I began my journey in the pet care industry with a part time retail position at a pet supply store you’ve definitely heard of. It wasn’t super glamorous; Think aquarium water and 5 AM shifts changing hamster bedding. It was, however, the start of something a lot of people look for — genuinely loving your work.
Pretty soon, I moved to a full time position at a local boarding and daycare facility, caring for dogs and cats daily. I adopted a pair of cats (Atlas and Electra), then began fostering kittens until I adopted another (Hermes).
When I relocated to Kansas in 2018, I moved to another daycare. This one didn’t take cats, but that was okay, because I had my hands pretty full moving from Daycare Attendant to Senior Handler to Front Desk Supervisor. By the time I’d reached Office Manager (in an “office” that spanned more than ten play yards and ninety boarding accommodations), I was certainly never bored!
Providing care for hundreds of pets and their people weekly is no small task. Giving exceptional and personalized care takes not just love, dedication, and patience, but experience in a wide and ever widening variety of circumstances.
In early 2024 I transitioned to my next opportunity: assisting other specialists — including daycares, groomers, and trainers — in caring for pets nationwide and worldwide through one of the leading pet care softwares. It’s a little less hands on, but I still get to focus on my own pet care adventures and relationships in my local community.
While daycare and social boarding can be an enriching experience for many dogs (especially those in the teen/young adult phase!), one size does not fit all, and not every animal that needs care is a dog. I highly encourage those who might benefit from daycare to try it out, and I’m here to provide for those looking for additional care or a different environment.
my experience is backed up by study.
I have been certified in Canine and Feline First Aid and CPR, and have performed CPR successfully on a senior dog. I am also comfortable and experienced administering oral and topical medications (including eye drops and ointments and ear washes) and subcutaneous treatments such as insulin, allergy shots, and fluids.
I am also self-studying pet care, behavior, and training through courses and book recommendations provided by: the Professional Animal Care Certification Council, the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers, the International Boarding and Pet Services Association, and the Association of Professional Dog Trainers.