Aaron
Aftercare Technician
Aaron was born in Corona, Calif., but went to school in Syracuse, New York and Cheshire, Connecticut. He has an Associate’s in Electronics from San Diego City College. Aaron joined Paws into Grace in the Summer of 2022. He is a dependable, hard worker, and he treats each pet with dignity and respect. When our Paws families receive their clay paw prints, it is likely Aaron who has lovingly made these!
In his free time, Aaron plays tennis and video games, and spends time with his Labradoodle named “Smudge.”
Brooke
Aquamation Director
Brooke joined Paws into Grace in 2020, after working at the first veterinary facility to implement Aquamation in San Diego, Calif. At Paws into Grace, Brooke was pivotal in the planning and operating stages of the company’s Escondido-based Aquamation facility, which she continues to manage today.
Brooke is known as a true “jack of all trades,” having supported operations across multiple departments. She has led the development of internal protocols, SOPs, and scalable systems that have helped the company navigate rapid growth while maintaining a strong team culture and high staff morale. She brings a strong sense of integrity to every aspect of her work, ensuring that both client trust and pet dignity remain central to every process.
In addition to her hands-on experience, Brooke is a Certified Alkaline Hydrolysis Operator and has been part of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC) since 2021. She helped contribute to the development of the industry’s first Certified Pet Alkaline Hydrolysis Crematory Operator Program.
Brooke is a San Diego native, is Fear-Free Certified and loves helping people. In her free time, she enjoys creating metal art, going fishing, and exploring new places to hike with her husband. She enjoys living the country life with goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and her dog.
“I am very fortunate to be working with Paws into Grace. We have built an amazing team of genuinely compassionate individuals. I care so much about what we do, and most importantly about helping our clients through the loss they are experiencing. This is sacred and fulfilling work, and we treat every pet as if they are our own.”
“Not a lot of people know about Aquamation. I love the opportunity to educate families about the environmentally-friendly cremation process we offer. We even have unique Memorials and Private Viewings where we honor the pet, and I am able to have our families be a part of the process, and explain everything in depth.”
Completed Levels I and II Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Christie Gray
Aquamation Manager
Animals have always held a special place in Christie’s heart. With over 25 years of professional experience spanning both the automotive and animal worlds, she has found her true calling working with animals and the people who love them.
Throughout her life, Christie has cared for just about every kind of pet imaginable, from fish and frogs to praying mantises, hermit crabs (a personal favorite!), and water turtles.
Her current family includes her 17-year-old rescue cat, Helmutt, her energetic 1.5-year-old Malinois mix, Flynn, and three tortoises: Shelly, Steve, and Lilo.
Outside of work, Christie and her sidekick Flynn enjoy high-performance driving on road course racetracks, hiking, road trips, gardening, wildlife watching, and stand-up paddleboarding.
Christie is excited to be part of such an amazing, compassionate team, one where everyone truly cares. She feels honored to play a role in cherishing the lives and memories of so many special and beloved four-legged family members.
Courtney
Chief Operating Officer
After more than 20 years of experience in journalism, marketing, and public relations, Courtney de Craen transitioned into the pet aftercare profession by joining Paws into Grace in 2020. That same year, she played a pivotal role in the launch of their first Aquamation facility in Escondido, California. Courtney’s strategic insight, operational leadership, and communication expertise have been instrumental in the company’s continued growth and reputation for excellence.
Courtney became a member of the International Association of Pet Cemeteries and Crematories (IAOPCC) in 2021, driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to the profession. She has since become actively involved in the Association’s strategic initiatives and was a key contributor to the development of the Certified Pet Alkaline Hydrolysis Crematory Operator Program, the first-ever certification for water-based cremation in the pet aftercare industry.
“I am honored to be able to support the families that trust Paws into Grace with their beloved pets. Having experienced the loss of my first Corgi in 2022, I am so grateful that Paws’ veterinarians and team members support all parts of the end-of-life process. It brought me comfort to know my precious boy was being treated with love and respect even after his passing, and I’m proud of our team that treats every single pet in our office the same way.”
