Staff Bios

Becky J. O’Neil, President & Founder

Becky’s love of animals originated in her childhood, spent on a farm in Pennsylvania where she helped raise and care for many animals including livestock, family pets, and horses. In 1998, Becky founded Becky’s Pet Care, Inc. as a one-woman enterprise, which she nurtured to its current status as a leading pet care provider in Northern Virginia.

In addition to running her very active business, Becky enthusiastically supports various local and national animal rescue groups and participates in several local community organizations, including the Community Business Partnership in Alexandria and her local PTA in Arlington. Becky serves on her church’s Finance Committee and as Vice President of the Northern Virginia Professional Pet Sitters Network, where she also fulfilled past terms as President and Treasurer.

Becky currently lives in Arlington, Virginia with her son, her daughter, and her black Lab, Teddy Bear.
Email Becky at becky@beckyspetcare.com to learn how she does it all!

Office Staff

John Carlson, Director of Operations John joined Becky’s team in February as our new Director of Operations. With over 30 years of experience in strategic planning and business development, John was brought on to help Becky achieve her vision for the company. John has always been an avid pet lover and in addition to having had several dogs and cats, he also used to raise pythons and boas. His last dog, Coffee, who passed away a few years ago, was his 4 legged shadow. John Currently has a gorgeous snow white cat named Turk, who has one green eye and one blue eye, and acts more like a dog than a cat. He takes walks with John, comes when called, knows what “no” and “go to your bed” means, and answers you excitedly when you talk to him. John is very excited about the future of Becky’s Pet Care, and is committed to continuing the friendly, quality service our clients are used to as we grow to the next level.
Becky Britton, Business Manager Becky has been a member of the BPC team since January 2001. She has worked a variety of assignments for the company including pet sitting. Currently she does payroll, accounts payable, and bookkeeping.
Johna, Office Manager Johna has been a member of the BPC team since August 2009. She is the Office Manager. Having grown up on a farm, she always had animals in her life as a child and most of her adult life. Her job at Becky’s Pet Care allows her to combine her interests in animals, people, and office management skills.
Erin Barry, Human Resources Manager Erin has been a member of the BPC team since October 2011. She comes to BPC with many years of HR experience and a love of animals, especially dogs. She lives with her husband and Shih-Tzu/ Poodle, Washington (pictured), in Alexandria.
Theresa Wolf, Pet Care Manager Theresa has been a member of the BPC team since May 2008. She is the Pet Care Manager and Customer Service Representative. She also does pet sitting. “I chose to be a pet care professional because I love animals and just can’t get enough of those four legged bundles of joy. The best part of my job is being able to spend time with all the animals. No matter what kind of day I am having, the moment I walk into a client’s home and see how excited their pet is to see me, it just makes everything else seem so small.” Theresa has lived in Virginia her entire life. She grew up with dogs: a black lab named Doggie Bess, toy poodle and Sheppard mix. Currently she has an American Pit Bull Terrier named Spike (pictured). “He’s amazingly friendly and wonderful with kids. My young son, Justin, just adores him, which works for me because when I can’t run around the house chasing my son, Spike can. Justin and Spike like playing together and really get along great. Spike even acts like Justin’s older brother and comforts Justin when he cries and licks away his tears.”
Kimberly Kelly, Pet Care Supervisor- Prince William County has been a member of the BPC team since November 2010. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter. Kimberly is originally from a small town in Maine and has “always had an affinity towards animals.” She chose to work for Becky’s because “I am always at my happiest when I am around animals. To be able to look in the trusting faces of the pets we provide care for, and know that you have made a difference in their day, is a pure and true blessing.” Currently, Kimberly and her husband have a couple Jack Russell terriers, a Miniature Pinscher, and a Boston terrier. “I am owned by a ridiculously cute pack of dogs. My oldest fuzzy is 11, and my youngest is 3.5. They each have their own unique personalities, and offer many moments of hilarity and love in our home. All my ‘children’ sleep in the bed with us, and while a King sized bed SHOULD be sufficient, I find I need to beg them for space and covers during the night for which they don’t always comply, but a compromise is usually reached, and I am allowed to remain in the bed.”
Barton Gates, Sales Manager Barton has been a member of the BPC team since February 2008. He is the Lead Customer Service Representative. He started working as a pet sitter. Barton grew up with dogs including an English Lab.
