The Crate Escape Amarillo

08/31/2024

This is Stuart/Stewart—pronounced the way The Californians from SNL pronounce the name. He has this very cool trick where he makes his front legs disappear. Hopes you’re impressed. 15/10, would recommend giving him a head scratch for it.

08/27/2024

It’s not every day you go to a meet and greet only to realize that your new walking clients are actually old friends. I was so excited when the front door opened and I saw Lexie, the sweet hound mix and Chief, the big ol’ teddy bear of a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. (Swipe all the way through to see what Chief looked like whenever I first met him…)

These sweet babies were clients at the doggy resort I worked at a few years ago. When I left that job, I remember feeling so sad to leave all of my puppy friends that I’d created deep relationships with, and I had a small hope in my heart that I would run into any or all of them again someday. It’s fun when that actually happens!

Colleen and Charles, thanks for making that dream come true! I love your babies and I’m excited to get to spend more time with them in the future!

Ps. Lexie is a happy girl… She just happens to have those soulful, sad eyes.

Pps. I promise I have shorts on…

08/25/2024

Have you ever seen a cuter English bulldog? Sweet little Pippa Tuls loves to stop and smell the flowers. I love her so much.🥹🥹🥹🥹

08/24/2024

This cutie boy is named Gus and he’s new to The Crate Escape family! We just finished his first full week of walks and will continue until his mom if fully mended and can get back out there with him!

He’s so excited about life and wants to go out and explore everything. He found his mom when he was a stray wandering around at the end of May. His mom says he was covered in fleas and ticks, and was very skinny. She immediately sprung into action, got him all cleaned up and to the vet to begin vaccinations and on the schedule for neutering. She has invested so much into this little guy, it’s truly inspiring. I’m so happy they’ve found each other.

Welcome to the crew, Gus!

08/20/2024

I have some super exciting news!! The Crate Escape team has grown by a new human member! Everybody, please join me in welcoming Emma Martin to the crew!

She already has extensive experience taking care of other people’s fur babies, and when I first heard of the way she goes about loving on her clients pups, I knew I had to reach out to see if she would be interested in helping us out around here. Fortunately for me, she was game!

Emma just graduated from Tascosa high school and she will be starting classes soon at WT! She is going to study communication disorders in hopes of becoming a speech therapist. She will also be a member of the choir at WT (after being a part of The Freedom Singers at Tascosa) so your fur babies will be serenaded by the best of them when in her care! She’s also on the Sod Squad so you have probably seen her at Sod Poodles games, as well!

Once school starts, she will likely be helping TCE from dinner-bedtime and on weekends, and she just completed her first TCE job this weekend! As you can see, Sadie Nanners is a big fan of Emma after their time together, and I just know your babies will love her, too!

Welcome to the family, Emma!!

08/06/2024

Millie and Murphy (and their humans) have been very loyal to TCE and I’ve always loved spending time with them! These two pups recently got a nephew named Moe!

Millie and Moe will run around and play all day. They have the most fun together! Moe tries to get Murphy involved, and he’s not generally a fan, so he just comes and lays or sits next to me.

Moe has already grown so much since the first time I met him, and it’s very clear that he’s going to be enormous when he’s full grown. It’s a good thing he’s such a chill little lover boy!

I can’t wait for more fun shenanigans with these three! It’s always a pleasure taking care of the Sharp babies❤️

08/04/2024

I have a lot of catching up to do, and the first item on the list is introducing the Ware fur-babies as new members of our pack!

Leo (all black and white) and Luna (tri-colored) are litter mates and the very best brother/sister duo I’ve ever met! They’re both extremely affectionate, but Leo will wait until Luna has gone first before he will ask for love. They love their walks, treeing squirrels, their food, treats and their people.

Boo and Nala are their precious kitties. Boo, the tan cat, is very social. She joins her pup-siblings and her humans on their walks sometimes, and she loves to drink water out of the faucet. Nala prefers to do her own thing, but loves her people and laying on her dad’s pillow.

It was so sweet getting to take care of them after knowing these pups for a little while now! I’m excited for all the times to come!

