The Pawsitive Pets Team





















Owners











Carl Holland


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Co-Owner

Carl has been working with Pawsitive Pets since 2016, beginning as a dog walker and pet sitter.  With an interest to learn more in dog behavior, he shadowed under Patrick from 2016-2018 before then beginning work with his own clients.  SInce then, Carl has worked as a behavior consultant, having provided more than 5,000 lessons.  He also helps in training our staff in understanding the application of the techniques and methods that we use in our lesson plans.  Carl owns a husky, Yuki, who serves as a teaching and ambassador dog for Pawsitive Pets.  Carl became co-owner in 2024 and is currently working toward an internationally recognized dog trainer certification.

Carl's pronouns are he/him.






Patrick Holland, CPDT-KA 


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Co-Owner

Patrick has worked directly with animals since 2010 focusing on behavior and learning to effectively implement force-free training
techniques. He graduated Purdue University with a BS in Animal Science and a concentration in Companion Animal Behavior. He received the
Certificate of Achievement in Dog Training in 2012 from the Animal Behavior College. He earned his Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed certification through the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers in 2015. As of 2021 he has registered over 90 continuing education credits. He is also a Training Mentor for the CATCH Academy to help students learn the skills necessary to make a positive impact in the animal industry.

Patrick's pronouns are he/him.









Managers











Julie Becker



Training Department Manager and Pet Care Professional

Julie has always had a passion for working with animals, particularly with behavioral training, starting with showing her childhood dogs in 4H. This passion has continued into her professional career. She has an associates degree in Applied Science in Veterinary Technology and worked at the Broad Ripple Animal Clinic for 6 years prior to moving to Lafayette. When she is not working with animals, Julie enjoys spending time outdoors, dancing, and hanging out with friends and her husband, Scott, who is in vet school here at Purdue!

Julie's pronouns are she/her.










Katie Hutsell


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Pet Sitting/Dog Walking Department Manager and Senior Pet Care Professional

Katie has been working at Pawsitive Pets since 2017. Before working at Pawsitive Pets, she regularly volunteered at her local animal shelter and worked at Purdue's Animal Disease Diagnostics Lab. Katie's zoo consists of a dog, two cats, and a saltwater fish tank!

Katie’s pronouns are she/her.












Pet Care Staff






Graci Homburg



Pet Care Professional

Graci is a student at Purdue University studying animal science. Growing up, she spent a lot of time around different animals like cows, pigs, dogs, and cats as she grew up on a farm. She participated in 4-H showing swine for 10 years and was the treasurer/vice president of her high school’s FFA. She has also had a soft spot for dogs. She interned at a vet clinic her senior year of high school and even has helped family and friends with pet sitting.

Outside of working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going on adventures, and playing video games!

Graci’s pronouns are she/her.







Jess Thuma



Pet Care Professional

Jess is a student at Purdue University studying environmental engineering. She has grown up around all kinds of animals, her family has always had a dog or two. Growing up with dogs she understands the unique role that pets play in our lives and appreciates the differing personalities of animals. In addition to dogs, she grew up riding horses at 16 she started training young horses and currently owns and trains a 2-year-old gelding. While working at a horse facility for two years she also learned to work with cows, pigs, and even camels.

When not working on homework or with her horse you'll likely find Jess getting a coffee with friends, volunteering at nearby animal shelters, or planning a future road trip.

Jess's pronouns are she/her.







Babbi Dickensheets-Holland



Pet Care Professional

Babbi has a degree in Anthropology from Ball State University. During her time at Ball State she studied some Primatology courses on Ape and Monkey behavior. She has been an animal enthusiast all her life; and has had dogs, cats and freshwater fish at home. She also happens to be our co-owner, Patrick's, life partner and has followed his guidance in the training and care for their 2 dogs (Miley and Panda) and 2 cats (Aj and Elephant). Babbi has been working with Pawsitive Pets LLC since 2023. She enjoys furthering her skills and education to best serve our clients. In her free time she likes to paint, draw, read, and go camping.

Babbi's pronouns are she/her.







Reagan Johnson



Pet Care Professional

Reagan is a senior at Purdue University majoring in English Education with a minor in Human Services and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. She has always had a big heart for animals and began working with them as a boarding and daycare attendant for three years. She’s been working at Pawsitive Pets for over a year and loves what she does!

Outside of working with animals, Reagan enjoys teaching dance classes, crocheting, and hanging out with friends and family!

Reagan's pronouns are she/her.







Morgan Moller



Pet Care Professional

Bio coming soon!







Rachel Peterson



Pet Care Professional

Bio coming soon!







Grace Bronnenberg



Pet Care Professional

Bio coming soon!

















Training Staff











Amanda Henry



Trainer and Pet Care Professional

Amanda is an avid animal lover who is currently attending Purdue University to learn more about animal welfare and behavior. She has two dogs, a cattle dog named Murphy and a yellow lab named Zappa, and in her free time she enjoys training for and competing in dog sports with them.

Amanda's pronouns are she/her.








Ryan Stephanoff



Trainer




Ryan was born in Syracuse, NY where he lived for 17 years. He then moved Wentzville, MO and graduated high school and went onto the University of Missouri- Columbia. While there he obtained his B.S in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology. He then went on to intern at a wild sanctuary in White Hills, AZ. There he managed the care of exotic animals such as lions, tigers, wolves, and reptiles. He then went back to St. Louis, MO for another internship where he participated in a research study on mating behaviors of Mexican wolves as they were to be released out into the wild. He would get his fist zookeeper position at Cameron Park Zoo in Waco, TX. There he managed the care and trained many of the mammal collection including African elephants, African lions, Sumatran tigers, giraffes, white rhinos, black bears, mountain lions, and small primates. He then moved onto Zoo Atlanta where he was more specialized and managed the care and training of just the carnivore collection, including giant otters, Asian small clawed otters, sun bears, lions, tigers and clouded leopard. After that he moved to Rapid City, SD. He obtained his CPDT-KA certification while there and first chance he got left and finds himself in Lafayette, IN. He has now been with us for over a year working with emotional issues such as separation anxiety, resource guarding, and frustration on leash, and fear towards dogs and people.

Ryan has a Bernese Mountain dog who is 7 years old and he acclimating to apartment life. His name is Puck and depending on the season weighing in between 108 and 113lbs.



Ryan's pronouns are he/him.