Beth Monroney, Customer Care Specialist Beth has been a member of the BPC team since February 2011. She works in the office as a Customer Care Specialist and also does pet sitting. While growing up in Texas, Beth had a lot of dogs and cats around the house. “My favorite pet story is when we had a horrible rain storm and our kittens—they were about 4 weeks old—were outside with their mom. The rain was coming down so hard; they were being swept away down our driveway. My dad went outside, got soaking wet because he didn’t have time to put a rain coat on, brought the kittens (and their mom) in the house and we dried them with the blow dryer. I thought my dad was a hero.” Beth currently lives with a guinea pig named Buddy. “When we first got Buddy, he didn’t live in the best conditions – now he lives in the Taj Mahal. He is the first thing I see in the morning and the last I see at night. He brings a smile to my face every time I see him.”
Patrice, Weekend Supervisor & Pet Sitter Patrice has been a member of the BPC team since October 2008. She works in the office as an alternating weekend manager. She also does midday dog walks and occasional pet sitting. Patrice has lived in the Northern Virginia area most of her life. She grew up with dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, and fish and rescued wild life. If an animal was hurt it somehow found its way to her family’s doorstep. “I feel so badly about that fact that my brother was allergic to cats… we ALWAYS had cats, I just never knew.” Proof that a little human suffering pales compared to the love of a good animal. “I lost my 2nd Papillion shortly before beginning work with Becky’s. I enjoy being pet free but there is also a void. I have come to feel that my charges are my Grandchildren which fill that void nicely.”
Sarah Schlagel, Customer Care Specialist Sarah has been a member of the BPC team since March 2012.
Thania Diaz, Weekend Supervisor & Pet Sitter Thania has been a member of the BPC team since March 2011. She works in the office as an alternating weekend manager and also does midday dog walking and pet sitting. Thania was born and spent her childhood in Panama, where the temperatures made it easy to have animals around all the time. “We had two dogs, a German Shepherd and a shaggy-haired dog. I grew up with pets, so I’ve always loved them.” Thania chose to work for Becky’s because she wanted a change of pace from the office environment: “I used to work in an office and the environment just does not compare to that of working with animals… I like working with animals, especially dogs, so when I decided to do something different with my life, I wanted to do something that actually interested me and would make me happy.” She currently shares a Miniature Pinscher named Winston with her parents. “He’s so energetic and has a strong characteristic, but at the end of the day, he’s my little goofball and I love him to death.”
Angela Hazuda Meyers, Marketing Director Angela has been working with Becky’s Pet Care as Marketing Director since January 2010. Having been a life-long pet owner (including a bird, bunny, cat and many dogs) she enjoys working with Becky’s Pet Care even though she doesn’t get to spend her days playing with the pets. Her role is to make sure Becky’s grows in a successful, sustainable way while providing our existing clients with consistently outstanding service. She lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband, 3 children and their adopted lovable mutt, Maggie Mae Meyers.
Jennifer Lindamood, Marketing Assistant Jenny has been a member of the BPC team since August 2011. She is the Marketing Assistant and also a part time pet sitter. She lives with her two pit bull mixes, Popeye and Dallas (pictured), in Alexandria, VA.

Pet Care Professionals

Romy Alvarez has been a member of the BPC team since December 2011. She is a midday dog walker in the Fairfax area. Originally from Peru, Romy has lived in Virginia for 18 years and grew up around dogs. “After watching my family’s and friend’s pets while they were away, I also worked with a certified dog trainer to further my knowledge about dog care and training.” Romy chose to work for Becky’s because “I decided the best fit for me now would be to work with a larger, more established pet care company, such as Becky’s Pet Care. I love working with animals and the constant joy they bring. I look forward to taking care of your special family members when you are not around!”
Sarah Ashley has been a member of the BPC team since April 2011. She is a midday dog walker and occasionally assists with pet sitting. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, she has over five years of experience working with animals as a vet tech, assistant manager to a kennel, and even as a groomer for dogs and cats—she has also owned many different animals such as hermit crabs, geckos, mice, and hamsters. Sarah chose to work for Becky’s because “[being] a pet care professional gives me the best of both worlds.” Sarah currently owns a pit bull named Jade. “When I got her, my daughter was only 1.5 and she pulled on [Jade’s] tail and her ears and tried to ride her and [Jade didn’t care]—all she wants to do is love on you and kiss you.”
Chantel Bartlett has been a member of the BPC team since February 2011. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter in the Springfield area. As a “NOVA Native,” Chantel grew up in the Springfield area and currently lives a mile from her childhood home. Chantel chose to work for Becky’s because she “decided to take a sabbatical from my corporate life and do something different. I love animals and this is the perfect pairing for me. I get to ‘own’ many different breeds. They give me immense pleasure daily.” She now has an 8 year old Maine Coon named Milou at home. “He is full of personality and a bit high maintenance, but I adore him.”
