Kennel Staff: Owner
Lance Nogosek is the Owner of Ridge Kennels LLC. Lance has an extensive knowledge of managing & operating a kennel facility. Lance was trained by the Department of Defense to not only manage a kennel but how to care for the animals & people associated with the kennels. That was taught through years of extensive vet training, canine training, kennel care, & personnel management skills. Lance was active duty Air Force for 12 years. He was canine for eight of those 12 years working with multiple kennel systems, hundreds of dogs, handlers, vets, & kennel professionals. Lance has also worked with many Federal, State & local agencies to include the Secret Service, FBI, Explosive Countermeasures International, local Police Depts & the Humane Society of Charles County. Lance currently resides at Ridge Kennels in Laplata, Maryland with his three dogs Sioux, Lando, & Diesel. |
Kennel Manager
Alexander (Alex) Rios is our kennel manager. A 21 year United States Air Force veteran, Alex has managed kennels in both the United States & in foreign countries as a deployed Kennel master with the Air Force. Alex entered the Air Force as a career Military Working Dog Handler in 1989. He then moved to a trainer & manager very fast eventually earning a Kennel Master position at the largest kennel in the military,(Andrews Air Force base in MD). Alex & Lance met at Andrews AFB and worked together to keep the kennels working at a very high proficiency throughout their final years of military service. After his retirement in 2010 Alex went on to become a handler for Explosive Counter Measures International where he worked with his K-9 companion to keep numerous locations safe & secure in the District of Columbia. Alex has close to 25 years of experience working dogs, managing kennels, and managing K-9 teams. He has been certified more than 10 times in the K-9 life saver program through the DOD.
Tina, our groomer has been grooming dogs for ten years. Tina loves animals and has been with Ridge Kennels her whole dog grooming career. Tina cares about the animals more than anything and it shows with her happy & personable demeanor.