About
I've spent my career making sure people are safe. Now I'm doing it for dogs too.
At Pinehaven, your dog gets thoughtful, dependable care built around safety, comfort, and plenty of adventure. Whether they're out exploring with me or staying in my home, I'll care for them with the same attention and intention I give my own dogs.
Safety first
How I keep your dog safe
Meet & greet before any care
Written emergency plan and vet on file for every dog
Secure harness and leash protocol
Photo updates after every visit
On Melanie's hike planning
“Melanie puts so much thought into every detail, from the route and timing to making sure everyone feels prepared and safe before we even hit the trail. You can tell that safety is never an afterthought for her. I always feel confident joining a Girls Gone Hiking event because I know Melanie has done the planning, considered the conditions, and genuinely cares about every person in the group.”
The why
Why safety is personal to me
My career has been built in community work, where the responsibility was always the same no matter the role: listen closely, prepare carefully, and create systems people can actually trust. That habit of thinking ahead — of asking what could go wrong before it does — is the thing I carry into every visit.
In April 2025 I founded Girls Gone Hiking to help women get outside with real safety infrastructure around them. Routes, timing, communication, and contingency plans mattered just as much as the trail itself. Adventure simply feels better when someone has already thought it through. Dogs can't tell me when a route is too much or a routine feels off, so Pinehaven runs on the same preparation and the same small, personal scale.
BackgroundUtah Food Bank · Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin · American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Utah chapter · Founder, Girls Gone Hiking
The resident crew
Meet Denali & Goose
Denali
Bernedoodle · Chief Calm Officer
The steady one. Denali is calm, observant, and grounding at home and on the trail.
Goose
Mini Bernedoodle · Head of Greetings
The social one. Goose is curious, expressive, and always ready for the next adventure.
Every boarding stay starts with a meet & greet with both of them, so your dog's first night feels familiar.