07/28/2024

It’s been such a busy week that I haven’t been able to post in a while! Sometimes, it gets a little hectic, but then I remember that I’m busy caring for and loving on people’s fur babies and all I can do is feel so grateful!

If you see your pup in a post, don’t forget to share it!

07/22/2024

FAQ #1—some variation of:

🐶 “How much does it cost to board with TCE?”
🐶 “Are you a boarding facility?”
🐶 “Do you keep the dogs at your house?”

Answer:

🐶 No.
🐶 No.
🐶 No.

The third picture could be misleading, but I took that when I worked at a fabulous boarding facility/pet resort in Amarillo! I am forever grateful for that job because that’s when I realized that I wanted most to work with animals/dogs and it’s also where I saw a need that I knew I could fill.

Amarillo already has so many fantastic facilities to board your pets at and I’m so grateful for that and I don’t see the point in opening another one, personally!

TCE aims to serve the fur-babies who aren’t great candidates for pet resorts, as well as pet-parents who want a different option!

Pet parents may opt out of boarding facilities for various reasons, including their own fears and anxieties around having an elderly, anxious and/or selective or prone-to-illness/special needs pup. Some of our furry friends, will be sad, scared and anxious while their parents are gone no matter what…but being able to stay in their own home where they are most comfortable can definitely take the edge off.

So that’s what we do here, at TCE! We come to you so that we can provide your fur babies with all the love, specialized care, and comfort they can possibly receive while you are away. We also provide visits that are not attached to out-of-town trips, as well as walks!

07/04/2024

I’m back on the scene with Sadie Nanners and together, we wanted to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July! We also wanted to remind everyone to please be considerate with your celebrations ESPECIALLY in neighborhoods. Souls like her’s are quite terrified of all the loud popping and crackling and they can’t understand that everything is ok. This time of year is pretty unnerving for them. (In the first two pictures, we are holed up in the hallway which is where Sadie goes to hide when she feels scared.)

She also wanted me to tell y’all that you need to make sure your pups are inside everything night until the fireworks are over. Dogs will do anything to feel safer, and often times this means running “away” from the noises. Pounds and shelters are flooded this time of year with dogs who jumped or dug out of fenced in yards, and they’re already overflowing.

Our PSA is through, but Sadie’s cuteness isn’t. 😘

07/04/2024

07/04/2024

Well, I’m still working on the newsletter that I planned on sending out July 1st, which was the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of TCE, but in the meantime, here’s some Wulfman boy love.

06/27/2024

goes to sweet Stella Hedtke! From the second picture on, I was a goner.

06/25/2024

More on ground temperature…

All of these temps were taken right at 12pm yesterday, when the air temperature was still in the mid 80°s. Later, around 3pm, I got the temperature gun back out and the parts of the street that were in full-sun were registering 135°+ and full-sun sidewalks were at 125°+.

This has become something I care about A LOT. To the extent that I’m having to actively keep myself from slowing down and driving beside walkers (who I KNOW care very much about their pups) to tell them that the asphalt and sidewalks are WAY TOO HOT for them to be walking their poor pups on…

I know they don’t mean to put their pets in danger, at least I assume that, because it wasn’t that long ago that I didn’t know just how HOT the streets and sidewalks were. I mean, I knew I should be careful and keep pups in the grass whenever possible, but knowing the actual numbers has changed everything for me. I figured that even thought they were hot, they were still probably just under the hazardous range…but now I know I was definitely walking dogs on surfaces that were already at hazardous temperatures 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Please, please, PLEASE share any and all information about hot streets and sidewalks and the temperature limit that dog’s paws can handle. Remember—in full sun, the ground can be well over 125° even when it’s a comfortable 75° in the air.

If you know that your only time slot in the day to walk your pups is after work at 5, then PLEASE invest in some heat-specific booties for your dog to walk in. They may seem uncomfortable in them at first, but this minor discomfort doesn’t compare to the damage possible when their paws are on hot surfaces constantly.

