DAP-s Staff

Thanks For Visiting Dogs At Play!

Monday - Friday 7:00-6:30 Saturday 9:00-1:00 Sunday 9:00-1:00 and 4:00-6:00

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2129 Wrightsville Avenue

Wilmington, NC 28403

(910) 342-0602

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"Bug" spends more time at DAP than any of us so it seemed fitting that he head up the Staff Page. In 2006 Stephen Watson, yet another extraordinary human at New Hanover County Animal Control, called us because he had a dog with special circumstances. Stephen found this little guy in Pender County guarding his mother's dead body. After lots of patience and care, Stephen and staff finally got the little wild dog and after just a few days at NHCACS they were concerned that he wasn't adoptable. He was so shy and fearful that he would defecate when a new human walked in the room. He was only four months old. So Whitney, owner of DAP, in a very rare moment of weakness, agreed to move the little "Bugger" into her home. After just a week he was named "Bug". "Bug" slept on the pillow next to Whitney's head for weeks and weeks, nonetheless, every morning he would retreat with fear as if he didn't know her. But he always felt safe with her other dogs. He would run to them with enthusiasm and exuberance. He was always fair and kind and communicated with them very well. So, after four months, it became clear to Whitney, a rather slow human, that "Bug" would be happiest living at her business, Dogs At Play. To this day "Bug" enjoys spending each day playing with all our canine visitors, chasing squirrels, napping on the playground equipment, and jumping for joy when the "regulars" appear. Every night he sleeps soundly in a crate with a comfy bed and a stuffed gorilla. He knows the staff, ahem.. "his staff", very well but he is always aware of a change. Every single day he reminds us what it means to be a dog. He is our best friend and always makes sure to take care of your best friend.

BUG

Whitney Doremus

Owner

J.P. Doney

General Manager

Amanda Pithan

Assistant Manager

John Robbins

Play Yard Supervisor

Brandy Burnette

Play Yard Supervisor

Julia Eger

Play Yard Supervisor

Kindall Walker

Play Yard Attendant

Working with DAP since 2005

I am originally from Syracuse, New York and due to the fact that I am not a big fan of snow, I moved down to North Carolina in 2003. I started out in Greenville, attending ECU and eventually ended up transferring to UNCW around 2005 to obtain my teaching degree. Shortly after I moved to Wilmington I was hired at DAP, and since I began working here I have enjoyed each year more than the one before. It has been very rewarding getting to know both dogs and their parents. I love the fact that we are a family here at DAP! We genuinely care about each of our co-workers and our customers. I anticipate coming in each day to get the latest update on what’s happening in each of your lives and to spend time with your canine loved ones. I consider myself very lucky to be able to work here, and I look forward to caring for you and your dogs in the years to come.

Working with DAP since 2010

Amanda is also our Dog Behavior Specialist and the lead trainer of Super Dogs Positive Pet Dog Training. Be sure to check out our Super Dog Training Page to learn how you and your dog can have fun training together. And the best part is that your dog gets to play with her at DAP in between lessons!

The DAP Staff

Enjoy reading our bio's! Once you do you will understand why your dog should spend some time with the staff at DAP

Other than Bug all staff members are Certified in Pet First Aid and are constantly educated on the latest information in Dog Behavior. In Bug's defense, he wouldn't be much use in a medical emergency and he already knows more than we do about dog behavior.

Working with DAP since 2010

Working with DAP since 2012

When I was a kid I acted like a dog. Literally, I walked on all fours, barked, cocked my head when I was confused (which was a lot), and would even paw at my mother to get her attention. I watched our dogs closely and mimicked them. Much to my twin brother's dismay, I even behaved this way at school. Fortunately one day a teacher told me I was too old to behave like that so I ditched the dog act to behave like a human. Nonetheless it was no surprise to anyone when I adopted my own dog the minute I moved into my own apartment. And it was even less shocking when just a year later, in 1997, I began instructing the dog training classes at Petsmart in Gainesville, FL. I wanted to learn so much more than I could at Petsmart and from the books on the shelf so I started working with long time trainer and author, Dee ZurBurg. For a year I soaked up everything she could teach me while teaching for her at her school. She took me to seminars and dog obedience trials and encouraged me to read all the latest books. It was during this time that I learned that any dog can be taught anything using purely positive methods and kindness. In January of 1999 when I left Gainesville I told Dee I wanted to move back to Wilmington where I planned to start a Doggy Daycare. It took almost three years working at Dogtrain, gaining more experience, and coming into my own as a dog trainer. By the time I opened DAP in 2001 I knew how to fairly teach and manage every dog with kindness. I knew because I had seen another way and it made me very uncomfortable, so I had to be sure I learned. DAP was very popular with my former students right from the beginning. So much so that in 2002 I opened a second location on Carolina Beach Road. By 2006 I made the decision to focus on one location and make it perfect. What we have now is a perfectly designed set up that we find keeps the dogs safe, is easy to manage and the dogs always have lots of fun! In fact DAP has been operating so smoothly for so long and with the same staff members in place that since January of 2010 I have been living in Vermont almost full time. I visit Wilmington every couple of months and spend several months here in the winter over the holidays. I talk with the DAP humans daily and love looking at all the pictures on Facebook everyday. I miss DAP when I am away however while in Vermont I stay busy teaching classes and working on all kinds of projects with the Humane Society of Chittenden County.

