Fur Kids PA
Pet Sitting & Dog Walking

Pet Sitting and Dog Walking - Serving Wilkes-Barre & the surrounding area.

Karen with her dogs
✔ Fully Insured 🐶 Behavior-Friendly 🏠 In Your Home
Fur Kids PA Pet Sitting & Dog Walking logo Member and insured through Pet Sitters Associates

What is a fur kid?

Fur = hairy. Kid = child. Yes, it's a sitting service for your hairy children!

Two happy dogs relaxing on the lawn

Fur Kid, as quoted from the dictionary, breaks down into this. Fur=synonym for hairy. Kid= child. Yes, indeed, this is a sitting service for your hairy children……aka pets. Don’t let them hear you call them the “p” word, though!

My dogs and kitty are my children and hence the name of the business. I, like all of you reading this now, am crazy about my pets. I would only entrust them to someone that I believed to be extremely capable and understanding of their different personalities. I hold myself to this same standard of excellent care and competency when it comes to dealing with your……"pets”. I am also fully insured as I believe it is important to have that security to offer pet parents when it comes to their fur kids.

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All About Enjoying Pets

Walking them, running with them, letting them snuggle in my lap (even if it is a Great Dane), giving them more treats in a day than they get in a month and coming home covered in dirt and slobber. They are your children and become my grandchildren. I get to be the fun one who gives them everything they want and pay 100% attention to them. They love me.

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Quirks Welcome

If your kids have behavioral issues, it’s ok. I have worked with shelter dogs for years now and understand that quirks happen! If your dog jumps on me, it’s ok. If they lick me obsessively, it’s ok. If they run and hide when they meet me, it’s ok. I have a great understanding of dog behavior and am up to the challenge.

Enough talk…….make the phone call already and book your free consultation!

Call (570) 690-3345

Pet in our care Pet in our care

The Why Factor

Why pet-sitting? Why dog-walking?

Why Pet-Sitting?

There are many advantages to pet-sitting done in your own home as opposed to a boarding/daycare facility.

Cat relaxing at home in its own bedCat lounging in its cat tree at home
  1. I am sure your pooch is THE most well-behaved and perfect dog around. However, that is not true of all dogs and when you throw together a pack of 10 or more dogs with different personalities, energy levels and training, you're going to have conflicts. Unfortunately, these may sometimes result in physical injury or mental injury such as your pet becoming defensive or nervous around other dogs because of a bad incident. Pet-sitting eliminates that altogether.
  2. I am sure you are aware of how schoolchildren pick up each other's sicknesses and germs. The same is true of dogs. This can come in the form of worms, fleas or other sicknesses passed from sharing toys, water bowls and various other "lovely" things dogs are known to do around each other. Not only will these things affect your pets, but it's coming home, too!
  3. A pet-sitter while you're away for an evening or an entire week will make your house look "lived-in" with various visits throughout the day so it doesn't appear as though your house is empty. Lights can be left on, mail brought in, etc. so that no one is the wiser about you being gone.
  4. It's probably common knowledge that a pet is going to be most secure and comfortable in surroundings that are familiar to them. I cannot emphasize this enough. I know that I wouldn't be able to enjoy a vacation knowing that my pet was nervous, unsettled, not eating or drinking normally and just plain miserable because they were so stressed out from the changes. Some dogs do handle this better than others. However, all dogs do experience some level of stress when placed in a strange place with new sights, sounds and smells.

Why Dog-Walking?

Do you ever wonder why your dog enjoys destroying your most precious possessions, or why they still have so much energy after running around in your large backyard? Here a few reasons why it is SO important that your dog receive regular "outings".

Two dogs running and playing fetch
  1. They are BORED! If we had to sit at home....by ourselves......with nothing to entertain us......for at least eight hours....we would be going out of our minds! Imagine doing that five days out of the week. There is nothing to look forward to, no change of pace and believe me, your pet will find a way to occupy it's time!
  2. So, you say you have a large backyard that they can run around in. Think about this. We all know that dogs are descended from wolves, some more closely than others. They still have the same general DNA and needs. Wolves travel around 30-45 miles a DAY to search for food, shelter, etc. Dogs have that same innate need to have a purpose to travel, explore, search out new territory. Whether you have a Chihuahua or a Siberian Husky, they all have a basic need to travel.
  3. Dogs need a change of scenery. Just like people. Going back to the fenced yard; yes, it is great to have and definitely a way to get out the Heebie-jeebies, but it is the same backyard every day for hours on end. Even if you lived in a mansion, you would get tired of being within those walls and want to get out and explore something new. I wonder if we would even last four days being stuck in the same house and backyard before we were chewing on the furniture!
  4. It's healthy! Come on, let's all admit it.....exercise is good for us and our pets! As much as it hurts us to say it, it's true. A healthy diet and good exercise on a daily basis is going to enrich your pet's life in a huge way. I believe in the benefit of exercise for physical health as well as mental health. It reduces stress, invigorates and leaves us tired out so that we can enjoy rest. And the same applies to your pet. Tired, happy pets make tired, busy pet parents happy! That's a tongue-twister!