Susan Baxter has been a member of the BPC team since June 2011. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter. Born and raised in Alexandria, she has an affinity for German Shepherds due to a lot of traveling to Germany, where her family is originally from. Susan chose to work for Becky’s because “I get to spend time with a variety of dogs and get to know them and explore and walk around a bunch. I love the fresh air and outdoors and am very happy not to be stuck indoors behind a desk. Plus, Becky’s is simply the most welcoming and friendly place I have ever had the pleasure of working for.” She currently owns a 13yr old German Shepherd named Schatzi (German for “little treasure”). “She [loves] to go swimming in the creeks around here. She has a favorite playtime thing that her dentist hates…she loves to plunge her head under water and pick up big rocks and set them over in a pile on the shore. She also is environmentally conscious, and takes the opportunity to pick up water bottles and various trash from the creeks to keep them clean for generations to come.”
Kay Beim has been a member of the BPC team since February 2008. She is a midday dog walker and does occasional pet sitting. Originally from N.VA, Kay is a military spouse and mother of three: James, Brittany, and Kira; she also has a 10 month old granddaughter named Temperance. When she’s not working for Becky’s, Kay is “running around, volunteering for several different organizations, or chauffeuring kids.” Kay chose to work for Becky’s because “I love animals and enjoy taking care of pets so that Becky’s clients can have peace of mind while they are away. Where else can you work where your clients are ALWAYS happy to see you? They can turn my worse day around to a great day!!!” Kay has two Border Collies, Iggy and Mishka. “My favorite pet story is how I ended up getting Mishka. My family thought that getting a vacuum cleaner for me for mother’s day was a GREAT IDEA. WRONG!!!!! I retaliated by going out and getting myself an eight week old puppy!!!! I really wanted a male, so about a year later my breeder called me up with an offer for a free six month old male….so Iggy joined the family!!!”
Linda Blundell has been a member of BPC since April 2010. Born in Arlington and raised in Falls Church, Linda has returned to Northern Virginia after 20 years in the USAF, and then 12 years as a driver in commercial transportation in NW Florida. She was also an animal control officer for 2 and 1/2 years in Panama City, FL. Linda has always had a cat to occupy her home, and at present, she has six of them to love and cuddle. “I love midday dog walking. I needed a part-time job that would provide some needed exercise, and this is the perfect job. Of course, I enjoy playing with and caring for all of my clients’ pets, and keeping them safe during our walks.”
Marcie Buchanan has been a member of the BPC team since March 2010.
Lynne Bursenos has been a member of the BPC team since August 2011. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter. Within the last 36 years, she raised her family of three children and had an array of dogs, cats, gerbils, and rabbits. Lynne chose to work for Becky’s because “I believe BPC is a professional and caring group, with employees who truly care about your pets.” Lynne currently has two Jack Russell terriers at home, “Gi-Gi who is 13, and Maxine who is 14 and is Gi-Gi’s mother. My dogs are my joys and they always protect me.”
Jackie Carpenter has been a member of the BPC team since August 2009. She does Mid-day Dog Walks and is a Pet Sitters. “I chose to be a pet sitter because I love animals and I love helping and taking care of animals.” She has lived in this area her whole life. She has always had animals and animals of many types including cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, turtles, fish, parrots, and some retiles. “I rescue turtles that are found in the roadway. The Cairn Terrier is my favorite breed of dogs but I’ve owned many breeds as pets throughout my life. I now have 3 dogs (named for the Wizard of Oz movie): Toto, Kansas, and little Dorothy. They get along well with our cat and kitten. They greet me at the door with hugs and kisses.”
Don Chinn has been a member of the BPC team since April 2003.Don is a Dog Walker and Pet Sitter. Don brings a wealth of knowledge and experience having completed work in other careers. He chose to work here because he loves animals. “All my animals are happy to see me”. Don frequently stops by the office to visit and joke with the staff.
Larry Cohon has been a member of the BPC team since June 2005. He works full-time as a dog walker and pet sitter. He finds it easy to connect and communicate with animals. He likes the work schedule flexibility of being a pet sitter and working outside of a crowded office environment. He grew up in Wisconsin and Michigan. Miniature Schnauzers are special to him, having grown up with one in his family. Currently, he has a guinea pig who loves to sit on Larry’s right shoulder.
