Dog Walking Merrimac

About: I have grown up with animals and lived on a farm since I was 11. I have had many special needs animals and have worked in a vet clinic as an assistant and a dog daycare with all sizes and ages. I am currently a full time student with frequent availability in the afternoons, evenings, and nights. When I am unavailable I am studying to become a vet! When caring for your animals I will provide the upmost care and safety practices. Your pet will be safe with me and all rules will be applied.

“He was amazing! My boy was very tired after his walk which I love!”

Katie C.

“Corrine is so responsive and such a good friend to Taz! Really appreciate her attention to details and help overall. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️”

Monica M.

About: I currently live with a German Shepherd (Cody) and a Black Lab (Joey). I have always had dogs growing up (mostly pugs). I love all dogs and being around them brings me so much joy! I am a graduate student at Virginia Tech studying Civil Engineering. I am available for free meet and greets to meet you and your pet! I am available to walk or check in with dogs (or cats) when I am not working on school or research. I am very loving towards dogs (and cats) and respectful of their homes. I treat everyone’s dogs and their homes with respect. I will be sure to keep your furry friend safe and happy!

“McCall is incredibly responsive and a great addition to our routine. She provides updates and pictures from their walk which is so appreciated. Our dog has epilepsy and she has gone out of her way to give my family peace of mind. I am confident our dog is happy and safe while in her care.”

Erin R.

About: My family adopted a 10 month old rescue pup, Charlie, when I was 7 years old. For the 12 years that I got to spend with him he was my best friend. Although he was stronger than me the first few years of his life, I was still involved in his training and feeding care until I was big enough to take him out and walk him. Once I could handle him, I took him out, walked him, and helped give baths. As an adult, I have done multiple pet-sitting jobs for neighbors and family friends. I have taken care of dogs and cats of all ages. My job experience includes retail, landscaping, and food/bar service. Working late nights in downtown Blacksburg, I have become keen at cleaning up messes of all kinds. This summer, my schedule is wide open! I play pool a couple of nights a week, but that doesn't last for more than a few hours and I can always go late/leave early to get back to the pets. When the school year starts, I will schedule pet sitting around my class schedule. I am equipped to handle dogs of almost any size on a leash, and I love to play fetch in a yard/at the park. I can keep food and water bowls clean and full, I can crate dogs if needed, and I can keep a litter box clean!

“Paige is wonderful! She's walked Pax for a week and takes great care of him. He really enjoys their neighborhood walks.”

Savannah E.

About: I have taken care of both dogs and cats for as long as I can remember. I recently graduated with my BSN in Animal Sciences, and have been working in the veterinary field since 2022. I am currently working as a full-time emergency veterinary assistant. I currently work full-time at an emergency veterinary hospital. I have plenty of time on my days off and after work to care for your pets! I would be very comfortable taking your furry friends for walks, crating them, or just hanging out! I love all animals, and am looking forward to caring for your furry friend!

“Shennan was absolutely wonderful! Took lots of cute pics of my girl and gave her a couple great walks. We will definitely be booking again soon.”

Ainsley C.

About: I have 2 years of veterinary clinic experience. From boarding, medication management, to overall care. I have taken care of numerous kittens and puppies as well as seniors! I currently am always available! I have plenty of time for your animal! I can make time for whatever is needed for you and yours! Liked your experience? Leave a review, it helps me out! I have 5 cats from kitten to senior! I have a large empty room upstairs! We have plenty of toys and extra towers! Our home is better suited for cats!

About: I would take care of little to big puppies of all ages. My favorite was a 7 year Great Dane I would house sit for. I have always grown up with animals and would also pet sit when my parents were out of town. My schedule is super flexible, since I am a college student! I can work with the owner and make sure the dog and cats get the attention they need:) I walk, feed, play and bath pets have worked with and have in my own house. I go for long walks and feed pets based on the owners preference.

“First time meeting Taylor. What a sweetheart. Tucker took to her right away. Going to schedule future visits for sure! Thanks Taylor. A++++”

James H.

About: I’ve grown up with dogs my entire life and have nearly 7 years of dog sitting experience starting in middle school. I’ve cared for dogs of all sizes, breeds, and personalities and I pride myself on being extremely attentive, reliable, and detail oriented with every pet. I have experience handling multiple dogs at once including caring for up to five dogs for 7+ days, so I’m very comfortable with both longer stays in higher-energy households. I treat every dog like my own and always make sure they feel safe, happy, and well cared for. I also provide consistent updates so you can feel confident and not ease while you’re away. I’m a student at Virginia Tech with a flexible schedule, typically having at most two classes a day. Outside of class, I spent most of my time at home, which allows me to give pets plenty of attention, supervision, and care throughout the day. My routine makes it easy for me to incorporate walks, feeding, playtime, and check-in consistently. I’m able to adapt to each pets needs and schedule, whether that means early mornings, midday visits, or evening care. Your pet’s safety and comfort are my top priorities. I live in a pet friendly apartment with a fence dog area, so dogs have a safe place to get outside and play. I’m very attentive and make sure pets are always supervised and cared for based on their specific needs and routines. I also keep owners updated regularly so you always know how your pet is doing.

