Our Mission
Our mission is simple: to provide pets with the highest quality care in a safe and nurturing environment, while giving owners peace of mind.
We know how important your dog is to you—because we’re pet parents too. Every policy, service, and facility feature is designed with your furry family member’s happiness and well-being at the center.
Our Facility
Located conveniently in Leland, NC, our modern facility is built for comfort and fun. Dogs enjoy climate-controlled boarding suites, spacious play yards, and supervised group play.
Cleanliness and safety are top priorities, and our team works tirelessly to maintain a stress-free, tail-wagging environment.
Meet Our Team
Behind every happy pet is a team of passionate caregivers. Our staff is trained in pet safety, first aid, and behavior management, but most importantly, we’re dog lovers at heart. Get to know the friendly faces who will be caring for your pets:
Margot Terapak
Owner/Manager
Originally from a small town in upstate NY, Margot moved to Wilmington in 2001. She graduated in 2009 from UNCW with a B.S. in Biology/Pre-Veterinary medicine. Prior to opening Leland Pet Resort, she spent a total of 13 years managing Sylvia's Pet Care Center and Paw Beach Pet Resort. Margot has completed courses in Business and Canine Behavior, and is certified in Pet First Aid/CPR. As an owner of Leland Pet Resort, Margot is excited to fully integrate the best of what she has learned to create an exceptional pet care experience for furry family members in Leland and the greater Cape Fear region. Margot and her husband Mike share their home in Leland with their 2 dogs Stella and Momo, and their 5 cats Quinn, Tess, Little Debbie, Ozzy and Angus.
Sara Wilson
Manager
Sara has worked at Leland Pet Resort since day one, back in June of 2017! She is from Salisbury, NC, and graduated from UNC Chapell Hill with a double major in English and History. She has 2 beautiful cats, Screech and Sass, and one big handsome dog named Spex, a Great Dane/German Shepherd mix. She loves to travel. So far she has been to Argentina, Scotland and Norway. Sara's favorite part of working at Leland Pet Resort is playing with all the dogs, of course! Sara is a natural at reading canine body language and behavior, and these abilities truly shine when she is supervising a large group of playful pups. Sara is always willing to go above and beyond for every guest, and she is an integral part of what makes Leland Pet Resort so special.
Danielle Danka
Assistant Manager
Danielle has been at Leland Pet Resort since March of 2021. She is originally from Sandyhook, CT, and graduated from Colorado State University as an animal cruelty investigator. She has 5 amazing dogs; Ladybug, a Treeing Walker Coon Hound, Honeybee, a Pointer mix, Rebel, a Doberman, Marbles Edward, a Treeing Walker Coon Hound, and Launa, a Collie mix. In her spare time, Danielle likes to work on her photography, go geo-caching, and hang out with her dogs. Her favorite part of the working at LPR is getting to know each dog's unique personality, and watching them grow more comfortable with each stay. She also loves forming relationships with our clients, and letting them know that we will treat their pets like family. (Danielle might also be the reason that your dog does not answer to their real name anymore, as she has most likely given them about 12 different nicknames!)
Dawn Britt
Receptionist
Dawn, originally from Lumberton, NC, joined our team in May of 2021. She is the fur momma of kitty cat Nugget, chihuahua Aspen and pittie Moose. In her spare time she loves spending time with her dogs, cooking out with her family and friends, and being a Mimi to her 2 beautiful granddaughters. Her favorite part of working at LPR is the special relationships she has with the clients, their fur babies and her coworkers. Dawn is the heartbeat of our reception team and we are lucky to have her smiling face with us everyday!
Brittany Richards
Groomer
Brittany joined the Leland Pet Resort team in June of 2018. Her hometown is Ocala, FL where she studied science in college. She has gorgeous pit/greyhound mix named Gunner. In her spare time, she enjoys making sourdough bread and spending time with her husband and her 2 daughters. Her favorite part of working at LPR is working with all the compassionate people that love their jobs!
Rickie Whaley
Groomer
Rickie began working at Leland Pet Resort in April of 2022 as a Play Attendant and Hotel Attendant. She was recently trained to become a very skilled groomer. Rickie is originally from Trenton, NC and holds an Associate Degree from CFCC in General Education. She has 3 awesome dogs; a boxer named Kasher, a Staffy mix named Gemma and an American Bulldog mix named Asa. One of her favorite things to do in her free time is to go out for coffee with some of her favorite co-workers because they feel like family. She says that her favorite thing about working at LPR is that she still gets to cuddle dogs, but now she also gets to give them fun hair-dos and make them feel more comfortable. Rickie says that she never gets tired of learning new things at Leland Pet Resort!
