Team Bios

Learn more about our skilled and highly qualified team!

Danielle Ivey

Hello, my name’s Danny! I grew up in Matoaca, VA (south of Richmond) and moved up here to NoVA in 2019, settling in Oakton. Growing up our house was a beacon to strays and we tended to grow too attached to them. So you name it, we had it. As of now, though, with my boyfriend, I have two kitties named Black Label and Faygo (pictured with me very begrudgingly), and they are our entire world! I love working with Paw Pals because I get to meet so many new people and furry friends – I treat all my furry clients like one of my own, and I can’t wait to add yours to the mix!

Diana Cabrera McAllister

Hello, my name is Diana Cabrera McAllister. I went to James Madison University and I love everything Disney! I’ve been with PawPals, off and on, for about 4 years, and can often be seen helping out with my husband Shad on walks and vacation visits. We have a 3-year-old kitty named Sir Tuberson Reginald III (aka Tubby). I look forward to meeting you and your fur-family!

Mikko Laquindanum

Hello! My name is Mikko. I have lived here in northern Virginia my whole life and I’m currently studying to get my engineering degree and pilots license while working here with Paw Pals. As of right now, I have three little ones, more specifically 1 dog and 2 cats. I have a beagle named Sandi, a black cat named Mochi, and a tiger-striped cat named Minnie. I love all animals with all types of personalities! That’s why I enjoy going out and taking care of people’s pets. I watch over every animal I encounter like they are my own and make sure they are happy. I can’t wait to meet and spend time with more!

Makiya Linear

Hello! I’m Makiya, I enjoy seeing the fall colors in nature, going for walks, and trying new foods. I am the proud “aunt” of two Cane Corsos named Panther & Nemo. They are too big to hold now, so we have to sit beside each other to talk and cuddle. I enjoy engaging with pets and meeting their needs. I take time to learn their likes/ dislikes and their overall personality.

Tatiana Chanez-Jayo

Hi! I am Tatiana Chanez-Jayo. I joined Paw Pals because I have a high interest in caring for animals. I have cared for many pets during my life, and currently have two cats and two dogs at home. I am naturally a shy person and tend to bond with animals more easily, which has been comforting to me. I believe a good way of giving back to them is being able to provide loving care for them. I hope I can provide the best care for your pet(s) and that they are happy with the care I give them.

Eli Powell

Hi, My name is Eli Powell. I am 22 years old. I was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD, and now live in northern VA. I recently started working for Paw Pals a few months ago, and It’s already my favorite job I’ve ever had. It is a very rewarding feeling to know I’m helping people and their pets. I’ve always had multiple pets at a time growing up, and love all types of animals. Currently, I have a tortoiseshell cat named Tori, and two hamsters named DJ and Smokey. I chose this job because I think it’s very important to give our pets the best care possible.

Nibal Abedalazez

Hello! My name is Nibal Abedalazez and I am 19 years old! I am a very outgoing person and love to meet new people and make friends. I’m very passionate about many things, but the thing I’m most passionate about is animals! Throughout my entire childhood I have always had a dog which led them to be my favorite pet! My current dog is Fendi who I have had for 12 years. I can’t wait to meet you all and have the pleasure of taking care of your pets!

Shad McAllister

Hi, my name is Shad McAllister. I have had animals for most of my life. Growing up on a family farm, we’ve raised bulls, cattle, goats, chickens, and horses. Of course, we’ve always had cats and dogs running around. I have a beautiful daughter and a love.. my wife. My wife and daughter sometimes come with me to meet the pups or kitties. They always have fun interacting the animals. I have been working with Paw Pals since August of 2018 and it has been really rewarding. Paw Pals has gotten me out there and get some more exercise. Can’t wait to meet you and your best friends.

Hazel Hunter

My name is Hazel Hunter and I just love dogs! I am originally from Va. Beach and have been living in Fairfax County since 1989. I have had cats and dogs my entire live and currently have a Chinese Shar Pei. I also keep a friend’s yellow Labrador for extended visits when her family is traveling. He has really become a part of our family. Now that my 3 kids are older and I have more free time, I am able to help Mary out with her clients. I love taking walks and playing with all of our clients’ pets. They all have such different personalities and bring a lot of joy to my life. I look forward to meeting more new friends soon!

Shannon Hamer

Hi! My name is Shannon Hamer and I couldn’t be more thrilled to work for Paw Pals! Throughout my life, I’ve had three dogs, two hamsters, one cat, and tons of fish, and I’ve had the joy of taking care of countless other animals in the area in the past 7 years of my pet sitting journey. For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a strong connection to and passionate love of animals. I care deeply about each and every animal in my care, and I can’t wait to meet many more during my time as a part of the Paw Pals family 🙂

Kari Sehgal

My name’s Kari! I’ve had all types of animals my entire life and currently have 2 dogs, 3 cats, and 4 birds! One of my cats is 19 and one dog is 18! I enjoy going on long walks and jogs both with my dogs and my clients’ dogs. I have fostered many animals in the past (and almost always end up adopting them..) I love to take care of all sorts of animals and can’t wait to meet your fur babies and treat them as if they were my own!

