Resorts Boarding and Play Team

Laura Baratto-Reyda

Owner

I grew up in Orchard Park and am fortunate to live 3 miles from my parents. From a very young age, I knew l always wanted to be an elementary education teacher. My parents had even set up a mini classroom in my basement for me to teach my stuffed animals or pretend children (no wonder they kept me in the basement). I attended Canisius College and New York University for my Master’s degree where I received my degree in elementary education with a concentration in English. I was teaching in New York City when I found out my beloved family dog, Cody, had bone cancer. I took that as a sign to move home. I met the future father of my children (Andrew Reyda) at a small little veterinary hospital in Buffalo where he was taking care of my dog.  

I taught in West Seneca for 5 years but when I was pregnant decided to work at my father’s company so I could help him out. I fell in love working there. Eventually, Andy and I decided to start our own business and pursue his lifelong dream of owning a veterinary hospital where we purchased Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg in 2006. It started off in a house with only 11 employees. It was the perfect start for us! I was able to work at both businesses and found a true passion for wanting to be a good owner to our employees and to help out our community! When Village Veterinary Clinic of Hamburg outgrew our daycare and boarding area, we decided it was best to expand. We eventually built Resorts Boarding and Play. I am truly fortunate to be able to come to work at all three businesses every day and as much as it is important to provide good services to our community, it is my mission to have every one of my employees feel like coming to work is not a job but a passion and a place that they feel is their home away from home.

Resorts Boarding and Play is special to me because I know the feeling of leaving my house every day to go to work and wanting a place to bring my own dogs to socialize, feel loved, and safe when I am not home!

Western New York is a very special place to live. The people here are so friendly, compassionate, and generous AND, we have the best football team in the country! In my free time, I enjoy my 2 teenage boys (when they aren’t fighting), exercising, exploring, volunteering for causes dear to my heart (PUNT Foundation and the WNY Perinatal Bereavement Network), and my 2 dogs and cat.

Cindy

Manager

I was born and raised in Hamburg, NY where I had the pleasure of being raised on a farm! I was the farmer’s daughter that named the cows and pigs and I spent many summers making hay. My childhood and adult life have always revolved around animals. I went to Hamburg High School and did a boces class for cosmetology. Although I loved doing hair, it just wasn’t my thing! I became a mom in my early twenties and enjoyed spending time raising my kids. I am a proud mom of four beautiful children. I coached soccer and softball for my children and I also spent many years being a girl scout leader for my girls. In my spare time, I enjoy building a train village with my son and spending time with my 2 dogs, a boxer puppy and a Great Pyrenees rescued from Georgia. I have been fortunate enough to be able to rescue a few furry family members and make the end of their life better!

When I was able to get back in the working world many moons ago, I started with the opening up of the “HOTEL” at Petsmart in 2007. I supervised their boarding and daycare facility. I quickly learned how much I absolutely loved working with dogs and making sure that their experience was joyful! I spent many nights sitting and comforting a nervous baby that was new to the boarding world. I started at Village Veterinary Clinic in 2018 training as a supervisor for Resorts Boarding and Play that opened fall, 2018. A year later I was promoted to manager. I love coming to work and seeing my fur babies! They really have become my family since I am fortunate enough to spend a few days a week with them! My goal is to make sure every guest is comfortable and happy while staying with us! I also love being able to help every owner with whatever needs they may have with their loved ones!

Stephanie

Assistant Manager / Certified Dog Trainer

I was born and raised in Hamburg, NY, where I attended Frontier. During my childhood, if I was not playing sports, I had the honor of being able to help my grandparents on their farm, helping to feed and take care of the many animals in their care. Growing up I also had dogs, cats, rabbits, and a few other pets but ultimately it was my first dog Gracie that paved my way to love dogs.

At the end of finishing my degree, I started working at Resorts boarding and Play where I fell in love with the animals. I was finally able to find my passion and I love doing it every day. I also love learning and researching everything I can so I am able to make all of our fur friends feel like this is their home away from home. In the spring of 2021, I adopted my first dog Parker, through a rescue, and since then have added 2 more rescues, Frankie and Pascal, to my pack. I love every minute of training and forming that best-friend bond with them and am very lucky to bring them to work with me every day! This has led me to take courses with the Fern Dog Training Academy with Ferando Camacho to become a dog trainer to provide better training opportunities for the pets and pet parents and to help Resorts build an Enrichment program to help the dogs lead a more fulfilling and healthier life. My goal is not only to help educate our staff and pet parents about their pets and their behaviors, which will make their relationship better but also to make sure that every dog that comes to Resorts Boarding and Play is living its best life!

Wendy Salisbury

Certified Dog Trainer

I was born and raised in Hamburg NY on a farm. I graduated from Hamburg Senior High. I married in 1988 and have 2 children and 3 grandchildren. I have 8 dogs, 2 cats, a potbelly pig, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. I became a nurse through a Boces program and worked for the state for 25 years in a home environment where I recently retired. In my spare time, I achieved an online training course through Animals Behavioral Institute. I shadowed through Ruff Relations to fulfill my requirements as a certified dog trainer. I am now working here at Resort Boarding and Play where I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with all different breeds and temperaments. I am able to help the dogs become happy and obedient while helping the owners become confident by creating a bond of love and mutual respect. Animals are my passion and I love working with them!

Zahra

Supervisor and CSR

I started at Resorts Boarding & Play in January of 2022, and it has quickly become my home away from home!