The Method Of Exercise

Dogs all have very different energy levels. This is due to breed, personality and owner's lifestyle to an extent. A Newfoundland is not going to have the exercise needs of a Boxer. However, two Boxers may have energy levels completely different from one another. Basic factors do play into energy levels, but it is very specific to the particular dog and has to be evaluated on an individual level.

We will work together to decide what method of exercise is best for YOUR pet and adjust as needed.

Happy Cavalier chasing bubbles

What our Clients say

My two Goldens love Karen. I was quite nervous having to be away from them for over a week. ESP on the west coast. Karen... put me at ease with her professionalism. Always text pics and updates. Has a time schedule where she's prompt for each visit. I haven't traveled much unless I take them with me. But now feel better to go on my own, thanks to Karen and her kindness to my two fur babies. We love you.

– Jim, Kingston, PA

About Me

Meet Karen Sims, your fur kids' new best friend

Karen Sims

My name is Karen Sims and I know as a pet owner myself it is very difficult to entrust someone with our beloved babies. Please rest assured that I will take care of your furkids as they are my own babies.

Just a little bit about me that I would like to share with you all. I love animals and have a passion and desire to work with dogs, especially! I have had dogs my entire life, along with many other animals such as cats, rabbits, fish and birds even a duck in which my dad rescued from the streets of New York. I would also help strays and abandoned wild life.

After years in the medical field, I decided it was time for a career change and what better path to take than do what I love work with animals. I have many years' experience volunteering with local animal shelters and rescues. I have worked hands on with abused/neglected animals and many dogs that have behavioral issues. Volunteering has been very rewarding for me to help these animals with the healing process and assist with finding them loving forever homes. Along with years of experience of growing up with and also owning my own animals, I have worked part-time for a doggie daycare/grooming and boarding facility caring for and supervising interactions between the animals.

Continuing with this service of taking care of your fur babies while you are away you can be confident that your pets are being loved and well cared for. You can know they are happy and content in their own environment, where all the sights, sounds, and smells are familiar.

I am looking forward to meeting with you and your furkids.

A Review from one of my Wonderful Clients

Being a full time working woman with my own business I rely very heavily on Karen Sims to take care of my girls Cocoa and Maggie. She is like a second Mom to them and they love her and respond to her very positively. She has a true love of animals it shows in all the kind things she does for my dogs. She is organized, trustworthy and on point with everything she does especially with her follow through process. I am truly very grateful to have someone like Karen Sims in my life.

– Diane I. (Pittston, PA)

Services & Rates

Services offered by Fur Kids Pet Sitting

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15-min. visit

Best for a quick break outside to do their business, stretch their legs and get a little play/cuddle time in.

$18.00
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30-min. visit

The perfect amount of time for a bathroom break, feeding time and some extra love and attention or a short walk.

$25.00
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1-hour visit

For pet parents who want to show their "kids" a little extra love: a potty break, feeding time (if applicable) and plenty of time left for belly rubs or an extra long walk to burn some energy.

$42.00
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Vacation / Holiday Visit

For the days or nights you have to go away and leave your fur kids behind. Whether it is a day-trip or a weekend, we've got you covered! Customized to however many visits you would like each day, with plenty of potty breaks and exercise, all within the comfort of their home and normal routine.

Holiday rate applies per visit
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Transportation

Transportation for your pet to and from locations: a trip to the vet when you're unable to take them, or a visit to the groomer so they look their best before company arrives.

$30.00

Rates

In-Home ConsultationFREE
  • 15-min. visit$18.00
  • 30-min. visit$25.00
  • 1-hour visit$42.00
  • Transportation$30.00

Additional Holiday Rate will apply per visit.
Visits outside of a 10-mile radius from zip code 18704 may include additional charges and varying rates.

Another Great Review

We were so happy with Karen's services. Karen helped us out on short notice by walking our border collie mix, Buffy. She sent me the sweetest photos of Buffy. Excellent service. Highly recommended!

– Amy S. (Forty Fort, PA)

Contact Information

Contact me today for your free in-home consultation!

Contact Form

Some of my sweet friends!

Fully Insured Through

Pet Sitters Associates, LLC Pet Sitters Associates, LLC - Fully Insured