About Uptown Pup
Welcome to Uptown Pup! We use the latest and best in canine science to create the happiest, healthiest environment for dogs in Indianapolis. Our Dog Boarding Resort & Dog Grooming Salon use proven Adaptil Dog Appeasing Pheromones (DAP) to promote calm and reduce stress. In addition, Resort guests enjoy Through a Dog’s Ear music and Thunderease scent therapy. And our Dog Daycare & Canine Fitness areas offer doggie games, enriching activities, and loving humans. Lastly, our Dog Training Team is Karen Pryor Academy certified and adhere to proven positive-reinforcement methods. This creates smart, confident, and happy pups.
Our strongest asset, however, is our staff. The Uptown Pup team has extensive animal care experience and a passion for dogs. In addition, our owners and management team are Fear–Free certified and Pet Tech Canine CPR & First Aid-certified. Lastly, our entire staff is trained through the renowned Dog Gurus system.
The Uptown Pup Team
Owners
Mandy Stetzel, Owner
Mandy has loved dogs for as long as she could talk. (One of her first words was “dog” — you can ask her parents.) After a lifetime of owning dogs, she began studying them and working in the animal welfare field. Knowing dogs bring so much joy to our species, shecreated Uptown to offer dogs as much joy in return. Mandy is Canine CPR & First-Aid certified and Fear-Free Boarding certified. Most importantly, she’s the proud owner of four rescue dogs (and a rescue kitten who grew up at Uptown).
Kathleen Schonsheck, Owner
Kathleen is a lifelong dog lover with 10+ years experience in the daycare, grooming, and shelter worlds. In addition, she has a background in human rehabilitation and personal training. She founded Uptown with a mission to create a wonderful place for people to work with dogs and their owners. After becoming a Certified Canine Fitness Trainer in 2018, she now enjoys helping dogs live longer, healthier lives.
Managers
Katie Spruill, General Manager
Katie is a graduate of the Karen Pryor Academy and a Fear-Free certified dog trainer. She has an incredible gift for understanding canine psychology. Her years as a dog trainer allowed her to greatly improve the life of every dog she encounters. With her incredible skills in dog training, it came as no surprise that she’s equally adept at managing humans. She transitioned to the position of General Manager of our facility in 2022. Our staff knows Katie as the human equivalent of a ray of sunshine. She’s the proud owner of dogs Havoc and Gypsy, and her goal is to empty animal shelters everywhere
Jimmy Maxwell, Training Manager
Jimmy began his life as a dog trainer in 2010, when he and his lab Lambeau became a search-and-rescue team. He quickly learned the power of positive training, and used those skills in search-and-rescue & service-dog training throughout the country. With 9 years experience working with youth, Jimmy has a heart for dogs and people. He unites those passions by helping humans and dogs communicate and learn from each other. Jimmy is a graduate of Karen Pryor Academy and a charter member of Hoosier State Search and Rescue. And last but not least, he is director of our Training Department. He lives in Speedway with his wife Kelli, daughter Ellie, and their pups Kodi and Copper.
Brooke Neace, Assistant Manager
Brooke started working with dogs in 2016, when she found her passion for positive-reinforcement training. After running our Day School and Boarding School programs, she transitioned to Assistant Manager of our facility. As with Katie, Brooke’s ability to teach, train, and manage wasn’t limited to one species. Her skills and strengths make our facility stronger and better in every way. She’s the proud mom of her dogs Koda and Shoo, and welcomed son Cass to the world in 2024.
Alyssa Franklin, Grooming Lead
Alyssa is a natural with all animals and spent her life caring for dogs, cats, hamsters, ducks, turkeys, and more. Her heart for animals and exceptional work ethic makes her critical to every part of our building. She began as a Team Lead in Daycare and Resort. There, she quickly learned how to understand dogs’ language and make them comfortable and happy. These skills helped her transition to full-time Groomer, where she trained in the Salon @ Uptown. She’s now employing her talents to create a positive, calming groom experience for dogs. Alyssa is the proud owner of rescue pup Karev (aka Kurd or Karot), 3 kitties, and a spider Fiona.
Team
Bree Reeves, Front Desk, Event Coordinator, Daycare, Resort
Bree has a B.S. in Exercise Science from U. of Indy and is working toward her Masters in Special Education. She came to us with experience working with children in ABA Therapy and as a nanny. Her brother worked at another dog daycare facility, and she realized she would love it in this field. We’re lucky to have her on our team, where she works in Daycare, Resort, Front Desk and as Event Coordinator. She says working with dogs is similar to working with children with autism. She loves applying her knowledge and experience to teaching and caring for our dogs. Bree is Fear Free certified in Daycare and Boarding and owns her own pet-sitting business, SitBarkSleep. Not to mention she’s working on adding dog training to her skillset. She’s the proud mom of Bruno, a gorgeous boxer/pitbull/chow mix, and Whiskey and Tequila, tortoiseshell siblings.
Meg Owens, Enrichment, Tummy Rub Club
Meg was one of the original motivators behind launching Uptown Pup, and we wouldn’t be here today without her. She works with our Enrichment, Resort, Little Dog Daycare, and Tummy Rub Club guests. She never stops providing our dogs with love, attention, and as many belly rubs as possible. Her long history with dogs began as a toddler, when she helped care for her first family dog. From there, she adopted her dogs Wynnie, Mokey, Rolo, and now Piper, the most perfect cocker spaniel ever.