Paige Creamer has been a member of the BPC team since June 2011. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter. Originally from Smyrna, Tennessee, Paige moved to Virginia in 2006 and has since had two fish, two cats, and five dogs. Paige chose to work for Becky’s because “I love animals and thought this would be a fun way to make a living.” She currently has two dogs at home, a chocolate lab named Cocoa (“who is sweet and fat”) and a Yorkie named Chloe (“who is a little feisty”). “I think it’s funny that our Yorkie was a Christmas present for my sister but now my sister is the only one [Chloe] doesn’t like!”
Nicole Ferrer has been a member of the BPC team since November 2011. She is a midday dog walker in the Alexandria area. Originally from the Bay Area in California, she just got married and has only lived in Virginia for a couple months. Nicole chose to work for Becky’s because “I love being around animals and helping people out.” Her previous pet experience comes from “growing up with two yellow labs, Sundance (male), and Hannah (female), caring for my own hamster who I named Kiki, along with my many mice, and also the family lizards, turtles, and fish. I also fostered a puppy while in high school which I absolutely enjoyed doing.”
Brendan Ford has been a member of the BPC team since June 2010. He is a midday dog walker and pet sitter. Born and raised in Alexandria, Brendan graduated from the University of Mary Washington and loves to play sports and fish. Brendan chose to work for Becky’s because he’s “always had a love for animals based on having dogs and cats as a kid.” Once, while taking care of his dog Molly, “I put her in the back yard [and] while standing still she completely cleared the fence with a bunny hop…I had to chase her down [and that was when] we decided we needed an electric fence.”
Susan Gelinas has been a member of the BPC team since August 2011. She is a midday dog walker in the Burke area. Susan grew up with an assortment of animals and has always lived with pets (except for when she attended college). “When I was born, my parents already had 3 cats at the time, so I was pretty much treated like a 4th cat by them. I also had an Appaloosa horse when I was a teenager, and I used to Western Show with him. My family had a total of 3 dogs and 9 cats as I was growing up. The oldest was an outdoor cat that lived to be 19 years old!” Susan chose to work for Becky’s because “I was tired of working a full time job in an office, I wanted a part time job where I could be outside and work with animals.” Currently she has two cats, named William the Conqueror and Cash (short for Johnny Cash). “They are great companions and I don’t know how I’d get through my husband’s deployments without my furry companions (or as he calls them, the ‘fridiots’ which is short for ‘furry idiots’).”
Shelley Gladden has been a member of the BPC team since April 2011. She is a pet sitter and occasionally assists with midday dog walking. A native Washingtonian raised in the Northern Virginia area, Shelley has had pets all her life—“mostly cats, plus one dog.” Shelley chose to work for Becky’s because she “wanted to work with animals [and enjoys] being around them.” She currently owns a cat named Silver (“the most spoiled…we work for him!”) and, with her sister, makes a “career” collecting stray cats. “We are better people for our experience with & love for animals!”
Alexa Gordon has been a member of the BPC team since May 2011. She a midday dog walker and is originally from Woodbridge. Alexa chose to work for Becky’s because she “[not only adores] dogs but also wanted something that routed around my area and I thought that this would be a great opportunity for that.” At home she has a Shih Tzu named Choncey and a Yorkshire Terrier named Tootsie. “Tootsie…she loves to jump all over people and get in their face. She’s like a cat, she likes to jump on the couch and take a nap on top of the head rest of the couch. Choncey…loves to be lazy and nap all the time the complete opposite of Tootsie. He doesn’t really do too much, but he will roll over for you to scratch his belly. The two of them randomly like to play with each other and run around the house, they are too cute!”
Amy Grose has been a member of the BPC team since July 2002.
Jennifer Haire has been with BPC since June 2009. She is a part time pet sitter. Jennifer started pet sitting as a way to get up and moving in the mornings from her “work from home job”. She currently works full time in Old Town Alexandria. She and her boyfriend, Chance, have 3 dogs and 2 cats to look after, so there’s never a dull moment at their house. She grew up in Albuquerque and went to college in Texas. She has lived in the DC Metro area for over 16 years and loves it! “Working for Becky’s has been wonderful. As crazy as our house is, its nice to be able to relax and take care of others animals in a much quieter environment.” Jennifer is pictured with her two babies, Hanna, 10 year old mutt and Mason, an 11 year old Lab/Shepard mix. Both were rescued when they were 8 weeks old. Chance and Jennifer enjoy golfing every chance they get and hiking with all 3 of their dogs.