Hi, I'm Amanda...but it's ok if you know me better as Java, Afu, and Symbiosis' human! We moved to Wilmington a couple of years ago from Wisconsin in pursuit of warmer weather. I love working here because I am able to use my degree in Zoology/Animal Behavior from University of Wisconsin-Madison in a practical way: watching your dogs at play! I've spent the last 12 years of my life studying dogs and all kinds of animals. I researched Cotton-top Tamarins, Rhesus Monkeys and Pygmy Marmosets, and even spent a summer analyzing killer whales in the Puget Sound!

After working with exotic animals, I came back to dogs. For the last ten years I've lead group obedience classes and became a Certified Pet Dog Trainer in 2003, a Certified Evaluator for Canine Good Citizen as well as a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. My passion for behaviorism lead me to work with dogs with specific behavioral issues one-on-one in a private consult setting. I have my first-rescued, idiosyncratic Symbiosis, to thank for that! Symbi is a 5-year-old border collie/husky mix. His crazy sisters are Java Dog, a 2-year-old husky/chocolate lab mix; and Afu, a 2-year-old Mastiff.

When I'm not playing "B-A-L-L," I am always in the gym, or planning a trip to Kenya, Wisconsin, or the beach. My next field of interest in the dog world? Canine MASSAGE THERAPY. Yes, your dogs are helping me learn while they take snuggle breaks during play. No...they don't seem to mind! I look forward to meeting you...please introduce yourself!

Hey guys, my name is John. I am originally from the “Joisey Shore” and I know what you want to ask me. No, I do not have a Jersey accent and I never have! I moved to North Carolina in 2008. I then became a certified Wildlife Rehabilitator and dealt with everything from orphaned baby squirrels and cottontails, to Pelicans and Birds of Prey.

I moved to Wilmington in the Fall of 2009 to pursue my degree in Biology at UNCW. Within my degree I had decided to focus on the behavioral ecology and conservation of reptiles and amphibians. Since moving here, I have acquired quite the collection of exotic animals as well as my two best friends, my dogs Saint and Raza!

Throughout my life, I have never had a job that hasn’t had to do with animals. I got my first job at 13 working at a pet store, where I stayed for 7 years. So if you have any questions like, “Why is my fish tank always so cloudy?” or “Why is my dog always so itchy” feel free to pop in and ask! There are very few questions about animal husbandry/nutrition that I haven’t heard before.

Here at Dogs at Play I enjoy finding out about what your dogs got into in your trash at home, getting slobbered on, ......OK all joking aside; I enjoy dedicating my time here to helping the newcomers’ transition into the atmosphere easily, and keeping the regulars stimulated. I love getting to know each of your dogs and sometimes they start feeling like my very own, and of course I treat them as if they were!

I truly believe that there is no such thing as “just a dog”. They are our friends in all circumstances, love us without bounds, and are always happy to rejoin their family as I’m sure you will notice when you come to pick your best buddy/buddies up from an awesome day of daycare here at Dogs at Play!

My name is Brandy and I enjoy hanging out with dogs, watching and learning their mannerisms, and playing with your dogs here at DAP, of course! My favorite thing about working at a Doggie Daycare is getting to see the true “smile” on a dogs face when they get picked up after a long day of play by the people they love most! I have owned both dogs and cats all my life however, dogs have always been my first and foremost love! My love for animals in general surfaced when I was in elementary school and wanted to become a veterinarian. I have since then realized I am terrible at biology and decided my expertise was playing and caring for dogs instead ☺! I began work with several animal shelters from Louisburg, NC to Wilmington, NC and haven’t stopped since! I also foster with Columbus Humane Society and do a transport or two along the way as well as help out with Adoption Fairs on the weekends. In my spare time, I enjoy going home to Raleigh (my hometown) to cheer on my Carolina Hurricanes, traveling to Washington D.C. to cheer on my Redskins, and of course hang out with all my furry family! My favorite activities to do with my dogs are take walks in Hugh MacRae park and watch dog-related movies – who could resist laughing at those funny looks they give the TV?

I was born in Canton, Ohio and moved to High Point, NC when I was 3 years old. I attended High Point Christian Academy grades K through 12 and graduated in 2009. After graduation, I went to UNCW to study Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. I plan on graduating from UNCW in 2013 and then go to either FSU or The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising to get my Master’s in Fashion Merchandising. I love dogs and could not have asked for a better job! I’ve grown up with dogs my whole life and am having a lot of trouble with not being able to have dogs on campus! Back home in High Point I have an adorable 130 lbs. Labradoodle, Hershey, who is the sweetest dog in the world and thinks he’s a lap dog! We also have a crazy little mutt, Roxy, who keeps him very active! When I’m not at school or work I love to play sports, go to the gym, go to the beach, or shop. I also really love working with kids- I spent a summer as a camp counselor in New Orleans. I currently teach 3rd grade boys at Port City Community Church, and in 2008 I went to Brazil where we put on soccer camps for kids. I’m so excited to be a part of DAP and can’t wait to get to know you and your dogs better!

Kindall joined our DAP team in January of 2012. In October of 2011 Kindall was hired at Sudslingers Dog Wash to help them out through the holidays. Well help them she did! We heard reports right aways about what a wonderful worker Kindall was, how great she was with the dogs, and how much fun she is. So when the holiday rush was over we asked if we could share her. They agreed and now Kindall works at DAP and Sudslingers. And just as we were told, she has been a great addition. Kindall is full of personality and laughs and she just may have found her calling in the dog world!

House Dog

Living with DAP since 2008