Sofia is super excited to join the AGDT team as an assistant dog handler.  Born and raised in Brooklyn, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian as a child.  Sofia decided to attend college in the small town of Findlay, Ohio, where she came face to face with livestock for the very first time on her university’s farm!  It was very different from the big city she was used to!  After graduating, Sofia decided to pursue a different path and interned at a marine animal hospital in Cape Cod.  During her time there, Sofia learned how to care for harbor seal pups and Kemp Ridley sea turtles.  The most rewarding part was watching the seal pups be returned to the ocean healthy and ready to take on the sea!

After her internship, Sofia moved to Alabama and worked as a zookeeper caring for ambassador animals.  She worked with reptiles, birds of prey, and small to medium-sized mammals.  That was also where Sofia was introduced to training for the first time.  After some time, Sofia began to miss home and decided to move back to Brooklyn to be closer to family, friends, and her dogs Hazel and Molly.  In her free time, Sofia enjoys reading and binge-watching a Netflix show.