Stephanie Thornton, Office Manager Extraordinaire
In 2002 Stephanie craved a change of pace. Having worked in various Sonoma County offices for many years, she sought a way to combine
her administrative skills with her passion for dogs. When she joined the Olivet Kennel staff, the chemistry was instant. In fact, it
is not an exaggeration to say that Stephanie is the heart of Olivet Kennel. Her personable style with clients and deep compassion
for animals brings the right combination to create the home-away-from-home we strive to offer our canine guests. Stephanie knows each
dog’s likes and dislikes as well as their owners’ concerns.
Something you might not know about Stephanie -- she plays a mean game of Trivial Pursuit, especially if the category is "Cinema". When she isn’t busy running the front office at Olivet Kennel, you’re likely to find her at the movies or in charge of the BBQ. Our advice: come hungry.
Wendy Hatfield, Kennel Manager and Top Dog Chef
Wendy is a hometown "girl" and for the past 10 years has been professionally caring for dogs. When she first came to
Olivet Kennel as a Kennel Technician, her passion for dogs shined and her organizational skills in managing their care stood out.
Wendy is a certified pet groomer, trained in pet first aid and has been Olivet’s Kennel Manager since 2006.
When Wendy isn’t working at Olivet Kennel, she’s busy producing exceptional dog biscuits at the commercial kitchens of "Waggin Tails Cookies" (www.livercookies.com). In her free time, you probably will find Wendy creatively making beaded jewelry and having a great time with her dogs Smokey and Nestle.
Paul Meyer, Kennel Technician
Paul has been professionally caring for dogs for the past six years and at Olivet Kennel since 2005. Paul just can’t seem to
get enough play time with the dogs and often can be found taking his break while hanging out with one of Olivet Kennel’s canine
guests. Recently a bouncy black lab named Norman joined Paul’s life and has become a most welcomed member of our pack.
When Paul isn’t working, he’s a part time college student who is known to procrastinate studying by playing all night card games of "Magic". Just get him going and you’ll also learn another facet we love about him - he’s a total computer geek.
Maxine, Mascot, Greeter and Office Assistant
About 4 years ago a gentleman arrived at Olivet Kennel with a 4 pound furry bundle in his arms. No longer physically able to care
for his Pomeranian mix, he was seeking a new home for his puppy. Sapir found her impossible to resist and agreed to keep Maxine,
confident he would place her in a good home. Little did he know, or so he says, that she would snuggle right in to out hearts and
become an important member of the Olivet family.
Maxine wakes up every day at Jane and Sapir’s home and waits by the door, eager to earn a living. She’s found her dream job, hanging out in the Olivet Kennel reception area greeting our clients and bringing them toys she loves to fetch. Come check her out and see how she "tricks for treats".
Caity Bruttig, Kennel Technician
When Caity joined the Olivet Staff in 2007 we marveled at how well she balanced being a full time student at Sonoma State University, working part time at Olivet and finding all the necessary hours to care for her horse. Since then Caity has added extensive involvement in her sorority to her repertoire and we continue to be amazed. Caity is our "Go To" person; when we have many tasks to accomplish and very little time, Caity is our master of multi-tasking. And always on her list: giving belly rubs!
We’re proud to add that Caity will soon be graduating from Sonoma State and we look forward to her continued connection with Olivet, expanding her dog training and dog handling skills for future endeavors.
Yonatan Weiss, Kennel Technician
Yonatan has been working part time at Olivet since 2005. Caring for and training dogs came to him practically through osmosis - Yonatan is the son of Jane and Sapir! The large grassy Olivet training field has been his playground since before he could walk and when he was old enough to work, Olivet was the natural progression.
When Yonatan isn’t at work or in college you’ll probably find him doing what he’s most passionate about: snowboarding, backpacking, playing guitar, or above all, playing rugby. He’s now in his 6th season as a "rugger" with no word of retirement.
Dana, Olivet’s New Addition
Jane and Sapir are the proud new owners of Dana and we’re all very excited to have her join the Olivet Family. Raised in Germany until the age of three, Dana is an exceptional German Shepherd. She holds a Schutzhund I title and is a natural at personal protection, tracking and obedience, however her personal favorites are playing ball and giving face licks. She’s agile, athletic, has a wonderfully sound temperament and assists Sapir in training and at lectures. While Dana can play rough and tough, she has the gentlest soul and is a perfect addition to our pack.
More questions? Please call us at (707) 542-2066.
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