Authors

Meet The "Not A Bully" Team

We’re on a mission to help the world understand dogs better, especially those labeled as “bully breeds”.

By promoting knowledge and awareness, our goal is to empower dog owners to provide more compassionate, informed, and effective care. We believe that when we understand our canine companions better, we not only improve their lives but also enrich our own. 

We work with a team of professional dog trainers, veterinarians and dog lovers to achieve our goal.

 

Meet Our Veterinarians

dr georgina ushi phillips

Dr. Gina Ushi Phillips, DVM

Dr. Georgina “Gina” Ushi Phillips is a seasoned veterinarian based in Florida. With over ten years of emergency clinic experience.

You can learn more about Dr. Gina here.

Dr Athena Gaffud DVM

Athena Angela Gaffud, DVM

Dr. Gaffud is a board-certified veterinarian based in the Philippines. She graduated as top 10 of the DVM class 2011 of the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

You can learn more about Dr. Gaffud here

nina patel veterinarian

Dr. Nita Patel, DVM, MS

Dr. Nita Vasudevan Patel, DVM, MS, is a Florida-based veterinarian with experience in both hands-on clinical work and telehealth.

You can learn more about Dr. Nita Patel here.

Joseph Menicucci DVM MBA sitting with his dog outside

Joseph Menicucci DVM, MBA

Dr. Joseph Menicucci has more than a decade of veterinary experience across both small and large animal practices. In addition to his work with Not A Bully, Dr. Joe also runs a business that helps pet parents get affordable lab work for their pets without leaving the house.

You can learn more about Dr. Joseph Menicucci here

Meet Our Veterinary Technicians

jessican warning veterinary technicians

Jessica Warning, CVT

Jessica grew up with a pack of six chihuahuas and two cats, so her love for animals started young! With years of experience in the animal husbandry field caring for companion animals  she began her venture into the veterinary field and has been gaining experience as a vet technician since.

Marissa Jacky, CVT

Marissa Jacky is a Registered Veterinary Technician with over 7 years of clinical experience working with animals. She shares what it’s like to be a veterinary technician on her TikTok and helps write articles for Not A Bully.

You can learn more about Marissa Jacky here.

 

alix mitchell veterinary technician and dog trainer

Alix Mitchell

Alix Mitchell is a former veterinary technician turned dog trainer which means she’s able to approach any canine problem from multiple angles! She shares her years of experience in both behavior and veterinary fields with Not A Bully readers. 

You can learn more about Alix Mitchell here.

 

Meet Our Professional Dog Trainers

Maggie Theisen professional dog trainer

Margaret "Maggie" Theisen

Maggie is an experienced dog trainer and former dog daycare owner. She competes in dog agility and when she is not writing or dog training; Maggie can usually be found hiking in the Montana backcountry with her five rescue dogs.

zoie keast cpdt

Zoie Keast, CPDT

Zoie is a certified professional dog trainer with more than a decade of experience in animal welfare. She’s currently the Director of Shelter Operations at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region and has worked at shelters throughout the western United States.

You can learn more about Zoie Keast, CPDT here.

 

sarah crothers professional dog trainer

Sarah Crothers

Sarah is “professional dog-to-human translator” (aka Dog Trainer) with over 20 years experience, including shelter work, animal control, her own private training business, and acting as a K9 Unit Captain for wilderness Search & Rescue. =

You can learn more about Sarah Crothers here.

 

Meet Our Editorial Team

logan mastrianna shelter professional

Logan Mastrianna, Editor-in-Chief

Logan is the founder of NotABully.org and helps keep everything running smoothly. 

Prior to starting Not A Bully, Logan had a decade-long career in animal welfare where he worked as the Veterinary Services Manager for one of the largest animal shelters in the country. 

You can learn more about Logan here