Robbie Hammer has been a member of the BPC team since October 2011. He is originally from Arkansas and has lived all over the U.S. before settling in Virginia. He is a photographer and enjoy photographing almost anything, including animals. Robbie has been involved with a pet rescue organization with his girlfriend, helping to transport animals from kill shelters to no-kill shelters and homes. He decided to become a dog walker because he enjoys working with animals and it also allows him time to work on his photography. Robbie enjoys his daily walks with the dogs that he has been lucky enough assigned. Robbie and his girlfriend have a wonderful, friendly, 7-years-old female, pit-bull mix.
Robby Harris has been a member of the BPC team since November 2011. He usually goes by Robby is a mid-day dog walker in the Falls Church and Annandale area. He lives at home with his pug Hamlet, shiba inu Eevee, and cat Francis. He got into pet sitting because he has always enjoyed the company of his own dogs and those of his friends and wanted to be able to have a job that allowed him to spend time with animals.
Alice Hatch has been a member of the BPC team since January 2010. “I am a Virginia native and have always loved animals. Growing up as a child we usually had a dog and sometimes a cat. As an adult my first dog was a German Shepherd, soon joined by others. For years I had been interested in obedience training. My dog and I attended training classes and began to compete in AKC obedience trials. Over the years my German Shepherds earned several obedience titles including the difficult Utility Dog (U.D.) title. I acquired my first Boxer in 1981 and have owned them exclusively since. As co-breeder and co-owner, three of my boxers have become AKC Champions. Pictured with me are sisters Sophie (right) and Madison (left). Madison is the mother of two AKC champions with more on the way. Foremost they are beloved companions, two very special Boxers were Frosty, who was deaf and learned sign language, and Phoenix who used a wheelchair in later life.”
Ellen Heaton has been a member of the BPC team since September 2010. She is a midday dog walker in Springfield. Ellen is originally from Pennsylvania and spent 24 years in the Air Force. Along with her husband, she has three Beagles (Penny, Buddy, and Bullet), one Plott Hound (Buckeroo Bonsai), and a cat named Smokey at home. She’s taken multiple dog training seminars and has both trained and competed with her dogs in agility and obedience venues. “All my dogs enjoy walks and all three boys enjoy racing around the back yard chasing various throw toys and the Beagles have great fun trying to track down the moles that live in my back yard. All of them love to cuddle.”
Patricia Hesse has been a member of the BPC team since June 2007. Patricia was born and grew up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 1989 she came to the United States to study English and has been living here ever since. Patricia loves helping animals and prior to joining BPC she worked at the local animal hospital as a veterinary assistant. She currently resides in Springfield with her husband, two boys, her mom, and her two Jack Russell terriers, Ginger and Frankie.
Melanie Hines has been a member of the BPC team since July 2011.
Michael Holcombe has been a member of the BPC team since June 2011. He is a midday dog walker in the Annandale area. Originally from Virginia, Michael “always had pets in the household growing up” and is “always excited to meet new furry friends.” He chose to work for Becky’s because “I love to take care of my own animals, why not take care of others animals too?” Michael is the “proud parent” of a dog named Rocky and two cats named Ace and Tang. “My doggy Rocky is quite the crazy dog. He’s always barking at the mailman, trying to go after the alpha-dog in the dog park, and is always up to no good. But how could you blame the hyper pup? He just likes having fun!”
Robyn Horstkamp has been a member of the BPC team since January 2011. She is a pet sitter in the Manassas/Woodbridge area and occasionally assists with dog walking. Robyn has been an animal lover her whole life. There are currently 17 animals allowing her to share their home—from dogs to cats, birds to fish, snakes to iguanas, and even hermit crabs to hamsters, she’s had them all! Robyn has extensive experience working with rescue leagues, particularly pit bull rescue leagues. She worked with the PWC Animal Shelter taking in abused, pregnant pit bulls and nurturing them through pregnancy and beyond until they could find Forever Homes. Robyn chose to work for Becky’s because she understands the difficulty of leaving a pet at home and knows the importance of having a familiar face coming in to check on them.
Anne Hosford has been a member of the BPC team since August 2010. I am a dog walker, a cat box scooper, a pet sitter and a lover of all animals! I chose to be a Pet Care Professional because I feel that animals, next to children, are the most precious things in life. I’ve lived in Northern Virginia for 25 years after moving from Idaho. I recently retired from working on Capitol Hill and love to do gardening, kayaking, and taking care of other people’s pets. One of my favorite memories with animals is when I would take Audrey, my Shepherd, for a walk into the woods near the house. Joey, my first “storm drain” cat, would run alongside us to hide behind trees and jump out to scare Audrey. Audrey would always pretend to be startled but I swear she would give me a sly grin as if to say “that’s exactly what he wanted!”. It cracked me up. All of us would start and end our walks together. What a riot!
