About Us

Kaajal Tiwary

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Kaajal Tiwary, Certified Dog Trainer and founder of D For Dogz, has been helping dogs—and their humans—live happier, more harmonious lives since 2012. Her certifications with Karen Pryor Academy, Animal Behavior College, Family Paws Parent Education, and Puppy Start Right reflect her dedication to humane, effective, and evidence-based training. She specializes in behavior modification for dogs experiencing fear, frustration, or over-excitement, helping families build stronger bonds with their pets.

Kaajal’s heart dog, Diesel, faced serious medical and behavioral challenges after a traumatic dog attack, testing his resilience and strengthening the bond they shared. Inspired by his journey, Kaajal established Diesel’s FootPrint & the Diesel Memorial Fund providing dogs facing similar challenges with compassionate training, support, and guidance to help them and their families thrive.

LeighAnne Holtzman

 Board Secretary

LeighAnne serves on our board, bringing a wealth of experience from her role as Chief of Staff at a leading tech company. With a strong foundation in technology, program management, and management consulting, she helps us strengthen our operational systems and expand our ability to serve more dogs and the families who love them.

For LeighAnne, this mission is deeply personal. She has cared for several dogs with significant health and behavioral needs, giving her firsthand insight into the emotional and logistical challenges families face. Her compassion and lived experience fuel her dedication to ensuring others receive the support, guidance, and resources they need.

Mollika Majumdar

Board Treasurer

Mollika Majumdar leads research at our organization, grounded in a background in computer applications and QA engineering. As a full-time caregiver to a special-needs child, she is deeply engaged with the autism community. She’s been navigating her dog Buffy’s chronic health issues for three years and feels the toll firsthand. The compassion she practices at home informs how she shows up for animals and their families, leading her to establish The Buffy Fund, which helps low-income caregivers get the emotional support they need while navigating chronic medical or behavioral challenges with their pets.

Through her work, Mollika continues to create a meaningful impact, ensuring that every pet and family she touches receives the support they deserve.

Cheryl Smith

 Board Member – Grants & Strategy

Cheryl Smith is the Founder and CEO of Dewlyn Nonprofit Services, a metro Atlanta-based consulting firm established in 2017 to help small nonprofits build capacity, secure funding, and grow sustainably. With over 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and a Master’s in Public Administration, she supports more than 6,000 nonprofit leaders each year through grant-writing, training, and strategic development.

Cheryl brings with her extensive experience in nonprofit project development, management, data analysis, reporting, and grant-writing. As a national trainer and woman-owned business, Cheryl is committed to empowering organizations that serve their communities with heart, vision, and impact.

Dr. David Bruyette

Board Member – Consulting Veterinary Specialist

Dr. David Bruyette earned his DVM from the University of Missouri, followed by an internship at Purdue University and a residency in internal medicine at UC Davis. He served as a staff internist at West Los Angeles Veterinary Medical Group and was part of the Department of Comparative Medicine at Stanford University. He later became Assistant Professor and Head of Internal Medicine at Kansas State University, where he also directed the Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. Most recently, he was the Medical Director of VCA West Los Angeles Animal Hospital, one of the nation’s largest 24-hour emergency/specialty practices.

A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and member of the Pituitary and Endocrine Societies, Dr. Bruyette currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at Anivive Lifesciences.

Dr. AnaClara Munoz

Board Advisor – Veterinarian Specializing in Behavior

Dr. AnaClara Muñoz completed her veterinary degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City followed by a 6-month research internship with the University of Bristol (UK) Animal Welfare and Behavior group. She continued her clinical experience with a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Kansas State University, followed by a three-year behavioral medicine (veterinary psychiatry) residency at North Carolina State University.

During her residency, Dr. Muñoz treated a variety of patients, including dogs, cats, birds, and even lemurs and bears. She also studied the effect of a medication for storm phobia in dogs and published her results in a scientific journal. After her residency Dr. Muñoz came to the Bay Area and worked for a year and a half at the SF SPCA behavior specialty clinic before returning to general practice at Village Square Woodside. She has a Corgi, Neblina, who she enjoys training and adventuring with.

Dr. Sophie Liu

Board Advisor – Consulting Veterinarian Specializing in Behavior

Dr. Sophie Liu is a veterinarian, behavior consultant, published scientific author, and, above all, a passionate dog trainer. After receiving her education at University of California Berkeley and Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Liu attended a behavior medicine residency at the SF SPCA. She has trained dogs in agility and obedience, and is a highly sought after behavior consultant and presenter. Her current obsession is training her Dobermans for protection sports.

Dr. Liu has experienced and trained virtually the entire spectrum of dog problems: from normal “problems” like housetraining and annoying adolescence to serious disorders like phobias, anxiety, and aggression.

Manisha Agrawal

Board Advisor

Manisha Agrawal has over 20 years of experience in the social benefit sector, advising philanthropies and nonprofits on strategic planning, expansion and organizational design and execution. Her work through her consulting firm Nivideum has included clients such as California Health Care Foundation, Children’s Health Council, EdX, LifeMoves, San Francisco General Hospital Foundation, Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, UCSF Child Trauma Research Program and UCSF Rosenman Institute.

Manisha has an operating background in the technology industry, with engineering development, product management, and leadership roles at companies such as Microsoft, Oracle, and Informatica. Over the past few years, Manisha has served on various nonprofit boards, including AIF (American India Foundation), CHC (Children’s Health Council), Stanford Graduate School of Business Advisory Council, Stanford ACT (Alumni Consulting Team), and UCSF Rosenman Institute Advisory Board. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and two dogs – Kato (12.5-year-old Tibetan Terrier) and Orion (7-year-old Aussiebernedoodle), who are tremendous sources of joy in her life!

Monica Worline

Board Advisor

Monica C. Worline, Ph.D., is the founder of EnlivenWork, guiding organizations to thrive through curiosity, compassion, and courageous thinking. A research scientist at Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research, she also leads CompassionLab.

The Noey Fund was inspired by Monica’s love for dogs, which began with Amaia, her Bernese Mountain Dog, and continues with Noey, her lively Bernedoodle. Together, they support Diesel’s FootPrint, honoring its mission to help pets and families heal and grow.

Jess Adam

Consulting Licensed Therapist

Jess Adam is a licensed professional counselor based in Pennsylvania, where she lives with her husband, twin boys, 11-year-old reactive pit mix named Dio, and a cat named Bat.

Passionate about both mental health and animal welfare, Jess created Handlers & Humans: a coaching practice that helps dog guardians and canine professionals navigate the emotional side of life with complex dogs.

With over a decade of experience as a practicing therapist and counseling professor, Jess brings clinical expertise and lived experience together in a warm, evidence-based approach.

She’s currently deepening her work by studying veterinary social work. Through individual coaching, group programs, and online courses, Jess helps dog lovers cultivate more confidence, calm, and compassion for their dogs and themselves.