Meet Our Team

Hi, I’m Alyssa! I recently moved to NoVa from Connecticut and I’m loving it! While putting down my roots here and trying to find a fun way to spend some downtime, I thought about how I’m instantly happy when I see animals. I’m not quite ready to get my own yet, so why not help out my community with theirs? I had quite a few pets growing up that I adored, especially my tabby cat Zoe who recently passed away just shy of age 18 in January 2021. I look forward to taking care of your furry loved ones as if they are my own, in Zoe’s memory!

Hello everyone! My name is Anisa. I’m a college student who is dedicated, motivated, and compassionate in my daily school and work related activities. I aim to do my best, and leave all of our clients satisfied with the care I provide for their loved fur babies, as I would my own. No matter how big or small, cat or dog, your pets will always receive the love and attention they deserve! 🐱❤️🐶

Hi! My name is Ashley and I love animals! I have a reactive rescue Boxer mix named Hobbs and he’s 8 years old! I love caring for and hanging out with all different kinds of animals! I am well experienced with animals who are reactive or have trouble with certain things (such as diet, walks, greetings, etc). I have pet sat all through growing up and get excited for every visit. I am looking forward to getting to know more furry friends and cherishing them will all my love. 🤗💖

Hi! My name is Ava I am currently a student at Penn State and I am an avid animal lover! I have two rescues, a 7-year-old Jack Russell Chihuahua mix named Carmen and a four-year-old Brittany named Rooney. I am well experienced with all different kinds of animals and I have been pet sitting for many years. I am beyond excited to be a part of the Paw Pals team and can’t wait to meet and care for all your furry friends!

My name is Ben Parker and I am passionate about pets! For 15 years I have worked in several pet industries, beginning as a dog trainer, and the branching out into Pet Care and Nutrition. My goal is to utilize my expertise, in order to provide your pet with the greatest care possible!

Hi! My name is Ben! I have had 3 dogs throughout my life, and my sister has a cat. I have been pet sitting for the last few years and I love taking care of animals. I enjoy being around all types of pets and tend to get attached fast. I am super excited to be a part of the Paw Pals family and I always look forward to coming back from college and getting to meet and take care of even more pets!

Hello! My name is Cate and I’m a senior in high school. My whole life, I have had a love for pets, but my all-time favorite pets are dogs! From playing fetch, to slobbery kisses and how they cuddle, it’s true for me that a dog is a man’s best friend! Even though dogs are my favorite, I love cats and other animals too! Sadly, my dog Stella just recently passed away and though that leaves a hole in my heart, it has opened a spot for all of the pets at Paw Pals! I am so excited to be working for Paw Pals and cannot wait to meet your furry friend!

Hi! My name is Catherine and I am so excited to be a part of the Paw Pals family. I recently graduated from the University of Virginia where I majored in Systems Engineering. I have grown up with an adorable black lab/border collie mix named Cazzy, and I love to be around animals! I am so excited to meet and look after your sweet furry friends! 😊

Hello, my name’s Danny! I grew up in Matoaca, VA (south of Richmond) and moved up here to NoVA in 2019, settling in Oakton. Growing up our house was a beacon to strays and we tended to grow too attached to them. So you name it, we had it. As of now, though, with my boyfriend, I have two kitties named Black Label and Faygo (pictured with me very begrudgingly), and they are our entire world! I love working with Paw Pals because I get to meet so many new people and furry friends – I treat all my furry clients like one of my own, and I can’t wait to add yours to the mix!

Hello my name is Diana Cabrera McAllister. I went to James Madison University and I love everything Disney! I’ve been with PawPals, off and on, for about 6 years. I have two kitties – Sir Tuberson Reginald III (aka Tubby) and Anakin (Little Kitty). I look forward to meeting you and your fur-family!

Hi there! I’m Emma! I’ve been styling hair/doing makeup for over 5 years now in NOVA. I began vet assisting at the start of Covid because the future was uncertain and salons were closing. I ended up staying for 3 years and learned so much! I truly had the best experience and helping owners/pets through that tough time! I’ve owned dogs all my life-from a Rottweiler to mini dachshunds (currently) and even rescued in between! I enjoy staying active on the days I have off at the salon and cant wait to give your pets all of the love they deserve!

Hi my name is Evan Anderson and I am currently studying criminal justice at Radford University. I have lived in the Centreville area my whole life and have had multiple dogs, from big to small, as well as cats. I am a big dog person but love all pets. I am super excited to meet and help take care of and give all your pets love.

Hi, I’m Frances and I love animals! I was born and raised in Baltimore. Sadly strays were common in the city but I did my best to provide them with food, water, and kindness when I could. Throughout my life I’ve had many different pets and at one point was taking care of 4 cats, a dog, 2 bunnies, and a Canadian goose (which I raised from birth)! I have so much compassion, warmth, and affection to give to animals and would love to take care of yours!

