About Unleashed and Lovin’ It

All my life I have loved and wanted to work with animals.  After graduating from Onsted High School I went off to Oakland University to study Zoology.  I quickly found that was not what I wanted to do.  My next step was to study Veterinary Technology at Stautzenberger College in Toledo, OH.  While attending my first year at SC I worked at the Animal Emergency Clinic in Toledo.  By  my second year I left the emergency clinic and started working at the Manchester Veterinary Clinic for Drs. Art & Libby Beaudoin.

After graduating from SC I moved to Manassas, Virginia to work at yet another Animal Emergency Clinic.

After 6 months in Virginia I knew it was not what I wanted.  My mom also wanted me to come home.  I still wanted to work with animals but I didn’t want to work on them.  So, I started researching Dog Daycare.  I soon realized this was what I was supposed to do.  Run my own business, my own Dog Care Facility.  I moved home in October of 2005.  We obtained our loan and land by May of 2006.  Started construction in August of 2006 and opened UNLEASHED and lovin’ it! on January 15, 2007.

I graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1972.  I married Charles Kelley in 1973. I worked different office positions until we decided to have children, and I stayed home to raise my two boys and daughter for the next 6 years.  Since all my kids were in school I decided to become a school bus driver for the next 14 years.  I also was the President of the Support Staff Union at the school for several years.

When my daughter graduated from High School, I decided to look for an office position, and I was hired as an Office Administrator for a local Real Estate Office.  I worked in the Real Estate field for 7 years, learning a lot about computers and public relations.

Laurie moved to Virginia for a Vet Tech position in 2005 and while she was living there she became interested in Dog Day Care.  She decided to put together a business plan and moved back home so that we could start a business.  We decided that Jackson was the best place to open this type of business and so here we are.

I was born in Michigan but moved to North Carolina when I was 2 years old.  I will always consider myself a southern girl even though my home has been here in Michigan since I was 16.

I graduated from James Madison High School with Honors in 1999.  I attended JACC to pursue my health care training a little while after that.  My employment has been diverse with responsibilities that include caring for the elderly, caring for animals and clerical work.  My life as taken me in multiple directions since then and I wouldn’t change any of it for the world. 

I am engaged to Bruce Craig and I am the proud mother of one son, Kendal, whom I should say has kept me on my toes since the day he was born!

I have been with UNLEASHED and lovin’ it! since April of 2008 and I am proud to be a part of everything that goes on here.  I am proud of my contributions to UNLEASHED which have helped to make it a wonderful environment for that special member of your family.

Became Part of The UNLEASHED Family
April 22, 2008

I was born in Battle Creek and moved to Marshall when I was 5.  After I graduated from Marshall Public Schools, I took a few courses at Kellogg Community College before taking a break from schooling.

I have a background working in dog daycares, veterinary clinics & grooming.  I have worked with a variety of animals including dogs and exotics. 

My own pets can drive me a little crazy but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I own two dogs, a rabbit, a hamster and two snakes.  I love my critters!

I love learning, so I spend a lot of time reading as well as training my own dogs.  I love to compete in dog sports, canine mud runs and biathlons.  So when I am not working you can typically find me hiking or playing somewhere with my dogs.  I also love plants and have an ever growing collection.

Became Part of The UNLEASHED Family
February 03, 2014