About i Love Dogs

Martha Smith - General Manager

One of the things I've always loved about having dogs is the community that almost automatically gets built up around them. Whether it's seeing the same people every day on my morning walk with Shelby – the Lab-Pit mix my husband and I rescued in November – watching her meet new friends at the dog beach and neighborhood dog park, or finding new dog-friendly places we can take her, she inspires a circle of other dog lovers that we wouldn't otherwise be a part of. To me, this is one of the wonderful things about i Love Dogs – it builds on that community of dog lovers and develops it in the online sphere. Part of the mission of the i Love Dogs blog will be growing our community of dog lovers around the web. We're looking forward to lots of great interviews with and articles about dog-friendly folk, veterinarians, advocates and dog lovers just like you! If you have any questions or feedback, or any suggestions for stories we should post about, send me an email, or come find us at one of our spots online. I look forward to hearing from you!

Martha Smith, i Love Dogs General Manager

OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Linda Chavez

I was born and raised in Southern California and later planted my writing roots in the bay area. I haven’t stopped writing since. Growing up, I was the little girl who loved all things furry and I had my share of pets (both from my dad bringing home abandoned animals and from animals I smuggled in!); from dogs, cats and rabbits to hamsters, parakeets and fish – you name it, I loved it. In fact, I continued to have a soft spot for animals into adulthood – let’s just put it this way, I once wrote a very heartfelt blog entry about my friendship with my pet fish, Quincy, because I thought he was so awesome. Though I’m all grown-up now, I continued to think that I needed “permission” to become pet parent to a special pooch. That is until a year ago, when I realized, “Hey, wait a second – I can have a dog if I want one!” So after a few trips to my local animal shelter, I found one of the loves of my life – my now 1-year-old Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua mix Irie Belle (a.k.a. “I Rebel” – the name suits her). One day, I’ll live in my huge house on my 100 acres of land, where I’ll be pet parent to seven rescue dogs and a farm full of rescued cats, horses, pigs and cows. But until that day comes, I’ll satisfy my critter love by writing a whole lot about doggies right here on ilovedogs.com. (Oh yeah, and when I’m not writing for iLD, I’m out making movies.)

Elisa Jordan

My life has always been devoted to animals. I was lucky enough to grow up in a house filled not only with dogs and cats, but also a couple of birds, several fish, a tortoise, and even a rat. When I was able to combine my love for animals with my other passion—the written word—I jumped at the chance. I’ve been in the publishing business for a dozen years and about 10 of those have focused almost exclusively on animal care and welfare topics. What I like best about working at i Love Dogs is the feeling of giving back to the community. We make an effort to bring dog lovers the best information possible, but we also put our money and our actions where our mouths are. Everyone who works here is a devoted pet parent and we have all devoted considerable time, energy and money to our favorite animal causes. Everything that comes through the iLD website, FB page or Twitter account is done by people who mean what they say. When not on the clock at i Love Dogs, you can find me donating food, litter and toys to my local animal shelter and money to various animal causes, including companion animal rescue and wildlife funds. (We’re all connected, you know!) Currently, I am mama cat to my own little pride that consists of Spencer, a British Shorthair, and Roscoe, a gargantuan rescued tabby, neither of whom are impressed by any of this. I also love monkeys, own a collection of garden gnomes and have a stellar knowledge of 1960s-era acid rock.

Laura Goldman

I’m a longtime professional writer whose love for mutts started when I was three and my family adopted a German Shepherd something pound puppy. Writing about pooches for i Love Dogs is the next best thing to my original dream of being a ballerina – and fortunately, coordination is not required here!

My boyfriend Fred and I are the proud pup parents of two Pit Bull mixes: Leroy and Ella, our new puppy. I used to buy into the hype that Pit Bulls were mean and vicious…until I got one of my own. Now I know their main offense is “waterboarding” you with slobbery kisses, along with always wanting to hop onto your lap and snuggle, even though they weigh 70 pounds. Ow.

OUR STAFF

Eugenia Vogel – Consulting Trainer/Customer Service

I’m a dog training and behavior consultant homegrown in the South Bay. With more than 20 years of experience working with dogs, I’ve done everything from teaching pet parents how to use positive, gentle and fun techniques to teach their dogs, to helping those who want their dogs to learn basic social skills. I've even worked with pet parents who need help to even touch their terrified rescue dog. My first dog was a very silly Doberman puppy named Jet that my family brought home when I was just 8 years old. I’m now the proud dog momma to a spunky 4-year-old Pomeranian named Cody. My favorite thing about working at i Love Dogs is dog friendly Fridays and, of course, the company of the i Love Dogs “pack” (a.k.a. the iLD staff). When I’m not playing with Cody, I enjoy teaching others how to train their dogs, reading dog training books, riding horses, watching “24” (Goodbye, Jack!) and continuing the search for the perfect dark chocolate.

Dana Hindman – Sales Representative/Account Manager

My name is Dana Hindman and I am truly honored to be the newest member of the i Love Dogs family! I am joining the team as a sales representative/account manager. I am excited to bring my 10 years of marketing, sales and public relations experience to this company and put my skills to the test! I am passionate about the opportunity to educate our clients and consumers on the benefits of our fabulous vitamins and supplements. I hope it excites our retailers to know that my goal is to help them succeed in business and together be champions for healthy pets! I am a single mother of four beautiful children, one wonderful son-in-law, and my first grandbaby is on the way, whew! I bet you wonder what I do in my spare time – ha! I love to cook for family and friends, love the outdoors, and my not-so-secret passion is singing on the worship team at my church. My tiny condo has kept me from having more than one pet, a goldfish named Shell. At least I don’t worry about him trashing the place when I am gone! However, I do have two beautiful "granddogs" that love to come and visit often. Daisy is a 1-year-old female Lab/Pit mix and Midnight is a 7-month-old male Lab/Mastiff mix. When they arrive they make a beeline for the kitchen for some much-anticipated treats. Of course, I expect them to sit pretty before they get them.

Tony Patterson – Shipping Manager

Hello, my name is Tony. I am the Shipping Manager at i Love Dogs, Inc. i Love Dogs is a fun and exciting company to work for. The owner and all the employees that work here truly love dogs! The last dog my family owned was a Rottweiler (Roc) and I cannot wait to have another one. Some of my favorite activities include going to the beach, working out and playing basketball just to mention a few.

Joseph Abdou – Digital Media Assistant

I’m the Digital Media Assistant here at i Love Dogs, Inc. I went to school for graphic design, but I also love animals. My first dog was a Shih Tzu named Ginger. I love the work I do and the people I work with. I like playing sports and going to events with family and friends. i Love Dogs, Inc. i Love Dogs is a premium dog products company offering tailored-dose vitamins & supplements with antioxidant green tea, omega-3, glucosamine and chondroitin and reishi. Also the creator and exclusive manufacturer of the World's Most Expensive dog collar, the "Amour, Amour" that boasts 52 karats of exquisite diamonds, i Love Dogs offers high-end products for the world's most pampered pooches.