My name is Hazel Hunter and I just love dogs! I am originally from Va. Beach and have been living in Fairfax County since 1989. I have had cats and dogs my entire live and currently have a Chinese Shar Pei. I also keep a friend’s yellow Labrador for extended visits when her family is traveling. He has really become a part of our family. Now that my 3 kids are older and I have more free time, I am able to help Mary out with her clients. I love taking walks and playing with all of our clients’ pets. They all have such different personalities and bring a lot of joy to my life. I look forward to meeting more new friends soon!

Hi, I’m Ines! I’ve taken care of cats and dogs since I was 10 yrs old! I’m retired now and, in addition to pet sitting, I am a volunteer for the Virginia Master Naturalist Program, and I’m also a Humane Policy District Leader for the Humane Society of the US (HSUS). I love all animals and have loved all my pets as family members. So I know how important it is to care for other people’s pets. Right now I have an elderly cat (22 years old!) at home, but I also take care of my boyfriend’s 3 cats when he goes on business trips.

Hi! My name is Iris, and I’m a passionate animal lover. I grew in Arlington and now live in Centreville. I have a 13 year old cat named Bullet and grew up around dogs. As a lifelong animal lover, I understand that pets are family, and when you’re away, you want to know they’re in safe and loving hands. That’s where I come in!

Hi, I’m Jade! I’m currently a student at Virginia Tech studying Foreign Language, and I enjoy hiking and reading! I love all kinds of animals, cats especially, and grew up with both dogs and cats! I’m so excited to be a part of the Paw Pals team and can’t wait to meet your furry friends!

Hello! My name is Jane, and I was born and raised in Northern Virginia but have moved around a bit in my years to California, Colorado, England and Australia. I have had pets since I was a child and I’ve always been drawn to their unconditional love! I’ve also been taking care of my families and my friend’s pets for many years, though I don’t have a pet at the moment. My last two dogs passed away over the past three years, but I have created a small oasis in my backyard where I have deer, foxes, birds and recently an “almost albino” skunk! I look forward to working with Paw Pals and your pets!

Dog mama and wife – my 2  favorite titles! I am that person who wants to stay home with their dogs! I currently have two perfect Swissies, but in the past have had 6 giant breed dogs at once and would absolutely do it again! I am so fortunate to spend my days working out (major fitness junkie) or exploring new places with my pups. I love getting to meet clients and their fur babies!

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.”     ~ Dean Koontz

Hey everyone! My name is Kasey and I am 25 years old. I am currently studying game art & design online. I enjoy drawing, working out, playing tennis, and playing online games. I love all animals and I have owned a wide variety of pets throughout my entire life. Back home in Alabama, my parents take care of my little Italian Greyhound, Kepler, and his Yorkie buddy, Benny – they are so funny! I am so excited to take the best care of your animals and provide them with the attention and love that they need!

Hi there! Animals have always been important to me. I have an immense amount of experience dealing with pet caregiving. I’ve taken care of many friends’ pets over the years, worked at a pet retailer, a doggie daycare/boarding facility, and an animal hospital. I now work full-time in finance, but I’m only in the office two days per week. I’m fairly flexible with any last minute needs as well. I would love to be the responsible and caring person to help your pet and your family!

Hi! I’m Kate and I love animals! I’ve currently have two dogs, but I’ve also fostered three in the past. I’ve also got an adorable cat as well! Beyond that, I’ve grown up with hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish, so it’s safe to say I have a lot of experience with pets! I’m so excited to be working for Paw Pals and can’t wait to treat your pets as if they were my own!

Hi! My name is Katie Poston. I grew up in Centreville and I am currently a student at Virginia Tech. Growing up, I helped my mother take care of many dogs over the years. I love animals, and animals love me! And of course, I especially love my family dog, Hank – though I enjoy taking care of all pets!

Hi! My name is Kayla and I and so happy to be a part of the Paw Pals team. I truly love providing exceptional care and companionship to all kinds of animals. I currently have a pet bird named Kiwi. I am in college attending Ole Miss. In my free time I enjoy volunteering at the local animal shelter. I cannot wait to meet and take care of your furry family like my own! 🙂

Hello! My name is Kiana Cross and I’m beyond thrilled to be part of the Paw Pals team. I currently have a puppy named Debo but I’ve grown up with countless other furry friends. 🙂 Caring for animals is something I love and I can promise you that I will look after your animals with the utmost care and respect. 💗

Hi there! My name is Kyree (Kai-ree) and I am a lifelong dog owner. My current dibling (dog-sibling) is Gizmo, a Jack Russel. We adopted him in 2017 and he is one of the many lights in my life. He loves peaceful walks, squeaky chew toys, and meeting new doggies. Outside of caring for Gizmo, I’ve dog-sat for former teachers of mine in recent years; letting their dog’s outside during school hours, taking them on refreshing walks, and making sure I meet the caring priorities of the owners. I’m currently attending George Mason University in Fairfax, VA studying to be an Elementary school teacher. And as we know, the most successful teachers are those that inherently balance compassion and a diligent work ethic. Whether it be caring for the tiny humans or the animals we love and call family.

