Jill Lydic has been working with and training animals her whole life.  Her desire to care for them led to four years of experience as a Veterinary Technician, providing her with extensive knowledge in first aid and preventative care. She was always most fascinated by behavior, though, and that interest led her to pursue a career in marine mammal training while doing some dog training on the weekends.  For nine years, Jill worked with gray, harp, and harbor seals and Atlantic and Pacific bottlenose dolphins, gaining valuable experience in positive reinforcement training techniques.  She also attended various training workshops involving walruses, sea lions, penguins, otters, and elephants. Training large mammals to participate in medical exams voluntarily requires plenty of patience, and Jill’s compassion for animals is obvious when you see her interact with them.  As a Senior Marine Mammal Trainer, she had the opportunity to train three dolphins from birth, so she has the skills needed to work with young, naive animals. She enjoys watching the animals (and their humans!) learn and helping people bond with their dogs during the training process.  Her own dogs are her children, so she understands the importance of having them in your life.

Jason Lydic has worked with numerous exotic and sometimes rare animals, including amphibians such as salamanders and poison dart frogs, large reptiles like crocodilians and anacondas, as well as primates, birds, hoofstock, and venomous insects.  He has assisted in the training of pygmy marmosets, golden lion tamarins, and a variety of bird species. His eight years of college education to the level of a Master’s degree in Biology provides him with a strong background in animal science and management.  He has extensive zoo and aquarium experience and his attention to detail when it comes to caring for animals is meticulous.  He is extremely dedicated to animals and was the brains behind the development of YOU WORK, I’LL PLAY.  A child at heart, Jason loves to get down on the floor with a dog for a good, old-fashioned romp!  He excels at creating fun, new games for dogs and will surely keep your animal entertained for hours!

Ellie is a poodle/terrier/lab mix (a true mutt!) who was born on November 25, 1998 and unfortunately orphaned at five weeks old.  Jill adopted Ellie two weeks later and they’ve been inseparable ever since.  Ellie is an extraordinary jumper (perhaps part kangaroo?!) and an exceptional frisbee dog.  Although shy at first, Ellie has a wonderful personality and enjoys wrestling around with her sisters.  At night, Ellie loves to curl up under the covers and snuggle with her mommy, letting out long sighs as she goes to sleep.   

Jay Clawson grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania, spent over ten years in Northern New Jersey, then made the move to Asheville in 2005.  Having grown tired of the hectic pace of life in the Northeast, Jay and his wife, Juliet, moved here for the peace and joy that comes from the surrounding mountains and the sense of community that is found in the neighborhoods of Asheville.  Shortly after the move, Jay and Juliet adopted their first dog together from the Asheville Humane Society. Maggie is a mixed breed who they like to refer to as their ‘Carolina Mountain Dog.’  Once they purchased their own home in West Asheville, Henry, a Plott Hound/ Retriever mix joined the family via Animal Compassion Network.  After several years in a variety of industries, Jay is happy to be part of the YWIP team and is excited to be able to work with the furrier members of your family.