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling, and cooking. She has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Rebel Skywalker and a Cardigan Welsh Corgi named Rey Skywalker.
Danielle Haragos
Client Care Specialist
With over eight years of experience in the veterinary field, Danielle brings deep compassion, empathy, and understanding to every family she supports. She began her career as a Boarding Technician and Supervisor, later expanding her skills as a Veterinary Assistant and Client Care Specialist in emergency and specialty medicine.
Now, as part of a team dedicated to providing peaceful and compassionate in-home euthanasia and cremation services, she feels grateful to help families honor their beloved pets in the most meaningful way possible. For Danielle, being there for people and their pets during such tender moments is not just work; it is a privilege.
She believes every family deserves to be heard, comforted, and guided with care and integrity throughout their goodbye.
At home in Ramona, Danielle enjoys life with her husband, two cats — Simba and Kali — and her terrier mix, Lily. Outside of work, she finds joy in nature, spending time with family, creating artwork, and cooking.
Delaney
Client Care Specialist
Delaney was born and raised in Southern California. She joined Paws into Grace in April 2021 and has been working in various aspects of the animal industry for almost 5 years.
Her love of working with animals started at a rescue in San Diego, where she fell in love with helping sick and scared animals heal and thrive before finding their forever homes.
At Paws, Delaney loves getting the chance to make a real difference for our Paws pets, and helping owners find peace while making an impossible decision.
In 2022, Delaney relocated to Yellowstone National Park with her young son, husband of 10+ years, and their cat named “Po Boy.” In her free time, she is an avid reader and podcast listener, and she keeps plants and enjoys hands-on arts and crafts, like needlepoint and crochet.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Deven
Client Care Specialist
Deven grew up in the Central Valley, moved to San Francisco for several years, and has been in San Diego for the past 5 years. She joined Paws into Grace in August 2021 and has been working in the animal industry for the past 10 years.
At Paws into Grace, Deven enjoys being able to help people during such a difficult time with their loved ones. She feels this is such a great service, and wishes she knew at-home euthanasia was an option when she needed to say goodbye to her beloved pet Sparky.
In her free time, Deven enjoys reading, cross stitching, and knitting. She also loves spending time with her three cats — Eowyn, Chrundle, and Natalia — and her horse Lady.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Emalee
Aftercare Specialist
Emalee is an Aftercare Specialist with a lifelong passion for animal welfare and a deep commitment to supporting both animals and the people who care for them. Her career began with positions at Petco and Beast Reptiles, a small exotic animal store in San Diego, where she developed hands-on experience in animal care and husbandry across a wide range of species.
In 2022, Emalee began her professional career with the San Diego Humane Society, where she gained experience across multiple departments — Animal Care, Admissions, and eventually Humane Law Enforcement, where she worked to protect animals and serve the community.
Throughout her career, one thing has remained constant: Emalee’s dedication, compassion, and commitment to the well-being of all creatures. Outside of work, she enjoys taking walks with her three dogs, Mocha, Laika, and Fizzy, and exploring new places with her boyfriend of three years.
Erika
Senior Client Care Specialist
Erika “with a K” is originally from Germany and has been living in Southern California since 2013. Her very first adult dog companion, a beautiful blue pittie named Monty Burns, inspired her to pursue a career working closely with animals. Erika has been involved in animal care since 2013, with experience in caretaking, breeding, training, handling, boarding, vet assistance, and clinic technician work.
Since February 2022, Erika has been with Paws into Grace, a company she is grateful to be a part of, with integrity and compassion as its core values. Erika believes in the healing power of a beautiful goodbye at home and feels privileged to guide families through these steps.
When not at work, Erika enjoys spending time with her husband and their boxer, Maps. She loves connecting with her family, plants, books, and her community. As a holistic spirituality practitioner, Erika organizes public and private Sound Journeys, incorporating crystal singing bowls and other modalities for healing.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Josh
Lead Driver
Josh is originally from Los Banos, California, and relocated to San Diego in 2020. He joined Paws into Grace in August 2020 and has more than 10 years of customer service experience.