Hi! My name is Lauren Hopwood. I currently live in Reston, Virginia but grew up in Vienna, Virginia. I have had a dog my entire life. My family always had a dog growing up and when I went off to college at James Madison University (Go Dukes!), I got a dog of my own named April, who is my absolute world. I often will dog sit for my family members and friends when they go out of town. I am confident that there is no dog out there that is too “needy” or “mean”. My dog that I got in college is now a senior dog (12 years old) and has a lot of health issues which I have had to navigate through. However, with all of those health issues, it has given me a lot of experience with administering medicine, injections/insulin, and making sure I always go above and beyond to ensure any dog is comfortable. My dream is to one day live on several hundred acres and have an animal sanctuary of my own, taking in any animal that doesn’t have a home, has been abused, is in a shelter, is a senior or has a disability. Animals are my world and fill a piece of me that no one else can fill. I would be honored to take care of your pet.

Hello! My name is Madeline, but you can call me Maddy for short. I truly do love all animals, even the most unconventional ones. I love spiders to dogs. I currently have 3 pet rats that I adopted from a shelter. Their names are Flower, Rue, and Sushi. Sushi is the one in my photo. I also have a dog named Oddie who is a beagle. I’ve owned guinea pigs in the past that unfortunately passed away a few years ago. Their names were Bella, Cookie, and Squeakers. And my cousin owns a bearded dragon that I’ve come to love named Mushu. I just truly do love all animals, and they will always have a special place in my heart, and I would love to help out other fellow animal lovers as well when it comes to taking care of their babies! 😊

My name is Natalia Lopez and I am 24 years old. I grew up in the Northern Virginia area and have always had a dog in my life (my current pup is a 4-year-old Labradoodle named Bruno). I know how special our pets are to us and how important it is that they get the care and attention they need to thrive. I am so excited to help look out for your pets and show them lots of love!

Hi!! My name is Raegan Coughlin and I am so excited to be a part of the Paw Pals team. I own a lovable labradoodle named Tito, and I enjoy playing with him and taking him for walks. I also understand the unique needs and personalities of pets, so you can trust that I will make your pets feel safe and happy while you’re away. Looking forward to meeting your pets soon! 😊

Hiiiii, pet lovers!! My name is Raquel, and I’m a college student pursuing engineering degree. I am very hard-working and quite straight to the point. I have such a soft spot for my pups – especially the difficult ones! I find that there’s something so rewarding about showing love and getting them to trust you. I can’t wait to work with your fur babies!! 🐶🐶

Hello, pet parents, I’m Reese! I moved to Virginia a couple of years ago from California, and have been in the veterinary field for the better part of a decade. I don’t currently have any pets of my own, but look forward to treating yours as if they’re family! I’m excited to work with Pet Pals to ensure that your fur babies are taken care of with gold-standard attention!

Hi! My name is Ryan. I am currently a student at James Madison University. I have a pet bird named Kiwi and she’s a blue crowned conure. She’s the best (when she’s not squawking). I love animals and taking care of them, especially dogs! I have been pet sitting throughout my life and have always enjoyed it. Working for Paw Pals is the perfect job for someone like me and I cannot wait to meet all of your wonderful pets!

Hi! My name is Sam and I am so excited to be a part of the Paw Pals team. I currently have a labradoodle named Hailey and have grown up with lots of different pets. 😊 I’m currently a student at JMU studying Media Arts and Design. I love animals so much and I can’t wait to meet and look after your animals! 💗

Hi! My name is Shannon Hamer and I couldn’t be more thrilled to work for Paw Pals! Throughout my life, I’ve had three dogs, two hamsters, one cat, and tons of fish, and I’ve had the joy of taking care of countless other animals in the area in the past 7 years of my pet sitting journey. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong connection to and passionate love of animals. I care deeply about each and every animal in my care, and I can’t wait to meet many more during my time as a part of the Paw Pals family 🙂

Hi, I’m Trevor! As the owner’s son, I’m so proud of what my mom has built and couldn’t be more thrilled to be supporting her now! I grew up around all types of pets – both our family dogs and all the “paw pals” my mom has cared for before I was even old enough to be a pet sitter! Now I live in Scotland with my sweet Border Collie, Kieran, and help run the business from afar. (However, I’m always looking forward to trips home when I’m able to jump back in and walk, play and just spend time with some of my favorite paw pals!)

Hello! It’s nice to meet you! I am Zorah & this is my Marley! She was my best friend and honestly my better half for over 15 years. I love her – as well as all dogs/animals. Unfortunately, Marley has passed on & I’m not quite ready for my own just yet, so I love taking care of my friends & families! Fur babies are blessings! ♡