About Us
Philosophy
We are dedicated pet lovers, all animals are respected and well cared for, we consider them members of our own family. Our goal is to enhance your pets' life, our time with them is always a pleasant and fun experience. Our caregivers use treats, play and praise when interacting with your pet. We never administer harsh corrections, and will never physically manipulate your pet, they are always treated with patience and respect. The safety of your pet is also extremely important to us, we maintain careful door opening and leash walking practices. When we open doors, we watch our feet for kitty escape artists. Dogs are requested to sit at each curb before crossing the street and we avoid situations that can lead to reactivity. Our well trained caregivers use positive reinforcement to encourage polite behavior.We believe in the ethical treatment of all animals, no matter what size, shape or amount of fur! We work hard to ensure that our time spent with your pets is always a fun, playful and safe experience, and treat them as if they were members of our own family.
Our Little Furry Caregivers are hand-picked employees, we do not use independent contractors. They are professional, responsible, and their skill set and expertise will be matched to your specific pet care needs.
Learn more about our handling methods
Caregiver Profiles
Jill Seward, CCS
Little Furry Caregiver, Owner
After leaving the corporate environment in 2008, Jill turned her enthusiasm for her own dogs into a full time occupation. She is proud of her team and the excellent service they provide, and invests time into training them and ensuring they continue to provide top notch quality pet care. When not in the office or field for LFT, she trains and competes with her dogs (Suki - 9 and Elly - 4) in agility, helps out occasionally with area dog sport training classes – and sometimes keeps a gaggle of mewing foster kittens in her spare bedroom.
Ask her about the Seattle School of Canine Studies! She graduated valedictorian in 2009.
Favorite breed: Rescue mutts, Terriers, and Aussies.
Season Balik
Little Furry Caregiver
Season left the world of libraries to turn her lifelong love of animals into a career. After completing college coursework in zoology and companion animals, Season volunteered at the Wake SPCA in North Carolina and worked as an Adoptions Advisor at the Seattle Humane Society. In addition to being pet first aid certified, she holds a BA in English and a Master's in Library Science. When not out caring for pets, she enjoys traveling, reading, video games, and spoiling her cats Ford Prefect, Vegeta, and fostering a third cat.
Favorite breed: Grumpy cats and dogs wearing cones.
Service area: West Seattle, Burien, Tukwila
Rachael Baltrusis, CCS
Little Furry Caregiver, Puppy Specialist
Rachael has always had an innate love for animals. She graduated from The Art Institute of Seattle with a degree in Fashion Marketing and spent several years working in the event planning industry. In 2011 she decided to turn her passion for dogs into a meaningful and fulfilling career, and she attained her CCS from the Seattle School of Canine Studies She now dedicates her time to working with animals and immersing herself in the world of dog training. Rachael also has experience volunteering at rescue and no-kill shelters. When not out caring for pets, she enjoys adventures at the dog park with her two pugs Quincy and Hurley.
Favorite breed: Pugs – Pugs – Pugs, Pit Bulls, and Boston Terriers.
Service area: Downtown, Magnolia, Queen Anne, Ballard, Crown Hill
Jenny Brown, CCS
Little Furry Caregiver, Field Supervisor, and Puppy Specialist
Jenny is a 2009 graduate of the Seattle School of Canine Studies, and also holds a BA in Music from Central Washington University. She began working professionally with animals in 2008. Jenny loves to interact with pets. She finds that no one communicates better and more consistently than our little furry friends, and understands that animals are great teachers as well as healers. When not out caring for pets, Jenny enjoys playing trombone with the Seattle Sounders FC’s Sound Wave, repairing brass instruments, and spending time with her own two cats, Altaire and Vega, and a new Shih Tzu puppy, Poquita Pocahontas (a.k.a. Poco).
Favorite breed: Shih Tzu! and Pit Bulls
Service area: Ballard, Greenwood
Owen Condit
Little Furry Caregiver, Field Supervisor, and Puppy Specialist
Owen grew up in a house full of animals and has always felt more comfortable with them in his life than without. His interest in animal behavior and training started with basic horsemanship, he now competes in international horseback archery competitions. Owen has also been volunteering for dog training classes at Ahimsa since late 2010, and enjoys comparing the training methods used with horses, with that of dogs and cats. He strongly believes that each individual animal has something to teach us. When not out caring for pets Owen is often found studying and teaching movement in the form of Drumming, Judo, Juijutsu, Sambo, Kali/Eskrima, Rock Climbing, Slacklining, or Acroyoga.
