Meet Thom Ellis, Owner of T&TK9 LLC
A lifetime of professional animal experience, brought to every door in Sarasota.
From the Ringling Circus to Your Front Door
Thom Ellis has spent over 40 years working directly with animals in some of the most demanding and prestigious settings imaginable. His journey began at the Ringling Circus, where he grew up immersed in the world of professional animal training and performance — learning from an early age how to read animals, earn their trust, and handle them with confidence.
After the circus, Thom joined the U.S. Army and became a professional dog trainer and handler, developing expertise in obedience, control, and working-dog management under high-pressure conditions. He later served as a bomb detection dog handler with the TSA, applying advanced scent detection and handler-dog teamwork to protect lives in critical environments. Few dog professionals anywhere can match that level of real-world, high-stakes animal handling experience.
Today, Thom channels that lifetime of expertise into T&TK9 LLC, providing professional dog walking, drop-in visits, pet taxi, and training services to dogs and families across the greater Sarasota area. He also volunteers as a dog walker at the Sarasota Humane Society, giving back to shelter dogs through exercise and compassionate handling. When you trust T&TK9 with your dog, you are trusting someone who has dedicated their entire life to working with animals.