Meet my three dogs: (left) Shep, (middle) Faith, (right) Junee
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Why I became a dog walker: I thought owning a dog was pointless, and I was wary of all of them. When my mother had the bright idea to bring home this crossbreed whose mother attacked him and tried to chew his tail off, 9-year-old me wanted her to take that dog back to stand up for himself. (The mother didn't like that this dog was the only one of the litter who was golden like his father, a German Shepherd, and didn't look like her, a Black Lab.) My mother ignored me completely. Every time I was assigned to wash dishes, she would conveniently open the back door where that little chewed-tailed puppy was. Shep, the puppy's name, would then constantly walk by my legs. I got into the habit of hopping onto the kitchen counter to wash dishes sideways. But my mother knew eventually I had to get off the counter, and Shep was patiently waiting. This charade went on for a few weeks before I gave up.
Months later, I would've never guessed that I'd be the kid throwing a full tantrum with my day camp counselor who refused to let me out of summer day camp during a tornado. Never mind the danger! Shep was still outside. The minute they opened the doors (an hour or so later), I turned into Flo-Jo during the two-block run to get home and hugged my dog for hours. Shep lived for 13 years, and I still have a painting of him on my wall.
I equally spoiled our second dog, a purebred German Shepherd. Rain, hail, sleet, snow. I walked Faith every single time I drove to my parents' house, including in three-inch heels. When she passed away, I couldn't convince my parents to get a third dog. After spending three months trying to buy a condo that allowed dogs and not succeeding, I looked for alternatives to being around dogs.
In March 2019, my answer was Wag (and Rover). Although I did end up joining the condo association board and reinstating the option to allow dogs for owners, I'd grown too fond of the dogs I was already walking to get a dog of my own. But COVID-19 hit, and pet owners were working from home. That left me dog-less and no longer with disposable side income from dog walking and dog sitting. I cared about the dogs more than the money though.
On Juneteenth 2021, I adopted a Hound mix who I named Junee. Although I stopped Wag! walking from August 2021 to July 2022 in order to train and enjoy Junee's puppy year, I returned to dog walking as of July 30, 2022. I never expected it to happen, but I still missed my regulars! Now Junee just gawks out the window when I walk another dog and sniffs my legs like my first puppy to investigate who else I walked other than her. As a kid, you could've never convinced me I'd no longer be fearless around dogs but bypass both of my parents in being a dog fanatic. A year after Junee arrived, my mother convinced my father to get a third dog: Jackie. And I am ecstatic to hang out with J&J (Jackie and Junee) on puppy playdates too!
Months later, I would've never guessed that I'd be the kid throwing a full tantrum with my day camp counselor who refused to let me out of summer day camp during a tornado. Never mind the danger! Shep was still outside. The minute they opened the doors (an hour or so later), I turned into Flo-Jo during the two-block run to get home and hugged my dog for hours. Shep lived for 13 years, and I still have a painting of him on my wall.
I equally spoiled our second dog, a purebred German Shepherd. Rain, hail, sleet, snow. I walked Faith every single time I drove to my parents' house, including in three-inch heels. When she passed away, I couldn't convince my parents to get a third dog. After spending three months trying to buy a condo that allowed dogs and not succeeding, I looked for alternatives to being around dogs.
In March 2019, my answer was Wag (and Rover). Although I did end up joining the condo association board and reinstating the option to allow dogs for owners, I'd grown too fond of the dogs I was already walking to get a dog of my own. But COVID-19 hit, and pet owners were working from home. That left me dog-less and no longer with disposable side income from dog walking and dog sitting. I cared about the dogs more than the money though.
On Juneteenth 2021, I adopted a Hound mix who I named Junee. Although I stopped Wag! walking from August 2021 to July 2022 in order to train and enjoy Junee's puppy year, I returned to dog walking as of July 30, 2022. I never expected it to happen, but I still missed my regulars! Now Junee just gawks out the window when I walk another dog and sniffs my legs like my first puppy to investigate who else I walked other than her. As a kid, you could've never convinced me I'd no longer be fearless around dogs but bypass both of my parents in being a dog fanatic. A year after Junee arrived, my mother convinced my father to get a third dog: Jackie. And I am ecstatic to hang out with J&J (Jackie and Junee) on puppy playdates too!
Wag (and Rover) Reviews
Dog chronicles: I have had the pleasure of walking ...
Note: I have completed a total of 618 Wag walks; eight dog sittings and six dog boardings (on Rover and Wag). Some of the dogs below are ones I have had the pleasure of walking, boarding and/or sitting regularly, which is is why my Wag profile walk total is higher than the number of dogs (99) below.
