Ethical Pet Care Alliance

"Don't let perfection be the enemy of progress," Voltaire, Winston Churchill

Meeting Information

Join Us!

What is the commitment?

What if you didn't have to tell your client to do their own research when they ask for a referral in the pet industry?

Inspired By:

LIMA LIFE

We are in the process of creating an application, review, and auditing process for each field. We need input from pet professionals in each field to help with creation so that each process is molded by people who understand the ethics and needs of each type of service.

Please tell us what is important to you!

Working Vision:

Working together to create a trusted network of ethical pet professionals in the south Puget Sound area. We hope to educate and inspire professional pet carers to be benevolent and humane in the fields of their profession.

Original Call To Action:

Hi everyone,
We* are going to be starting a nonprofit organization for ethical pet professionals. The goal of this meeting is to begin shaping what this organization will look like.

Our current vision is to have a way to keep each other accountable while fostering an environment for improvement. We hope to offer scholarships for professionals seeking to improve their methodology and offer a safe space to help understand ethical care for animals and how to improve.

I believe everyone does the best they can with the information they have. I believe problems form when people don't have access to more information or simply don't seek it. Please leave your ego at the door when you enter. There is always going to be something more to learn and this environment will be one of support and growth.

We want you to help us improve the pet industry as a whole and you all have something of value to add to this mission. Feel free to come with a list of ideas if you feel inspired to do so! I look forward to starting this journey with you all!

*We refers to any of you who would like to help form this organization!

-Stephanie Beausoleil, CBCC-KA

Working Mission:

Our mission is to provide support, education, and resources to professional pet care takers in Washington State committed to compassionate, ethical care.
We value the well being of your pets and strive to help those in the roles of trainer, boarding, daycare, grooming, veterinary medicine, dog walkers, and all professional caretakers to be educated and compassionate when caring for pets. We are a bridge between pet parents who seek compassionate and ethical services and those in the pet care industry providing these services. Membership is offered to pet professionals who are willing to seek opportunities for growth and continuing education.

Team Members

Stephanie Beausoleil, CBCC-KA

Founder

She/Her
Stephanie is the owner of Notre Dog Academy and the founder and creator of the Ethical Pet Care Alliance. She has a BS in Psychology from PLU and started her career as an intern working with service dogs at the Prison Pet Partnership in 2011.

John Amadeo MBA, MA, KPA CTE

He/Him

John brings 32 years of professional experience teaching, coaching, mentoring and training. John entered the dog training world in 2021 and has put in hundreds of hours in formal training education as well as volunteering with several shelters to solidify his understanding and appreciation for Reward-Based dog training.

Amber Oden, DVM

Gabz Puz, CPDT-KA

Founder

She/Her
Gabz has been working professionally with dogs for over seven years. Her first Dog Job was at a dog daycare and training facility in Ellensburg, Washington. This was Gabz's first introduction to reading dog body language, defensive dog handling skills, and of course, the magical world of Reward-Based dog training. In 2019, Gabz underwent testing and earned the title of Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge-Assessed (CPDT-KA).

Jordan French

Cari McKinstry

Founder

She/Her

Poppy Foxheart, KPA-CTP

She/They
Poppy is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and IAABC's Cat Behavior Consultant Mentorship Program and The Aggression in Dogs Mastercourse. Before coming to Tacoma in 2020, her love of animals lead her to volunteer with several rescues and shelters in the Bay Area. Poppy attends workshops and conferences to build her skills and stay current with the science and ethics of force free, positive reinforcement training.

Kendra Loftis

She/Her

I adopted my first dog, a Border Collie mix named Roxy, in 2003 and it was with her I found my love of training dogs. I enrolled at Animal Behavior College shortly after and upon graduating did a year long apprenticeship with a local trainer. I learned that I love helping foster relationships between dogs and their humans and have been continuing my education and training ever since.

Leslie Csokasy, CDBC, CPDT-KA, FFCP

Founder

She/Her
Leslie Csokasy is a North Seattle based dog trainer and behavior consultant, holding certifications with several national and international organizations. Leslie is the founder and owner of Great Dog in Seattle, Beyond Canine Learning, and BARK Espresso. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Greyhound Association. With nearly 30 years of experience, she has pioneered innovative daycare and training programs rooted in science-based practices and enrichment-focused care, specializing in behavioral readiness assessments, managing complex behaviors, and providing mentorship for aspiring trainers.

Risë Windell

She/Her
Risë is the co-owner and head photographer at Windell Portraits studio in Lakewood, WA. She specializes in photographing pets and their humans. She has achieved the level of Master Photographer through The Portrait Masters. She is also a protégé of Peter Hurley's Headshot Crew. Her unusual first name rhymes with Lisa.

Cecily Joque

She/Her

I have 20+ years experience as a professional dog trainer as well as working in animal sheltering. I have been breeding and showing my dogs for over 20 years and enjoy building my relationships with them through training. I also love to teach and coach my clients to learn to do the same and most of all have fun with their dogs!

Meetings

Meetings will be held the 3rd Sunday of every month or the 4th Sunday if the 3rd is a holiday.

Starting October 27th, meetings will be available in person or virtually.

Discord Link

Past

Meeting Summary

Future

August 17th, 2025

10:00AM

online only

https://discord.com/invite/JsJKCVyG56?event=1349867679200182406

September 21st, 2025

10:00AM

Location TBD

Join the Mailing list

Levels of Commitment

In an effort to respecting everyone's time, we have developed role options with their monthly estimated time commitment.

Shaper (3-5 hours):

- Attend monthly meetings

- Receive all update emails

Committee Member (6+ hours):

- Attend monthly meetings

- Serve on committees to work on a specific need for the organization
Committee Lead (10+ hours):

- Attend monthly meetings

- Lead a group to accomplish a specific need for the organization

Founder (15+ hours):

- Attend monthly meetings

- Additional meetings as needed

- Be involved in every aspect of formation and sustainability of the organization

- Possible employment for the organization in the future

Member (none):

- Receive regular updates on formation of the organization - No commitment required until applications are ready to join the organization as a paying member

Advisory Board (0-2+):

- Receive email updates as the organization forms

- Encouraged to attend monthly meetings

Once formed:

- Attend monthly meetings

- Be available to address ethical concerns for the organization on an ongoing basis

Board of Directors (none until formation):

- Receive email updates as the organization forms

- In the future, be elected to a Board of directors for a limited term to help with fund raising, governing the organization, marketing, HR, etc.

Contact Us:

Phone Number: (650) 265-1193‬

Text or email is preferred. All messages will be responded to when a volunteer is available.