The DogTrekker staff is made up, quite naturally, of folks who love dogs. We count on our furry friends to sniff out and put paws to the test on all the places we tell you about in the DogTrekker newsletter and here on DogTrekker.com. Here's a look at our contributors and their inspirations.
DogTrekker founders Roxanne and Dave Kendrick have spent decades trekking with their dogs, most recently with "Research Labs" Coco and Kayla. They, along with Lola, Tiffy, Little Dog, Taffy, Kiko and Thumper, have provided a lifetime of love and joy and are the true inspiration behind DogTrekker.
Janet Fullwood, our newsletter wordsmith, lives and travels with a bird-finding, water-loving Brittany named Bodacious whose activity level can be described as 15 on a scale of 1 to 10. Irish setters also have played a big part in her life, along with the occasional mutt that became a cherished family member.
Mary Eisenhart, our writer/researcher, hangs out with Callie, a 13-year-old deaf Dalmatian adopted in puppy-hood who believes people were put on the planet to pet her and give her treats. Her household also includes Cash, a two-year-old border collie/Lab mix who brings a dedicated work ethic to ball chasing.
Roger Coryell, our marketing and web strategist and chief kennel helper, is herded around at home by Rowdy, an Australian shepherd mix who is writer Mary's onetime foster-dog. A debt of gratitude goes out to the late and sorely missed Heidi, a shepherd/Rottweiler mix who kept Roger on task throughout the site-development process.
Greg Wilker, our project manager, has a 12-year-old daughter who cherishes an eight-pound rat terrier named Buddy, best known for his miraculous recovery from a near-death experience with a car.
Kim Paternoster, our wicked coder, describes Beemer, her 12-year-old chow/golden mix (otherwise known as "The B") as "a breathing floor rug."
Michelle Imbach, our illustrator, fills her leisure time with Riley, a wild and wooly golden-doodle puppy; and Chloe, an American Eskimo/chow/hound mix with a magnetic attraction to water.
Leonard Nelson, our videographer, belongs to Dalmatians Classy (formal name Aberdeen Classical Dallie Llama) and Coda, who sit faithfully at his feet in his studio as he ponders video applications for DogTrekker.
Suzanne Amelung, our graphic designer, shares her life with a Weimaraner named Indee, a Rottweiler named Oso and a pit mix who answers to Roxy.
Erica Vaughn, our chief researcher and all-around "go fetch" contributor, takes a mastiff/Lab rescue named Layah to work to inspire her, and at home has a six-month-old mastiff that should weigh in at just over 200 pounds when grown. The two of them should help keep pet food businesses in the Bay Area healthy for a number of years!