By Cindy Peterson
The Dog Lady: Leesburg Dog Walking, Daycare & Boarding
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For Carrie, caring for dogs is more than a job. It is something she has loved her entire life.
“I love them,” she says. “I’ve had them my whole entire life.”
Through her Leesburg-based business, The Dog Lady, Carrie offers personalized dog care for pet owners who may be working long hours, traveling or simply need an extra hand keeping up with their pup’s daily routine.
Services include dog walking, drop-in visits, doggie daycare, overnight boarding and transportation to veterinary or grooming appointments.
Carrie offers walks rain or shine and tailors each outing to the individual dog’s needs and pace. Drop-in visits include a short walk or potty break, along with feeding, fresh water and indoor playtime.
For people who work extended shifts, doggie daycare provides an alternative to leaving a pet home alone for hours.
“I have a few nurses, for instance, that have double shifts and they’ll be gone for 16 hours or more,” Carrie says. “They drop them off first thing in the morning and then come back last thing at night.”
Dogs staying with Carrie are cared for in her home rather than spending the day in a crate or surrounded by a large number of unfamiliar animals. Her home includes a fenced backyard, dog-friendly furniture and three English bulldogs ready to provide plenty of playtime and companionship.
“There’s lots of love at my house for canines,” she says.
Overnight stays, which Carrie calls “doggy slumber parties,” are available for owners traveling out of town. She says her goal is to make sure owners can enjoy their time away without worrying about how their pets are doing.
“If they’re traveling, they don’t have to worry about their dog at all,” Carrie says. “They just have to worry about their vacation and having fun.”
To help owners feel connected, Carrie sends frequent photos, videos and messages throughout the day.
“I send tons of notifications, videos and pictures throughout the day,” she says. “I send them pictures of their walks and videos of their walks.”
Sometimes, the updates even arrive from the dog’s point of view.
“I send them messages in the dog’s voice, like, ‘Hey, Mama, I just got a bone. I’m going to take a nap,’” she says.
Carrie recently added transportation for veterinary and grooming appointments. Instead of a dog waiting for hours in a crate after an appointment, she can pick the dog up, take it to the appointment and return it home afterward.
The service can also include a quick walk, food and fresh water, depending on what the dog needs.
Carrie is centrally located in Leesburg and says she is within about 10 to 15 miles of The Villages town squares, making her services accessible to dog owners throughout the surrounding area.
As word has spread, her calendar has begun filling quickly.
Carrie also works as a substitute teacher, but says the growing demand for personalized dog care has encouraged her to continue expanding The Dog Lady.
Her approach is based on what she would want for her own pets, which is someone who would care for them, keep them comfortable and treat them with affection while she was away.
“For me, personally, it would be somebody that would love my dog while I couldn’t,” she says.
To learn more or book a service with The Dog Lady, call 352-267-7830 or visit Facebook.com/carrie.widmann.
Cindy serves as Executive Editor of Style Magazine and is a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography and video editing. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine’s Sports Hub Podcast and Style Podcast. Cindy also serves as a producer for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy enjoys traveling to national parks with her husband, Ryan, and son, David, while photographing wildlife — especially squirrels.
