Meet the Team

A little about Green Paws Chicago!


Since 2007, Green Paws Chicago has been providing top-notch, eco-friendly, quality care to pups and pets of all shapes and sizes across the greater Chicago area. We aim to provide every animal the love and care they deserve while being socially responsible – by supporting pet rescue and shelter organizations, the neighborhoods and families we serve, the larger community and, ultimately, the planet!

We understand the amount of trust it takes to place your pet and your home in someone else’s hands! Because we value that trust above all, we assure the Green Paws standard of care through our team of rigorously vetted Pet Care Specialists pictured below. You deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing that only trustworthy professionals are looking after your pet. Green Paws Chicago is fully licensed, bonded, and insured, and our team is comprised of 100% W-2 employees, not 1099 contractors — all of whom have passed a multi-stage hiring process, office and field evaluations, and hands-on skills training.

Meet the Team!


ELISE
Operations Manager

Born and raised in a cat-loving Illinois home, Elise (they/them) moved from the suburbs to the city in January of 2022. As someone who loves pets, Elise shows this by volunteering with various animal rescues as well as being a colony caretaker and TNR (trap-neuter-return) enthusiast. Within the past two years, they were able to find homes for 15+ stray cats and kittens just in their neighborhood! Elise currently lives at home with their three cats Cookie, Cleo, and Carmy, and their dog Pemby.

KATEY
Field Services Administrator

Born and raised in the western burbs, Katey (she/her) relocated to a vibrant Chicago neighborhood after college to be closer to her passion for design and art. Katey brings her experience managing staff and operations at a multi-regional summer camp to the Green Paws office team along with her dedication to meeting client needs through her meticulous attention to detail. A lifelong dog lover, outside of work, Katey’s favorite pastime is spending time with friends and family.

SCOTT
Client Relations Specialist

Scott (he/him) has lived with one or more dogs his entire life. Most recently out walking dogs himself to gain that experience, Scott has managed a dog daycare, a movie theater and owned a yoga studio (that did a regular cat-yoga fundraiser/adoption event)! A technical theater kid turned retail visual merchandiser, Scott has worn many hats. Scott often finds himself disappointed if he doesn’t know every dog in the neighborhood’s name!

BRIAN
Pet Care Trainer
Brian (he/him) is a native Chicagoan and loves this city more than any place else in the world. Although he has been a proud member of the Green Paws family for well over a decade, Brian still wakes up every morning thrilled and grateful that he gets to hang out with his best friends all day. This isn’t a job for Brian – it’s a calling and a passion! When he isn’t caring for all his Green Paws besties, Brian spends his time with his wife and two black cats – Clementine and Jack. Brian’s hobbies include cycling, eating vegan food, and watching horror movies. Don’t forget to ask him about his Halloween collection!
JOHN B.
Pet Care Trainer

John (he/him) grew up in rural Ohio prior to relocating to Chicago. He has been spending time with animals since the early years of his life hanging out with barn cats. During high school his dad surprised the family with a puppy and ever since then, he has been hooked on spoiling his four-legged friends!

DAVID
Pet Care Trainer

David (he/him) was born and bred in the Detroit area but has called Chicago home for over 10 years. He grew up with a dog named Max and a cat named Odysseus. Over the years, at various times, David has also lived with various dogs, cats, fancy rats, snakes, fish, and hamsters. David currently resides in Avondale, where, in addition to his pet-loving activities, he occasionally finds work as a freelance writer/editor.

JOE
Pet Care Trainer

Joe (he/him) grew up in Northwest Indiana and recently moved to Portage Park. Growing up, Joe had a Springer Spaniel and currently has a 1-year-old Golden Labrador Retriever. He worked as a dogwalker several years ago and is thrilled to have the opportunity to do it again, as he loves animals, especially cats and dogs. In his free time, Joe likes to read, exercise, go hiking and fishing, and watch movies/TV shows.

MAX
Pet Care Specialist

Max (they/them) has been walking dogs since the 5th grade. From a young age, they have always been driven in life by being a caretaker. A graduate of University of Illinois at Champaign’s School of Art + Design, Max spends their free time carving wood blocks for their various printmaking projects.

CRISTAL
Pet Care Specialist

Cristal (she/her) grew up in Little Village with a succession of tiny chihuahuas and one giant doberman, as well as the neighborhood’s eclectic variety of pets: chickens, ducks, goats, and on one memorable occasion, a pony. She currently has two kitties, Luna and Roger Sterling, but her passion for pets has taken her to shift her career path from the medical field, to the veterinary, and finally here with us.

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JOHN S.
Pet Care Specialist

John (he/him) grew up as a military kid living in places like Seattle, Italy, and Bahrain. He had a family Beagle named Jazzy growing up who is the sweetest! He graduated from the University of Iowa and has happily settled in northern Chicago. You can catch john at second city, on the lake, or in his second favorite city, Milwaukee!