Favorite breed: Working dogs, Border Collies especially
Service area: U-district, Greenlake, Ravenna, Wedgewood, Lake City
Mindy Crary
Little Furry Caregiver
Mindy is a long-time pet lover and human companion who gave up her amateur status to turn pro! She has extensive experience with felines and understands the importance of managed care with sick, injured and aging cats. After losing her orange tabby “Gimlet” to a 2 year battle with cancer, she joined LFT, which allowed her to channel her excess pet affection to our little furry friends and clients. She recently added two additions to her family, Noel (socially awkward grey tabby) and Yummy (super-confident and savvy pastel calico). When not out caring for pets, Mindy owns and operates a financial consulting business.
Favorite Breed:Kitties who make you work for it, Dachsunds, French Bulldogs
Service area: Queen Anne, Downtown, Belltown
Corrine Davis
Little Furry Caregiver
Corrine has been an independent vacation pet sitter for over five years. A graduate from Antioch University of Seattle, she holds a degree in Art & Literature. Throughout her life, Corrine has enjoyed caring for several animal companions, including cats, rats, hamsters, dogs and last but not least, a turtle. When Corrine is not out caring for and playing with pets, she enjoys writing poetry, making mixed media art structures, and preparing experimental food dishes.
Favorite breed: Ragdolls, because they are so flopsy
Service area: West Seattle and beyond
Donna Diduch
Little Furry Caregiver
Donna’s fascination with furry things started at the age of four. While attending Florida State University she volunteered at local animal shelters and continued her work with PAWS after moving to the Pacific Northwest. She a dogwalker, helped with the dog behavior hotline, and was a wildlife intern. She has a passion for animal welfare and will take action to help any animal that is being mistreated. When not out caring for pets, Donna enjoys reading, working on her house, and hanging out with her own three rescue cats, Bootsie, Mickey, and Olive.
Favorite breed: Ahy critter with four legs and a tail, especially German Shepards
Service area: Capitol Hill, Leschi, Columbia City, Rainier Beach, Tukwila, Renton, Kent
Breanne Fernald
Little Furry Caregiver
Breanne moved to Seattle from Boston where she also worked as a dog walker for years, performing pack walks and field trips to the woods. She volunteered at a NH Humane society and spent time learning to become a groomer. Breanne became Pet First Aid/CPR certified after starting with Little Furry Things and loves a job where she gets to spend her days with animals. When not out caring for pets, she attends school, and enjoys exploring Seattle and mountain biking with her own spunky dog, an American Eskimo named Poncho.
Favorite breed: Do you have to ask? American Eskimo
Service area: Capitol Hill, U-district, Eastlake, Leschi, Mt. Baker
Chastity Griffin
Little Furry Caregiver
When Chastity, her husband, and Lexie the cat relocated to Seattle from the Atlanta area in early 2010, she figured a big move also called for a big career change. She left the Telecom world to focus full-time on what she loves most, pet care! Chastity spent several years traveling for both work and pleasure, so she knows how important it is to find a sitter who is responsible, efficient, and cares for your furry ones as much as you do. Lexie has been known to be seen outside on a stylish leash. When not catering to Lexie's every whim, or out caring for client pets, Chastity enjoys hiking, cooking, and photography.
Favorite breed: Jet black kitties with huge personality
Service area: Crown Hill, Ballard, Fremont, Greenlake
Julianne Jaz
Little Furry Caregiver
Julianne grew up with dogs, but it was the gift of a tiny stray kitten when she was 21 that converted her to a lifelong kitty lover. That cat, Sasha, lived to be nearly 22, and all told, Julianne has had cats in her life for nearly four decades. Although she has her own business as a freelance bookkeeper, when the opportunity presented itself to join Little Furry Things, she leapt at the chance to spend time cheering up lonesome kitties. When not out caring for pets, or playing with her own beloved furry companion, Mr. Orange Cat, Julianne is an avid fiber artist, spinning her own yarn and making dyes from her garden.
Favorite breed: Singular orange kitties of course.
