Hi, I'm Dori, your Certified Professional Pet Sitter!
My Purpose
To create tail-wagging, heartfelt connections with pets and people who love pets.
My Mission
To provide thoughtful, personalized, and responsible pet care services that leave my pet clients feeling calm, safe, and loved — and their humans feeling at peace and worry-free. I do this by actively listening to and communicating with pet parents, by paying close attention to the body language and behavior of their pets, and by using my experience, knowledge, and education in ways that will ensure a loving, safe, fun, and nurturing experience for every pet in my care.
My Vision
To provide excellent care and enrichment to the lives of pets while in my care and provide pet parents with peace of mind knowing they have selected a highly regarded, trusted, and sought-after pet care provider who has strong connections to the community. In short, I aspire to be the pet care provider of choice in the northeast Chicagoland suburbs, and part of a trustworthy network of exceptional pet care connections ready to support, serve, and rescue pets in need.
My Purpose
To create tail-wagging, heartfelt connections with pets and people who love pets.
My Mission
To provide thoughtful, personalized, and responsible pet care services that leave my pet clients feeling calm, safe, and loved — and their humans feeling at peace and worry-free. I do this by actively listening to and communicating with pet parents, by paying close attention to the body language and behavior of their pets, and by using my experience, knowledge, and education in ways that will ensure a loving, safe, fun, and nurturing experience for every pet in my care.
My Vision
To provide excellent care and enrichment to the lives of pets while in my care and provide pet parents with peace of mind knowing they have selected a highly regarded, trusted, and sought-after pet care provider who has strong connections to the community. In short, I aspire to be the pet care provider of choice in the northeast Chicagoland suburbs, and part of a trustworthy network of exceptional pet care connections ready to support, serve, and rescue pets in need.
Story time!
I’ve been caring for all sorts of pets for over 30 years – from dogs and cats to small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even arthropods! Keep reading to learn more about my experiences, which are the heart of why I’m here.
I started being a dog walker and pet sitter on a large national “gig” pet-sitting service in the summer of 2021. I initially started doing dog walking and pet sitting as a side gig, and as an antidote to the social distancing and lockdowns of the COVID pandemic.
I’ve been caring for all sorts of pets for over 30 years – from dogs and cats to small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even arthropods! Keep reading to learn more about my experiences, which are the heart of why I’m here.
I started being a dog walker and pet sitter on a large national “gig” pet-sitting service in the summer of 2021. I initially started doing dog walking and pet sitting as a side gig, and as an antidote to the social distancing and lockdowns of the COVID pandemic.
Well, my “side gig” grew, and I love it! I love being outdoors in the fresh air with dogs on their walks. I love meeting pet parents and hearing all about their dogs and cats, and then discovering all those critters’ unique personalities for myself. Who thinks birds are Satan’s little helpers? Who hates skateboarders? Who just wants to snuggle with me on the couch and put their nose in my ear? It makes me feel happy to spend time with critters that need me to love and care for them while their parents are away.
Well, my “side gig” grew, and I love it! I love being outdoors in the fresh air with dogs on their walks. I love meeting pet parents and hearing all about their dogs and cats, and then discovering all those critters’ unique personalities for myself. Who thinks birds are Satan’s little helpers? Who hates skateboarders? Who just wants to snuggle with me on the couch and put their nose in my ear? It makes me feel happy to spend time with critters that need me to love and care for them while their parents are away.
My pet care journey
Starting when I was three, my sister and I began learning from mom how to take care of our two dogs and our cat, as well as hamsters, parakeets, zebra finches, tropical fish, land hermit crabs, and Sea Monkeys (brine shrimp). My dad would just roll his eyes every time we brought home a new pet.
Some of my most magical memories are about butterflies. We had milkweed all over the backyard, which would attract Monarch butterflies to lay eggs every spring. After the eggs hatched, we would put caterpillars in an enclosure and feed them fresh milkweed until they turned into jewel-like green-and-gold chrysalises.
We would then wait (“Mom! Are they done yet?”) for the butterflies to emerge so we could gently tease them onto our fingers and release them back into the wild.
Starting when I was three, my sister and I began learning from mom how to take care of our two dogs and our cat, as well as hamsters, parakeets, zebra finches, tropical fish, land hermit crabs, and Sea Monkeys (brine shrimp). My dad would just roll his eyes every time we brought home a new pet.
Some of my most magical memories are about butterflies. We had milkweed all over the backyard, which would attract Monarch butterflies to lay eggs every spring. After the eggs hatched, we would put caterpillars in an enclosure and feed them fresh milkweed until they turned into jewel-like green-and-gold chrysalises.
We would then wait (“Mom! Are they done yet?”) for the butterflies to emerge so we could gently tease them onto our fingers and release them back into the wild.
Starting when I was three, my sister and I began learning from mom how to take care of our two dogs and our cat, as well as hamsters, parakeets, zebra finches, tropical fish, land hermit crabs, and Sea Monkeys (brine shrimp). My dad would just roll his eyes every time we brought home a new pet.
Some of my most magical memories are about butterflies.
