Founder & Pack Leader : LeAnna (she/they)
LeAnna, the founder of Reservoir Dogs, has over 15 years of experience in the pet care industry. She owned and managed a dog walking and pet sitting business in Brookyln from 2010 until 2021, when she decided to move upstate full-time after owning a weekend home in the Catskills since 2018. LeAnna first starting bringing dogs from the city to have weekend excursions at her upstate home, since many dogs didn’t have the opportunity to experience nature on a regular basis. It allowed the dogs to relax and unwind away from the hustle and bustle of city life. LeAnna is excited to be transitioning her dog walking business to the Catskill Mountains, offering dogs the opportunity to explore and thrive in a natural environment.
As a professional dog walker, LeAnna prides herself on building strong bonds with both pets and their owners, providing reliable and compassionate care. With a keen understanding of canine behavior, she strives to make each walk a positive and enriching experience for every four-legged friend, incorporating elements like leash training and positive reinforcement.
LeAnna’s experience in pack walking goes beyond just physical coordination; with a keen eye for canine body language and behavior, her expertise has gained an understanding of canine social dynamics, ensuring a harmonious and enjoyable experience for every member of the pack. LeAnna mentored under Dani Santanella, owner of Urban K-9 training in NYC, where she gained valuable hands-on experience in canine behavior and training techniques.
During LeAnna’s free time, you can find her spending time with her partner and her own dogs, Mookie + Cinder, or passionately renovating houses in the Catskills.
Pack Leader : Riss (they/them)
Riss currently lives in Kingston and has always had animals in their life. Growing up, Riss and their family adopted dogs with troubled pasts who required attentive and specialized care in order to feel safe and loved. Gaining their trust sparked Riss’s love for dogs and all creatures big and small.
After moving to the Hudson Valley in 2020 to receive their Bachelor of Science in Visual Arts, Riss has cared for dogs, horses, geese, and cats of various sizes and demeanors.
Their wide-ranged pet experience helps them adapt to the needs of any animal they care for.
Outside of their passion for animals, Riss is a multi-media artist and educator. In their current practice, they enjoy working with textiles and handmade paper.
Pack Leader : Luca (he/him)
Luca is a seasoned hiker and longtime animal lover who traded city life for the trails and never looked back. He spent a decade in Brooklyn before heading west to Colorado, drawn by a love for mountains, trails, and life outside. A year ago, that same spirit brought him to the Hudson Valley. Prior to life in the Hudson Valley, Luca worked as a senior HR leader in the NYC tech world.
With years of backcountry hiking and camping under his belt, Luca brings serious trail experience to his work with dogs. He's summited numerous Colorado "14ers", backpacked through Yosemite, and explored parks across the country from Acadia and the White Mountains to Glacier, the Tetons, Olympic, and beyond. He's experienced and comfortable on trails in all weather and takes safety for both dogs and people seriously.
Luca currently has a Snowshoe Siamese cat named Misha and helps care for Olive, a 9-year-old Australian Cattle Dog who is deaf and has dog-reactive tendencies. Working with Olive has deepened his understanding of canine body language, non-verbal communication, and calm, intentional behavior management, which are skills that inform how he approaches every dog in his care. With every dog he takes out, Luca's goal is the same: a safe, stimulating adventure that leaves them tired, happy, and ready for a long nap.
When he's not on the trail, you can find him tinkering around the house or picking up a new skill just for the joy of learning it.
Pack Leader : Aurora (they/them)
Aurora grew up on a farm in Vermont alongside several large shepherding dogs who were companions on countless outdoor adventures. Growing up Aurora was always surrounded by dogs, those early experiences fostered a lifelong connection with dogs and a deep appreciation for their intelligence, communication, and unique personalities.
Aurora’s professional dog care experiences include walking large groups of dogs in Boston and working for Luckipups Pet Sitting in Kingston, where they cared for dogs of varying ages, temperaments, and needs. Throughout their life Aurora has provided overnight pet sitting care, dog hiking excursions and neighborhood walks, giving individualized care tailored to each dog's routine.
Aurora has a natural affinity for connecting with dogs and is attentive to their behaviors, body language, and emotional needs. Through years of experience and life with their own shepherd-lab mix, Annie, they’ve developed a thoughtful, patient approach to dog care rooted in trust, communication, and plenty of time outdoors.
Aurora is an artist and print maker currently living in Kingston, where they run a small publishing and printing business, Cosmic Dog House Press. When they’re not printing or walking dogs, Aurora can be found hiking on trails around the Hudson Valley with their beloved dog Annie.
