lived and worked in Oceanside for his whole life. Starting as a certified kennel technician, Anthony has enjoyed working with pets and their owners for over 6 years. Interacting with clients and their furry family members every day, he understands that every pet is different; and he works hard to understand and accommodate the needs of each individual. Anthony believes that when it comes to boarding your pet “you can’t put a price on piece of mind”.
Stephen Snyder
Head Dog Trainer
After a successful 10-year career in the animal care industry, working as a kennel technician, obedience training, and working with police K-9s, Stephen joined our team eager to continue his path in professional dog training. He is a graduate of Animal Behavior College’s Certified Professional Dog Training program and has a true passion for helping dogs and clients alike. Stephen is experienced in all aspects of training, from puppy classes, service dog training to rehabilitation of fearful and aggressive dogs. He excels in his communication of training techniques with owners, and creating a special bond with their dogs.
Perry Chapman
Dog Trainer
Perry Chapman is a US Navy veteran and a graduate of Starmark Academy, a well recognized and respected school teaching and certifying dog trainers in Austin, Texas. Perry has had a lifelong love of dogs and started training them as a child, as it was a requirement from his mother that he and his siblings take their dogs to training classes. Over the years, Perry realized that training and being around dogs made him truly happy. When he’s not training, he loves spending time in the outdoors with his cattle dog, Mika. The pair has backpacked over 1100 miles together and even done a 264 mile canoe trip together. Perry is very excited to further his dog training career and help give back to other veterans via our Shelter to Soldier program.
Julie McLaughlin
Dog Trainer
Julie came to us all the way from Boston, MA. She has been professionally working with dogs fornine years. Julie has taught hundreds of dogs and their owners through group classes and private training lessons. Communication, understanding and teamwork are the basis of her fun training style developed from her unique understanding of dogs and the way they communicate with us and each other. Her skills span from teaching puppy class to advanced obedience and behavior modification. Julie is certified in Pet CPR and First Aid by Pet Tech and is a Canine Good Citizen evaluator. During Julie’s free time, her and her dog, Amstel, enjoy scent work, agility, advanced obedience, dock diving and rally obedience. Amstel and Julie have completed CGC Training and passed their Therapy Dogs International (TDI) exam. She is excited to continue her journey in this rewarding field and expand her field of work through the exciting service dog programs at Specialty Dog Training & Shelter to Soldier.
Vince Martell
Dog Trainer
Vince started in the dog industry 5 years ago after moving to San Diego from Philadelphia, PA. Starting off as a animal care attendant, he quickly advanced to the role of doggie daycare supervisor. Vince then transitioned the knowledge of dog behavior that he gained in the kennel, to a career in dog training. He began working with police K9’s and has since begun working in pet-dog obedience training and training assistance dogs with our non-profit organization, Shelter to Soldier. Vince will be graduating of Animal Behavior College
Dustin
Dog Trainer
Dustin came to Specialty Dog Training after serving 10 years in the United States Marine Corps. As a Military Working Dog handler and trainer, Dustin, specialized in advanced off-leash and tactical obedience training, explosive and narcotic detection, tracking, protection and apprehension training; and worked with multiple special operations units, as well as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and Secret Service. He is excited to transfer his experience with working dogs to the pet dog and service dog world, and to help other veterans through the Shelter to Soldier program. When he's not training dogs, you can find Dustin off-roading in his jeep with his German Shepherd, Zi, and his Belgian Malinois, Riot.
Alayna
Dog Trainer
With a background of over 7 years in equine therapy and training, and a K9 Police Officer for a father, as well as 2 dogs and 2 bunnies at home, Alayna has long been caring for animals. After working as a kennel technician for over 3 years, Alayna decided she wanted to learn more about dog behavior and training; and she now assists our full training team with daily training, socialization, exercise and care of our dogs. Upon graduating high school this year, Alayna wants to pursue a career in dog training and has a special interest in working dogs.
Krys Holc
CFO
Krystyna is the Vice President and CFO of Goodsell and Company CPA firm. She is the financial manager for Pacific Pet Resort™, Specialty Dog Training, and Shelter to Soldier.
Krys has a 70 pound male German Shepherd named Cooper that she rescued from Coastal German Shepherd Rescue. Krys is a long time supporter of the rescue group and always has a faithful shepherd by her side. Krystyna is one of the founders and current treasurer of our charity, Shelter to Soldier, and provides all of our accounting needs pro-bono. Her elite financial services help our companies stay on task, follow budgeting guidelines and assist us in reaching our financial goals.
Dr. Liz Grey
Veterinarian
Pacific Pet Resort™ has partnered with renowned Veterinarian and community leader, Dr. Liz Grey.
Dr Grey was born in New York, but her family moved to San Diego when she was 12. While she was growing up, her family did a lot of rescue work with animals. Her father impressed upon her at an early age that once you commit to an animal, you are responsible for providing it with the best care possible. Dr Grey knew at an early age that becoming a veterinarian would combine two of her favorite things – caring for animals and solving mysteries.
Dr Grey did her undergraduate work at San Diego State University, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Zoology in 1982. She was the number one graduate in her department and part of the Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. She went on to University of California at Davis, graduating in 1987 as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Soon after that, she came home to San Diego. She began working at Carmel Mountain Ranch Veterinary Hospital in 1990, and went on to purchase the hospital in 1994.
Dr Grey’s special interests in medicine include dermatology and ophthalmology. She loves caring for geriatric patients and helping them live longer, more comfortable lives. And of course she loves seeing new puppies and kittens!
At home, Liz lives with her daughters, Sara and Becca. Sara is an excellent volleyball player and will be heading off to college in a few years. Becca likes fencing and has her eye on Duke University. Liz and the girls have a menagerie of pets: 9 dogs, 6 cats, 2 horses, 2 lizards, a cockatiel, an aviary of parakeets, and the latest rescue, Scarlett the Pig.
Liz has been a certified scuba diver for over 20 years and has been all over the world diving. She also enjoys surfing (although she’s not very good at it!) and mountain biking with her family.
Janetta Nickels
Pet Groomer
Janetta Nickels is a San Diego local that has been working in the pet industry for over 7 years. She has always had a passion for animals and decided to pursue a certification in professional grooming and bathing through the American Grooming Academy in Temecula, CA. As a professional groomer, Janetta aims to make every pet she grooms feel comfortable and safe in her hands. She believes in a personal touch to her grooming, consulting with each of her clients to best understand their pet’s needs and styling preferences. Janetta is passionate about dog rescuing and believes that “Love is wet noses, slobbering kisses and a wagging tail”.