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JOHN H.
Pet Care Specialist

John grew up in Colorado and moved to Chicago for school, and liked it so much that he decided to stay! A lifelong lover of dogs and cats, John enjoys filling the pet-sized hole in his life (his apartment is too small) by working with Green Paws. When he’s not spending time with his furry friends, John enjoys reading, working on graphic design, taking crazy long walks, and listening to music.

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KEITH
Pet Care Specialist

Keith (he /him) has over 15 years of experience caring for dogs in a daycare and boarding kennel environment. He has also watched many a cat while the musician that usually lived with them was on tour. He moved to Chicago after finishing a degree in painting and printmaking at the University of Texas. He has been active in Chicago’s music and art scene since the late 1990s, but is most proud of his wife, their terrier, and all the lovely friendships he has made with canines of all sizes, shapes, and colors .

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BEN
Pet Care Specialist

Ben grew up in California and moved to Chicago in 2011 to attend DePaul University. After graduation, he enjoyed Chicago so much that he decided to stay and make this city his home! Ben has an 8-year-old border collie named Waffle and is excited to get him a friend when the time is right. When he’s not hanging with his pup, you can find Ben with the bleacher creatures at Wrigley Field, roasting people on Xbox Live, or demolishing some wings.

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MATT
Pet Care Specialist
Matt has lived in Rogers Park for most of his life. A diehard Cubs fan, he’s taken care of dogs since the 1990s! His love of dogs has led to him doing some rescue work with his favorite breed, Pitbulls. When he is not spending time with animals, Matt can be found doing what he loves: reading about history, cooking and listening to music!
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JONATHAN
Pet Care Specialist

Jonathan (he/him) grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and has yet to find a pet he couldn’t love. He went to school at the University of Missouri where he studied Film and traveled around for work before moving back to Chicago in 2019. Jonathan has lived with some amazing cats and dreams of the day that he will have a big yard of his own for a whole new generation of furry friends! In his free time, you can find Jonathan performing standup comedy throughout the city, making homemade pizzas, and trying to catch his tail.

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EMORY
Pet Care Specialist

Emory (they/them) was raised in an animal loving, pet-rescue family. They have lived in the city for a little over a year, but have lived all over the country. Emory has experience with a wide variety of animals, big and small, fuzzy and scaly! In their free time, Emory can be found watching their favorite movies and television, painting, playing video games, biking, and cooking.

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DANI
Pet Care Specialist

Dani (they/them) has been an animal lover their whole life. They grew up with a dog and have lived with cats, birds, ferrets, fish, and iguanas over the years. Before dog walking, Dani was a nanny and a babysitter, and loved when their families had pets. They bring the same caring and fun energy from watching kids to taking care of pets and look forward to meeting your furry family members!

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RICK
Pet Care Specialist

Coming from Utah, Rick has lived in Chicago for nearly 6 years. He received his BFA in Photography from School of the Art Institute Chicago in 2022 and is a freelance Photographer in his free time. Rick loves biking, doing T’ai Chi, going to coffee shops, and playing a game of Go. Rick is a snake dad to a Ball Python named Hendrix and is considering adopting a canine companion soon. He has dog-sat for friends and family from youth well into college and loves working with furry animals.

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KAT
Pet Care Specialist

A Detroit native, Kat has been a devout animal lover since day one. Growing up, her family was a home to dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and many other animals. Kat spent her summers riding horses and her weekends volunteering for local shelters. She is the mom to a spunky tabby cat named Finn, and plans to give him a canine friend one day! When not working, you can find her deep in her latest crafting craze, hanging out by the lake, or hunting down the best fish tacos!

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TERRA
Pet Care Specialist

Throughout their life, Terra has always had an animal as their best friend! Terra believes that it is important to take each animal’s individual personality and preferences into account when caring for them. Growing up, Terra lived on a farm taking care of dogs, cats, horses, goats, and many other animals! In their free time, Terra can be found with them and their partner’s pup,making clothes and eating around the city.

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KEVIN
Pet Care Specialist

Kevin is an avid dog lover and native of Chicago. He currently lives in Pilsen with his wife and their two pups. When he’s not being followed around the house by his Shih Tzu he enjoys music, film and comedy.

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WIL
Pet Care Specialist

Throughout his life, Wil has worked with all types of animals. From dogs and cats all the way to horses, Wil has taken the time to learn all the details of their care. He even has a background with service animals! Will has raised five pups through Guide Dogs for the Blind. Through all of his experience, Wil has created many strong bonds and has had lots of fun times with his furry friends!

