5.0

Growing up, I always knew my passion was for animals. I dreamed of caring for them, rehabilitating them, learning about them, and building meaningful relationships with them. I was raised with a variety of pets, including dogs of all sizes—from an English Mastiff to a Chihuahua—as well as a ferret, hamsters, and mice. (My mom was allergic to cats, but we did have outdoor cats!) Throughout my teenage years, I frequently dog-sat and volunteered at animal shelters. I even attended school briefly to study veterinary medicine with the goal of becoming a registered veterinary technician. During that time, I worked as a veterinary assistant at a fast-paced animal hospital. There, I gained valuable hands-on experience, including expressing anal glands, performing nail trims, and collecting blood samples from cephalic, saphenous, and jugular veins. I also learned to administer vaccinations, sedatives, analgesics, and other injections—whether subcutaneous, intramuscular, or intravenous. In addition to these technical skills, I was trained in properly and safely restraining animals, giving oral medications, and conducting thorough physical exams to detect abnormalities. Beyond veterinary work, I also served as a kennel technician and dog trainer. I learned to read dog body language and behavior and used that knowledge to build healthy, trusting relationships with dogs. I taught foundational commands like sit, down, touch, place, come, loose leash walking, heel, and more—with both efficiency and care. I then would coach dog parents on how to maintain consistent training at home. I also have positively conditioned dogs with a variety of tools such as regular flat collars, slip leashes, harnesses, prong collars, e-collars and more! To solidify their skills, I took dogs on exposure outings to practice commands in real-world environments full of distractions. I’ve worked with behaviorally challenged dogs as well—those struggling with under-socialization, reactivity, or aggression. By applying my understanding of dog psychology, training methods, and trigger management, I’ve helped both dogs and their owners overcome obstacles and build happier, healthier lives together. Currently, I work at an animal shelter as 1 of the 4 Senior Animal Care Specialists where I conduct behavior assessments and develop plans to make animals more adoptable or eligible for rescue placement. I’ve had the privilege of assisting in the successful placement of many animals, thanks to consistent work, observation, and advocacy for their true potential. One of my tasks I am assigned to as a Senior Animal Care is to oversee our Volunteer Dog Walking program and Enrichment Program. I help run classes and teach volunteers basic dog body language, positive reinforcement, and how to use dog walking and training tools. I have continued to dog/cat sit and dog walk for friends, coworkers, and previous clients. I love my career and every opportunity I’ve had to work with animals. Now, I want to extend that passion to my local community through dog walking and pet sitting. You can depend on me to care for your fur babies as if they were my own. I’ll send detailed updates with every visit—complete with photos and videos—so you can feel confident and at ease while you’re away. With my years of experience across multiple areas of animal care, your pets are in capable, loving hands.