Leadership Team

Walter and Marianne acquired Walter’s father’s pet care business, Poodle Palace, Inc., in 1978. They have grown the operation into the internationally known Morris Animal Inn.

As charter members of the Pet Care Services Association, the Morris’s thoroughly understand the many issues that worry pet owners. Their constant presence at the Inn, combined with their utmost concern for our canine and feline guests, has earned them the strongest of reputations among clients, employees and peers.

Walter holds a degree in Economics from Villanova University. He co-owns, with daughter Joanne, Morris Pet Care Consulting LLC in Morristown, NJ.

When not working at their businesses, the Morris’s enjoy spending time with their seven grandchildren and their many grand dogs. Volunteer work for their church, their local fire company, and with Villanova consumes their remaining time.

Joanne Morris grew up working at Morris Animal Inn under her parents’ watchful eye (Walter and Marianne). She has witnessed the Inn’s growth from a small ‘mom and pop’ operation to the largest pet care employer in Northern New Jersey. Throughout her career, Joanne has worked to develop and improve the image of the pet care industry via a variety of pet care-related positions and professional endeavors. Joanne attended Susquehanna University and then owned and operated four highly successful Invisible Fencing dealerships over the course of fifteen years. In 2000, Joanne returned to Morris Animal Inn as Vice President to assist in its growth and development. She has had a hand in every aspect of the business, from caring for dogs and cats to assisting in the design of the expansion completed in 2008, and managing Human Resources and financial matters.

In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Outstanding Pet Care Learning Center (OPCLC), Joanne is co-owner and co-founder of Morris Pet Care Consulting, LLC with her father, Walter. Joanne’s daughters, Emily and Ashley, and her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Tori, and Lexi, a Great Pyrenees Mix are frequent visitors at the Inn.

Nancy joined Morris Animal Inn in 2010 as Guest Services Manager. With her upbeat attitude, Nancy strives to make you and your pet’s experience here as positive and rewarding as possible. For her, no challenge is too big!

Nancy received her B.S. from St. Joseph’s University in Business Management, her Professional Human Resources Certification, and previously worked in customer service in the retail industry. In addition, she received her Pet First Aid Certification from the Red Cross and her Pet Therapy Certification from St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center. Nancy has taught children how to safely handle and care for animals, and in 2010, she received St. Hubert’s Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition to her two cats, Millie and Sabrina, Nancy shares her home with Angie, an enthusiastic Standard American Eskimo dog and retired laboratory Beagle, Gracie.

Kristen joined Morris Animal Inn in 2012 as Lodging Manager. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from Rutgers University and her Masters Degree in Business from Centenary College. Kristen’s responsibility is to oversee our Lodging department and to ensure that every pet’s stay with Morris Animal Inn is beyond expectation. She has previously worked in the animal care field and brings to us a passion for the health and well-being of all furry creatures.

Kristen is the proud owner of three beautiful rescue dogs; Daisy, a Flat-Coated Retriever Mix, Gracie, a Lab Mix and a recent addition to the family, Duke, a Dalmatian Pointer Mix. All three dogs are super sweet, love to give their paw, give tons of kisses, and even go hiking and swimming. Kristen also owns two horses, Gus and Dakota. She stays involved with rescue groups Noah’s Ark and OSCAR (One Step Closer Animal Rescue) because they “gave us our babies”. Kristen’s activities outside of Morris Animal Inn include horseback riding, physical fitness, hiking, kayaking, snowboarding, skiing and art.

Since rescuing her first dog in 2001, a German Shepherd, Abbie has been committed to the goal of safe and positive dog socialization and training. This goal sparked her interest in learning more about the emotional behavior of dogs from puppyhood through the many stages of their lives.

Before re-joining Morris Animal Inn Abbie worked as Daycare Manager of Morris K9 Campus, where she was responsible for creating many programs which included a safe and fun off leash environment where training was incorporated into the daily routine of the many daycare dogs in her care. She worked one on one with a certified dog trainer to integrate training on-site that included a house training program and an intensive 30 day training program.

Abbie's extra curricular interests include all things dog sports related. Her current crew of pups includes two Border Collies, that excel in Agility and Dock Diving earning regional placements and titles in both sports. As well as her two rescues, a Mini-Aussie mix, and Dachshund Mix who enjoy swimming, hiking, and Fast Cat! Past dogs have achieved Canine Good Citizen and certified therapy dog status. She's also dabbled in Treiball, doggy dancing, and nosework! There is nothing she enjoys more than spending time having fun with her own dogs and learning as a team.

After graduating from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel & Restaurant Management, Theresa started her management career in corporate restaurants before joining Morris Animal Inn as Lodging Manager in 2007 with the desire to bring her hospitality experience into the pet care world. She was thrilled to have the chance to return in 2021 as our Recruiting & Human Resource Manager! Her mission is to get the word out to fellow pet lovers so they are aware of the amazing career opportunities that we offer and to make sure that the staff and their experience at MAI are a priority!

