Meet the Doggie Den Inn Team

Owners & Founders of Doggie Den Inn

Doggie Den Inn was founded by the Carter family with one simple goal in mind: to create a safe, comfortable place where pets are treated like family.

As lifelong pet owners, Lee and Julie Carter understand how difficult it can be to leave a furry family member behind while traveling. That understanding—combined with a clear need for quality pet boarding options in the local area—led them to take a leap of faith and open Doggie Den Inn in May 2025.

Julie brings more than 20 years of hands-on experience caring for animals and a deep-rooted passion for their health, comfort, and well-being. Lee, a United States Marine Corps veteran, brings a strong sense of structure, responsibility, and care to the business, along with a genuine love for bonding with animals. Together, they share the day-to-day responsibilities of running Doggie Den Inn, from operations and administration to long-term business development.

While their children, Addison and Garrison, are still young and not directly involved in daily operations, they are learning the importance of safe and respectful interactions with animals—values that reflect the family-focused culture behind Doggie Den Inn.

At the heart of everything the Carters do are three core principles: safety, security, and treating every pet as if they were their own. These values guide every decision, every interaction, and every stay at Doggie Den Inn.

Kennel Technician

Frankie Marie is a valued member of the Doggie Den Inn team and serves as a Kennel Technician. She brings both hands-on experience and heart to everything she does. Having previously worked alongside the Carter family in an animal-focused environment, Frankie is no stranger to the dedication and care required to work with pets.

Her genuine love for animals, combined with her enjoyment of working closely with family, makes her a natural fit for the Doggie Den Inn culture. Frankie takes pride in helping create a calm, safe, and welcoming environment for every pet in our care.

With a strong attention to detail and a compassionate approach, Frankie helps ensure each animal receives the comfort, patience, and individualized care they deserve during their stay.

Kennel Technician | Grooming Assistant

Bridgette has been part of the Doggie Den Inn family since nearly day one and has quickly become an essential part of our daily operations. As a senior in high school with a strong passion for animal care, she brings energy, reliability, and a genuine love for working with pets to everything she does.

Bridgette is actively pursuing a future career in grooming and has already taken on many grooming-related responsibilities here at Doggie Den Inn. From bathing and basic grooming prep to handling and caring for dogs of all sizes, she continues to build hands-on experience while learning the importance of safety, patience, and compassion.

Her dedication, willingness to learn, and natural connection with animals make her a trusted and valued member of our team. We’re proud to support Bridgette as she works toward her goals and grows within the pet care industry.

Assistant Kennel Technician 

Kaylee brings a strong foundation in animal care and a genuine passion for working hands-on with pets as part of the Doggie Den Inn team. As a high school student in the Animal Science pathway at South Johnston High School’s IDEAL Academy, she combines classroom learning with real-world experience in daily animal care.

Her background includes caring for animals of all sizes, bathing and grooming prep, kennel sanitation, basic medication administration, and monitoring animal health and behavior. Kaylee has also gained client-facing experience through pet salon work and hands-on volunteer service with Johnston County Animal Services.

Known for her reliability, strong work ethic, and calm demeanor, Kaylee is a valued member of our team. We’re proud to support her as she continues developing her skills and works toward her goal of becoming a Veterinary Technician.

Professional Dog Trainer | Owner, K9 Shenanigans

Shaun Dull is Doggie Den Inn’s contracted professional dog trainer and the owner of K9 Shenanigans, where he brings over 10 years of hands-on experience working with dogs of all breeds, ages, and personalities.

Specializing in balanced, results-driven training, Shaun focuses on building clear communication, trust, and structure between dogs and their owners. From basic obedience and puppy foundations to more complex behavioral challenges, his approach is designed for real-life success — not just commands in a controlled environment.

Shaun believes training should be fair, consistent, and tailored to each dog’s individual needs. His proven methods have helped hundreds of dogs and families strengthen their bond and build lasting, positive relationships.

At Doggie Den Inn, Shaun provides professional training services that align with our commitment to safety, structure, and treating every dog like family.

Real dogs. Real results. Real relationships.