Zona is a semi-retired clinical psychologist with a lifelong passion for helping dogs. Specializing in neuropsychology, she trained as a scientist at the Salk Institute and completed postdoctoral research on memory with rhesus monkeys at the Boston University School of Medicine, among other respected academic institutions.

Her journey into dog training began decades ago through rescue and rehoming work, where she quickly recognized that behavioral issues were the leading reason dogs lost their homes. After a chance encounter with a client of master trainer Roger Therriault, she began training under his guidance and developed advanced, service-level dog training skills.

Since 2010, Zona has run her own training kennel and leads a team of trainers and students—many of whom receive academic credit through their master’s programs for observing her work. She also serves as the lead trainer for the PET Project, a $3 million federally funded program that places therapy dogs in Behavioral Health sites across Imperial Valley to help clients attend and complete outpatient treatment.

Zona trains both service-level dogs and family companions, and she regularly works with foster dogs from the Humane Society to prepare them for successful adoptions.