Our Lil' Campers St. Clair Shores Team

Meet the Carusos!

Have you met our pack leaders? Husband and wife team, Tony and Jamie Caruso are the proud owners of four Camp Bow Wow Franchises, two in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan and two in Springfield, Missouri.

A Man and His Dog

The Caruso family Camp Bow Wow story all started in April of 2007. Tony’s Hungarian Vizsla, Abby, ignited Tony’s passion for dogs and drove his entrepreneurial spirit to invest in a Camp Bow Wow. As Tony worked to grow the Camp business, his personal pack also grew…by four.

Abby's relationship with Tony crossed the "Man's best friend" boundary into what he refers to as "jealous ex-girlfriend" territory. However, Abby has graciously learned to share the man in her life with the other family in his: his wife Jamie, their daughter Ella (born in 2011), and their son Enzo (born 2016). And don't forget about the fur-family members; Bella, a Mastiff that thinks she is a lap dog that the family adopted in 2012, and an Abyssinian cat (born in 2007), that thinks he's a dog named Louie. He is Ella's partner in crime and often the victim to her fashion prowess. When Louie isn't causing trouble with the dogs or meowing for attention, he can usually be seen in the season's latest fashions (i.e. Ella's accessories). Ella and Enzo are clearly the pride of the pack (shh, don't tell Abby!) and have grown up in a house full of animals.

Growing Camp!

As dog lovers, the Caruso family love what they do. They were excited to grow their pack even more when the opportunity arose to take on a second location in Springfield, Missouri in March of 2015 . With a great team of Camp Counselors at both locations, they were able to make this expansion and bring their passion for dogs to Springfield! And the pack keeps growing with the opening of their third location in January, 2016 - their first ever Lil' Campers location in Saint Clair Shores, Michigan.

They feel right at home in the Camp Bow Wow Franchise as they are both pet owners themselves. Being able to fetch peace of mind for pet parents is something they understand from both sides of the fence. The opportunity that Camp Bow Wow brings to foster and further the relationship between man and his best friend, is an opportunity that’s just too good to pass up.

Community Outreach

The family cares and loves being involved in their camp local communities. Tony and Jamie’s passion for animals allows them to help with charity fundraising and participation with multiple rescue groups in Saint Clair Shores and Springfield. They host bite prevention readings with the “Scout Says, Dogs Get Nervous Too” book at Ella’s school and other local elementary schools and libraries. Tony also uses his dog training knowledge and experience to train volunteers at our local rescues and work with the dogs on a one-on-one basis. You may even catch Tony dressed up in the Scout mascot suit at our events.

We are also excited to announce Tony has received his professional certification by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT)!

Outside of Camp

When Tony and Jamie aren’t busy scratching butts in the play yards at Camp you can usually find them in Downtown Detroit at a Lions or Tiger’s game, in Kansas City watching a Royals baseball game, or hitting the links for a game of golf (Jamie supervises the cart). Next time you are at Camp, make sure to say hi to Tony and Jamie!

We are excited to introduce Ashton Sims to our Camp Bow Wow family. Ashton will be taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer for our Brighton Township, Grand Rapids Airport, St. Clair Shores, MI, and Springfield, MO locations. With over a decade of experience in the industry, Ashton worked his way up from a Camp Counselor to a General Manager. For the last 3 years he has worked for the Camp Bow Wow corporate team as a Franchise Business Coach supporting new and existing franchise owners with a high focus on customer service, daily operations, and dog safety.

Ashton is committed to building positive relationships with people and serving dogs within their communities. Ashton holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Business Administration, providing him with a strong foundation to excel in his role.

In addition to his work, Ashton enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and rock climbing. He also enjoys attending professional sporting events and catching comedy shows or concerts. He is a self-proclaimed foodie, always searching for the best chicken parmesan, and he loves indulging in anime and video games in his free time.

Ashton’s dedication to Camp Bow Wow along with his motivation to inspire others makes him an invaluable Leader. His commitment to providing the best experience is fueled by his love for dogs and people.

Chelsey is our Regional Director of Customer Relations. She started with us back in January 2016. Camp owners Jamie and Tony actually discovered her while she was working as the Programs Coordinator for the Humane Society of SWMO.  They were looking for a nonprofit organization to raise funds for during their Grand Re-Opening Paw-ty.  After several months of communication, and learning about Camp Bow Wow's mission and goals, the timing aligned and it felt right for her to make the transition to join the Camp Bow Wow Team. 

Chelsey is certified in Pet First Aid and CPR and is a Canine Behavioral Assessor through the ASPCA. She really enjoys being able to connect with our pet parents and their campers. She finds it meaningful to be a part of a company where we're providing a safe and trusted environment for dogs to be dogs! She also loves how much Camp Bow Wow does to support animal welfare.  Some of her favorite aspects of the business are that we have several efforts throughout the year to support nonprofit and rescue organizations.  In addition to the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, we host fundraising events, donation drives, and even donate a cabin space to foster local rescue dogs which is a cause near and dear to her heart.