Dustin Houser has been a member of the BPC team since March 2012.
Kim Johnston has been a member of the BPC team since January 2010. Kim was born in Washington DC and has been a life long resident of N.VA. She is a dog walker and does pet sitting. “I very much love my job. No matter what kind of day you are having, a dog is always happy to see you. I have always loved animals. My first pet was a Siberian Huskey and her name was Tika. When we walked people would stop and say how beautiful she was. My younger sister, who was just learning to walk would pull herself up by grabbing hold of Tika’s fur. I now own a pug whose name is Sir Rudy G Johnston. He’s a bundle of joy.” Kim’s daughter works with animals as a pet nurse at a local animal hospital and her sister works part-time for a local animal shelter.
Stephen “Jojo” Jojokian has been a member of the BPC team since January 2011. He is a midday dog walker in the Springfield area. As a native to the DC area, Jojo grew up with a cat but always loved dogs—“So when I married, I married a true dog lover.” After a successful sales career, Jojo chose to work for Becky’s because “I was looking for a fun job and walking dogs seemed like a great fit! I love dogs and I get exercise!” Jojo and his wife have two sons, Scott and Matthew, along with their two dogs Buddy and Howdy. “Buddy is an almost 10 year old Labrador/Dalmatian mix. He is currently training a neighborhood puppy how to behave. Howdy is a 6 years old hound mix. He has come a long way since we adopted him four years ago. He was very skittish and now he has calmed considerably. They are both considered members of our family!”
Carolyn Kelley has been a member of the BPC team since February 2009. She is a Mid-day dog walker. Originally she is from Washington, DC but has lived in WA, MD & VA. “After years working in a corporate environment, I wanted to get a part-time fun job. Nothing is more fun than working with dogs. They are always happy to see me and excited about going out for a walk. Currently I don’t have any pets of my own, but I try to care for my clients’ pets as if they were my own.” Her favorite pet story is that two dogs she walks ate her prescription sun glasses. “It was my own fault. I left them in the house and was too lazy to go back for them once I realized I left them. When I went back the next day, the sunglasses looked like they had be run over by a car! It was funny and a lesson learned about not being lazy.”
Rose Kobylinski has been a member of the BPC team since January 2007. She originally did midday dog walking for Becky’s but is now primarily a pet sitter. Since childhood, Rose has loved pets and chose to work for Becky’s because “while growing up, we had a number of pets at our house [and] I enjoyed caring for them.” Rose’s work history includes event planning, conference planning, human resources, and teaching children. “All of the pets that have been and are in my care have always been special to me. I treat them as if they were my own.”
Tommie Lanasky has been a member of the BPC team since May 2009. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter in the Alexandria/Old Town area. Born in Alabama, Tommie has lived in Virginia most of her life and “always had dogs and relatives [who had] dogs. I have [also] been involved with the VA German Shepherd Rescue for the past 9 years.” Tommie chose to work for Becky’s because “I have a passion for animals.” Tommie loves to walk her dogs in the wintertime because, when it snows, “you can see the excitement on the dogs’ faces. They LOVE it.”
Jacob Levin has been a member of the BPC team since June 2011.
Caryn Lewis rejoined the BPC team in October 2010.
Leigh Lindenberger has been a member of the BPC team since September 2008. She is a pet sitter for cats only. She loves cats and taking care of them even if it means having to give an injection to a diabetic cat. Leigh was born in North Carolina but lived in Alexandria, Virginia most of her life. She is retired from the US Army Material Command. She has 2 “condo kitties” at home named “Vodka” and “Halle”.
Mike M. has been a member of the BPC team since March 2011.
