Hi, I'm Mary Ann. I bet you would like to know a little bit about me before I take care of your animals. So, here goes.

Education and Work

I was born and raised in Lexington, in the Gardenside neighborhood, and I still live there, a few blocks from my parents (Mom is a therapist, and Dad teaches math at UK). I went to Lafayette High School, and graduated in 1990, which means I'm 35. I attended Pomona College in southern California, where I studied literature and Spanish. I came back to Lexington for a while, and then went to Austin, Texas to get a graduate degree in writing and English. In 2003, I moved back to Lexington for good. Before starting Happy Tails in 2006, I taught writing at UK and wrote language arts material for a textbook publisher.

Animals

As a very young child, I loved cows. I wanted one for Christmas, but I settled for a plastic toy cow with a rubber udder. Then I loved horses, and I drew pictures of them during recess. My parents paid for horseback riding lessons at Masterson Station, and then they sent me to summer camp in the Rocky Mountains, where I learned to ride western style, as well as groom, saddle and feed horses.

Meanwhile, I had my own dog at home, whom I adored, named Delphi. We adopted her from our nextdoor neighbors. She was a really pretty cockapoo who looked more like a collie, with light blond fur. This was back in the days before leash laws, so we would let her loose in the backyard and watch her streak down the hill like a rocket. Sometimes I would walk with her to the park nearby and practice shooting baskets, while she romped in the creek and made friends with whomever was around.

For a long time, I wanted to be a vet, but I discovered I was not interested in cutting animals open. Still, I loved taking care of them, and that passion has never left me. I spend my spare time with my four rescued dogs, Meeka (husky mix), Ed and Rona (both lab/hound mixes), and Earl (shepherd mix). I enjoy reading books about natural animal care and animal behavior, and I try to apply that knowledge to caring for my animal companions and my animal pet sitting clients.

One of my sisters-in-law, who is a vet, calls me 'Snow White,' because of the way animals gather around me wherever I go. But there is nothing mysterious about why they do that... I just give them lots of attention! My manner is gentle and soft-spoken, and it probably puts animals at ease. I hope it puts people at ease, too.

Ethics

I follow a vegan diet for ethical reasons, not for health benefits, though veganism is the healthiest meal plan around. I believe that (1) any creature who is sentient (capable of feeling pain) is entitled not to be treated as a resource and that (2) veganism is the moral baseline of this approach. In other words, 1) it is not morally acceptable for me to exploit or use animals, even "humanely," and 2) all animals have a legitimate interest in avoiding suffering and death. So I don't eat, wear or buy things containing animal products. I also try to avoid things that involved animal products during the manufacturing process. My own animals eat vegan food, and it keeps them healthy and happy.

I recommend a vegan diet for humans, cats, and dogs as a great way to show compassion, and avoid illness and bad breath. If you're interested in trying it, I'd be glad to talk to you. It's a lot easier than most people imagine. A vegan diet simply means no meat, dairy, eggs or other miscellaneous animal foods such as gelatin and honey. And with the money you save from not buying animal products, you can afford to buy organic produce.

I also believe that people have an ethical obligation to take care of their pets' needs. These include timely medical care, nourishing food, clean water, adequate exercise and shelter, discipline, mental stimulation, physical affection and basic grooming. If you provide all of these things for your animal companion, then you're the kind of pet sitting client I want!

But I do not want clients who: treat their pets as toys or property; regard routine veterinary care as an optional expense; fail to exercise their pets regularly (dogs need more than just being let out in the backyard); do not seek full and immediate treatment for their pets when illness strikes.

Some people are not sure how to provide a high quality of life for their pets. They might think that a good life for an animal companion means more treats, more food, and never saying 'no.' But this approach will only lead to a fatter, more unmanageable pet. If you are interested in improving your pet's life, I am happy to consult with you, free of charge.

...To be continued!