“The care and attention that goes into the entire process, from the appointment to the transportation to cremation, is what impresses me. I love working for Paws because it gives me a sense of purpose and gratification to be able to help grieving families through a difficult time.”
In his free time, Josh can be found rooting for his favorite football team, the San Francisco 49ers, listening to his favorite YouTube series “Good Mythical Morning,” or spending quality time with family.
Having experienced multiple pet losses, Josh understands the incredibly sensitive nature of the situation at hand. He wants families to know that he takes care and handles each pet as if they were his own.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Kelly
Client Care Specialist
Born in Lake Arrowhead, Kelly now happily resides in San Diego. She has always known helping animals was her purpose and calling in life, leading her to a background across several different areas of animal welfare — doggie daycare, multiple veterinary clinics (including specialty and emergency hospitals), a non-profit animal rescue/shelter, and even a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center. Her experience includes 10 years of hands-on work with wildlife such as hawks, owls, opossums, raccoons, coyotes, and “all the critters native to San Diego.”
Kelly is honored to be a part of the Paws into Grace team, and takes great pride in helping both owners and their beloved pets through their end-of-life journey together.
At home, Kelly enjoys life with her husband and her “zoo” — four small rescue dogs, a senior cat, a ball python, a Leopard Gecko, and a Pacman Frog. She loves camping, hiking, spending time in nature, painting, sculpting, and looking for owls to watch in her trees outside.
Lauren
Marketing Manager
Lauren earned her degree in Marketing from San Diego State University and has always been drawn to the thoughtful, human side of marketing, understanding what people need, finding meaningful ways to connect with them, and creating content and resources that are genuinely useful.
She has been part of the Paws into Grace team for more than four years, where her love for animals and passion for marketing come together. She enjoys all aspects of marketing, from creative content and storytelling to community engagement and developing materials that help pet families feel informed, supported, and connected to the care available to them.
Outside of work, Lauren loves spending time and adventuring with her family and her 11-year-old poodle mix, Mia. She also enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, gardening, interior design, and traveling, and is always looking forward to the next place to explore.
Marc
Chief of Staff
With a background in Criminal Justice and Sociology and nearly two decades in San Diego, Marc brings a leadership style grounded in empathy, operational clarity, and team development. As Chief of Staff at Paws into Grace, he drives strategic initiatives and performance alignment across a mission-led organization.
Since entering the veterinary field in 2021 and joining the Paws team in 2023, Marc has focused on building sustainable processes, elevating team culture, and ensuring that empathy and integrity guide every interaction. He is passionate about turning vision into action through adaptable frameworks, cross-team coordination, and people-first leadership.
Outside of work, Marc enjoys creative writing and traveling. He shares his home with a spirited chihuahua named Edna and three charismatic cats — Mongoose, Thorin, and Khan — each with their own distinctive personality.
Completed Levels I and II Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Melissa
Client Care Specialist
Melissa joined the Paws into Grace team as its newest member, bringing a fresh perspective and a passion for sustainability and animal welfare. Originally from San Jose, she relocated to San Diego to pursue her studies in Sustainability at SDSU, where she quickly fell in love with the city’s vibrant community and environmental ethos. After dedicating two years to an environmental nonprofit, Melissa decided to align her career with another passion of hers — animals.
A lifelong animal lover, Melissa shares her home with two beloved pets: Peter Pan, affectionately known as Pan, her soulful 13-year-old dog, and Winston, a 4-year-old cat with eccentric habits like licking strawberries and Irish Spring soap.
In her downtime, Melissa enjoys exploring San Diego, engaging in outdoor activities, and nurturing her interest in environmental conservation.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Meri
Aquamation Technician
Meri was born in San Diego, California. She has two sisters, including an identical twin, and a brother. She attended the US Career Institute, earning a diploma in Veterinary Assistant and Animal Care, and is currently enrolled at Penn Foster College pursuing a Veterinary Technician program.
