Pet Boarding Caretakers

Lauren Johnston

Lauren started working at Deepwood in March 2010. She has always had a passion for working with animals and caring for their needs. Lauren has a terrier mix named Shasta.  Lauren is currently attending college and when on holiday breaks, she helps out as a Lodging Caretaker.

Johnny LaCovey

Johnny has been with Deepwood as a Lodging Caretaker since 2007. He takes pride in his work and always goes the extra mile to make sure our guests are comfortable.

When not at Deepwood, you can find Johnny spending time at the skate park, frequently visiting Dunkin Donuts, or spending time with family.

Laura Shapalis

Laura Shapalis graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech with a major in Wildlife Science from the College of Natural Resources in May 2010. During her time at Tech, she studied a variety of subjects including ecology, field biology, wildlife habitat evaluation/management, and ornithology. She spent a semester abroad in the Dominican Republic, where she studied coral reef preservation and water / habitat conservation.

After graduation, she completed a Primate Internship with the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She assisted zookeepers with the feeding and care of the orangutans and gorillas and conducted a research study on factors influencing regurgitation and reingestion behavior among the orangutans. She continues to volunteer at the zoo one day a week. Laura has also worked for the African Wildlife Foundation, where she learned about the conservation efforts underway in Africa.

Laura’s career goal is to work in the field of animal care, and preferably in a position where she is “hands-on” with the animals. Laura was born in Massachusetts and grew up in Virginia. She lives in Clifton, is the youngest of three sisters, and owns three cats and one dog.

Zachary Buchanan

Zach was born in Fairfax, Virginia. He graduated from Centreville High School in 2010. Zach’s family has been loyal clients of Deepwood for nearly 12 years. Zach joined the team in May of 2011. He likes his job and looks forward to new things every day. When he is not at Deepwood, he enjoys hanging out with friends, family, and spending time with his pug, Katie. I enjoy doing outside activities such as baseball, football, airsofting, and just relaxing.