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Evanston, Illinois, is located in the northeast corner of the Chicago metropolitan area. Looking for off-leash dog parks or dog-friendly cafés and restaurants in Evanston? Here you go!
A few tips to help your pet sitter provide the best care possible while you are out of town
Hi, I’m Devon and I am from the Twin Cities, Minnesota. I am an animal enthusiast with a love for the outdoors and experience caring for dogs, cats, reptiles, and various aquatic animals. I currently have an orange Siberian cat named Sunkist, but my personal passion is aquarium-keeping! Outside of pet care, I am an academic library professional devoted to connecting with and serving my community, whether human or non-human members. I am excited to get to know more critters and their families in the Chicago area!
Hi! I am Alaina, a rising senior at Loyola University Chicago studying Sociology on the Pre-Physician Assistant track. My life revolves around animals, from growing up with my family’s dogs by my side to being the fun auntie to my roommate’s cat to saving frogs from window wells. I think pets have life figured out. They cherish each day, never pass up a nap in the sunshine, or the opportunity to make new friends. I love pets with big and small personalities. I’ll make sure they are safe, happy, and spoiled. I can’t wait to meet them!
Hi I’m Milena (“Mils”, for short) and I come from San Antonio, TX. I started walking dogs/pet-sitting in 2023. After earning my BA in Mass Communication from Texas State University, I worked in Austin’s local film scene, assisting as a crew member. I primarily work in the service industry when I’m not walking dogs or critiquing movies. Animals in general have always calmed me, but dogs especially bring a smile to my face. After walking dogs in the Texas heat, I’m excited to meet some cool dogs (and other critters) up here in Chicago!
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 (bugs and spiders).
I started being a dog walker and pet sitter on a large national “gig” pet-sitting service in the summer of 2021 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 started Dori Tails in March 2024! I love meeting pet parents and hearing all about their critter babies, and then experiencing the pets’ unique personalities myself. It makes me happy to spend time with animals that need me to love them and take care of them when their parents are gone.
In April 2025 I began bringing other pet lovers in to become part of the Dori Tails Care Team, and it gives me immense satisfaction to help them become excellent dog walkers and pet sitters. We look forward to meeting you and your pets!
Story Time!
When I was three, my sister and I helped Mom care for our two dogs and our cat, as well as hamsters, parakeets, zebra finches, tropical fish, land hermit crabs, and Sea Monkeys (brine shrimp). We had milkweed all over the backyard, which would attract Monarch butterflies to lay eggs every spring. After the eggs hatched, we would put the tiny caterpillars in an enclosure and feed them fresh milkweed until they grew up and turned into jewel-like green-and-gold chrysalises. Then when the butterflies came out, we could gently tease them onto our fingers and release them back into the wild.
As a teenager, I volunteered for 3 years at a wildlife & exotic animal rescue. I was responsible for taking care of “animal ambassadors” like kestrels, owls and other raptors, groundhogs, snakes, lizards, frogs, beetles, spiders, and other arthropods. I made sure they were fed and logged their meals. My favorites were Charlie the barn owl, Lord Richard the turkey vulture, and Khyber the 200 lb Burmese python.
I’ve had many different pets over the years, including 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.
I learned a lot about dog training when I signed Angel Raindrops up for basic obedience classes. The trainer specialized in Agility (obstacle courses) and told us, “Dog training classes don’t train dogs, they train people. “First, learn everything you can about your dog’s instincts and innate behaviors, and you can use that knowledge to help you guide them into the behaviors you want.”
That advice helped me teach Angel over 30 commands, and she learned to be a very good and calm girl in any situation. I still use the “people training” principles to help dogs and people have a fun and safe time on walks, and Angel is always there in my heart in one of her big smiles.
