DAVE MILAN

Founder

Dave is an experienced search and rescue handler and trainer, and has managed countless successful search and rescue missions in the upstate of South Carolina and the southeast region.

He boasts decades of canine experience to include breeding, importing and training. 

CHERI MILAN

Founder

Cheri and her GSD Mato are a certified Human Remains Detection K9 team, and respond for law enforcement and emergency agencies in SC and surrounding areas. Mato is her third K9 partner with Foothills.

Cheri also brings CJ (pictured), her English Springer Spaniel, to work with her every day so he can play with his Astro friends in doggie daycare.

Jamie C.

General Manager

Jamie has been the Manager of Astro Kennels since shortly after they opened their doors in April 2008.

As a child, her family raised and bred English Springer Spaniels until they discovered the world of the German Shepherd Dog. Now they breed and train German Shepherds for everything from pets to police work dogs and search and rescue. Jamie is a proud member of Foothills Search & Rescue where she is frequently deployed on searches with her German Shepherd partner, Nolan.

When she isn't working at the kennel or volunteering, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors and spending time with her two children, Bristol and Milan.

Jeff F.

General Manager

Jeff has been with Astro since March 2021.

He was a supervisor for the Greenville County Coroner’s Office for 13 years prior to coming to Astro. He was the handler for the First Cadaver Dog, K9 Ino, commissioned by a coroner's office in SC. Jeff is also a proud member of Foothills Search & Rescue. He currently owns two human remains detection dogs, Ino and Havana.

When he's not at work, he likes to spend his free time scuba diving and doing anything outdoors!

Samantha M.

Director of Operations

Sam is the director of operations for both of our locations, and has been with us since 2019. She can tell you the name of every dog that walks through the door, and has two dogs of her own, Luca (pictured) and Ruby.

She used to be a preschool teacher, so she figured wrangling dogs all day wouldn't be much different.

When she's not at work, she's in her kitchen cooking delicious meals for her loving husband and amazing kids. Sometimes we get lucky and she surprises us with delicious meals and cakes at work too! ⠀

Lisa

Kennel Supervisor

Lisa is our kennel supervisor at our Five Forks location. She has been with us since April 2023 but has ample experience working with dogs.

She worked at Greenville County Animal Care for 10 years as their adoption supervisor and oversaw their kennels. Lisa has made dogs her life's work, she has a total of 17 foster dogs at home and loves them all with all her heart.

Ashley W.

Mauldin Supervisor

Ashley is the supervisor at our Mauldin location.

She previously came to work at Astro Kennels in 2013. She was with us until 2018 when she decided to take a few years off to spend time at home with her family.



She has two pups of her own named Jade and Saige.

Makayla M

Daycare Shift Lead

Makayla is one of our daycare shift leads: She has been with us since April 2021 and has always worked in our daycare area. She has two dogs of her own, Josie (pictured above) and Bella, both German Shepherds.

When she's not at work, you can usually find her in her Jeep up in the mountains.