Meet the Team
OWNER | OPERATOR
Nicole Henry
I founded Uptown Pup for my lifelong passion for animals, for the betterment of the industry, & to provide a personalized service I'd want for my own Pups. With over a decade of experience in the pet industry- including professional in-home pet care, boarding facilities, rescue work, and daycare environments- I bring a comprehensive understanding of animal behavior, wellness, and individualized support. I am trained in caring for pets of all backgrounds and needs, and I have a particular appreciation for the sensitive, selective, and strong-willed ones. Earning the trust of a reactive dog or becoming the chosen person of a once-aloof cat is one of the most rewarding aspects of my work. Animals are my full-time passion, with your pets as my number one priority- always.
PET CARE PROFESSIONAL
Kennedy Gross
I bring over seven years of experience to the Uptown Pup team, along with a lifelong passion for animal care. My background spans kennel settings, veterinary practices, and in-home care, allowing me to draw on my understanding of pet behavior and wellness to thoughtfully support your pet’s individual needs. I am currently completing my Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Augusta University and plan to pursue veterinary school, further expanding my knowledge of animal health and behavior. I have a strong interest in dog training and enrichment, and I approach every visit with patience, attentiveness, and genuine compassion. I’m dedicated to providing exceptional care and feel truly privileged to be part of your pets’ lives.
PET CARE PROFESSIONAL
Anna Rose
With hands on practice in small animal surgery, veterinary technical care and veterinary practice management, I bring over ten years of professional veterinary medical experience to the team. I have worked with small, exotic and farm animals as well as wildlife, with a specialization in senior and hospice pet care. I will always take the extra time to provide specialized support and care for every pet I look after. I have utilized Uptown Pup to care for my own pets and I am thrilled to be a part of the team, and bring both my expertise as well as my compassion to provide professional and personalized care to other families in our community. I believe if we work together we can bring high quality care into your own home.
PET CARE PROFESSIONAL
Christina Kovacs
I’ve been working with animals professionally for five years in both veterinary and kennel settings. That background has given me a strong understanding of animal behavior, body language, and the unique needs of the pets in my care. Throughout that time, I’ve found that some of my favorite relationships are with the pets who take a little longer to trust. At my previous practice, I became affectionately known as the “Pup Whisperer” for my ability to connect with anxious and reserved pets, and that’s something I’ve carried with me into my work with Uptown Pup. I believe every pet has their own personality, comfort level, and communication style, so I take the time to pay attention to those little cues and truly meet each pet where they are. For me, earning that trust is the best part of this work. Watching an anxious pet become comfortable, show their personality, and eventually greet me like an old friend truly never gets old.
Behind every great pet professional is also a very full house- or staff, if you will.
Nicole’s Board of Directors
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Head of security
Cupid
"Coop Doop"
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Cupid has been promoted from Security Guard after many dedicated years of rigorous training- mainly consisting of barking at squirrels, delivering intense stares at passing pedestrians, and constantly ensuring the mailman is in not, in fact, a covert threat. His dedication to keeping us safe is unwavering, though sometimes his methods involve more enthusiasm than necessary. After a long shift of diligently patrolling the office, he does one final sniff about for his signature "lap inspection." If he's not handling a security threat, he's often found snuggling on the job. He's got your back- and your lap.
Director of HR
Sylvester
"Meowlone"
Sylvester is, without a doubt, the office's "people person". We're still not sure what he actually does, but we do know he demands our attention. Often. Loudly. Whether you are on an important work call or quietly typing an email, you can always expect him to voice his thoughts- consider it his form of performance feedback. If ignored, he'll escalate to louder meows, followed by more aggressive purring. After all, he's just making sure you're staying productive.
Eventually, you'll be convinced that the office revolves around him. And it does.
Office assisant
Rubble
"Rub Dub"
Our personality hire, Rubble, has proven to be an asset to the team. Rubble's resume includes an impressive background in "Being a Goober" and "Looking Adorable While Getting in the Way." Though still new to the job, he's eager to climb the ladder- quite literally- if it involves napping on top of it. You may find him under our desk, where he keeps an eye on office operations- just in case anything exciting happens (or someone drops a snack.) His enthusiasm for the company is unmatched, especially if there are treats leftover from our reservations.
Director of Mischief
Patsy Cline
”Pat Cat”
Patsy Cline holds the distinguished (and appropriately chaotic) title of Chief Mischief Officer, a role she invented the moment she discovered her uncanny ability to simultaneously charm and disrupt the office. Her leadership style is best described as “playful with an attitude of gentle defiance.” When she’s not overseeing essential duties like “strategic couch surveying” or “treat quality inspections,” she’s perfecting her craft in surprise zoomies, unauthorized keyboard walks, and highly effective stare-downs aimed at anyone contemplating productivity without her.
