Meet Our Team
Located in Fenton, Missouri
Our team at Sled & Breakfast are knowledgable in dog behavior and training, and are able to take a hands on role each day while working with your dog in daycare, boarding, or training.
Melissa Chestnut
Owner
As a lifelong resident of south St. Louis County, I am excited to be starting this new business adventure just a few miles from where I grew up. My family always had labradors, so after rescuing our first husky, I quickly learned that this was the breed I was meant to have. I was born a dog lover. My favorites are the big, slobbery, hairy, snugglers that think they are lap dogs. I have never met a dog I didn’t like and have always wanted to work at a place where I was surrounded by them. I feel very fortunate to now be able to own a business focused on the four-legged friends that I love.
Since graduating from Mizzou, I have worked in small businesses and as an entrepreneur. Before having my daughter, I was co-owner of a family construction business. Now that she’s getting older, it feels like the perfect time to combine my business knowledge and passion for dogs into Sled & Breakfast. My other passion is scuba diving and all things in the ocean; my husband, daughter and I love to travel any chance we get. I’m sure you’ll get to meet them both along with our three rescue dogs, Hearty, Sparkle, and Bob around the daycare.
Chris McCollum
Director of Operations
Jill Donart
Director of Marketing
My family moved to St Louis just before they had me, so I was born and raised here. We didn’t have pets growing up, so I spent a majority of my free time at my next door neighbor’s house with her 2 rough collies and several cats. This developed my pure love for animals. I knew I was going to have pets the minute I moved out on my own. And I sure did, when I got my first cat, Bugs, as a kitten then two years later adopted a senior cat, Daisy. When the timing was right, I got my first puppy, a miniature dachshund named Tiziana and only months later, crazy me got my 2nd puppy, a rough collie named Lombardi.
I’ve been with Sled & Breakfast since December 2022 and I’m thankful every day for the opportunity to love on all of the sweet pups that come through our door! I’ve found my calling working with animals and great people and I would not change a thing. If I’m not working, I’m most likely exploring another city across the country or singing and dancing at a concert.
River Robinson
Manager
After living in a small town in central Illinois my whole life, I moved to Fenton with my family in 2020. As a kid it was my dream to work with animals. I had pets of all kinds my entire life, from dogs and cats, to lizards and a chinchilla. I love all types of dogs of course, but I tend to gravitate to the mutts!
When I heard Sled and Breakfast was opening, I knew it would be a perfect fit for me! At the time I was caring for our elderly dogs, Murphy and Peyton, and I wanted to use the skills I’d learned to make sure other dogs could have a fun and safe time during their stays away from home.
Working with the team at Sled and Breakfast has been incredible. Everyone brings their own knowledge and experience with them, and the dogs are always the priority. I’m very proud to work with so many kind and understanding people.
Outside of work, I spend a lot of time playing with my own dogs at home and taking care of my fish tanks!
Will Zeisset
Manager
I grew up outside a small town in Illinois on a cattle farm which is where I first developed my love of animals. I had a dog named Dancy that was such an amazing dog and always kept an eye on my sisters and I growing up. After we left the farm, my family got another dog named Gidget who is so sweet and recently had her 14th birthday!
After some time, I landed in Saint Louis and applied to Sled and Breakfast as a yard attendant, and I could have never guessed how my life would change.
A few months after starting at S&B I adopted my husky, Karma. She was boarding long term there and was in need of a forever home and I luckily was able to give her one with me. Soon after that I started dating my girlfriend Hailey who was working at S&B and had also just adopted a long-term boarding dog who needed a home named Yadi. Together we have created our own little family with our pups and our home is filled with so much love and joy. I never expected my life to be where it is now, and it all started at Sled and Breakfast.
When I’m not at S&B I can be found at home with Hailey and the pups or spending time with my parents and sisters and the rest of my family.
Hailey Pirkle
Manager
I’ve grown up in the Jefferson County area my whole life, taking in stray animals. My mom would always warn me on the drive home that a stray dog or cat was hanging around the house, and we weren’t going to keep them (we did indeed keep them). When I turned 18, I got my very own dog, Brewsky (German shepherd) who was 6 weeks old. When he turned 3 he started showing signs of people reactivity, which challenged me and made me want to not only work with dogs, but advocate for our fur babies! I took in my long haired tabby who was a stray in my neighborhood, his name is Binx.
I’ve worked at Sled & Breakfast since April of 2023 which led me to get my husky, Aries.
Before working at Sled, I worked as a manager in Child Care and an at home aide for my grandmother. I have a passion for taking care of others and dogs, which I got the opportunity to put the two together here at Sled & Breakfast. I love our team & the doggos, I can’t wait to love on all your fur babies!
Sarah McCollum
Manager
Since I was a little kid I knew I wanted to work with animals. I started out working at a vet’s office which led into getting a job in the doggie daycare world. With 10+ years of experience in the industry I’ve always known this is where I belong. I even met my husband working at a previous dog daycare facility. We have a son and four dogs at home, not counting all the dogs at work that I love like my own. My dogs include Harley (a mini aussie who is my soul dog), Oakley (golden retriever), George (doodle mix), and Bunny (lab mix).
My favorite part about working at S&B is that I am excited to go to work every morning when I wake up. The staff truly know and care about every single dog that walk through the doors.
When I’m not at S&B you can find me hanging out with my family and pups, doing anything outdoors, or watching reality TV.
Logan Boyle
Director of Training
Growing up as an animal lover, I knew I’d always work with animals. From the dogs we had as family pets to owning my own variety of animals of all sizes. I graduated from the Veterinary Technology Program at Jefferson College in May 2020. I’ve worked as a veterinary technician for 6 years at a few different veterinary clinics around the area, but animal behavior has been my passion for many years.
It all started when I got my first dog, Bandit. A beagle/boxer mix that I got when starting the vet tech program. Bandit showed great potential as a puppy, a mischievous one at that. Bandit has been my right hand & best friend through life & medical changes over the years. Bandit has many different obedience & trick titles then eventually became my medical alert service dog. Then Riot came along, Riot is my black Labrador Retriever I got as my trial sport dog/service dog prospect, he is still young but definitely loves to work & dock diving with his friends on our team. He has shown great success in the time I have had him. I also have a mixed breed puppy that was dumped at a previous vet clinic I worked at. She was originally supposed to be a foster dog, well I guess you can call her a foster fail. Her name is Nelli & she is the cutest little girl & greatest addition to the family.
When I’m not working or training my own dogs, I enjoy spending time with my family & relaxing with a good book or movie. I’m looking forward to my adventure being the Director of Training at Sled & Breakfast and can’t wait to meet you & your fur babies!