Gage
GAGE
Pet Care Specialist

Growing up surrounded by animals as well as being a proud cat dad, pet care has never felt like work to Gage. Green Paws blends two of his greatest passions: animals and the outdoors. No stranger to the pet care profession, Gage began his pet care journey in 2016 while living in the Washington DC area then continued this work in upstate New York. After taking some time to travel in Europe with his wife, they have settled in Chicago where Gage is thrilled to be able to spend his days doing what he loves—giving the highest level of care and attention to your pets and biking throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods.

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NATALIE
Pet Care Specialist

Originally from a small town in North Carolina, Natalie is new to the Chicago area. She’s had a huge love for animals her entire life and grew up in a five dog home! Natalie has been pet sitting for 10 years and she has volunteered and worked at various animal shelters. Natalie is currently pursuing her BA in Digital Marketing and in her free time enjoys hiking, attending live music performances, and exploring the city.

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PATRICK
Pet Care Specialist
Patrick has been in Chicago for 10 years, moving here from Seattle where he was trained in wild animal rescue and care by P.A.W.S. Patrick’s lived with and cared for dogs, cats, goats, chickens, and a horse. He has worked with seals, eagles, raccoons, crows, coyotes, and wolves. Patrick’s taught the subject of green roofs and living walls at Washington State and University of Washington, as well as at a few community colleges. Patrick was a professional actor for 11 years. While in grad school at U of I, Patrick changed majors from philosophy to architecture, and subsequently practiced on both the east and west coasts. Patrick’s other interests are blues harp, lino-cut art, and writing poetry and fiction. He continues to learn authenticity from his fellow animals of all types.
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KAYLA
Pet Care Specialist
Kayla (she/her) grew up in Ohio before moving to Chicago in 2017. She has always had a love for dogs and cats, having grown up with them as pets and volunteering at local shelters. She began working in the pet-care industry in 2019 as a dog handler, eventually becoming a manager of a dog daycare. Providing pets with the utmost care and respect is a pillar of Kayla’s values as a pet-care specialist. Kayla currently attends the University of Illinois Chicago and enjoys watching movies, reading books, snuggling with her cat, and spending time with loved ones.
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VIOLET
Pet Care Specialist
Violet (she/her) has been living in Chicago for 2 years. She’s had dogs all her life but started working with them in 2024. Her passions include art, painting, dogs, and playing pool! Violet likes to describe herself as an upbeat, detail oriented, and enthusiastic dog caretaker who will do her absolute best to make your pup the happiest they can be!
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MCKENZIE
Pet Care Specialist
McKenzie (she/her) was born and raised in central Wisconsin alongside two loyal, loving, and energetic Brittany Spaniels. Since relocating to Chicago, she has gained two roommates and three adorable cats to snuggle up with. In her free time, she enjoys going to concerts, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, and she also hopes to learn how to make stained glass in the future.
ANNA
Pet Care Specialist

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised in Detroit, Anna moved to the near west suburbs of Chicago in 2004 and moved into the city in 2021 . Anna has three human babies and two fur babies. She is a city girl who enjoys the outdoors, especially hiking, biking, and all things water-related. Anna’s worked with Green Paws Chicago since early 2020 and enjoys visiting kitties, taking walks with pups, and staying with clients’ pets on in-home overnight and hourly sittings.

