I’m the founder and owner of PetsitUSA.com, which was launched in 2003, and the owner of LucyGirl Pet Sitting here in Austin, Texas, which I began in 2001. I no longer take on new pet sitting clients but I still have some great clients and enjoy caring for their pets. I am also a Pet Tech first aid instructor and teach pet first aid classes here in Austin. You’ll find information about my classes on my website, Austin Pet First Aid. And, as a result of the pet food recall in early 2007, I started the website The Pet Food List.
In addition to managing PetsitUSA.com (and everything else!), I also do freelance work for PetHobbyist.com, write a monthly column for Austin Pets Directory, and serve as the Editorial Director for Wishbones for Pets.

I’m a past planning team member of the former CSU Pet Sitters Conference, a conference that was managed and attended by, and for, professional pet sitters throughout the country.
As you can see, I definitely keep myself busy, but I consider myself to be extremely fortunate because I actually enjoy what I do for a living! The pet sitting, web work, and artwork are flat out fun. Of course there are times when I get frustrated, and overworked, but overall I feel I’m one of the luckiest people around to be doing what I do. I’m able to spend a lot of time with my pets, care for other people’s pets from time to time, use my creativity, and get to know some pretty wonderful people all across the country.

Before my pet sitting career I had a pretty wide range of jobs including freelance editorial researcher for ThirdAge.com, Rx.com, online community coordinator for Microsoft Expedia and editorial researcher/fact checker for Rx.com. I’ve also owned my own entertainment consulting business, worked as a professional clown, and appeared as a regular on a children’s television show in Indianapolis, Indiana, where I’m from originally.

Of course, I have to include my family in my bio! I share my home with 3 wonderful dogs and a lazy but loveable cat.

Archie, my absolutely adorable, Mama’s boy, Border Collie, came to me after living in a cage for the first two years of his life. (Nope, I don’t understand people who do that to a dog either!) I’m happy to say though, that he hasn’t seen the inside of a cage since he came here. Instead, he shares the couch with Lydia, my Australian Shepherd mix, who was at Town Lake Animal Center for a short time before she came to live with us.

Lydia’s a sweetheart of a dog — expressive, full of energy, and smart as can be. She’s my sleeping buddy, my watchdog, and my alarm clock. Actually, to be honest, she’s pretty much my right hand dog. She knows what’s going on at all times and makes sure things run smoothly…and according to her plan whenever possible.

Abby is my Mom’s mixed breed dog who came to live with me after Mom passed away in September ’05. Even though Abby’s nearly 14 years old, she’s still full of life and has adjusted quite well. She especially enjoys spending time playing with her buddy, Tequila.

Abby passed away on July 5, 2007 but I can’t bear the thought of removing her picture. She still has a very special place in my heart.

Tequila is my cross-eyed, lynx point siamese cat. In 1998 I visited a friend who lived on a farm at the time. As we talked, and she started doing some barn type chore, she plopped a kitten in my arms and said something like, “here, hold this a minute, will ya?” HA! That’s turned out to be the longest minute I’ve ever heard of! I absolutely adore Tequila, my wonderfully cuddly and social kitty.So there you have it…a little bit about me and my four-legged family.