Shanna M.
Garrison Park, TX
Special Needs Nurse & Sitter
Pet care experience
Hey Austin Pet Parents! 👋 I’m Shanna, a veterinary technician of 20+ years turned in-home pet caretaker. I traded hospitals for homes to take care of pets with “high”or "special" needs because I noticed there was a need here for pet families and I wanted to fill that gap. Special needs pets can often go overlooked and I'm here to change that! My superpowers include helping introverted animals get their emotional needs met, senior pets to stay healthy and comfortable, creating a peaceful environment for medical treatments, and building trusting relationships with pets that have unique personalities, especially the deep feelers, anxious or “on the spectrum” types. My work approach is holistic, meaning it’s very intuitive and focuses on your pet as a whole, while also strengthening the human-animal bond. The experience relies on being communicative with you, your pet, and sometimes your vet when necessary. I’m originally from Philadelphia and moved my services to Austin a year ago (yes, this was my first Texas summer and I survived!). I've been lucky to connect with the most amazing pet parents that live in this area, and am excited to continue serving this community ☺️ Due to the high demand of pets with special needs, I'm only available for overnight stays, which means I don't offer one-off dog walks or drop-in home visits to non-overnight clients unless its for relationship building between home stays. Since there are so many great sitters and walkers out there, I reserve my time for the more challenging situations that require an exceptional skill set. My consult process starts with a phone call, and if we think we'd be a great fit after that, I’d love to have an in -person meeting to meet you and hopefully, my new bff. I spend a lot of time with my clients, asking the right questions that will set us up for success and help me do my best work. I create a completely custom job according to what you and your pet needs, so you feel empowered to go on that trip and live your life outside of your home. I know leaving pets with extra needs can be hard, but I hope with my mix of medical knowledge and an empathic approach, it can feel easier 💛
Reviews
The pups had a blast with Shanna! This was our first time and we can comfortably say that she will be our go to! She took such good care of the pups, especially Baloo who is special needs and stubborn at the same time. So thankful to have the peace of mind!
We were facing having to leave our very sick pup for a trip and Shanna was so supportive. We set up a call to talk through everything and she made us feel so comfortable with her wealth of knowledge and experience caring for dogs with medical needs. Unfortunately, our dog passed away before we left, but Shanna was so gracious to rebook our time and stay with our other dog so we could be with family while we grieved. This was one of the hardest weeks of our life and knowing Shanna was there to care for our dog made a huge difference. There is no one better you could have caring for your animals while you are away, truly.
We are repeat customers and Shanna was amazing again. She's conscientious, caring, and communicative. Our dog is very happy with her and we feel confident leave him and our home in her hands.
We are so grateful to have had Shanna come to our home and care for our pup. Our dog takes medication and has some anxiety needs, and Shanna was thorough, caring, and communicative. She really took the time to get to know our dog and her routines. We 1000% recommend Shanna for your pup and home care needs.
About Shanna M.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I take the time to get to know your pets and build real trust that makes the caregiving process smooth and meaningful. Special needs pets with either physical, mental, or emotional challenges - especially anxiety - greatly benefit from compassion, understanding, and meeting them at a slower pace. My intent is to always provide a positive experience to soothe anxious feelings, for both you and your pet.
Information Shanna M. would like to know about your pet
It’s really helpful to know what special attention your pet requires, what behaviors to pay attention to, and most importantly, what NOT to do. I go to great lengths to build trust at the beginning which requires me to show up only with positive energy, and any mistakes in the beginning can make it harder in the long run. We'll also go through a detailed check list together to make sure we don't miss anything. If there’s anything else you want me to know, I’d love to hear about it!
A typical day
I try to mimic as much of your normal routines as possible to ease the stress that comes with change. Many pets are unable to visit public places, so I like to replace those activities with other enriching experiences we can to together. I'll have plenty of ideas, but you know your pet best so I like to follow your lead and suggestions on this one!
Services
Shanna can watch in your home
Availability
Pet care and client relationships is my main source of work, so I’m either working with a client during the day, switching homes, or attending in-person meetings. I only work within the city limits, but I’ll consider traveling further distances for longer overnight stays.
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
About Shanna M.
Communication
Skills
Safety, trust & environment
I take the time to get to know your pets and build real trust that makes the caregiving process smooth and meaningful. Special needs pets with either physical, mental, or emotional challenges - especially anxiety - greatly benefit from compassion, understanding, and meeting them at a slower pace. My intent is to always provide a positive experience to soothe anxious feelings, for both you and your pet.
Information Shanna M. would like to know about your pet
It’s really helpful to know what special attention your pet requires, what behaviors to pay attention to, and most importantly, what NOT to do. I go to great lengths to build trust at the beginning which requires me to show up only with positive energy, and any mistakes in the beginning can make it harder in the long run. We'll also go through a detailed check list together to make sure we don't miss anything. If there’s anything else you want me to know, I’d love to hear about it!
A typical day
I try to mimic as much of your normal routines as possible to ease the stress that comes with change. Many pets are unable to visit public places, so I like to replace those activities with other enriching experiences we can to together. I'll have plenty of ideas, but you know your pet best so I like to follow your lead and suggestions on this one!
Location
Austin, TX
Shanna M.
Garrison Park, TX