Pawtector Pet Care LLC

11/04/2025

As the owner of Pawtector Pet Care, I have enjoyed over 11 years of serving pets and their owners in the Smith Mountain Lake Community and beyond. During that time, I have taken care of horses, alpacas, chickens, goats, fish and hundreds of cats and dogs. I taught Pet First Aid and CPR classes in Roanoke, Vinton, Smith Mountain Lake, Bedford, Evington and Staunton, Va to so many wonderful people. Owning and operating Pawtector Pet Care has been an extremely rewarding and satisfying experience for me. I thank every one of my clients (past and present) for their confidence in my ability and their loyalty to Pawtector and to me personally.

It has been a difficult decision; however, I am announcing my retirement and closure of Pawtector Pet Care at year-end 2025. I am looking forward to the next chapter in my life and spending more time with my own pets and family. I started communicating these plans with my active clients in January of this year. Referrals to qualified sitters are being or have been provided and some sitters have already met and/or started sitting for former Pawtector clients.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your support. I will always treasure the memories of my clients, their pets and the crazy and heartwarming stories.

Karen

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07/01/2025

Fireworks and thunderstorms are triggers for pets to bolt from homes and yards. Please take precautions to ensure safety. Give them a safe, quiet place, play music/tv, give a favorite toy or blanket (whatever they take comfort in). Dont leave them alone if they have high anxiety. Know how your pet reacts. If you have a pet sitter, make sure he or she knows what to expect and what safety measures to deploy.

Have a happy and safe summer and enjoy a safe 4th of July holiday weekend!

08/26/2024

Every day is 'Love Your Pet Day', but today is National Dog Day. Show off those K-9 love bugs, pamper and spoil them rotten.

Be careful in the extreme heat this week and minimize outdoor activities later in the day.

Happy National Dog Day!!!!

04/05/2024

Pawtector Pet Care is celebrating 10 years in business!!! Clients have trusted Pawtector with the care of hundreds of dogs and cats as well as many horses, goats, chickens and alpaccas.

Pawtector Pet Care has also provided Pet First Aid & CPR classes to many pet owners at training/boarding facilities and private homes. This has been very rewarding knowing that folks are better prepared to help their fur babies in an emergency, and to provide the everyday care needed for a long and healthy life.

Thank you to all of Pawtector's clients... past, present and future!!!

07/01/2023

Please be mindful of fireworks and storms. Take precautions to make sure your pets have a quiet, safe spot away from the loud noises. Play music or tv if that calms them. Keep them inside or on a well fitting harness or leash/collar when outside in the evening.

Please make sure pets in your care are not allowed loose where they might run out of normal boundaries and be lost or injured.

Let's have a safe and happy 4th of July week witih our pets where they belong.

04/04/2023

Let me know if anyone is interested in a class.

April is Pet First Aid Awareness Month.
If you have never taken a Pet CPR and first Aid class this month is the time to do it.
Pet Tech Inc teaches the protocols in CPR, rescue breathing, choking, bleeding, snout to tail Assessments and so much more. Check for a class near you on our website : www.pettech.net.

04/01/2023

So glad I pursued my dream. Pet sitting is an important, challenging, and extremely rewarding industry.

As any pro pet sitter or dog walker will tell you, running a pet-care business is no joke!

➡Here at PSI, we always say that pet sitting isn’t for the faint of heart—and on a day that typically focuses on jokes, we want to stop and thank professional pet sitters and dog walkers for the serious work they do!

For any who have ever wondered, “Is pet sitting (or dog walking) a real job?” The answer is ABSOLUTELY.✔

👉Professional pet sitters and dog walkers are small-business owners—vital contributors to their communities and local economy.

👉They have a business license (where required), pay taxes, are insured, bonded, and trained in pet care and pet first aid.

👉They work year-round to ensure pet parents can have the peace of mind offered by quality, reliable pet care when long work hours or travel keep them from their beloved pets.

Being a professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business owner is more than dog walks and cat cuddles.

👉Ask any professional pet sitter who has missed holidays with their families, extended pet-sitting visits to ensure an ailing pet was comforted or felt the loss of a client’s pet passing.

👉Or better yet, ask one of the hundreds of thousands of pet parents who benefit from the services of professional pet sitters and dog walkers every year.

👉Ask the pet owner who was alerted by his professional pet sitter that his dog’s behavior was unusual and recommended an emergency vet visit—saving the dog from dying from canine bloat.

👉Ask the pet parent who was able to call her pet sitter at 2 a.m. when she learns that her mother—on the other side of the country—has been admitted to the hospital in critical condition and is able to secure pet care as she rushes to the airport.

👉Ask the family whose professional pet sitter has graciously agreed to sit with them as their 15-year-old cat with late-stage chronic renal failure has to be euthanized.

Spend a day with a pro pet sitter or dog walker and you’ll know what those of us at PSI know without question:

♥Pet sitting is no joke! It’s a career…a lifestyle…a passion.♥

THANK YOU to the pet sitters and dog walkers making the world a better place for pets and their people!

07/01/2022

Sadly, there will be pictures of many lost dogs over the weekend due to fireworks. Pets are terrified and will bolt not knowing where they are going or how to get back. Some will be injured while running and owners will be looking for their fur baby in desperation.

Please keep your pets inside in a quiet area as much as possible thru the 4th of July. It seems fireworks are not just on the 4th and it is easy to let our guard down.

Pawtector wishes everyone a happy, safe, 4th of July holiday with all of your fur babies!!

05/24/2022

03/06/2022

Happy Professional Pet Sitters Week!

Today is the first day of the weeklong observance that celebrates YOU—professional pet sitters and dog walkers.

👉Did you know PSI created the observance in 1995, and it takes place annually the first full week of March?

There’s still time to visit to download the PPSW Media Kit with at petsit.com/ppsweek for resources to help you:

✔Educate your community about your business and the professional pet-care industry.

✔Highlight the importance of using a professional pet-care provider educated in best pet-care and business practices.

✔Make plans to celebrate with your team and other local businesses.

01/16/2022

Please be careful when walking dogs where ice melt has been put down. It is important to clean your pet's paws when they come in. The ice melt can irritate the paw pads. Also, the dogs will lick their paws and ingest the ice melt which can be harmful.

Be safe and have fun!