Service area: Shoreline, Ravenna, Wedgewood Lake City, and the U-district and beyond
Steve Wegener
Little Furry Caregiver, Office Manager
Steve has been an animal lover and enthusiast all his life, and also has a vet-technician background. A graduate from the University of Florida, Steve holds degrees in both Business Administration and Accounting, and has volunteered with several pet-rescue and no-kill shelters during high school and college. When not in the office or out caring for pets, Steve enjoys backpacking, skiing, and mountaineering with his own two dogs, Moose and Bachelor.
Favorite breed: Northern Working breeds (Spitz Breeds)
Testimonials
Ron took care of my 5 month old kitten, Bumpers. I was a little concerned because my little fuzz is very active and had never been alone. But the blog updates were great, it was neat to see my pet on my IPhone obviously having fun. Very friendly, he did a great job and my kitty was very happy upon my return.
-Tres B.
They were so great! Came in a pinch over the Thanksgiving Day Holiday Week. I was gone with family for 5 days and Mindy wrote a very cool daily blog about all the fun stuff my dogs were doing wh...ile i was gone. The blog even included GREAT photos. Very cool. Came home to my new puppy Maggie trained to "sit" and my other dog Leroy with better leash skills. Nice and friendly and felt safe having them stay at my home. Thanks so much!!!
-Alyssa S.
Little Furry Things was recommended to me by Grisha at Ahimsa Dog Training, so I wasn't too surprised when Jill effortlessly taught my puppy the "give" command within the first 10 minutes of our in-home consultation. I knew I'd found the perfect puppy walkers!
Jill and Betsy were organized and dependable. I knew they shared Ahimsa's positive training philosophy, so I had complete confidence leaving my (impressionable and walk-anxious) puppy in their capable hands each day. Jill took the initiative to work with him on an undesirable nipping behavior I didn't even realize he had.
The detailed blog reports and daily photos are a great bonus! Now I'm spoiled and expecting the same from all of my pets' caregivers.
As a single working puppy-owner, it's great having such great options to help me with his care.
-Cheryl H.
"We were relieved to find our cat Salem well cared for when we returned from vacation. After checking the blog all week, I was not surprised and knew that she was being spoiled with treats and attention while we were gone. Mindy did a wonderful job. It was nice to see pictures of Salem playing and being silly and I enjoyed reading Mindy's narration of events each day. Salem was very vocal when we got home and I bet she was telling us all about the wonderful time she had with her new pet sitter."
-Susan H.
"We are so impressed by the friendly and professional care Lulu received from Jill and eventually her trainee. We each look forward to midday when we can access the online blog and get a glimpse of Lulu's day! It is a great additional service. Thank you."
-John & Merran K.
This summer I got a puppy and my dogwalker quit, leaving me to search for a replacement. Who knew there were so many dogwalkers? I soon found out that all dogwalkers are not equal and some are just downright weird. I was starting to get nervous, would I ever find someone that I would entrust with my puppy, my older dog and with a key to my home? Then I met Jill ~ she immediately impressed me with the way she interacted with my dogs; firm, but kind. Both my dogs love her visits and she has helped me get through some critical training issues including teaching my puppy to confidentially go up and down the stairs. Jill also understands the quirks of proud pet parents and has a blog entry for every visit, including pictures. If you are in search of someone to help you care for your fuzzy family I would highly recommend Jill, she is fantastic!
-Elizabeth B.
"We were extremely pleased with the services. Mindy was beyond great with our shy Tobi. We were even able to see photos on the blog because Tobi felt comfortable enough to come out and play! Mindy totally understands how to approach a kitty like Tobi and that's a great comfort to us."
-Sarah J.
"If you are looking for someone to give your pets love and attention while you are away, look no further than "Little Furry Things". They are wonderful "animal" people!"
-Susan and Ellie
"I really liked Jill. She paid attention when I showed her Dinah's unusual medical needs and followed through on them while we were gone. We came home to find Dinah had missed us, but she was well fed and healthy, and we were happy to see her. We'd hire Jill again."
-Ken & Omaha S.
"We were extremely happy with the high level of service provided and loved receiving the communication on a daily basis. Little Furry Things set the expectation for and do deliver quality pet care. Jill was flexible in working with the unique scenario of our pets/household as well. We have been telling our friends about LFT services and they are impressed as well!"
-Susan G.
"Jill was very caring and gentle to my pug. She was very patient with his needs as he is a senior dog. She was very prompt with the email blog, it was ready when I got home from work so that I could hear how his day went while I was not there. When she said I am excited to see him again, she seemed sincere, like she really DID want to see my pug again."
-Peggy D.