Chelsey is a dog mom, who views her dogs as her kids. She has three furkids.  Eleanor "Bug" is a 12-year-old Jack Russell and Chihuahua mix whom she adopted when she worked for the Humane Society in 2011.  She has all of the smarts of a Jack Russell, and all of the sass of a Chihuahua!

She also has Finnegan a 7-year-old Aussie and Border Collie mix whom she adopted in 2017.  He's a hilarious belly rub ham who puts up with his sassy sister very well and gives the best snuggles. They lost their sister Prudence in Dec. 2020, she was a 14-year-old Border Collie Chelsey adopted from Rescue One in 2017.  She was the absolute best of all of us and they all still miss her every day!

In Chelsey’s free time, she enjoys spending time with her pups, family, and friends 

She loves being out in nature; hiking, kayaking, float trips, arrowhead hunting, and crystal mining. She also works on her yoga and meditation practices.

Caitlin is our Camp Manager and has been working with us since December 2021. She wanted to work with us because of her experience growing up with dogs and her love for them. Her favorite part of the job is being around the pups all day. Caitlin has three dogs; Glacier, Winston, and Angel. Glacier is a 3-legged Pitbull that loves to play and be crazy. Winston is a Golden Retriever that is always on the go and loves to swim in the summer. Angel is an American Eskimo that loves going on walks and enjoys playing in the snow. In Caitlin’s free time, she enjoys going up north to go hunting and fishing. She also enjoys hanging out with friends and she is currently in school for dog grooming. She will be certified in the Summer of 2023.

Skills and Experience

Background: Beverly has known and worked with Camp Rangerette Jamie since 2001. You read that right, that’s 17 years! Beverly loved working with her and thought it would be fun to combine her love of marketing with her love for dogs.

Additional Skills/Qualifications: Beverly works hard behind the scenes for Camp but she also has personal experience in training. She trained one of her dogs in level one, level two, agility, freestyle, and fly ball in 2000. Beverly loves working with dogs and truly sees the value in socialization and training. Beverly isn’t the average marketing consultant – she’s the paw- fect person for us, right?!

Fun Facts

What I love most about my job: Beverly’s favorite part of her job is working with people who love dogs as much as she does. She loves sharing the Camp Bow Wow brand with other dog lovers! Beverly gets to spend a lot of time on social media, looking at cute dog photos, dog videos, and planning fun events for you and your pup. She can’t get enough of it!

My pets: At home, Beverly has two dogs. Midnight is a Labrador Retriever/Corgi mix who she rescued in 2013. Midnight was six years old at the time and Beverly happily gave him a better life! Minna is a Miniature Schnauzer who thinks she is human. She was more than happy when Beverly brought home Midnight and quickly taught him how to play and chase squirrels!

My hobbies: Outside of her marketing world, Beverly is a proud Army Wife! She loves spending time with her husband, Bobbie, her adopted son, Zeke, and her step-son, Eliott. Beverly is a coffee addict who enjoys traveling, playing board games, going to the beach, cuddling with her dogs, and spending time outdoors!

Raeghen has been a Camp Counselor with us since May 2023. She wanted to work with us because of her love and passion for dogs. Her favorite part of the job is spending time with all of the different dogs and believes it’s a great mental break from day-to-day life. She has a 10-year-old, Lab Corgi Pit mix named Zoey. She is spunky and loves being a couch potato and hiding under blankets. In Raeghen’s free time, she enjoys doing puzzles and hanging out with friends and family.

Meet Natalie, our passionate Camp Counselor since January 2024. With a lifelong love for animals and a team-oriented spirit, Natalie brings a wealth of experience to their role. Their favorite part of the job? Spending quality time with the dogs and getting to know the diverse range of breeds. At home, Natalie's pack includes Nila, a sweet and goofy 4-year-old Australian Shepherd, and Milo, a 7-year-old cat who thinks he's a dog. Natalie enjoys outdoor activities, cooking, culinary adventures, and exploring new places in their free time. Whether solving puzzles, gaming, or tending to their plants, Natalie's zest for life shines through in everything they do.

Introducing Skylar, our vibrant Camp Counselor who joined the pack in November 2023, bringing a burst of energy and a love for learning to our team. Skylar's quest for a fresh environment led her to us, where she spends her days delighting in the joy of petting our four-legged friends. When she's not charming the dogs, Skylar is busy with her spunky 3-year-old black cat, Draco. Beyond the furry world, you'll find her immersed in books, tackling puzzles, and occasionally taking on challenges in the virtual gaming realm. Skylar adds a splash of enthusiasm to every adventure, making our canine haven even more delightful!

Meet Tatumn Dittrich, the vibrant Camp Counselor since December 2023! Drawn to the refreshing experience of being greeted by dogs every day, Tatumn brings a lifetime of living with dogs, along with an HS Diploma, platinum ACT work keys scores, and customer service expertise to her role. Her favorite job perk? Enrichment time, where she gets to have fun spending one-on-one time with dogs or a small group. At home, Tatumn's got a trio of pitbull beauties – Mavis, the lazy bones; Ivy, the hectic yet calm middle child; and Stella, the forever-young ms. barksalot. In her free time, catch Tatumn crocheting, journaling, binge-watching TV and movies, and conquering video games!