What she loves most about working at MAI is the company vision and support of the Morris Family as well as being part of a hard-working, dedicated staff. Making sure that the comfort & safety of the pets in our care and the trust of our clients are the driving force in everything they do is a top priority. Of course, being around the most adorable cats and dogs all day is also a nice perk!

Theresa & her husband keep busy at home with their two rescue pets, a sweet Pitbull/Chihuahua mix named Cookie and a spicy torti cat named Willow, a coop full of chickens, and an ever-expanding vegetable garden.

Kristina joined Morris Animal Inn in 2020 as a Daycare Counselor. She graduated from Rutgers University, where she studied Animal Science with a concentration in Companion Animals. Continuing her education, Kristina became a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) and a Certified Behavior Consultant (CBCC-KA) through The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers®. Additionally, she is a Fear Free^® Certified Professional. While raising and then adopting her Seeing Eye puppy, Dandy, Kristina developed a strong interest in working with puppies and a passion for dog training, which led her to Morris Animal Inn.

Kristina is proud of the diverse daycare and training programs Morris Animal Inn has to offer, particularly the Puppy Enrichment Program and Puppy Academy, as they provide a “home away from home” environment while providing enrichment and play. She also enjoys working closely with clients to develop well-rounded pets that will live healthy, enriched and fulfilling lives.

Kristina has two golden retrievers, Dandy and Willow, and a Cockapoo named Molly. She enjoys hiking, traveling and visiting National Parks. If it’s somewhere she can bring her dogs, you will find her there!

Lexi joined the Morris Animal Inn team in 2010 in the Activities department. After gaining experience working in Activities, Lexi moved into the Daycare department. Lexi stepped away for a few years and was thrilled to return in 2021 as the Assistant Manager of Lodging and Pet Wellness. Lexi earned her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University. She is a Certified Fear Free Professional, Pet CPR & First Aid Certified, and holds her Pesticide Operator license.
Lexi has always loved dogs and had a strong desire to work with them. She loves that at Morris Animal Inn, she is working alongside others who share the same passion as her: caring for the greatest cats and dogs around! Lexi strives to create an environment that is as home-like as possible to keep every guest happy and healthy.

Lexi has a Pomeranian/Papillon Mix named Brody, a Hound Mix named Taylor, and a kitty named Lily! In her free time, she participates in agility competitions with her dog Brody, and enjoys kayaking and spending time outdoors.

Erin joined the Guest Services Department at Morris Animal Inn in 2016, after graduating from Kean University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Communications, with a concentration in Public Relations. Prior to joining the Morris Animal Inn team, Erin held various management roles in the retail industry.

Having grown up an animal lover but unable to have a cat or dog of her own, Erin had always had a desire to work with animals. Her job entails overseeing our Guest Services department, where she strives to provide the best experience for our clients and pet guests. From booking appointments to the check in/out process, she loves interacting with everyone that visits the Inn. She appreciates that at Morris Animal Inn, she learns new things every day. Erin enjoys spending time with friends and family, attending concerts, and rooting for her favorite sports teams.

Prior to joining the Morris Animal Inn family, Michell interned at the Staten Island Zoo, where she first gained hands-on experience working with animals. In 2015, Michell began working as an Activities Counselor, working part-time at Morris Animal Inn while earning both her Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology from Kean University.

Michell oversees the activities for pet guests, including cuddle sessions, swims, playtimes, and cardio sessions. She focuses on their emotional wellbeing, ensuring all pets feel like they’re at home while they’re at Morris Animal Inn.

She loves being a part of a company that takes pride in the quality of care for the animals and strives to make every day as special as possible for both staff and pets. Michell is happy to have been given the opportunity to grow and learn skills across different departments.

Michell stays active at home! She enjoys weightlifting at the gym and taking her Pitbull-Plott Hound mix, Dobby, on hikes where he can swim in any lake or pond he can find. Dobby also loves coming to Morris Animal Inn with Michell where he gets to see all of his friends!

Ashley joined the Morris Animal Inn (MAI) team in 2016 in the Pet Enrichment (PET) department. A big part of her day as the PET Assistant Manager is helping her team grow and come up with new ideas. She is responsible for the enrichment of the pets, trail runs, kitty stroller rides, teaser sessions and kitty playrooms. Ashley has always loved animals and wanted to work with them. She considered being a vet technician but came to MAI and realized this is what she wanted to do. What Ashley loves most about working at MAI is seeing happy pets and helping her team members flourish in their roles.

Ashley has one dog, two cats and a bunny. Amber is a 5-year-old Staffie mix, Trixie is a 2-year-old long haired cat, Buddy is a 4-year-old short haired cat and Bunny is a 2-year-old Bunny.

