About us
Our Team:
We've tried it, but not one person can service the entire valley alone! I'm fortunate enough to have choice staff sitters that work with Happy at Home Pet Sitting Service. We each have different backgrounds and specialties but the common factor is that we love animals and love what we do! Please know that each staff sitter is hand picked by me and are subjected to a background check. Here's a little bit about myself and the staff sitters:
Michelle
I've been an animal lover since the day I was born. I don't think there has been a day in my life that I've not had an animal in my home. As an adult, I've worked extensively in dog rescue as a shelter administrator, adoption couselor, volunteer recruiter and trainer, and I've fostered many dogs in my own home. Rescue work is rewarding and heart-wrenching at the same time. It gave me valuable experience with geriatric, shy and scared dogs along with teaching me so much about different breeds of dogs. Probably the biggest blessing from being involved with rescue work is that I've met so many new animal-loving friends. In fact, taking care of dogs that people had adopted from me is how I got started pet sitting. I especially love big-breed dogs, but I really do love every other critter God created--except for turkeys! (I'm working on that though.) I'm a bird addict. It started with 2 cockatiels and my aviary has grown considerably. I continually look for literature and hands-on experiences to expand my avian knowledge. A couple of my clients have been my best teachers!
I have my own pack: my husband Carl, and two sons, Zac and Zane (who are aspiring pet sitters themselves! ) and pit bull dogs: Titus and Mesa (each a rescue dog) and of course, cuddly kitty Bailey that was featured on our home page. My flock of birds consist of my comedic cockatiels: Harley, Chingo, Estelle, Lacy, & Cash, Ringneck Parrots: Kong, Rocky, Skye and Gonzo, and my two newest flockmembers are keets: Punk and Miri. I didn't know I was a bird person until I got to pet sit for a 'tiel for nearly a month. I found myself planning my day around this little bird so I could spend the maximum amount of time with her. After that job was over, I convinced the rest of my family that birds would be a good fit for our home. They are little poopers, but I love 'em. Somehow I've ended up with 3 tanks of fish. I breed guppies and I also have a tank of cichlids--my favorite being the Oscars. Last but not least, I have 5 rats (aka rattie mcpatties), Hawk, Binky, Joey, Hawkette and my beloved Harry (the hairless rat). If you would ever like to come visit my zoo, just ask!
See my picture below with Mesa.
Amanda
Beverly
Like Michelle, I have loved animals since I can remember. I grew up only with cats, but as soon as I got a home of my own, I was able to have dogs, too! My husband, Corey and I are the proud "parents" of 4 cats and 3 rescue dogs (no human children yet). Our three dogs; Murphy, Shasta, and Sophie, joined us under the condition that they would be nice to the cats (Argo, Cassie, Zeke, and Emmet). They have complied and everyone is happy!
I started doing animal rescue work when I worked as a Vet. Tech. in Salt Lake City. When my husband and I moved to Cache Valley, we contacted Four Paws Rescue (a local rescue group) for cat-friendly dogs that we could adopt. She matched us with our wonderful brood and I began volunteering for Four Paws Rescue myself. As Michelle mentioned, it is both rewarding and heart-wrenching, as well as frustrating and inspiring. I, too, have learned a LOT about dogs/dog breeds (as I had such a limited background with them growing up.)
Though I aspired to be a veterinarian from a young age, it wasn’t in the cards, and I am now happy to be a Histotechnologist for the Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Logan.
Corey also works at the UVDL as a Serologist and he may be helping me with the large animal assignments on occasion. Corey grew up on a farm in Ferron, Utah (40 miles South of Price, Utah). We met at the U of U and both earned degrees in Biology. We’ve both had lots of experience medicating and caring for animals and will treat your home and your beloved animal companions as we would our own (except that I won’t leave dirty dishes lying around!)
This is me pictured below with my adopted dog Murphy (golden retriever/aussie cross) and my cat Emmett.
Ellen
Ellen is a daytime sitter. More info to come!
Suzy
I have always had a soft spot when it comes to animals. I have had at least one dog or cat in my life for as far back as I can remember. As a child, I knew I would grow up and work with animals. I got my first big break when my Anatomy/Physiology Teacher told me she'd like to refer me for a job with a friend of hers. I would be cleaning kennels at a Verterinary Clinic. I couldn't wait to start! Within 6 months, I moved up from kennel cleaner to Vet. Tech.
After graduating high school, I decided to move from Arizona to Oregon. I was lucky enough to find another job as a Vet. Tech. within 2 weeks. One day my boss came to me and asked me if I'd ever thought of doing any pet sitting before. He had a client that traveled for months at a time and needed a pet sitter to live at his home with his two Irish Setters while he was away. I was honored that my boss trusted me enough to recommend me for the job. I started immediately. I soon began pet sitting for some of our other clients including our own Veterinarians.
I married a few years later and we've been blessed with 2 wonderful children. We've been living in Utah for the past 5 years and we love it here. We also adopted a Jack Russell from the Humane Society. We named her Kali and she has made our family complete.
Being a pet sitter is the perfect job for me. I love all animals and have worked with exotic and domestic, as well as livestock. I get to wake up and look forward to spending the day with the sweetest, most loving pets a girl could ask for. I truly can't think of anything else I'd rather do for a living.
Amity
Lori
Lori is a new addition to HHPSS. She has been a client or a couple of years and is very thorough and detail oriented. Right now, her specialty seems to be multiple animal households! picture coming soon.
Antonella
Antonella is a long time friend of mine and has done a lot of rescue work in her lifetime. She is from Italy. Currently she does regular pet sitting in the north end of the valley along with overnight pet sitting.