Josiah Cox, Resort Lead
Josiah started in the veterinary assistant field, and we happily recruited him to our team. His calming presence and compassionate demeanor help in even the toughest situations. In addition, his skill-set and experience make him the best at what he does. He loves working with dogs because they’re unconditionally loving. And he finds it especially rewarding to work with the most shy and nervous pups. He knows under that anxious shell, there are lots of tail wags and tons of love waiting to emerge. As dad to a spoiled pittie mix and drooling cat who thinks he’s a dog, Josiah is a gift to every animal!
Eric Herman, Training, Daycare
Eric grew up with dogs and has always loved animals, so working with them is a huge major bonus. Since 2017, he’s worked in several facilities and learned so much from every pup. At Uptown, he feels he finally found the right place to give dogs the best possible care. He wanted a workplace that truly advocates for dogs, no matter the complexity of their needs. His passion for canine behavior led him to become a trainer, to help strengthen the dog-owner bond and communication. Not a day goes by that Eric doesn’t something new from dogs. He loves the human and dog friends he’s made in this field and wouldn’t trade it for the world! His daughter, 7-year-old Lilly the Golden, loves water and anything cold and wet. Including snow and mud! Her strong suit is being patient with puppies and shy dogs, she’s never met a stranger.
Hannah Kern, Resort
Hannah has always had a passion for animals and desire to learn more about them. She started working with dogs in 2018 and fell in love with watching them learn and grow. The most rewarding part about this job for her is giving them all the comfort and happiness they deserve. She especially enjoys helping nervous and stressed dogs come out of their shells. Her ultimate goals are to become a dog trainer and open her own boarding and training facility. She’s the mom to a 3-year-old pittie mix, Bruno, who loves bubbles, balls, and snuggling with his kitten sister.
Bekah Worpel, Daycare
Hello! My name is Bekah, and I relocated to Indianapolis in 2023. I have a lifelong background with dogs, having begun my involvement in training service dogs for Leader Dogs in 2011. My decision to work with dogs stems from a deep love and passion for caring for animals. Working with dogs is one of my favorite things because they are so loving, loyal, and goofy. I know I’m always going to be smiling while I’m with the dogs. My long-term goal is to become a service dog trainer. I’m the proud owner of family dogs Princess and Ziva. My favorite breeds include Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, and German Shepherds.
Olly Day, Daycare
Olly was 8 when his family adopted their first rescue pup, and the love for dogs was ignited. The pup could be spicy and required patience, which Olly understood and grew to love and bond with him. In 2021, Olly began working with dogs and loves watching them grow from puppies to awkward teens to confident adults. Olly is currently studying psychology and looking to get his Masters in social work. And he hopes to incorporate therapy dog work into his profession. He’s the owner of Juno, a Dane mix who does no wrong, and Toby, a dachshund who brings eternal chaos.
Shep Burke, Daycare, Resort
After walking dogs and volunteering at his animal shelter in high school, Shep began working in a dog hotel in 2021. He quickly fell in love with every breed there. To put it lightly, he adores everything about working with dogs (minus the poop-scooping, to which we can all relate). His goal is to be a service dog trainer and help those in need. He’s the proud owner of Panda, who received angel wings in 2024, and Jean-Luc, a pittie with a head full of “rocks and love.”
Caitlin Golder, Training, Daycare
After reading Karen Pryor’s Don’t Shoot the Dog, Caitlin focused her desire to work with animals on training and behavior. She earned her Karen Pryor dog training certification (KPA-CTP), and we’re so lucky to have her talent in our training and daycare programs. Caitlin brings broad experience with her, including years working at multiple zoos, aquariums, and 13 years of dog experience. The list of species she’s skilled with include sea turtles, sea lions, seals, dolphins, otters, wolves, foxes, parrots, and crows. And she’s worked in dog grooming and with horses! Her favorite part of the job is helping owners achieve the “aha!” moment when dogs show us just how smart they are. Her goal is to continue learning and gaining more certifications to help our friends with paws, claws, and hooves! She is the proud mama of her dog, Calypso.
Blythe Mongeau, Front Desk, Daycare, Resort
Blythe joined Uptown because she wanted to work with people who truly prioritize the well-being of pets. She’s worked with dogs in shelters, rescues, training, grooming, and even other daycares, and her superpower is understanding dog language. With her passion for helping fearful and reactive dogs, she’d like to become a veterinary behaviorist and assist dogs in healing from trauma. Blythe’s obsessions are basketball and poodles. She and her husband have 6 children and 3 standard poodles: Caesar, Titan, and Apollo. Her ultimate goal is to make the world a better place and be the light that reflects Jesus in the world. Uptown is by far her favorite place to work … She loves working with the puppies and says her teammates have been such a blessing!
Grey Pache, Front Desk, Daycare
Before Uptown, Grey worked in another daycare that didn’t quite align with her philosophies. She was referred to us by a friend and we were elated to add her to the team! She enjoys working with dogs because they’re such positive and loving creatures. Her favorite aspect is getting to know and love their individual personalities and learning to make their time here fun. Grey is the proud owner of Hestia, a pittie/boxer mix named after the Greek goddess of hearth and home. She stays busy with three jobs, including being a nanny and an assistant for her friend’s craft business, Transmanmade. Her long-term goals include home ownership and fostering children. She truly loves her job here and we love her back!
Abigail Wooten, Resort
Her long-time dream of working at a dog daycare came to fruition when Abigail joined our team in 2024. Growing up with pets ignited her interest in working with animals. And her ultimate goal is to study business in college and eventually open a doggie daycare and grooming facility. Abigail’s favorite part of working with dogs is spending one-on-one time with them. She’s exceptional at giving unconditional love and attention to our pups. While she’s the only deaf member of her family, Abigail’s entire family speaks ASL. She’s also inspired multiple members of our staff to learn it as well! She’s the proud owner of one dog (Katy) and two cats (Foley and McKenzie).