Staff
Vanessa Armstrong: Owner/ Manager/ Animal Lover
Vanessa’s professional experience includes thirty years as a trainer and show handler, showing and breeding Akitas. She is skilled in dog obedience training, puppy training and behavior modification techniques for troubled dogs. Most recently Vanessa owned and operated a horse stable business in Howard County Maryland. She offered boarding and training for over twenty horses, horseback riding lessons and summer camp for children aged seven to fourteen. Vanessa has developed her training philosophies from a life lived with dogs and a love of learning about them, gathering information and techniques from other trainers and dog behaviorists.
Alice Peirce: Assistant Manager
Alice is a life long animal lover. She has to be, she is Vanessa’s youngest daughter. Alice is a certified veterinarian assistant, raised with Akitas, Basset hounds and Yorkiepoos. Alice started horseback riding at age three, is an amateur farrier and has worked as a barn manager at two horse facilities in Maryland. Alice learned at an early age if you neglect your dog he will pee on your backpack.
Valerie Slattery: Office Manager / Playgroup Supervisor Val lives with three cats, dog (Puck), and her husband Dan. Val has her teaching certificate and currently works part time as a substitute teacher in Howard County. She is great at applying her teaching talents to dog training. Val and Dan had a beloved dog, Scout, for thirteen years.
Valentine Benning: Manager Valentine is a close family friend. She has a BA in psychology and is a certified vet tech. Also a horse woman, she enjoys eventing and foxhunting. Valentine lives in Brookeville with her husband Matt and their yellow lab Ruby.
Shelley Ordway: Groomer Shelley
has been grooming both large and small animals for most of her life.
When she's not at We've Gone To The Dogs she donates her grooming
services to several animal shelters and rescues.She is dedicated to
ensuring that the grooming experience is positive and always spends
extra time with those who are nervous or timid. She currently lives in
Hampstead with her two children, Eric and Elizabeth.
Sarah Seymour: Playgroup Supervisor Sarah is a high school senior with a lifelong passion for animals. She loves horses and dogs, and lives on a small farm with goats, chickens, horses and more- all strictly pets! She is still unsure whether she wants to pursue a career with animals or in the art world (photography). Sarah owns a Sheltie named Wyatt who goes everywhere with her and she loves working with all the dogs at day care.
We've Gone To The Dogs
443-536-5772
1219 Old Taneytown Rd
Westminster, MD 21158
