Biography
Melanie has been in tune with animals for her entire life. Her professional career began 10 years
ago, working with dogs and cats at an upscale pet resort in North Jersey. She continued to grow there,
working seasonally while completing her Animal Behavior certification at Indiana University, from which
she graduated in 2016. Melanie also earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Studio Arts
during her time there.
Through her studies, Melanie found a love for the great apes and spent time in Uganda aiding in
research with the Semliki Chimpanzee Project. After graduation, she obtained a job as the Great Ape
Keeper at a small zoo in Florida, where she cared for a gorilla and an orangutan. It wasn’t long, however,
before Melanie realized the zoo environment was not for her, and her focus began to return to dogs.
After moving to Philly in 2018, Melanie spent a couple of years in the restaurant industry before
taking a job at a doggy daycare in King of Prussia as a handler. She quickly moved up to be their Yard
Manager, overseeing the layout and safety of up to 100 large dogs at play. She developed a sharp eye
for dissecting canine behavior, as well as an expansive knowledge of personality types and breed
tendencies. Melanie also helped design the company’s enrichment program for dogs who could not
participate in group play, ensuring that each dog had an equally enjoyable day.
Melanie joined Philly Unleashed in 2022 to further her knowledge and take steps toward
earning her CPDT-KA. She loves dogs of all shapes and sizes, and she thrives with those who are high-
energy and struggle to contain their impulses. Her approach looks at dogs as individuals, recognizing the
importance of the why behind a behavior and how it can affect a dog’s unique training needs.
Melanie is now a lead teacher for Puppy Kindergarten and Level 1 Obedience as well as a Farm Camp Trainer at Philly Unleashed.
Melanie spends her weekends working at a jazz club in Center City, and in her free time she can
be found painting, hiking, or curled up on the couch with her rescue pitbull, Ziti, and cat, Nub. Keep an
eye out and you might even catch Mel and Ziti moseying around South Philly one day!
