About us:
Bre Ponder - Owner & Trainer
Bre has been professionally training dogs for over 8 years. Her passion started while working with the Belleville Area Humane Society (BAHS). Watching great dogs being returned for issues that she believed were quite easy to fix, gave her the motivation to help them become more adoptable. Since then, her experience has grown through working with other trainers locally and nationally. By learning a variety of new methods with the understanding that every dog learns differently, Bre has developed an effective and considerably humane style of training.
Throughout the years, she has fostered over 50 puppies and in doing so has created customizable programs that will accommodate each puppy and their family.
Gabryel Price - Manager & Trainer
As a trainer, Gabby’s primary responsibility is caring for and training both board & train dogs and day school dogs.
Gabby has lived in Belleville, Illinois all her life and is currently attending Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville working towards her Business Degree.
Gabby's experience working with dogs is diverse. She was a Veterinary Technician for 2 years before she started dog training 4 years ago. She has been very involved in fostering dogs over the last 2 years for rescues such as Little Brothers Pet Rescue, Just Giants Rescue, Belleville Area Humane Society, and Gateway Pet Guardians. She has 2 plus years of experience with fostering and owning feral dogs. In addition, Gabby has the unique experience of working with special needs dogs such as blind and deaf.
Gabby’s goal in working with and training dogs is to help dogs remain out of shelters and in their forever home through building better human-dog relationships.
Danielle Goetz - Trainer
As a trainer for Helping Hounds, Danielle’s primary responsibility is training and caring for dogs in day programs and Board & Train programs.
Before deciding to be a dog trainer, Danielle was a camp counselor and worked in the kitchen and the horse barn. Working with horses was one of her favorite things to do. Danielle knew from a young age she wanted to work with animals but wasn’t quite sure in what capacity. She obtained an Associates degree in science in 2015 with the intent of studying biology in the future, but at the time she didn’t know which way to go. As a result, she started working at a local grocery store.
After working for a while, Danielle decided to continue her education through the Animal Behavior College (ABC) for Dog Obedience Training and graduated in May of 2019. During her time at ABC she started volunteering at Belleville Area Humane Society (BAHS) and started working for Helping Hounds shortly after.
Danielle enjoys camping, hiking, drawing and painting in her free time. She also enjoys working with her dogs: Heidi, Red, Evelyn, and Piper. In addition, Danielle’s passion for animals guides her goal of improving communications with dogs and their people to encourage long and happy lives in their forever homes.
Sam Sampson - Trainer
When you pick up your dog up from their day of fun, you will likely see Sam's smiling face! Sam found her way to Helping Hounds through her passion for adopting hard to place dogs. She came to us as a client needing help and found her passion! Due to her previous experience in the horse world, and eagerness to learn, she was added as part of our team! She owns three rescue pit mixes: one old lady and two boys she trains with regularly. She and her dog, Arlo, are currently working towards competing in the dog sport of GRC.
Ashley Holbrook - Enrichment Lead
More than just our Enrichment Lead, Ashley is also the smiling face that greets our clients and their dogs when they drop off each morning.
Ashley first started working with dogs in rescue several years ago, and has successfully fostered over 20 dogs. There have also been a few foster fails along the way, and she has a beautiful pack of six much-loved dogs. Rounding out the household, she is married with two teenage daughters.
Kate Ramseur - Office Manager
If you ever contacted Helping Hounds, then there's a good chance you've spoken with office guru Kate! She handles all of the day-to-day workings of the office and has been known to pop into playgroups and training rounds - usually to steal some puppy snuggles!
Kate is a lifelong horsewoman who grew up riding hunter/jumpers and is now a dedicated Dressage Queen. She and her family own a horse farm in Waterloo, where you can find her during non-work hours chasing after her husband, three kids, horses, and beloved Corgis.