06/22/2024

Scroll all the way over to see the happiest, smiliest pup on the planet…

We got to take care of this sweet trio this week (plus Bogey Tuls, when he joined us for walks) and there’s not a happier bunch after a nice, long walk!

Bessie (the smiley Chesapeake Bay (brown) Retriever is always filled up by a little TLC. 😍😍😍

06/21/2024

Hot pavement post

I don’t know about y’all, but we over here at The Crate Escape sure are enjoying the cooler temperatures!

It’s been getting pretty hot lately, and we’re not even in the Dog days of summer yet. This brings me to a very important PSA: please be aware of the ground temperature if you are choosing to take your dog(s) on a walk. I have always just used the back-of-the-hand-on-the-ground trick, but I figured that as a dog walker, I should invest in a ground temp thermometer so that I know exactly what kind of heat we are dealing with.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Depending on the surface, the ground temperature can be as much as 60° hotter than the air temperature!!

• Asphalt and artificial grass/turf are the hottest surfaces. If you have turf, make sure there’s ample shade throughout the day to keep it cool or hose it down every so often to cool it off.

• Just 60 seconds of uninterrupted exposure (standing in one place) to 125° ground can cause damage to the paws.

• Exposure to 140° surfaces causes irreparably damage to paws.

• Your walking companion will likely show little to no signs of distress or discomfort in the midst of pain and damage to their paws.

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?!

• Make sure your pup has protective shoes that are made to protect against hot surfaces.

• Stay on the grass and in the shade! If people don’t understand walking your pup(s) on their lawn for their safety, then they will just have to deal with the aggravation of it.

• Do NOT assume that just because it’s cooler than usual, your dogs up is comfortable and their paws are ok. It’s still a good idea to opt for grass and shades walking areas.

• If you’re unsure, press the back of your hand to the ground for 5-7 seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s unfair to expect your dog to deal with it.

STAY COOL AND SAFE OUT THERE, FRIENDS!

06/16/2024

I’m wrapping up my final overnight job with these two…they’re moving with their humans to Dallas in July. I’m thankful I get a couple more weeks of walks with them before we say our final goodbyes, but it’s bittersweet for sure. It’s never easy to say goodbye to good people or their precious pups, but luckily their roots are in Amarillo and they will be making lots of trips back up here 🥳🎉

If you’ve been following along, this pair consists of a very outgoing, secure and ready to mingle, senior German Shorthair Pointer who acts like he’s 2yo named Dutch and a beautiful, shy and slow-to-warm (until she trusts you), hilarious, one-eyed Weimaraner named Elsie. Both pups were rescued separately (woooop wooooop) and they are best buds. I was originally hired to give them walks, but sleepover care was added to the list once some trips popped up.

It took 4 or 5 visits in the presence of the safety of her mom before Elsie approached me happily, without fear, and she hasn’t looked back since. We have the sweetest relationship now, and I’ll definitely be posting a compilation of her greetings soon because they make me smile, laugh and feel so special and loved. It’s such a stark contrast from when I first started coming around!

It has meant the world to me to be trusted with these two, and I’m just glad we have a few more walks before they leave the panhandle. Ben and McKenzie, thank you both so much for giving me the opportunity to love on and care for your fur babies. Y’all are special people and we will miss your family, up here.

PS. You should know that I get compliments about how pretty your pups are anytime I have them out for a walk. 🤍

06/14/2024

The Crate Escape lost another good one, this week. Minnie was 17 years and six days old when she passed. She was spunky and ran around like a puppy almost to the end. To say she lived long and healthy life is an understatement.

We are going to miss her so much, but we are so glad that we had the chance to love on her While she was here. , thank you and Beau for giving us the chance to know this precious girl. We’re holding y’all close in our hearts. ❤️

06/13/2024

(Some) low-quality pics, high-quality clients. These two are my BUDDIES. Cooper and Murphy are very special to me. As some of my very first clients, I’ve been able to bond with them over a long stretch of time, but we didn’t need it—they are SO LOVING from the start. Their greeting when you first arrive would make even the saddest, angriest person crack a smile, which would then turn into laughter and the desire to give them all the love and belly scratches they ask for!