“Emily took great care of Pabo on his walks and left detailed notes”

Kira G.

“We hired Maddie to walk our dogs on Friday's So far she has been amazing! Not only that our dog Mavis who has some stranger danger has taken to her quite quickly which has been wonderful to witness!”

Kirstin M.

“Heather was able to do a last minute holiday walk for my dog when I found out my hours changed! She was so good with Ravin and was super helpful!”

Katie M.

About: I have been taking care of my pets and the pets of family and friends for as long as I can remember. I also had about two years of experience with dealing with my senior dog, Ella, on multiple medications, supplements, and a special die. I am a graduate student, so my schedule is relatively flexible as long as it fits within my availability. I am more than happy to get up early or stay up late to visit a pet, and most weekends I am free all day. I thoroughly listen to and follow through with the instructions of every client and make sure to respect their wishes while simultaneously ensuring that the dog or cat is taken care of in the healthiest and most reassuring way to the pet owners.

About: It may come as a surprise that I’ve never had a pet growing up, but that hasn’t stopped my love for animals. One thing I love about pet care is that each pet has there own personality. I’ve cared for lazy dogs, hyper dogs, mean dogs, social dogs, cats who believe we work for them and the cats who insist they’re dogs. I’ve definitely seen it all. One thing I’ve learned about pet care is that you must gain trust. Each dog has their own specific, unique needs that must be met. Whether it falls down to a few more bathroom breaks throughout the day or extra tender love and care, all needs will be met with your pet in my care. As far as tangible experience, I’ve accumulated years of experience working and volunteering at several clinics and hospitals. This has afforded me the opportunities to gain experience with medical care as well. I am a huge advocate for fitness and exercise for myself and pet, so I can guarantee your pet will get lots of exercise with me.

About: I’ve been around dogs my whole life, my family had some growing up and once I moved out I got 2 of my own. I’ve also watched many neighbors and friends dogs since i was young and feel more than comfortable taking them out, administering medicine, and loving on them! Fur babies are family and should be treated as such! And that’s exactly the kind of care I would show your fur baby. Dogs are creatures of habit, so it’s important for me to know what your routine looks like so I can try my best to keep it the same. It will be as if you’re not even gone! I work from home so my days are extremely flexible. Aside from occasional meetings and needing to administer my own dog his medication three times a day (6am, 2pm and 10pm) I have an open schedule to check in on your baby. If you were to bring your dog to me, they would be in a spacious little townhome with an open yard. All I ask is that your dog is friendly with other dogs, as I have 2 at home that would be there with us. One is a staffordshire terrier/husky mix, and the other is a border collie. They all would get plenty of walks and playtime together. If I were to drop in at your home, I would take whatever care necessary! What that looks like is up to you. Taking your dog on a walk, administering medicine, playing with them, whatever you and your pet need!

About: I'm a third-year veterinary student at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine and have worked with animals professionally for several years through both veterinary medicine and pet care. Before veterinary school, I worked as a veterinary assistant, where I helped care for hospitalized patients, assisted with treatments, and supported pets with a variety of medical needs. I've administered medications including oral medications, eye and ear medications, injectable and topical treatments, as well as assisted with treatments such as subcutaneous fluids and diabetic management. That experience has made me comfortable caring for pets who need extra attention, whether that's giving medications, monitoring changes in appetite or behavior, helping senior pets stay comfortable, or noticing when something seems different from their normal. Outside of the clinic, I've provided dog walking and in-home pet sitting for dogs and cats with many different personalities and needs. Some pets need plenty of exercise and activity, while others are happiest with a calm visit, their normal routine, and some extra attention. Whether your pet needs medication support, senior care, or simply someone dependable while you're away, I bring professional animal experience and veterinary training to every visit. My veterinary school schedule varies throughout the semester, but it is planned well in advance. I keep my Rover calendar updated so my availability is always accurate. In general, I am available for early morning visits before class, evening visits after class, and most weekends. I also have additional weekday availability depending on my class schedule. If you're planning ahead for a trip, vacation, or recurring visits, send me your dates and location and I'll let you know what I can accommodate. My veterinary training has taught me to pay attention to the small changes that can matter with pets, like when a normally social dog seems withdrawn or a cat's eating habits suddenly change. If something unexpected happens, I stay calm, gather information, communicate clearly, and help determine what needs to happen next. As a VMCVM student, I'm familiar with local veterinary resources and emergency care options in the area. For walks, I take safety seriously. I check collars, harnesses, and leashes before heading out, avoid off-leash situations outside of secure fenced areas, and adjust activity based on weather, temperature, and your pet's comfort level. During summers, that also means being mindful of hot pavement and heat exposure. When caring for your home, I treat it with the same care and respect I would expect from someone entering my own home. I follow your instructions, secure doors and gates after visits, bring in packages or mail if requested, and leave your home the way you expect it to be.