Julia MacMillan has been a member of the BPC team since November 2011. She moved from Newport Beach, CA to the DC area in January 2011. She is getting used to life in DC, but still misses CA with its year-round warm weather and the beach! She is a stay-at-home mom with two children, two dogs and a lizard. In addition to the pets she currently has, she had all kinds of pets such as frogs, fish, hamsters, and rabbits, just to name a few. She absolutely love dogs! Her two dogs are beagles. Jezebel is 12 years old and Archie (who is a rescue dog from Beagle Rescue) is 11 years old. She loves their antics and quircky personalities! She really enjoys working for Becky’s because it gives her the chance to help people take care of their pets and to be outside every day. She chose to work for Becky’s because she has always loved dogs and pets of all kinds. When her family travels, she likes having the peace of mind of knowing that her dogs are being cared for by someone who loves them almost as much as she does! She wants to provide that same level of service and peace of mind to other pet owners every day while they are away at work. “My favority pet story is from when I was a child and my grandparents were babysitting my hamster, Oatmeal, while my family was on vacation. Oatmeal loved running in her hamster ball, so my grandmother was letting her run around her kitchen in it. When no one was looking, the top popped off and she got loose in my grandparent’s house. For days, they couldn’t find her, then one night they heard scratching under the kitchen cabinets. They tried to get her out, but couldn’t reach her. They called my uncle who came over and ripped the cabinets out so my grandmother could rescue Oatmeal. That’s true grandmotherly love!”
Paul Mancini has been a member of the BPC team since April 2010.
Ron Manning has been a member of the BPC team since November 2011.
Kim Marasky has been a member of the BPC team since June 2010. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter. Kim is originally from Dallas, TX and is attending college locally with a major in Zoology and a minor in Creative Writing. Kim chose to work for Becky’s because “it is one step closer to my life’s ambition, working with animals as a career.” Kim currently has two cats, two gerbils, two hamsters, two bearded dragons, and two ball pythons at home. She used to own an Emperor Scorpion named Zeus that one day gave birth to a dozen baby scorpions. “Unfortunately I was not prepared for the little ones and as such all but one was eaten. I thought the little one, which I aptly named Apollo, would die soon because I had no idea how to take care of him. The mother was not willing to take care of the little baby so I took him to a pet store where a friend of mine worked (the same man who sold me the scorpions in the first place) and begged him for help. He took the little one from me. Now two years later, Apollo is a healthy adult scorpion and living in his new home with my friend David.”
Diana Marousek has been a member of the BPC team since November 2002.
Meredith Mason has been a member of the BPC team since December 2008.
Lydia Nunez has been a member of the BPC team since November 2011.
Saphira Pama has been a member of the BPC team since March 2012.
Jamie Pendarvis has been a member of the BPC team since May 2010. “I live in Fairfax with my spouse, son, and an adopted beagle, “Daisy”. Like many beagles, Daisy takes meal time seariously. She is definitely a world-class eater. I am a pet sitter dedicated to taking care of what I think of as my babies. I have years experience taking care of pets for other people. I’ve found it to be the most fun and rewarding experience. When I walk in the door, I can see how happy my babies are to see me. But what really matters to me is knowing that I can be there for them when they need me.” Jamie grew up with dogs in the family. While in training class with a beagle pup (“Zero”), they where working on the dogs laying down. The instructor demonstrated it on the large dogs by lifting a front paw and gently guide them to roll over to lay down. It worked perfectly with the big dogs. Zero, on the other hand, wouldn’t follow the lead of the large dogs and never would lay down.
Jazzie Pendarvis has been a member of the BPC team since May 2010. “I became a Pet Care Professional because of my love for pets. I enjoy being a pet-sitter and taking care of all my ‘kids’. I live in Fairfax with my spouse, son, and ‘daughter’, Daisy the beagle. Daisy loves to go for walks, unless it’s raining because she doesn’t like to get her feet wet. She likes to choose where we are going. One afternoon walk, I had an ice cream cone while Daisy had her ice cream – a ‘Frosty Paw’. It was our special treat at the park. Every evening she’s ready for here regular treat.”
Denise Phillips has been a member of the BPC team since December 2010. She is a pet sitter and always had a variety of animals while growing up, such as dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, turtles and fish. She chose to work for Becky’s because she loves animals and “the unconditional love that they give. I currently do not have any of my own, so this helps fill the void. I also like the flexibility that this job offers.” Originally from Ohio, Denise used to have a black lab as a kid—“When I got on the bus the first day of school, our black lab jumped the fence and followed the bus to the next stop. My mom had to come get her and bring her back home.”
Kathy Pulzone has been a member of the BPC team since May 2007. After selling a very demanding catering and cake business I was ready to do something that did not require long hours and a non stop schedule. I love dogs and I love being outdoors and active. The most important thing to me is the time I now have to spend with my grandchildren.
Summer Ryan has been a member of the BPC team since October 2011.
