For nearly a decade, I’ve been pounding the pavement with many canine companions throughout Chicago. My experience as a petcare professional is vast and very varied: from puppy pals who have homes with yards to city canines in high-rise buildings with indoor dog runs; from toy poodles who can be a bit anxious or fearful to mountain mastiffs who tend to chase squirrels like a 20 pounder forgetting they are 200(!); from elderly newfoundlands who needed daily diaper changes to spry vishlas with boundless energy, whose sole purpose in life is to run you ragged; from mini French bulldogs who want to find new friends and think they are the leader of all packs, to pit bulls who consider themselves lap dogs; and from shiba inus who live for being aloof and alone to labradors that will happily lick your face clean off. Now, I’ve made a major move to the East Bay and am loving every minute of it. While I’ve left the wicked winter of the Midwest behind, I’ve brought with me all my experience and extensive references — a couple of companies and 75+ clients over the past 8 years. In the Windy City, I was able to hone my skills as a dog walker & pet sitter on the strength of my natural gifts of empathy and understanding, sense of adventure, and natural born chill & charm. Most people there know me by name (or at least by the iconic afro) and that goes double for the doggos. I’ll always love them and already miss them, but I’m excited to make new furry friends.