Kennedy’s Distinguished Doggo Division
Chief Operations Officer
Lila
"Sleeping Beauty"
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Meet Lila, our steadfast COO and resident expert in operational efficiency through strategic inactivity. A glorious blend of couch potato and seasoned executive, Lila was born in a sunbeam and has spent every day since trying to return to one. While she occasionally dabbles in security oversight, she quickly recalls that delegation is key. With eight consecutive years as our “Most Likely to Pretend to Be Asleep When Called” honoree, Lila leads by example - reminding us that a well-rested team is a productive one.
Senior Strategy Advisor
Nova
"Flopzilla"
Nova serves as our strategy advisor, guiding long-term vision with a quiet intensity and a strong commitment to upside-down thinking—literally. Composed entirely of majesty and mystery, she prefers to lead through nonverbal communication: lingering stares, contemplative sighs, and the occasional slow blink. Barking is far too conventional for her strategic style. Often found belly-up in deep thought, Nova reminds the team to approach every challenge with poise, perspective, and just a touch of dramatic flair.
Jr. business associate
River "Wigglebutt"
Technically a puppy, but emotionally a caffeinated tornado, River constantly keeps us on our toes. Born with one purpose: to chase balls until the Earth runs out of them. As you read this, she’s probably waiting by the door with a soggy tennis ball and crazy eyes, ready to launch the next big initiative with full energy and unwavering focus. Her boundless enthusiasm and relentless drive make her an invaluable asset to the team’s growth and momentum.
Anna’s Morale & Mayhem Division
Director of Energy Initiatives
Director of rapid transit
Juniper
”Joon”
Benjamin
”Benny”
Joon leads the department of Momentum & Forward Motion with unmatched enthusiasm. She firmly believes that if something is worth doing, it is worth doing at full speed. She specializes in morale boosting, rapid response greetings, and ensuring that no opportunity for movement is ever wasted. Subtlety is not part of her leadership style, but commitment absolutely is. Joon’s core philosophy: Why walk when you can launch?
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Benny manages the department of Workplace Levity and High-Speed Logistics. His zoom execution is elite. His entrances are dramatic. His facial expressions frequently suggest he is both the cause of and the solution to ongoing disruption. Benny understands that a healthy organization requires balance- productivity, structure, and at least three completely unnecessary but joyful laps around the house per day.
Mouse patrol director
Mouse patrol assistant
Sam
”The Man”
Salem
”Miss Ma’am”
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Sam is a former street cat who now runs indoor security like he’s still working the night shift. Blind in his left eye, he maintains that depth perception is optional and confidence is not. He navigates the house with the ease of a cat who has absolutely seen some things- just not all of them at the same time. He operates with quiet intensity, street smarts, and the firm belief that security is a 24/7 job- even if the only intruder is a rogue sock.
Where Sam is steady, Salem is strategic. Calculating. Precise. She believes in proactive monitoring and prefers high vantage points for maximum oversight. Windowsills, stair landings, and the exact center of wherever you’re trying to walk are all prime territory. Together, Sam and Salem run a tight operation. Their standards are high. Their judgment is visible. Their work is never done.
Christina’s Kitty Cat Council
Director of Spicy Operations
Chief Instigation Officer
Director of (Selective) Employee Relations
Astro
”Batman”
Ares
”Blackjack”
Tinkerbell
”Tinkie Winkie”
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Astro oversees Spicy Operations, where he is responsible for maintaining morale through a carefully calibrated combination of attitude, enthusiasm, and chaos. He has never met a boundary he didn’t feel deserved further investigation, and firmly believes that every situation can be improved with a little more pizazz. His approach to teamwork is collaborative in theory, and wildly unpredictable in practice. We wouldn’t have it any other way.
Ares serves as our Chief Instigation Officer, specializing in turning perfectly peaceful situations into something considerably more interesting. His responsibilities include encouraging questionable decisions, recruiting innocent bystanders, and ensuring that no one gets too comfortable with the idea of a quiet day. Ares asserts that he doesn’t cause the chaos- he simply provides the necessary encouragement and lets everyone else make their own choices. He is, above all, a team player.
As one of the most adorable members of the Uptown Pup team, Tink has perfected the delicate balance between “I must love you immediately” and “I will absolutely ruin your day if you touch me.”Her responsibilities include looking impossibly cute, maintaining strict personal boundaries, and reminding the rest of the team that affection is a privilege- not a right. We’re just glad she lets us work here. Christina remains her sole approved colleague, though how she earned this distinction is still unclear.