Pet Sitting, Pet Grooming and Pet Training — that’s our business.
Background
In 2018, the company began with the owner as its sole pet sitter. Over the course of 2018 and 2019, we expanded to four sitters and then — along came COVID.
Since no one knew when travel or even going to work on a day-to-day basis would resume we needed a Plan B. Fortunately, one of my sitters (Mary) was also a fully credentialed pet groomer, so there was only one thing to do: find her a mobile grooming van. Not many are available at any given time, but we found one in Cape Cod. I flew there and drove it all the way across the country to begin its new life here in McKinney as our first grooming van.
As the months went by, we added three more vans, three more groomers, and met a lot of dogs! Some of them proved to have severe anxiety and/or aggression issues and for all practical purposes were ungroomable (by us). So, we consulted with a certified dog trainer and built a groomability training program so that we would have a solution to offer these pets and their owners. This later expanded into other command and behavioral training activities as problems in the grooming van often reflect general problems that frustrate the pet and the owner.
Today we have three successful service lines — we can’t wait to meet you and your pets.
Cathy Davis, Owner
Meet the Owner
Backyard Home & Pet Sitting was born out of a traveler’s dream. As a pet lover with a demanding job, I traveled for years but yearned to be home with my plants, animals, fish, and flowers. I was lucky to have loving care for my birds, cats, dogs, and fish while I was on the road but many of my colleagues forewent the love of a pet (or even plants!) for lack of someone to take care of the house three days a week. Now, in retirement, I am living out my dream. I live at home with my pets and help you take care of yours as well.
Our GalleryContact UsMeet our Staff
Our Sitters
Kristin Lynn Slowik
2 years pet sitting experience part time in addition to full-time roles at an insurance company and as a mother.
Emma Watts
Emma comes to us from the Rockwall area but is loving McKinney! While working with us as a pet sitter she is working her way through TAMUC. She loves spending time with animals and traveling!
Nolan Carpenter
Nolan is from right here in McKinney and joined our team in 2022! He has been around dogs and cats his entire life and absolutely loves his pup Zip. In addition to pet sitting, he is a student at Collin College! He can’t wait to take care of your babies!
Ceara Gomez
Ceara moved to Texas from Kansas in 2004 and joined our team in 2022. She is a mother of 4 – 3 kids and 1 fur-baby. Ceara has a love of animals and loves spoiling all 4 of her babies! We are so excited to have her with us!
Our Groomers
Lisa Robinson
Lead Groomer
Lisa is our Lead Groomer and has 17 years of grooming experience. She has also volunteered with rescues for many years. She has her Grooming Certification through Petsmart and came to us all the way from Arizona!
Mary Caunce
Senior Groomer
Mary has 5 years of experience as a groomer. She received her certification through Petsmart Grooming Academy in 2019. Mary also helped establish the Backyard Pet Grooming service line in 2020.
Emily Sorrells
Groomer
Emily has 5 years of experience as a groomer. She received her certification through Petsmart Grooming Academy in 2019, and worked 3 years in a grooming salon at Odyssey Grooming Salon in Richardson, Texas.
Sabrina Schofield
Groomer
Sabrina came to us all the way from Colorado with about 15 years of grooming experience. She has worked in, managed, and owned a pet salon during this time.
Cali Darst
Groomer
Cali has been a groomer for 5 years and grew up right here in the DFW area! When she is not grooming she is spending time with her 2 fur babies. Her life revolves around pets and she couldn’t be happier!
Max Watson
Bather & Grooming Apprentice
Max has a passion for working with animals and has experience with many different dog breeds. He has been working with and around dogs for many, many years. Max also does some pet sitting for us so you may see him taking care of your babies while you are out of town!
Our Trainers
Dan English
Dan joined our team at the end of 2022 as our new dog trainer. He has over 10 years of experience in training dogs. From puppy training to behavior modification, he has seen (and trained) it all.