They are a bright spot for me no matter what the rest of the day is looking like, and though it’s sad to think they may never know how much they can make a person’s day, I’m just glad I get to love on them!

, your boys are the best!

06/12/2024

I have some serious catching up to do on here! Lots of sweet babes have been cared for.

This little lady just lost her brother, Attila, and while I know it’s been tough on her entire family, she’s also soaking up all the love. She was always the cuddly one. She’s also the gentlest when eating out of your hand when begging 😂

I absolutely LOVE Stella. Thanks to for giving me the privilege of checking in on your babes, now babe. 🐶

05/27/2024

on a Monday with the queen, herself. 👸🏻👑

05/24/2024

It’s with a very heavy heart that we say goodbye to a TCE original…Attila Hedtke, who crossed over the rainbow bridge today. He lived a long, active life with the two best parents he could have possibly had—I don’t know many pup-lovers like them.

I was amazed by Attila every time I was around him. He was well-advanced in years, but he was always so strong and vivacious, even as he dealt with numerous health issues.

My heart breaks for you both, and I am so honored that you both trusted me to look in on your pups when you couldn’t. I know how much both of your babies mean/meant to you. I’m so thankful Stella has you to navigate the loss of her brother with, and that y’all have her, too.

Run free, effortlessly and wild, sweet boy. Nothing is holding you back or ailing you, now. ❤️💔🐾

05/21/2024

Panhandle of Texas folks: we need your help.

These puppies were dumped in my neighborhood. I spent the morning with them, bathing them and making sure they’re safe. A kind neighbor is keeping them in her side yard for now, but has a procedure happening in the morning so that’s our deadline. We are trying to keep them out of the pound because we don’t think they’ll make it if they go there.

There are 6. The two tan babies and one of the black ones are females and the remaining 3 are boys. They’re are SO PRECIOUS and sweet. I think they’ll probably be anywhere between 40-60lbs once they’re full grown. We think they may be 8 weeks old, at best. We speculate that they could have lab, pit and shepherd in them.

Would anyone be willing to foster if vaccinations and food was provided? We don’t have long.

05/15/2024

My two pups getting the best instruction from the best trainer, Shilee at Ruff Life!

05/12/2024

This is Dude, and he’s only the second one-eyed pup to join TCE! This guy was rescued by longtime friends of my parents 8 years ago from the streets of White Deer but his luck didn’t stop there. He was later hit by a car and miraculously only had to have an eye removed, but had no other injuries from the accident!

His demeanor is incredibly sweet and he’s the ultimate companion—he just wants to be with his humans. He reminds me a lot of my boy, Thatcher! He’s a lover and wants to have fun with his doggie friends!

04/30/2024

It’s been Puppy-Palooza at The Crate Escape and we are losing our minds from all the cuteness!

You’ve met Ginger on here and now it’s time to welcome her little sister, Mary Ann! (If you didn’t grow up watching old TV Land shows, then you won’t get the reference to the names but that’s ok.)

This little tyke is adorable, hilarious, spunky and is only proving how good of a dog her big sister is, though there was never any doubt in my mind about that. She’s as cute and sweet as much as she is baby-teeth and she has the perfect family raising her. I can’t wait to see how she grows—she’s already smart as a whip!

Ps. The show is Gillian’s Island and since I couldn’t use the theme song, I chose the most tasteful tropical-sounding music I could find.

04/28/2024

Nova tribute pt. 2 because I jumped the gun and posted about her when I still had half of a day left to take care of her which means lots more photos would be taken. She’s a natural. 📸💃

04/27/2024

Our Newcomer of the Week is Nova! We’ve had some Berne-doodles, but never a full-blooded Bernese Mountain Dog at TCE and even though I’m still getting to know her, I’m already convinced that they must be at the top of the family-friendly dogs list. She’s a little fluff-ball of energy and has the best personality!

I’ve known Nova’s mom longer than I haven’t and it’s been fun to reconnect through their fur-baby! Nova’s mom and dad (and her human big-sister) are HUGE dog-lovers so they fit right into our pack! We are so happy to have Nova in The Crate Escape family!