Growing up in the South with a large extended family, Misty claimed every pet as her own. Pushing them around in doll strollers and even renaming them when she felt their personalities didn't match their actual name. Because the pets loved the attention, the family just usually went along with it. That hasn't changed. Gifted a dog stroller a couple years ago, she can often be seen in her neighborhood pushing her chihuahua, Oliver, around in it while walking her senior Great Dane or her blind Dane Mix rescue pup. 

After starting her work career in the service industry at 14, she eventually moved into office administrative roles. After a layoff in 2012, she took the opportunity to move back into the service industry in a corporate hospitality setting. For the last 10 years, she quickly advanced from server to Upper Management roles in restaurants, catering, and resort hotels. Feeling a need after the pandemic to find a role more personally fulfilling and beneficial to others, she was happy to find a role perfect for her here at Pet Paradise that still has strong roots into her hospitality background. She enjoys telling people she pets dogs for a living. Joining such an amazing team has made this such an easy transition and she couldn't be more excited to come to work every day and meet all the pets and their families.

After a long tenure of 18 years working her way through the ranks at the Jacksonville Humane Society, Heather joined Pet Paradise JIA as a supervisor and has now joined our management team as an assistant manager. Growing up, she was always surrounded by animals in her home.  As she got older and had homes of her own, she continued to surround herself with tons of little paws.  Heather has two fur babies and 1 human baby that she cares for.

Luke is our newest member of the Management Team, having been promoted from Supervisor shortly after starting with Pet Paradise. 

Ever since he was a little kid, he was caring for dogs. Constantly bringing home strays, much to his parents dismay. He just has a passion for helping animals. Growing up in a Military family, Luke moved around often but claims North Carolina as "home". He is enjoying Jacksonville and currently has 2 dogs, 2 cats and a bearded dragon.

Since she was a young girl, Jamie has always enjoyed the natural environment and the animals that surround her. With a background in customer service, education, and animal care Jamie has a well varied skill set that will help grow our Pet Paradise team! She currently owns a rescued 10yr old bully mix, a retired 5yr old Dogo Argentino show dog, as well as several fish tanks. 

From obedience, to dock diving, to conformation showing, Jamie has acquired quite a skill set when it comes to pet handling and training over the years. From a young age, she knew she wanted to work with animals. After 12 years in hospitality, and 4 years as an elementary school teacher, she has finally found her niche. Working in the pet industry has been a much-desired goal of hers, now she can apply her passion and knowledge with our staff and pets!