Meri has over 14 years of experience working with a wide variety of animals, from mice, rats, rabbits, and chinchillas to larger animals such as monkeys, goats, and pigs. While employed at TSRI and UCSD, she maintained the health and welfare of lab animals and supervised staff. After leaving UCSD, Meri realized she had been missing her true passion — working directly with animals.
She enjoys working at Paws into Grace because everyone shares the same mindset: a passion for their work and a commitment to helping others honor their beloved pets. She describes Paws into Grace as the first place she has worked where her job truly has purpose.
In her downtime, Meri enjoys spending time with her dog, Kona, writing poetry, and creating zentangles. She also loves exploring new restaurants and hanging out with friends.
Rebecca
Client Care Manager
Originally from San Marcos, Rebecca now resides in North Carolina. She joined Paws into Grace in June 2022, and has been in the industry since 2018. Growing up, Rebecca fostered cats and dreamed of being a dolphin trainer! She is Fear-Free certified and has cared for animals for many years.
She believes one of the most fulfilling aspects of working for Paws is the opportunity to provide compassionate care and support to families during one of the most difficult times in their lives.
“I want clients to know that I’ve been in their shoes many times and that helps me empathize with pet owners. I completely understand that this is going to be the hardest experience emotionally for clients, and to never feel embarrassed for showing those emotions when they talk to us on the phones. We are here to make this experience as peaceful and loving as possible.”
In her free time, Rebecca enjoys reading, spending time with her two kids, exploring her new state of North Carolina, or just relaxing on the couch binge-watching TV. Rebecca has five furry family members — her cats Feisty, Simba, and Nala, and two pups, Josie and Archie.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC
Renee
Aftercare Specialist
After graduating from Cypress College with AA’s in Psychology & Behavioral Sciences, Renee began their animal welfare journey at a high-volume dog daycare in 2021. They relocated to San Diego in the summer of 2024 to pursue work with the San Diego Humane Society, serving as a Humane Officer and Admissions Counselor before deciding to support families on a more personal and precious scale.
Renee started at Paws into Grace in June 2026, bringing a skilled, compassionate demeanor to caring for grieving families and their pets. In their personal life, grief and animals are topics of the highest significance — after losing their parents in 2015 and 2019, Renee has made it their mission to help others feel fulfilled in how they grieve, fostering a space that is all-inclusive and never rushed.
At home, Renee lives with their tattoo artist partner of 6 years, Nikki, and their four cats: Duchess, Beavis, Mac, and Neelix. Outside of work, Renee is a strong advocate for queer rights, loves being in nature, and can likely be found at your local punk concert or drag show.
Ruby
Driver
A San Diego native, Ruby joined Paws into Grace in 2022. Prior to joining Paws, Ruby was going to school to become a veterinary technician.
“What I love most about working with Paws is the opportunity to make a difference in the lives I encounter. I like to think of Paws into Grace as my second home. I was never able to find my spot in the work field until I found Paws into Grace.”
In her free time, Ruby enjoys visiting new places, writing, reading, spending time with her family and partner, and trying new foods. She also loves spending time with her two American bullies, Bruno and Peaches.
Samantha
Client Care Specialist
Born and raised in the Bonsall area, Samantha recently returned home after earning her bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary Animal Science. She has a particular passion for animal welfare and the human-animal bond, sparked by her experience fostering medically fragile kittens and volunteering in a high-volume veterinary clinic.
Samantha is excited to help offer a kind ear and a peaceful goodbye to clients and their furry family members through Paws. Having experienced euthanasia both in-hospital and at home with past pets, she believes being in a comfortable environment can make all the difference in such a painful moment.
Samantha spends most of her off time with family, often crocheting or reading alongside her three cats, watching old movies with her two budgies, or enjoying nature with her rescue dog, Sunny. She hopes to pursue grad school and achieve her ultimate career goal — since she was six — of becoming a veterinarian.
Completed Level I Pet Bereavement Certification, IAOPCC