Nick Schwandt has been a member of the BPC team since August 2010. Nick is a midday dog walker and occasionally assists with pet sitting. A Virginia native, he currently has four dogs of his own and previously fostered dogs for HART. Nick chose to work for Becky’s because “I really enjoy working with pets, especially dogs.” As for his three dogs: “Scotty is a very stubborn dog with an ability to escape any fence; Chloe is the smartest dog I’ve ever met and can understand tons of commands; and [my beagle] is a sleeping and eating expert.”
Kerry Sharp has been a member of the BPC team since December 2005.
Becky Shaykholeslami has been a member of the BPC team since July 2009. She is a midday dog walker and does occasional pet sitting. Becky chose to work for Becky’s because she’s always had a love for animals. She has two cats, Trigger and Kitty. “My cat trigger is a maine coon. He is the sweetest boy and always makes me laugh when I am sad. He follows me everywhere I go…even the shower. He will sit outside the bathroom and wait for me to get out. Once, my older cat Kitty thought I was just sitting in the tub and had decided to join me. I was taking a bath and the tub was filled with water. After she jumped in and got soaking wet, she freaked out and ran back into my room. It was really funny.”
Henning Snell has been a member of the BPC team since March 2012.
Christine Spiak has been a member of the BPC team since June 2010. She has worked in the veterinary field for 15 years. She has a great love for cats and dogs. “I really enjoy the outdoors and the activity that dog walking brings me.” She has a dog of her own that she adopted from Lab Rescue. She was born and raised in Virginia.
Theresa Stanley has been a member of the BPC team since March 2009.
Brent Thompson has been a member of the BPC team since March 2012. He is from Baltimore Maryland and rescued a Black Rhodesian Ridgeback Lab named “Rusty the Terrible Ridgeback” as a tiny pup 9 years ago now. He takes him hiking with him and he can carry over 20 lbs of gear & still have some left over for going up hills. He would hunt down a mountain lion for sure. Brent has worked in customer service call centers for over 10 years and nothing removes that kind of stress like talking to & caring for animals that lay around the house all day long waiting for him to get exercise with them. They both win.
Pat Trainor has been a member of the BPC team since July 2009.
Anne Tremaine has been a member of the BPC team since November 2011. She is a midday dog walker and pet sitter from the Great Falls area. Originally from McLean, Annie has lived in Virginia her whole life. She chose to work for Becky’s because “I LOVE animals….and I LOVE helping people. That is what Becky’s Pet Care, Inc. is all about!! And what a perfect combination!” As a Pet Care Professional, Annie is willing to meet any client’s pet sitting needs: “From a mid-day stroll, to an energetic run… from keeping a pet company to maintaining home-health care. Your pets will be safe, well-cared for, and happy!” Along with her husband and two daughters, she currently has “four cats (mixed) and one little Maltese (Daisy) to complete our Home Sweet Home!”
Andre Tucker has been a member of the BPC team since September 2010.
Patricia Usckavczy has been a member of the BPC team since April 2012.
Tara Ward has been a member of the BPC team since February 2011. She is a midday dog walker in the Chantilly/Franklin Farms area and occasionally assists with cat sitting. Tara chose to work for Becky’s because she has always had pets in her life and “loves meeting new animals and people.” She lived with a lab mix named RJ for thirteen years. “He helped mentor our new English setter puppy, Finn. He is the love of our lives and was really good at eating whole pizzas off the counter and closing the box after he was done.”
Tracy White has been a member of the BPC team since September 2009.
Stephanie Whitley has been a member of the BPC team since May 2008. “I chose to work with Becky’s Pet Care because I love animals and meeting different pets. As a Pet Care Professional, I have the flexibility in my daily work schedule to do other things.” She is a native Virginian and lives in the Burke. She has had pets all her life-mostly cats, but a few dogs. Right now she has two cats: Harry & Max. Harry is a red tabby or as the Brits say, a “ginger cat”. Max is all black. They get along great; sleep together and washing each other. Sometimes Max get a little jealous and places himself between Harry and Stephanie.
Susan Whiteside has been a member of the BPC team since August 2009. She is a midday dog walker and does occasional pet sitting. Susan chose to work for Becky’s because “it’s the best job in the world! The animals that I care for are always happy to see me and depend on me for quality care.” Susan prides herself on giving all her clients’ pets her “undivided attention—I love them, feed them and walk them.” Susan has a male Rottweiler/Siberian Husky named Harley at home. “He’s always pulling my son while he is on his skateboard or sled. He once pulled my son around the block on a skateboard and all the neighbors came out to watch. Some recorded videos and thought it was amazing!”

See the clients of our Becky’s Pet Care family!