Jennifer Petre, Executive Director

I am proud to honor my nephew, Ben (Doc Stiggy) and carry on his legacy of helping others, through Stiggys Dogs.  Setting high standards, changing with the many needs and constantly overcoming obstacles, has been the back bone of our program. We are more than training and pairing dogs with Veterans, we are a big family.  Our Dogs and Veterans span the country but are untied as one ; ‘Veterans helping Veterans’ is our underlying theme.  My Thanks to all our Military Veterans, and for all those who currently surviving. My respect to all the Military families, for their struggles. loyalty and love they secretly endure as well. I am grateful for my husband, Joe, who has scarficed and supported not only Sitggys Dog, but myself.  We live in Howell, with our two dogs Moxie and Big who are adjusting to their new life of dogs in and out.  Our two boys, Spencer and Cameron, also share our love for dogs and happy to  be a part of  Stiggys- meeting the new dogs and Veterans.

Donna “Doctore” Fournier, Director of Training

Donna Fournier is a CPDT-KA, Certified Animal Behaviorist, and Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.  Donna’s animal career started at the age of 15 as a Kennel Assistant at a Livonia animal hospital. After graduating from High School, in 1992, she went on to become a veterinary technician where she worked with dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, snakes, and other pocket pets. In 1999, Donna became a Certified Trainer and Animal Behaviorist, assisting dog owners in the Metro-Detroit area.  She became a Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator in 2000 for squirrels, raccoons, opossums, birds and other wildlife. She has also raised and successfully placed more than 1,000 orphaned kittens and 7 litters of puppies. From 2002 to 2010, Donna was one of the co-hosts for the Nationally Syndicated radio talk show, “Animal Talk”.  She was one of the contributing writers for the Association of Pet Dog Trainers book, Top Tips from Top Trainers, released February 2010.  Also in 2010, Donna began her work with Stiggy’s Dogs as the Director of Training; creating the tailored training program for rescue dogs and veterans.  Currently, Donna has returned to college, seeking Psychology and Behavioral Science degrees at Madonna University.   Donna owns one dog, Leroy Jethro Gibbs, which she is training to become a Psychiatric Service Dog.

Faith Harris, Assistant Director

-bio coming soon-

Kim Saks, Development Coordinator

Kim organizes our fundraising, donor relations and business outreach campaigns.  Kim has a background in nonprofit leadership and advocacy group organization.  She comes from a family with military background, including her father who is a Vietnam-era Navy veteran and her grandfather who earned a Purple Heart in the Pacific during World War II.  Kim has never met a dog or cat she doesn’t like or respect, and that fact is used by her pets Spencer and Lucy (cats) and Brooklyn (lab/chow mix) to their advantage.  She lives in Michigan with her husband, Garrett, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in political science.

Mathew Sica, Stiggys Dogs Trainer

Mathew is a trainer at Stiggy’s Dogs. After eleven years of operating a successful business he turned his passion into a career. His previous work allowed him to take dogs to work each day giving him the opportunity to observe behavior, socialize, and train rescue dogs almost around-the-clock.  Mathew loves helping people and dogs and it shows in his dedication. He’s extremely grateful to the various rescue groups who entrusted him with the numerous dogs he’s trained and fostered. Mathew’s family has many veterans and he feels Stiggy’s Dogs is the perfect place to put his skills to use while helping veterans at the same time. Mathew fostered and did the preparatory training for Stiggy’s Dogs Zoltan, Bentley, and Major for their deserving veterans. He has one personal dog named Servo

Terran Frye, Veteran Liason

Hello, My name is Terran Frye. I have been a part of the Stiggy’s Dog’s family since November 2011. My service dog is Hershey and she is a black lab/ beagle mix. She has helped me so much with my P.T.S.D.. I have been dealing with P.T.S.D. since my first deployment in 2003 but really didn’t know that is what it was. I severed in the Marine Corps from 2001- 2005 and had two deployments to Iraq. In 2003 I deployed with 2/8 and in 2005 I was with 2nd Marine Division Headquarters Battalion. I have plenty of experience with getting the benefits that our veterans deserve. Feel free to email me or find me on facebook.