Audrey Bolton

Hi! My name is Audrey and I love animals! I’ve had 3 previous dogs and I currently have 2 puppies. I’ve been pet sitting for the past 6 years and caring for animals is something I’m super passionate about. I treat every animal I care for like they’re my own and I love making a connection with them. I’m super excited to be a part of the Paw Pals family and I’m looking forward to meeting your furry friends!

Paul Pilipczuk

Hi! I’m Paul, I’ve grown up with cats my whole life and have also had my hand at watching dogs ever since I was about nine years old. I love animals, and my friends even call me the cat whisperer because every time I meet a new cat they always come and welcome me. Dogs have always been fun for me to work with, and I really enjoy getting to know them and their unique personalities. Working with Paw Pals has made my passion of loving animals fun and exciting. I can’t wait to work with your pets and get to know them!

Sofie Hunter

My name is Sofie. I’ve had dogs my entire life. I love being outside and enjoy waking and playing with my clients’ pets. I treat all of these furry friends as if they were my own. Caring for animals has become a passion of mine and I can’t wait to take care of your four-legged friends.

Laura Poston

My name is Laura Poston. I live in Centreville with my family and our lab Hank. I retired from the Army in September 2019. Working for Paw Pals has given me the opportunity to exercise and avoid a long commute outside of Centreville. My furry clients are happy to see me and I enjoy taking them on a good walk or playing with them during my visit.

Kayla Boyce

Hi, I’m Kayla! I love animals; honestly, I have been known to hang out with the animals more than the humans whenever I’m invited to someone’s house! If I disappear, I’m often found cuddling the dog! I have a Maltipoo named Shelby, who I refer to as my sister (yes, I’m that kind of person!) She’s an angel and sparked my love for animals. I enjoy being active outside and learning more about caring for and understanding animal behavior in any way I can. I am currently listening to the Creative Dog Training podcast; that’s the nerd I am. I plan to graduate from Liberty University with my major in Graphic Design and minor in Biblical Studies after this coming year. I can’t wait to meet you and your fur babies and treat them how I would want my dog, Shelby, to be treated when I’m away.

Jennifer Andras

Dog mama & wife- 2 of my favorite titles. I am that person who wants to stay home with their dogs! I have had 6 giant breed dogs at one time and would absolutely do it again! I am so fortunate to spend my days working out (major fitness junkie) or exploring NOVA with my pups. I love getting to meet clients and their fur babies!

“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one is a life diminished.”

~ Dean Koontz

Grace Summerson

Hello! I’m Grace Summerson and have been working with dogs and cats for some years now. Whether that be pet sitting, dog walking, or volunteering with animal rescues, I have always had a love for animals! Growing up I had two cats and a dog which were my furry best friends – haha. I’m always excited to meet new furry friends and get to know them and their quirks, and treat them the way I would treat my own pet!

Andrea Hall

22:45 03 Oct 20

I wasn't sure about hiring a new doggie walker service... after all they are our kiddos... my babies were in great hands and I felt relaxed having them in their care. Thank you for everything!

Phillip Evans

14:38 11 Jul 20

When we adopted our new dog in January, Paw Pals agreed to walk her and give her some outside time so she wasn't in the crate all day. She loved her dog walker and you could see her excitement every time the walker showed up. We moved out of the area but would recommend Paw Pals to anyone needing someone to care for their pets.

Katie Russell

15:01 17 May 20

Paw Pals is fantastic! I have had a great experience with Mary! Compassionate, professional, responsive, and prompt! Thank you!

Kristin Conrad

16:00 16 Nov 19

We are so grateful we found Mary and her team at Paw Pals. They are exceptionally responsive, amazingly organized and detail-oriented.We have such peace of mind when we travel knowing our home and pets are so well cared for. Paw Pals is the best pet sitting service we’ve used, and we’re so happy we found them.

Dr Tammy Cashion

21:11 12 Mar 19

We have used Paw pals pet sitting on multiple occasions for our bunnies while we are away. Many pet sitters are not interested in small pets however; Mary and her team, are amazing and we trust her implicitly! We are very happy with the outstanding service we have received from her team including texts and photos of our pets when we are out of town. They always go the extra mile and we highly recommend them!

