Lily’s love & compassion for dogs was passed down by her father, who grew up on a farm, so it wasn’t a surprise that she was naturally drawn to all animals as a child. Lily would spend her time collecting photos from magazines & pasting them into a notebook or studying her Illustrated Wildlife Treasury cards by Leisure Books. As she got older, Lily knew she wanted to work with animals, but couldn’t decide which career path to take.
During her college years, Lily worked her way up at two local Chicago, IL shelters, where she learned to provide basic medical treatments as a Veterinarian Assistant & to socialize reactive dogs & feral cats with the help of the in-shelter Animal Behaviorist. Her invaluable experience was noticed by a coworker, who informed Lily of the exciting, new business of Dog Walking that was taking shape in the city. Eventually, Lily began working for Chicago’s 1st pet sitting service, learning the ropes as an Independent Contractor, then getting certified with NAPPS as a Professional Pet Sitter.
In August 1998, realizing that there was a need for walks with reactive dogs, Lily began her own dog walking service specifically to serve dogs who needed extra care & attention. She spent 12 years working in Chicago, then her love for animals & nature drew her to the Pacific Northwest where Lily moved to Portland, OR in 2010 to start anew.
After signing her 1st client in 2011, LilyPet has been growing and keeping Lily busy throughout the week – offering midday walks during the weekdays, with occasional visits during nights and weekends. Lily is also available for dog-sitting – allowing her clients’ dogs to continue enjoying the comforts of home while they’re on vacation.
