About Us – Our Backgrounds

We know that it’s important for you to know a little about us before we take care of your pets. As a youthful retired husband and wife team we offer maturity, reliability, and responsibility along with the stamina necessary to take care of your active pets. Billy is a native of Mooresville and retired from the US Air Force. Beth hails from nearby Lincoln County and is a retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker. We know and love the Lake Norman area, the people who choose to live here and the recreational opportunities the lake provides.

About Us – Our Dogs

No story about us is complete without talking about our dogs. We are owned by Luke, a 13-year-old English Springer Spaniel; Trooper, a 10-year-old English Springer Spaniel and Daisy Mae, an 8 -year-old Brittany. Archer, our granddog is a Shepherd mix and lives with us.  He is 6 years old.

They keep us on the go with hikes at Lake Norman State Park, off leash walks around our wooded property, playing fetch and daily reinforcement of their training. When we are really lucky they go with us to the mountains or beach.  They train us on a daily basis !

Luke, Daisy Mae and Trooper

We know the joys of raising a dog from puppyhood. We also know the challenges of adopting a rescue dog. Sadly, we know the heartbreak of sending a dog over the Rainbow Bridge well before his time. Our love of our dogs led us to choose pet sitting as a career in our semi-retirement. Through our work as professional pet sitters we have come to love the antics of kitties. We get excited when the reclusive cat comes out of hiding to see us while we visit. For some strange reason we even take pleasure in scooping litter boxes. Go figure!

About Us – Our Sports Teams

We are Carolina Panthers fans and keep the Carolina spirit going throughout the year. We are alumni of East Carolina University, Western Carolina University, and  UNC-Chapel Hill. That’s why we cheer for the Pirates, the Catamounts and the Tar Heels.  That’s ok though, we have family members that are fans of the NC State Wolf Pack and Duke Blue Devils so we can pretty well get along with anyone! (LOL)

Billy and Beth at a Panthers game

About us – Leisure Pursuits

Billy is a reformed runner.  (Isn’t that a nice re-frame for lapsed runner?) Beth is a wanna be half marathoner and understands injury all too well. We love slipping our canoe into the lake on a pleasant fall or spring evening.  We can be seen huffing and puffing on our bikes near Bellingham Park. And sometimes we just enjoy a quiet ride in the Miata on a warm summer evening. 

About Us – Pet Tech Pet Saver, Pet First Aid & CPR  

Billy was a lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor when he was in high school (Mooresville Senior High) and college (Mitchell Community College and Western Carolina University). That foundation along with his military career gave him opportunities to use his life saving skills.  

In the spring of 2013 Lymphoma claimed the life of our beloved Brittany, Beau just two days before his 8th birthday. His loss inspired us to educate ourselves on subtle signs that we missed until it was too late.  We want to spare others from that heart wrenching experience.

We opened Dog Walkers & More at Coddle Creek, LLC in June 2013.  During the summer of 2013 Billy completed Dog and Cat First Aid with the American Red Cross. In October 2014 we both completed training as Pet Tech Pet Savers. Billy built on that foundation to become a Certified Pet Tech Instructor in January of 2015.  Beth completed the Classes to become a Certified Pet Tech Instructor in August 2018.  We now teach classes together multiple times per year.

About Us – A Little More About our Dogs

Beau 

We bought Beau from a breeder.  When we visited the kennel the parents were on site and things were clean. We received information for registering Beau with the AKC. However, we did not receive any requests to return him if there were problems. We knew very little about what questions to ask and consequently don’t remember if we received a health history.

Beau was a happy dog!!

Luke

We bought Luke from what we now understand to be a back yard breeder. When we brought him home he was covered in fleas despite us having been told that he had been allowed to live inside because, “all our puppies get to come inside.”  Make no mistake, we have never been sorry we bought these two loving dogs and would not have traded them for anything, but now we know so much more.

Luke can swim!!

Daisy Mae

Daisy Mae adopted us in May 2013.  She was picked up as a stray in Caldwell County and rescued by National Brittany Rescue and Adoption Network (NBRAN).  We believe that she spent the first year of her life tied outside. Now she leads a life of luxury and is indeed the queen bee of our family.

Our usually sweet Daisy Mae came to us with a year or more of baggage influenced by her past of being tied out 24/7, her time in a shelter and genetics. She had no concept of how to play with toys or other dogs and had received no training until she entered foster care. She was almost potty trained when she adopted us.  We continue to address the monthly, weekly, daily or hourly challenges of dogs with histories of neglect. Beth researches and practices force free interventions to help Daisy Mae adjust on her way to becoming and remaining a happy family pet.

Daisy Mae on her first boat ride

Trooper

Trooper adopted our family in the fall of 2013.  His elderly owner surrendered Trooper and his half brother to English Springer Rescue America (ESRA) after the owner was diagnosed with cancer.  We were honored to allow an open adoption so Trooper’s first Daddy could visit him in his new surroundings.  Trooper is an active little boy who seldom stays put.  He is the perfect playmate for Daisy Mae.  Luke is the old man who shakes his head at their antics.

Because Trooper was heartworm positive when he joined our family we learned more than we ever wanted to know about heartworm disease. We also  got an opportunity to learn how to help a dog adjust to professional grooming. Although he was potty trained to a doggie door, his social skills were underdeveloped. 

Trooper in the shower

Archer

Archer is our granddog and is a Shepherd mix. He joined our family when he and his Mom moved in with us in January 2017.  Shannon adopted Archer from a shelter when he was approximately two years old.  Very little information was available about him beyond the fact that he was initially placed in a shelter in South Carolina and then transferred to another shelter in South Carolina. He is a beautiful boy who had impeccable manners (until he moved in with our other three hooligans).  We soon learned that he had significant tummy problems and suspect that he was surrendered by his original owners due to those issues.  We have successfully worked through those issues and with a careful diet of premium freeze dried food mixed with home cooked food and multiple supplements he is a health happy dog today.

About Us – Rescue and Training 

Over the early years of Beau and Luke’s lives we gradually learned about effective positive training. We learned about pet overpopulation, puppy mills and testing on animals. Since opening our business we have been flooded with the realities and work hard to advocate for better laws and improved lives for all domesticated animals.  Luke, Daisy Mae, Trooper and Archer are the sometimes willing subjects of these studies!

About Us –  Professional Memberships

We are members of the Mooresville-South Iredell Chamber of Commerce, the  National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) and  Pet Sitters International (PSA).

We are insured and bonded by Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC).

We are both certified as Pet Tech Pet Saver, CPR & First Aid Instructors.  All our team members are trained in pet first aid and CPR within 90 days of employment and participate in continuing on a regular basis. We offer classes in Pet Tech Pet Saver, CPR & First Aid on a regular basis. Special rates are available for current clients, staff of animal rescues and shelters, local pet professionals and couples who take the class at the same time.

We trust this information provides you with some insight as to who we are and what we represent.  Please peruse the remainder of our website to learn more about how we can assist you and your pets.  We look forward to meeting you and your pet family.