MEET CHICO!
Chico, my inspiration and namesake of our company, was born in a North Dallas shelter in 2009. As I know many fellow pet owners can relate to, he thinks he is more human than dog.
During the Fall of 2014, during one of our daily walks, Chico unexpectedly started to yelp in a sudden pain that had him frozen in his steps. In the following days, his condition progressed from some minor muscle spasms to more severe crippling pain. After multiple visits to the vet, he was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in his neck that required a very involved surgery followed by 4 weeks of strict crate rest. With family and friends all leading their own busy lives, I was in a pinch to find someone reliable and trustworthy to help me care for Chico during his recovery while I was at work.
It was during this time that the seed was planted to create a trusted and caring pet sitting service. I knew so many other people must be in similar predicaments, and so “Chico & Chums Pet Sitting” was born!
MEET the owner: ALYSON keller
After years as a public school teacher and now as a school district administrator, I decided to pursue my other passion – helping four-legged family members in addition to the two-legged ones! Throughout my life, I have always had a mix of dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds – always a menagerie. My childhood friend and I actually started a pet sitting business when we were in elementary school! Little did I know that many years later, my dream of helping people care for their animals would become a reality.
My goal is for you to be worry-free during those times when you have to be away from your furry loved ones. I know the stress and anxiety that results from not having a trusted individual to watch over your pet(s), or the uneasy feeling that arises when you have to impose on your friends, relatives, or neighbors each time you run late from work or have to go out of town. Rest assured, your pet will experience the most caring attention and reliable care they have known (aside from yours of course!). We look forward to having you as one of Chico’s chums! Give us a call today at (512) 876-3354. We look forward to hearing from you.
CHICO's chums (a.k.a. his brothers and sisters)
Sissy, Stubby, Eloise, & Gata
The dogs and cats in the photos all served as “the chums” in Chico & Chums Pet Sitting.
Sissy (white English Pointer mix) and Stubby (Corgi mix) were found as strays in 2013 at an oilfield location in South Texas. Skittish around humans at first, they gradually warmed up to people and are now the biggest hams around. We lost Sissy in 2021 after a long battle with cancer, and then we lost Stubby in 2023 to what was very likely a broken heart. They were inseperable, and along with Chico, they made up quite an exotic little pack.
The cats Gata (gray) and Eloise (white) were also with me for a long time. Gata lived to be 18 years young and Eloise reached 16 years. Gata truly had more than 9 lives having had many adventures in her lifetime, and Eloise was the polar opposite as a more social cat who slept the greater portion of every day. They both got along great with the dogs; although not always well with one another. They were the perfect balance of pet personalities that also played a significant role leading me to establish Chico & Chums Pet Sitting.