Cindy Welgoss

13:12 27 Nov 20

We have been using Paw Pals for several years, and through a variety of pets that we have loved. Mary and her team have always been *exceptional* in every way. They are professional, courteous, and truly love our fur family! Mary herself is an organized and stellar administrator of her pet care business, keeping detailed records of our pet’s needs, scheduled pet visits, payments, and balance due easy to keep track of as the pet owner. The pet caretaking team is reliable and trustworthy. When our dogs see any of their Paw Pal friends, they get SO excited to see them! Follow up comments are left via text to keep the pet owner informed of the visit and how the pets are faring. Paw Pals has allowed our family the peace of mind to leave our pets at home, for work, weekend getaways and longer times away when necessary, where they are the most comfortable and familiar. We are grateful to Mary and her team for giving us the ability to enjoy pet ownership without feeling tied down. The responsibility of having pets comes with the need to keep them safe and comfortable at all times, and Mary and her team affords us this when our family has to be away.

Alexandra Hill

22:43 23 May 21

I was a nervous mommy to leave my cats with a sitter service for the first time. Paw Pals went above and beyond to care for my cats and ease a nervous mommy. I already made a reservation to use them again!

Katie McCune

19:19 15 Jul 21

I honestly cannot recommend Mary and her whole crew enough! We started using Mary originally about 7 years ago to stop by occasionally when our Aussie Lana was younger. Over the next couple years Lana stayed with Mary and her family for a couple weekends when we went on vacation. When we moved to our new house in Manassas, Lana stayed with Sam, who lives in Manassas, overnight for moving day, and did great. Right before the pandemic, we adopted our second Aussie, Goose, and Mary recommended a fantastic trainer for him.We now have weekly walks for the dogs, and they love all of their walkers! Trevor, Paul, Hazel, Sofie, and probably a couple others have helped Goose get used to more people, and have helped my husband and me when our schedules are crazy.Paw Pals is our go-to for any help with our dogs, so I highly recommend them!

Taylor Smith

21:22 03 Oct 21

I never worry when Mary and team take care of my dog!

Julie Shildt

17:45 14 Nov 21

It has been a pleasure doing business with paw pals. We have used this company for several trips we have taken over the past 6 months. They have been wonderful caretakers for our 2 cats. Anytime there is ever a question they don't hesitate to give us a call and they leave the best notes and pictures in the emailed report of each visit. We are so glad have found such a great company.

Sebastian Barnes

01:06 17 Jan 22

I have used Paw Pals for several trips over the last few months, and they have been phenomenal every time! Mary is extremely kind and responsive, and she makes sure that my cat and dog have the care that they need every time I am out of town. All of the pet sitters that I've had have been incredibly sweet to my pets, and they treat them like their own! Will gladly continue using Paw Pals every time I need a sitter.

Lesley Bush

13:58 18 Mar 22

We can't rave enough about Paw Pals. They took care of our 18 year old Cat and 20 year old Chinchilla while we were away and when our flight got cancelled, they were so accommodating and available last minute for an extra day. We worked with Jen to coordinate visits from Miko and Danny. I loved the pictures and updates on how our Lil geriatric guys were doing. Thanks a million, Paw Pals!! Our special pets were so well cared for.

Brian Wood

04:08 22 May 22

We have used Paw Pals for a number of years now and would highly recommend to anyone looking for help with their pets. Great communication from owner Mary and flexibility to make adjustments in schedule as life changes over time. Have had a consistent set of walkers who have gotten to know our pup and the various walking routes around our neighborhood quite well.

Ashley Manning

09:50 11 Jun 22

Highly recommend as pet sitters!Initially, a sitter from the company will visit the house to meet the pets and learn where everything is. Tatiana took careful notes and we got her some spare keys.While we are away, Paw Pals sends sitters to come and look after our boys. They feed them, scoop litter, bring in mail and packages, and they will even manage trash, recycling, blinds and lights so that everything is comfortable for our kitties. Each time they check in, we receive an email message with updates and pictures, which is so comforting when we are on the road.Also, if you don’t let Paw Pals know when you are home, they assume something has happened and will continue to care for your babies. If something were to happen, I know they would be okay.Five stars for Paw Pals!

Joseph Walter

19:55 13 Jun 22

Paw Pals provided a large number of photos of our pets along with a personalized message on how our pets were doing with every single visit. I would highly recommend using Paw Pals, we'll be continuing to use them whenever we go on vacation.

Kwi Kim

22:37 17 Jun 22

I hired Paw Pals based on my sister’s referral. Meet & greet was very thorough and detailed. I was surprised that my finicky cat came to check the sitter out. Subsequently, a sitter watched my cat over several separate visits, and it was clear through the visit reports that my cat loved the sitter. All the visits were completed having followed my directions & with professionalism.I would highly recommend Paw Pals to anyone who’s looking for a dependable, personable, & professional sitter.

Michæl Silva

21:38 01 Jul 22

Mary at Paw Pals Pet Sitting is the greatest! She has helped me train my pooch Chico how play nice with other dogs and for that I am extremely grateful! A+A+A+A+A+A