RAYA
Pet Care Specialist
Raya (they/them) has grown up around all sorts of avenues for their pet care experience, ranging from the farm, to the show ring, to agility courses and the diving docks. Coming from San Diego, California all the way to Chicago to continue their training experience with all sorts of dogs. Raya can usually be found hanging out with their Labrador, Bear, at any beach they can find, or working on their children’s book illustrations based around canines and felines alike!
KODY
Pet Care Specialist
Kody (he/him) moved into the Chicagoland area in 2007 to pursue music and art. Quickly, community became a very important thing for him. After helping his friends and neighbors for pet care needs, he became a full time walker for the city of Chicago! Getting out and about riding his bike and meeting pups/ pets is a true calling. When he’s not cuddling with his pittie, Lucius “Louie”, he enjoys Music, Photography, Art, Pups, Film, Graphic design, Bowling, Baseball & Cooking.
AURÉLIE
Pet Care Specialist
Born and raised in France, Aurélie moved to the lovely city of Chicago around 12 years ago. Raised in an animal loving family, Aurélie grew up with many different types of pets and she can’t imagine a life without them! Aurélie gained extensive pet care experience from volunteering at various shelters in both France and Chicago as well as from her dog walking career which she started several years ago after moving to Chicago. In her free time, Aurélie enjoys going on long hikes with her children, husband, and her precious 4 year old Staffie pup named Colette! She is looking forward to meeting your furbabies and creating long-lasting relationships with them.
HANNAH
Pet Care Specialist
Hannah (she/he/they) grew up in rural Texas and is new to Chicago. Growing up, they were surrounded by working dogs and livestock which fostered their love for animals. Hannah has a yellow Labrador named Chandler who loves going on walks and chasing squirrels. Along with their love for animals, Hannah has a passion for theatre, costuming, sewing, and fashion. They are so excited to get to meet all of the adorable dogs and cats in the city.
ADI
Pet Care Specialist
Originally from south Florida, Adi (he/him) recently moved to the big city of Chicago. He grew up with dogs his whole life and currently has a black cat named Mumfy! Outside of loving animals, Adi is a photographer and graphic designer who enjoys sports, concerts, and spending time with his girlfriend and their cat. Adi is excited to make many more furry friends!
INNA
Pet Care Specialist
Inna (she/her) is from Chortkiv, Ukraine, and has called Chicago home for over 15 years, currently lives in West Town. She started her journey to pet pawrenthood by volunteering with the Humane Society and petsitting for friends. She has a mini Bernedoodle named Marshal “Marshie” Mathers, who loves fetch, long naps, and going to his favorite dog park. Inna holds a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Behavioral Neuroscience-Psychology from UIUC and is currently applying to grad schools in Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts, various puzzles, walking the 606, playing board games or the Sims, tending to her 150+ plants, and photographing Marshie.
SARAH
Pet Care Specialist
Sarah (she/her) grew up in Michigan, and received her Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University. Go Green! She had a few cats growing up and a family dog as well. She and her husband have three cats, Libby, Stu and Phoebe, who are their world. While she is clearly a cat lover, she adores dogs as well! Hanging out with and taking care of your pup is a great fix since she does not have a dog of her own. She loves the outdoors, walking, and biking. Sarah believes that our pets are our family, and will always treat your family members with utmost care.
COSMO
Pet Care Specialist
Cosmo (they/them) is a recent UIC graduate who’s lived in Chicago since 2020. They are an animal behavior nerd, visual artist, and proud cat parent of two (pictured is their eldest baby Alette). They have experience caring for both dogs and cats; they love getting to know pets of all personalities, sizes, ages and breeds. They enjoy spending their time learning about animals and art, training their cats, drawing, sculpting, dancing, and biking. Whether your pet is energetic, shy, or anywhere in between, Cosmo will meet them where they’re at with attentiveness and love.
JACQUELINE
Pet Care Specialist
Jackie (she/her) was born and raised in Chicago. Growing up Jackie had many animals from dogs and cats to birds and lizards. Her favorite pass time was taking naps with her golden Retriever Marley. At age 16 Jackie started overnight dog sitting for her neighbors. She has been a nanny for the past six years and has decided to start spending her time with our furry friends at Green Paws Chicago. When Jackie is not with your fur babies she is playing with her four kittens! Her favorite activity is going on walks on a brisk fall evening and they are even better with a friend (human or fur baby).
MICHAEL T
Pet Care Specialist
Mike (he/him) has been a member of the Chicago community for nearly all of his life and as such, he knows the city well! Mike has been able to document its beauty and change through photography and multimedias of art when inspired. He enjoys music in our plethora of local venues as many of his friends make a variety of sounds. Animals have always been a huge part of Mike’s life and he currently has two cats, Pauline Rudd and Rose McGowan. (Yes, named after their respective thespians) Mike can’t wait to make many more furry friends!
WILLIAM
Pet Care Specialist
Will (he/him) grew up in the Bay Area of California and was raised in a house full of dogs. A lover of all animals,Will has helped his mother care after countless foster dogs. His dog, Arlo, is one of those fosters! After moving to Chicago and getting his degree in Sound Design for Videogames, Will is excited to be sharing his love for animals with Green Paws. In his free time, Will enjoys making music, exploring the city with his pup, and trying new food. He cannot wait to meet your beloved pets and give them the care they deserve!
MICHAEL G.
Pet Care Specialist
Michael (he/him) was born and raised in Cicero/Berwyn with very tiny pets. The guinea pigs and turtles especially were very fun, but he credits watching Ace Ventura for establishing a profound love for animals and breaking into song. After being the official dog walker and pet sitter for his friends and family (shout out Hannibal Furress and Nova!), he now makes music and works from home with him and his girlfriend’s two wonderful cats – Galleta and Luna, the former providing backing vocals and latter playing the biscuits.
STACEY
Pet Care Specialist
Stacey (she/her) has always had a passion for animals, caring for a variety of pets—from dogs and cats to fish and birds—throughout her life. With over a decade of experience as a dedicated pet-care professional, she brings that same commitment and compassion to her work. Stacey is thrilled to continue supporting the health and happiness of pets and their owners as part of the Green Paws team. Outside of work, she enjoys attending live music events, exploring genre films, and tabletop gaming.
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