Meet Heidi
Co-Founder
Heidi Huebner
Heidi Huebner is a nationally recognized leader in animal advocacy, community engagement, and customer experience innovation, with over 30 years of experience creating impactful programs across the nonprofit, public sector, and entertainment worlds.
As the creator of the groundbreaking LAX PUP (Pets Unstressing Passengers) program and co-host of the I Love Wine and Dogs podcast, she is known for connecting people through compassion, storytelling, and purpose-driven experiences.
Heidi's Full Bio
Heidi Huebner is a nationally recognized leader in animal advocacy, community engagement, customer experience innovation, and entertainment, with over 30 years of experience creating impactful programs across the nonprofit, public, and creative sectors. A lifelong lover of both animals and the performing arts, Heidi began her professional career on stage, performing in productions such as Hair and The Music Man at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. She went on to tour internationally for 15 years as a dancer and singer, performing across the United States, Japan, and The Bahamas with companies including Peter Gray Terhune Productions, Greg Thompson Productions, and aboard the Nordic Prince Cruise Ship, where she met longtime creative partner Timothy “StoneDancer” Coleman.
During her touring years, Heidi also founded her production company, Fo Reel Productions, producing shows in Vancouver, Canada and Los Angeles, California. No matter where her career took her, one constant remained: rescuing and rehoming animals in every city she lived in before moving on to the next production. This lifelong commitment to animal welfare naturally led her into the next chapter of her professional journey.
Heidi has served in senior leadership roles including Director of Volunteer Programs for Los Angeles Animal Services, Founder and Executive Director of KidsnPets, and Director of Humane Education Programs for Pals2Pets. At Los Angeles Animal Services, she managed 12 staff members and over 800 volunteers across six city shelters, launched humane education initiatives, and co-hosted the Home Pet Shopping Network on Channel 35. Her work contributed to innovative adoption campaigns, community outreach initiatives, and celebrity-driven public service announcements.
In 2008, Heidi joined Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), first as a Management Analyst and later as Public Information Director for Volunteer Guest Services. In 2012, she developed and launched the groundbreaking Pets Unstressing Passengers (PUP) Program, which brings certified therapy dogs into LAX to ease traveler stress. The PUP Program has since become a national and international model, adopted by more than 94 airports worldwide. Heidi also leads the LAX Volunteer Program, managing over 175 active volunteers and expanding its reach through strategic partnerships and innovative recruitment initiatives.
A frequent presenter at Airports Council International–North America (ACI-NA) conferences, Heidi serves on multiple working groups focused on airport marketing, customer experience, and media relations. Her work has been recognized with numerous honors, including a Mayor’s Office Commendation for the VIP Program, a Certificate of Recognition from the Los Angeles City Council for the PUP Program, the Traveler’s Aid Award from LAWA, and a Department of Animal Services Commendation for the Large Dog Adoption Program.
Heidi currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Pet Care Foundation, where she continues to advocate for shelter animals and has helped facilitate thousands of adoptions through community events and grooming initiatives.
In addition to her professional leadership work, Heidi is the creator, producer, and co-host of the podcast I Love Wine and Dogs, which blends her passion for storytelling, wine culture, animal advocacy, and community building. A devoted wine enthusiast, Heidi loves exploring wineries across Napa, Sonoma, the Central Coast, and wherever her travels take her—always eager to learn the stories behind each vineyard, meet the people who built them, and, of course, meet their dogs.
Whether developing transformative programs, producing creative projects, or sharing stories through her podcast, Heidi’s mission remains constant: to connect people, foster compassion, and create experiences that leave the world better than she found it.