06/03/2023
Hi there! I'm Karen, the face behind Wags, Whinnies & Whiskers Pet Care. Thank you for coming to my professional petsitting page. I thought it would be a good start to introduce myself!
With an unwavering passion for animals and a deep-rooted interest in medicine, my lifelong aspiration was to become a veterinarian. Nurturing this dream, I embarked on a journey at U.C. Davis in California, where I dedicated myself to studying Zoology and graduated with a B.S. degree.
Despite my fervor for veterinary medicine, life presented me with an alternative path. As a dedicated and loving mother, I made the heartfelt decision to prioritize my family. Due to my husband's profession, we experienced frequent relocations across the country which meant I pursued a different career path than originally planned.
While my trajectory may have deviated from becoming a veterinarian, my inherent love for animals has remained steadfast. Today, I channel my genuine affection and comprehensive understanding of their needs into a fulfilling career as a professional pet sitter.
I made up for my desire to be around animals by owning everything from horses, chickens, goats, dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits and hamsters to reptiles on our farm. While living in the South, fostering and rescue work became a big passion for me. Rehabilitating horses, dogs, and cats and finding them forever homes was very rewarding. In preparation for veterinary school, I worked numerous externships at both large and small animal hospitals, including the vet school itself. As my children got older, I worked as a certified pet trainer and veterinary assistant. Now, my oldest daughter is a large animal veterinarian board certified internist, and my youngest daughter is a recently graduated small animal veterinarian. Although outside of the animal industry, my son continues to amaze me every day with his intelligence working on his degree in electrical engineering and his ongoing service for the Air Force.
I consider myself very nurturing, whether it is being a mom to my three children, caring for my aging mother until she passed, or now empty-nested, indulging my menagerie with love, affection, and long walks. I chose to be a career pet sitter so your pet gets more attention than that of a sitter who works part-time or has another job. I only schedule clients such that I am not short changing you and your pet by having to rush to another house, especially for those elderly and special needs pets who require more time and supervision. Quality over quantity! I'm not just a sitter; I am a true professional that takes the responsibility of caring for your fur babies very seriously.
Even though our pets feel more comfortable in their own environment, they will still miss you. I will try my hardest to be the best substitute pet parent while you are away. Utilizing my extensive background knowledge of animal health and behavior, I will be keenly aware of any changes in appetite and drinking, mood, and activity level.