Animals have always been at the forefront of my life. As a child, I was constantly bringing home strays and walking the neighborhood dogs to save up funds for vet bills.

I was fortunate enough to grow up riding and showing horses, and at the age of 13, I switched to online schooling to dedicate more time to my equestrian career. As a teenager, I had the privilege of learning from some of the top horse trainers in the world and traveling the country working for them as a groom, barn manager, and eventually assistant trainer. At 17, I moved to Wellington, FL, and slowly started my own business venture, Hunter Heights Equestrian. In 2016 I moved back home to Buffalo and continued that business here for a few years, dissolving it in 2019, ready for a change and eager to see where else life would take me.

Over the course of my life, I have rescued hundreds of animals, and in 2021 I officially founded Rosebud Rescue Inc, a non-profit organization focusing on the rescue and rehabilitation of (primarily) herding breed dogs and offering permanent sanctuary to those who have been deemed unadoptable due to physical or behavioral issues.

In addition to the rescue/sanctuary dogs, I have seven dogs of my own, four cats, five ferrets, a rabbit, six horses, and a donkey! I married my wife in June of 2021, and we now live on the farm where I grew up with my grandparents in West Falls. On the off chance that I have some free time, I mostly enjoy spending it outdoors; camping, hiking, and rock climbing, in addition to supporting the local music scene and attending concerts, and staying involved in social justice work.

I truly love walking through the doors of Resorts for every shift and am honored to love and care for your four-legged family members as if they were my own!

Jeffrey

Pet Care Professional & Daycare Enrichment Specialist

My name is Jeffrey, I live in Sheridan which is located in Chautauqua county. I have three dogs of my own. I have been working at Resorts Boarding and Play for about a year and a half. My current position is Daycare and Enrichment Specialist. I’m excited to be involved in the new enrichment program for the dogs. I have been increasing my knowledge of dogs and their behaviors and the different enrichment program activities that we can do with them! I enjoy the different breeds and personalities that come in on a daily basis. I am always amazed at watching the nervous dogs participate in daycare and become confident!

Curran

Pet Care Professional & Daycare Enrichment Specialist

I was born and raised in Lake View, NY. My childhood dog was a Siberian Husky named Jasmine and I’ve loved dogs ever since. I recently adopted a husky/pit mix named Roxie who was once staying in our care at Resorts and I couldn’t be happier. My hobbies include movies, chess, hockey, and of course dogs.

Aydan

Pet Care Professional & Daycare Enrichment Specialist

My name is Aydan. I started working for Resorts Boarding and Play In March of 2022. I am 21 years old and grew up in Buffalo. I have advanced at Resorts Boarding and Play being a part of the Enrichment program! I love dogs ! My favorite being the English Bulldog. In my spare time I listen to music, read a book, or hang out with my cat, Winston. 

Nora

Pet Care Professional

My name is Nora. I have been working at Resorts Boarding and Play since October 2019. I started after graduation from Hamburg High school where I received a certification in Small Animal Science. While working at Resorts, I attended SUNY Erie receiving my Associates degree and then went on attending Hilbert College. At Hilbert College I received my BS in Criminal Justice. I love working at Resorts! I started as a kennel attendant and moved into  a team lead position. I love all dogs but my favorite is the German Shepherd!

Lexi

Pet Care Specialist

I have been working at Resorts Boarding and Play for three years while going to college at ECC. I have two dogs of my own, Britta and Skittles. My favorite breed of dog is the dachshund. My favorite part of working at Resorts Boarding and Play is being able to see and interact with all the different breeds and personalities! About a year ago, I was moved up to team lead at Resorts.

Scott

Pet Care Professional

Bio coming soon.

Tammy

Groomer

I am a Hamburg High School 1985 Graduate with a License in Cosmetology, worked in a beauty salon for a bit while dabbling in grooming family pets, worked at Gold Circle as a department manager until they closed in 1988, bartended for a total of 6 years= tending bar and cooking bar food, worked at the Orchard Park Veterinary Medical Center for a total of 6 years doing whatever they needed from receptionist to surgical assistant, acquiring as much knowledge as possible (loved helping the exotics Vet with all of his fun adventures like x-raying a 10 ft albino ball python because he was accused of eating the neighbors cats, walking an emu outside= scary, removing plastic pieces from a ferrets intestines, dolphin diagnosis and autopsy from the Niagara Aquarium etc etc), groomed at Petsmart for 3 yrs AND for 24 Years dedicated my self to Eagle Ridge as the groomer but also assisted with feeding, medicating, breeding of saints, cleaning kennels, answering phones including giving clients information and making appts, plus doing tours.

I am a very outdoorsy person with a passion for gardening, fishing, boating, water skiing, swimming, hunting (both gun & bow), snowmobiling, dirt bike & quad riding, motorcycle driving (not a back seat girl so I have my own), car shows ( We have a 1924 T-Bucket, 1974 Corvette and 1975 Corvette), I love to cook & bake, I love to collect antiques, and any activity that involves family is at the top of my list !!

I married my best friend David in 1999 after living together for 7 years and now have two great boys (young men) Austin 20 and Dylan 18. We currently have a Lab Akita mix named Slick, a Siberian Husky named Legend, a Rottweiler named Slash, three domestic shorthair cats (Mona bobtail, Diesel, Phat Phoebe) and several fish (no names LOL).