We had milkweed all over the backyard, which would attract Monarch butterflies to lay eggs every spring. After the eggs hatched, we would put caterpillars in an enclosure and feed them fresh milkweed until they turned into jewel-like green-and-gold chrysalises.
We would then wait (“Mom! Are they done yet?”) for the butterflies to emerge so we could gently tease them onto our fingers and release them back into the wild.
Continuing my animal-care education
For three years as a teenager, I volunteered at a wildlife and exotic animal rescue. I cared for various “animal ambassadors,” including kestrels, owls, and other raptors, groundhogs, snakes, lizards, frogs, beetles, spiders, and other arthropods, ensuring they were fed and logging their meals. My favorite ambassadors were Charlie the Barn Owl, Lord Richard the Turkey Vulture, and Khyber the 200 lb. Burmese Python.
Over the years, I’ve had many different pets. My critter kids have included my dog Angel Raindrops (1997-2010), several cats, a big black rat named Baby, a corn snake named Iyatiku, green iguanas, a bearded dragon, a turtle, frogs, pond fish, tropical fish, a rubber eel, and freshwater crabs.
One memorable pet was James Bond SecretFrog, a bullfrog that a friend snuck into my pond as a tadpole along with 20 of his brothers and sisters. James got his name when he just hopped out of the horsetail rush one day, all fully grown and the same tan color as my sandstone pavers – weird, because bullfrogs are usually green! We hadn’t thought that any of the tadpoles had survived the raccoons and egrets that occasionally poached my fish, but James was a canny fellow and I’m sure his unusual coloring gave him an advantage.
For three years as a teenager, I volunteered at a wildlife and exotic animal rescue. I cared for various “animal ambassadors,” including kestrels, owls, and other raptors, groundhogs, snakes, lizards, frogs, beetles, spiders and other arthropods, ensuring they were fed and logging their meals. My favorite ambassadors were Charlie the Barn Owl, Lord Richard the Turkey Vulture, and Khyber the 200 lb. Burmese Python.
Over the years, I’ve had many different pets. My critter kids have included my dog Angel Raindrops (1997-2010), several cats, a big black rat named Baby, a corn snake named Iyatiku, green iguanas, a bearded dragon, a turtle, frogs, pond fish, tropical fish, a rubber eel, and freshwater crabs.
One memorable pet was James Bond SecretFrog, a bullfrog that a friend snuck into my pond as a tadpole along with 20 of his brothers and sisters.
James got his name when he just hopped out of the horsetail rush one day, all fully grown and the same tan color as my sandstone pavers – weird, because bullfrogs are usually green! We hadn’t thought that any of the tadpoles had survived the raccoons and egrets that occasionally poached my fish, but James was a canny fellow and I’m sure his unusual coloring gave him an advantage.
"People Training"
I learned a lot about dog training when I signed up Angel Raindrops for basic obedience classes with a trainer who specialized in Agility (obstacle courses).
She told us, “Dog training classes don’t train dogs; they train people. Learn all you can about your dog’s instincts and innate behaviors first, then you can use that knowledge to help you guide them into the behaviors you want.”
Thanks to that advice I was able to teach Angel over 30 commands, and she learned to be a very good and calm girl in any situation. I still use the principles of “people training” to help dogs have a fun and safe time on walks, and Angel is always there in my heart wearing one of her big smiles.
I learned a lot about dog training when I signed up Angel Raindrops for basic obedience classes with a trainer who specialized in Agility (obstacle courses).
She told us, “Dog training classes don’t train dogs; they train people. Learn all you can about your dog’s instincts and innate behaviors first, then you can use that knowledge to help you guide them into the behaviors you want.”
Thanks to that advice I was able to teach Angel over 30 commands, and she learned to be a very good and calm girl in any situation. I still use the principles of “people training” to help dogs have a fun and safe time on walks, and Angel is always there in my heart wearing one of her big smiles.
I want to take care of your precious pets too
So how did these experiences come forward to now? Well, when I was a “gig sitter,” I found myself wanting to provide pet parents with personalized service, as well as protection in the form of insurance and bonding, which are not things the “gig” pet-sitting companies offer.
I’d also been wanting to study animal care in greater detail, and to obtain certifications to make sure I give the best care possible. Finally, I was eager to take care of exotic pets again, a specialty that not many local pet sitters (“gig” or other) offer.
So, I decided to strike out on my own, and here I am!
So how did these experiences come forward to now? Well, when I was a “gig sitter,” I found myself wanting to provide pet parents with personalized service, as well as protection in the form of insurance and bonding, which are not things the “gig” pet-sitting companies offer.
I’d also been wanting to study animal care in greater detail, and to obtain certifications to make sure I give the best care possible. Finally, I was eager to take care of exotic pets again, a specialty that not many local pet sitters (“gig” or other) offer.
So, I decided to strike out on my own, and here I am!
I’m looking forward to meeting you and your pets! Click here to get started with Dori Tails.
Dori
Dorian Taylor, Owner & Head Tail Wagger
Certified Professional Pet Sitter®
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