Staff
Vivianne Villanueva, CPLP – Owner
Certified Pet Loss Provider, Pet Loss and Grief Companioning Certified
Vivianne is the proud owner of Peaceful Paws. Her experience working for a large veterinary reference laboratory taught her the importance of providing exceptional service and going the extra mile for clients. She attributes the success of Peaceful Paws to the strong relationships she built with veterinarians in the San Diego, Riverside and Palm Springs areas. Vivianne prides herself on hard work and has a passion for animals.
An only child, Vivianne often looked to her pets as "surrogate" brothers and sisters. She grew up with dogs, cats, horses, ducks, rabbits, sheep and a variety of other animals. By far, her favorite pet of all time is Bega, a black sheep that thought she was a dog. Vivianne knows and understands the pain the loss of a beloved pet can cause. She is the first to say that animals are not simply pets but members of a family.
Vivianne is married to a veterinarian and is the proud mom of a son, Kiran. Her pet family includes Olivia, a Brussels Griffon; and Little, a black cat. In her free time, Vivianne enjoys traveling, photography, movies, home improvement and spending time with her friends and family.
Mike Galanos – Facility Manager
Certified Crematory Operator
Mike is our Facility Manager and oversees all aspects of facility operations. A Certified Crematory Operator, Mike was our first employee. A proven leader, and a key member of the Peaceful Paws family, he is certified by Matthews Cremation, Inc. to operate our IEB-32, Power Pak II and IEB-50 machines. Mike’s wife, Adrianna, is our Office Manager. They are the proud parents of Melanie, Madden and Mia (fraternal twins) and Mathias. A native San Diegan, Mike is a passionate NASCAR fan and enjoys working on cars.
Adrianna Galanos – Office Manager
Pet Loss and Grief Companioning Certified
Adrianna is the ultimate animal lover. She is a native of Southern California and has spent her career working in veterinary hospitals. Adrianna can often be found rescuing stray animals and finding them their Forever Homes. Her experience in the veterinary field has been an invaluable tool in helping pet parents with their grief. Adrianna is the proud mom of four young children. Her large pet family includes a pony, goats, rabbits, dogs and cats. In her free time Adrianna enjoys scrap booking and spending time with her pets and family.
Jennifer Lowrey – Office Assistant
Jennifer assists with all aspects of office operations and came to Peaceful Paws with a background in customer service. She is a "people person" and takes great pride in her role at Peaceful Paws. A native of Southern California, Jen was raised surrounded by animals. Her pet family includes Abby, a Pit Bull. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with friends and family and going to the movies.
Tommy Frye – Delivery Driver
Tommy oversees deliveries to our clients. Tommy came to Peaceful Paws from a large veterinary reference laboratory and brings a wealth of experience to Peaceful Paws. He was the San Diego Transportation Supervisor for 12 years. Tommy was born and raised in San Diego and graduated from Helix High School. In his free time, Tommy enjoys fishing and gardening. Tommy loves animals and has had many pets throughout his life.
Estela Perez – Lead Driver
Estela is our Lead Driver. Loved by both clients and staff, she is always smiling and keeps us laughing. Born in Guatemala and raised in Southern California, Estela is one of four children. In her free time Estela plays in a soccer league, loves dancing, and enjoys spending time with her friends and family. Her pet family includes two Pomeranians, Tootsie Roll and Fifi; and Chewy, a Chihuahua mix.
Melissa Raridon – Facility Operations
Melissa assists in all aspects of our facility operations. She is a native Southern Californian and enjoys playing soccer, spending time with friends, listening to music and spoiling her nephew. Melissa’s pet family includes five dogs.
Gary Sharp – Delivery Driver
Gary is our Delivery Driver. He was born and raised in Iowa and has been married to his wife, Glenda, for over 45 years. They split their time between Palm Springs and Sun City. They are the proud grandparents to seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In his free time, Gary enjoys traveling, gardening, reading and spending time with his large family. Gary’s pet family includes several dogs and cats.
Lee Treleven – Honorary Lifetime Employee
Lee was one of our original Drivers and was instrumental in helping start Peaceful Paws. Lee came to us from a large veterinary reference laboratory and was already a familiar face to many Peaceful Paws clients. Lee proudly served in the U.S. Marines and is a retired Sheriff’s Deputy. He retired from Peaceful Paws in February 2010 and relocated to his native Wisconsin. A “polar bear” at heart, Lee is enjoying his time ice fishing and spending time with family and friends.
Donovan Berg – Driver
Donovan spends his days making the rounds at veterinary hospitals throughout Southern California. The proud father of two small children, Donovan enjoys landscaping and cheering on the Los Angeles Kings. Donovan's pet family includes Abby, a Pit Bull; and Bruiser, a Chihuahua.
Josh Gauthier – Driver
Josh is one of our most recent additions to the Peaceful Paws team. It's hard not to smile when he is around. Outgoing and friendly, Josh enjoys playing all sports but especially loves basketball. He also spends his free time going to the beach with friends. Josh's pet family includes a Pit Bull mix, Cali.
Evan Reading – Facility Operations
Like Jason, Evan assists with all aspects and facility operations and isn't afraid to jump in whenever needed. A native of Southern California, Evan is the proud father of 3 grown daughters and even prouder grandfather. Evan is very active in his church ministry and enjoys spending time with family and friends. Evan's pet family includes 5 active dogs that enjoy taking HIM for a walk.
Jason Williams – Facility Operations
Jason assists with all facility operations. His infectious sense of humor makes Jason a pleasure to work with. Born and raised in Arizona, Jason now calls California home. He enjoys spending all his free time with his children Anthony, Aidan and Alliyah. Jason also enjoys watching sports and working out. His pet family includes a cat and two Chihuahuas.