Amy joined the Morris Animal Inn family in 2024 as our Client Services Manager. She possesses an extensive background in the pet care industry, with experience ranging from general manager to hands on with cats and dogs.

As Client Services Manager, Amy is committed to maintaining exceptional relationships with our clients. Advocating for cats and dogs to ensure that their mental, physical, and grooming needs are met is most rewarding to her. In addition, she enjoys guiding clients who have just added a puppy to their family. She strives to ensure every client has a professional and knowledgeable team member to speak with. Amy appreciates learning from strong leaders and is so proud to be part of the Morris Animal Inn team.

When she’s not busy at the Inn, you can find her exploring the great outdoors with her beloved Frenchie, Dutch, who is not just a pet but her best friend. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, camping and visiting the Catskills.

Debora joined the Morris Animal Inn team in July 2011, bringing with her a wealth of expertise and professionalism in Communications and Marketing, bolstered by her BA from Susquehanna University and MA from William Paterson University. Her mission centers on fostering strong relationships and enhancing awareness of the exceptional pet care services provided at Morris Animal Inn, ensuring that both dog and cat owners find the perfect match for their beloved companions.

With several years of experience in Marketing, Public Relations, and Communications, Debora positions Morris Animal Inn as the premier choice for pet care. Her passion for animals shines through not only in her work but also in her active support for local animal shelters and rescues. This commitment to community and care reinforces the warm and trustworthy brand voice that resonates with pet owners, creating an inviting atmosphere for all. Debora’s love for animals brought her to Morris Animal Inn.

Christine joined the Morris Animal Inn team in 2022. She is a graduate of Delaware Valley University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Wildlife Conservation and Management. While in school, Christine had the opportunity to study abroad in South Africa and intern at the Philadelphia Zoo. She gained her management and pet care experience from working at an emergency vet office and boarding facilities, where she held various roles in daycare, training, bathing, and reception.
As the Pet Enrichment Assistant Manager, Christine is dedicated to getting to know each pet in order to cater to their specific personalities. She loves discovering which dogs like to run or play and enjoy tricks, puzzles, or brain games. Christine is proud to work alongside the caring staff at Morris Animal Inn, where everyone goes above and beyond to create positive experiences for all guests. In particular, she loves being able to bond with nervous or anxious pets, and finds it especially rewarding when a pet comes in nervous and leaves outgoing, playful, and happy. Christine values the importance of training and enrichment, whereby pets are enjoying being challenged and exercised.

Christine has a 7-year-old beagle mix named Roxy, who loves to hike, train, and work with puzzles. She also has brother and sister cats named Mason and Olive. In her spare time, Christine enjoys hiking, reading, exercising, and traveling.

Lauren Malay joined the Morris Animal Inn family in 2013 in the Lodging department as a summer job. She graduated from Drew University, earning her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science and Sustainability, and Cultural Anthropology. Lauren then went on to work in the Activities department, before ultimately joining the Daycare team. She continued her education at Catch Canine Trainers Academy and moved into the role as a dog trainer within the Daycare department.

What Lauren loves most about working at Morris Animal Inn is the deep bonds between the dogs and staff, which is a result of being a positive reinforcement only facility. She is proud to be part of a company that is always growing and learning to remain the best in the industry.

When Lauren is not at work, she loves to be in nature, specifically down the shore. She also enjoys experimenting with recipes and watching movies. Having always been a dog lover, Lauren has fostered many pets over the years and hopes to add a black lab to her family.

After graduating from the North Jersey School of Dog Grooming in 1987, Cyndi joined Morris Animal Inn (MAI) which at the time was known as the Poodle Palace. During this time, she worked alongside Mr. Morris and his father. She loved watching Mr. Morris Sr. groom his Standard Poodle, Beau. Cyndi stepped away for a few years to oversee a successful grooming school before enthusiastically returning to MAI in 2022.

As the Assistant Manager, Cyndi oversees her team members, consults with clients about their dogs grooming needs, bathes the dogs in her care, does haircuts and whatever else is needed. She loves everything about her role, but mostly grooming Yorkshire Terriers. At home, Cyndi has three dogs including 15-year-old Yorkie Diva, 11-year-old Yorkie Chihuahua mix Izzy and 3-year-old Yorkie Milo. In her free time, Cyndi enjoys relaxing, gardening and spending time with her family and pups.

Erin joined the Morris Animal Inn team in 2019 while still pursuing her college education. Her dedication and hard work quickly propelled her through the ranks from the lodging department to Team Leader and ultimately to Assistant Manager of Lodging and Pet Wellness. As a vital member of the team, Erin not only supports her colleagues but also fosters a nurturing environment for all pets in their care. Outside of her professional commitments, her artistic flair shines through in her watercolor paintings.

Erin cherishes time with her three-year-old German Short-haired Pointer mix, Daisy, her eight-year-old Goldendoodle, Henry, and her beloved cat, Boo, a 10-year-old Tabby.