I have worked in the pet care industry since 2006 in a variety of positions. From veterinary assistant to pet nanny, grooming assistant to pet wellness coach and everything in between. My plan in life was to become a sign language interpreter; I hold a bachelor's degree in Linguistics. However, life had a different plan for me. After graduating from college in 2011 I took in a kitten, who was malnourished and sick. I didn't think he would live very long. I wanted to give him the best life I could, regardless. Spoiler alert: Simon is still alive and thriving to this day!
By 2012, Simon and I moved 90 minutes South to Brooklyn, NY to continue my education and dreams of becoming an interpreter. In our first year of NYC living, Simon had another health scare and then it wasn't long before I began suffering from health issues myself. I am forever grateful to the veterinarians that saved Simon's life, and for the acupuncturist that helped me. After a year or so of western medicine, my health seemed to worsen so I sought out another pathway. My acupuncturist treated me from a holistic point of view, and soon enough I no longer needed any prescription medications. This was a pivotal point in my life as well as Simon's. Health became a priority.
I received my Small Animal Acupressure Practitioner certificate in April 2017 from Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute while working as a pet nanny for an amazing group of clients and part time for the top holistic pet nutritionist in New York City. Simon reaped all the benefits of both my educational and work lives, so my promise to give him the best quality of life I could was coming true. Traditional Chinese Medicine helped us both achieve balance.
By the end of 2018 we moved to Atlanta, GA. Since then, I worked in pet health stores, dog daycare, and grooming facilities. I was also a pet health blog writer for a local startup for some time. All the while, I began to build my brand in the Spring of 2019, offering animal acupressure services and creating educational content on social media.
In Summer 2020, my business grew to include petsitting services, and my new hobby in paracord weaving. My shop was born through colorful and durable pet leashes, collars and now seatbelts. I sell online and at local (Atlanta) artist markets. Paracord is extremely versatile and comes in so many colors and patterns; the combinations are endless. It's been a therapeutic and creative outlet for me.
In January 2022, I became a Certified Canine Kinesiology Tape Practitioner through Holistic Animal Studies. This was a really fun course to take and is a wonderful supportive addition to any bodywork session. I can speak from experience, because I also practice on myself when possible.
In early 2024, I joined the two main organizations for professional pet care providers; National Association for Professional Petsitters (NAPPS) and Petsitters International (PSI). While attending the NAPPS Conference in Savannah, Georgia, I decided to become a Pet Tech First Aid & CPR Instructor.
In my search to find a local pet first aid and CPR certification class, I noticed that most of the available classes were located on the opposite side of town as me. I decided that I could bring those classes to my area. It felt like the right direction, since I have always enjoyed educating pet parents throughout the years. So, in June 2024 I became a Certified Pet Tech Instructor. I look forward to teaching this extensive program to pet parents and pet professionals, alike.