Summer Polino
Play Attendant and Hotel Attendant
Summer has worked at Leland Pet Resort since 2018. She is originally from Hampstead, NC and has certificates in puppy development and service dog handler through UNCW. Summer and her husband, Jim, are the proud parents of 3 dogs; a black lab named Gideon, a puggle named Jellybean and a chihuahua named Bambi. In her free time she enjoys training Gideon, making jewelry (you can see her beautiful earrings in our lobby!), sewing, knitting, and photography with her husband. Her favorite part of working at LPR is that she loves watching the pups grow over time. She truly feels like the dogs and staff are like family!
Briana (Bre) McDoniel
Play Attendant, Hotel Attendant and Receptionist
Bre has been at Leland Pet Resort since June of 2023. She hails from Clarksville, TN and attended Vol State Community College where she studied Marine Biology. Bre and her partner Sam have 2 beautiful boys, Kai and Koda, 2 corgis named Lily and Maple, and 1 tuxedo cat named Rei. In her spare time Bre likes to build Lego sets and watch anime with her family, read horror books and go shelling at the beach. Her favorite things about working at LPR are getting to see all the different breeds of dogs, playing with all the dogs and cats like her own, taking fun pictures and videos of all the animals, and making sure that all our clients know that they are cared for!
Alexandra (Allie) Suchma
Play Attendant
Allie has been working at Leland Pet Resort since January 2024. She is originally from Scottsdale, AZ and attended the University of Arizona. She has a handsome pitt mix named Argos and 3 beautiful cats named Lady Arrial Sparkles, Phoenix Meow Meow and Lady Antonieta. In her spare time she enjoys cooking and baking, playing Spider Solitaire, watching Bravo and documentaries, and fostering cats and kittens. Her favorite part of working at Leland Pet Resort getting to know each animal's unique personality, building a genuine love for them and laughing at their antics!
Alethia (Thia) McNaughton
Play Attendant and Hotel Attendant
Thia has worked at Leland Pet Resort since July of 2024. She is originally from Litchfield, OH and attended Cape Fear Community College. She is the proud dog mom of a very handsome Shih Tzu named Sir Bruno. In her free time she loves to read and write, work on her art, watch TV and listen to music. Her favorite part of working at LPR is spending time with all the animals, and getting to meet new ones everyday.
Niyah Barsh
Play Attendant
Niyah was hired in July of 2024 and is from Bolton, NC. She is currently attending Cape Fear Community College. She has 2 Huskies, Bear and Shadow, 2 cats, Cheeto and Ivy, 2 Beta fish, Radish and Bluebelle and one gecko named Pickles. Niyah enjoys playing video games and reading in her free time. She says that her favorite part of working at LPR is the bonds that she has created with both her co-workers and all the dogs!
Ayla Preble
Play Attendant
Ayla has been working at Leland Pet Resort since September of 2024. She is originally from Westcester, NY, and attended George Mason University. She has an awesome cat named JJ. In her spare time, she enjoys watching TV, taking long walks and enjoying nature. Ayla's favorite part of working at LPR is getting to bond with her co-workers and all the great animals that we take care of!
Ella Poston
Play Attendant
Ella has been at Leland Pet Resort since September of 2024. She is originally from St. Albans, VT. She is the proud mom of 3 cats names Cake, Juniper and Bluebelle, and a Corgi/Cattle Dog mix name Minnie Mae. When she is not working, Ella enjoys painting, sculpting, playing video games and spending times with friends. Her favorite part of her job is getting to care for amazing dogs everyday. She says that their cuddles and kisses make everything better!
Our Values
At Leland Pet Resort, our team is guided by three core values:
Compassion
We treat every pet as if they were our own.
Safety
Every procedure, from playgroup supervision to grooming care, is designed with your pet’s well-being first.
Community
We’re proud to serve families across Leland, Wilmington, and Brunswick County with reliable, trustworthy pet care.
Why Pet Parents
Trust Us
- Experienced, pet-first staff
- Clean, secure, climate-controlled facility
- Personalized care tailored to your dog’s needs
- Transparent communication and updates
- Proven reputation for compassionate service
Join the Leland Pet
Resort Family
When you choose Leland Pet Resort, you’re choosing more than a pet care facility—you’re joining a family of dedicated professionals who love what they do. We’re honored to care for your four-legged family members and can’t wait to welcome you into our community.
