Meet The Team!
Sarah Chahy
Owner & Captain of Cuddles
Certified Professional Pet Sitter 2024
PetTech PetSaver Certified 2024
Pet Sitters International Courses Completed:​
Caring for a Pet with Diabetes 2024
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Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
For as long as I can remember, I've felt a connection to all animals. I grew up with a beautiful Golden Retriever mix, Sandy, who I absolutely adored. I also had a goldfish, Moldy, who lived an extraordinarily long life thanks to the dedication of my persistent mother, two hermit crabs, and the occasional frog (my poor mother - you do know they eat live crickets, right?) My parents always encouraged my love for animals and my dad is probably one of the biggest animal lovers I know (he will follow along on Instagram and will regularly check in with me on how all of your pets are doing).
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I love the Hawaiian concept that you are not your pet's owner, but their Kahu, meaning their 'guardian, protector, steward, beloved, attendant' and that your role is to protect them and help them walk through this life.
With a Bachelor's in Women's Studies and a Master's in Nonprofit Management, I have worked in various professional IT roles and started pet sitting many years ago for friends and family. In 2019 I LLC'd and in 2021 I decided to make the leap, leaving my full time corporate position to pursue my passion for animal care. Since then I've been blessed with the most amazing clients, a wonderful, knowledgeable, dedicated team, and feel lucky every day to call this my job.
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I love learning and providing our team with professional training opportunities. In the past I volunteered with Berea Animal Rescue and am now a Certified Professional Pet Sitter with Pet Sitter's International, am PetTech PetSaver Certified, and will be pursuing a certification in Animal Hospice and Palliative Care to better serve our senior clients and those with medical issues. I'm also proud that I helped to create and organize a twice yearly CLE Pet Care Community Night for all those in the Cleveland area to get together, network, share best practices and learn about each others' businesses. I'm a firm believer in sharing knowledge and supporting others in their success, and meeting others in this industry has been absolutely wonderful.
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And lastly, as a frequent traveler who has a 19 year old kitty, Miss Pirate, I understand how important it is to know that your fur babies are receiving the same love as they would from you while you're away. Our team consists of a small but mighty group of dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable, certified pet care professionals who focus on safety, education, enrichment and professionalism. We provide outstanding care while still having fun and giving plenty of cuddles to your beloved family members. We tackle all 'the things' so you can remain worry-free!
Meet The Team!
Jolene Spannuth
First Mate of Cuddles
Certified Professional Pet Sitter, 2024
PetTech PetSaver Certified 2024
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Pet Sitters International Courses Completed:​
Caring for a Pet with Diabetes 2024
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Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hello! I’m Jolene and I’m excited to be a part of the Sarah The Sitter Team!
My husband and I currently reside in Rocky River with our slightly spoiled and very chatty cat, Clark. We are long time clients of Sarah’s and appreciate the love and care she provides to Clark. We have never felt more at ease leaving Clark while we are away than when Sarah is caring for him. We still miss him but knowing how much she loves him, how much he loves her (sometimes I’m a little jealous), and seeing him in updates makes it a little easier to be away. I look forward to providing that same level of care to your pets!
I have a background in healthcare, managed IT services, and project management. I grew up with dogs, cats, horses, hamsters, guinea pigs, fish, lizards, and the occasional goat. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family, time outdoors, snowboarding, watching reruns of Law and Order, and snuggling with any animals I can.
I have been a volunteer at Friendship APL in Elyria for 4.5 years and enjoy it immensely. Myself, and another friend and volunteer, currently lead a pack walk once a week and teach Dog Walking 101 three times per month to new volunteers who wish to interact directly with the dogs.
FAPL has a partnership with Grafton Correctional Institute in which dogs learn basic commands over 8-12 weeks, on-site at GCI. I was fortunate to be taught those basic commands to help canine graduates of the program maintain and/or continue to improve those skills while they are waiting to be adopted. I am not a trainer, however, I enjoy attending training webinars to advance my knowledge of different training methods. If your pet knows any commands or are working on new skills, I would love to hear about them in an effort to maintain consistency and help them be successful.
I look forward to meeting you and your pets!
Katy Zitek
Second Mate of Cuddles
PetTech PetSaver Certified 2024
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Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
I’ve loved animals since I was young and have experience caring for pets of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments including fish, hamsters, snakes, lizards, and birds all the way to cats, dogs, and horses. I grew up surrounded by family pets, naming all my new hamsters and fish “Sally”. I have since expanded my pets’ names and now have a grey polydactyl cat named “Denver” and a black cat with piercing orange eyes named “Coven” that are spoiled and loved by my roommates and I. I also spend a lot of time with my family dogs who love to hike I’ve shown horses in 4H, volunteered at Elyria friendship APL, and currently work at a veterinary office in Lorain.
With a degree in Sustainable Agriculture, I love that everything is interconnected, important, and balanced. I strive to connect to the people and pets in my community and the nature and plants in our environment. In my free time, I love spending time with my friends, traveling, exploring new places, and hiking. This past year I've done a lot of traveling which has allowed me to see soo many amazing national parks, beautiful cities with lots of history, and eat some great food. As amazing as seeing these new places is, my favorite place is spending time at home with my pets, whether that be watching tv with them cuddled up next to me or going on our own adventures. I can't wait to meet and provide excellent care to your pets!
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Sam Mills
Third Mate of Cuddles
PetTech PetSaver Certification, Pending
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Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hi! I am Sam. I have always been drawn to animals and their ability to effortlessly love and bring joy. There is nothing more satisfying than becoming friends with an animal who was a bit unsure at first; the patience required always makes me more present.
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I am originally from Cleveland and moved back in 2010 to attend the Cleveland Institute of Art. After graduating in 2014, I served and bartended around Cleveland. In 2018, I saw a Facebook post calling for employees to help open a new daycare and boarding center in Gordon Square. Six years later I am the Assistant General Manager in charge of continuing education for the employees at Stay Dog Daycare. I have learned an immense amount about animal body language, behavioral cues, healthy play, cleaning protocols, and so much more in my free time since starting there, and am working currently towards more certifications.
I look forward to working part-time with Sarah and the team, continuing my pet care education through their training opportunities, and most importantly, I am excited to meet all of your beautiful pets! I love animals, and I believe it is my lot in life to care for them, as well as educate others on providing them with a safe and enriching life. I also love live music, and enjoy making mixed media collage with recycled materials. Happy to be on the team!
Zainab Pixler
Fourth Mate of Cuddles
PetTech PetSaver Certification, Pending
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Pronounced: 'Zay-nub'
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hi! I'm Zainab! I live near Gordon Square with my adorable and attitude-filled cat, Bean.
I'm a dedicated advocate for both animals and sustainable food systems. By day, I work as the City of Cleveland's Food Systems Strategist, collaborating with local stakeholders to strengthen the city’s food policies and connect communities with equitable, sustainable food resources.
Outside of my full-time job, I channel my passion for animals through volunteering with CITY DOGS Cleveland as a dog walker and Cleveland APL as a cat foster. In addition to dog walking, I also train CITY DOGS volunteers on how to follow proper dog walking and outing protocols, ensuring pups and people stay safe (and happy!) while at and away from the kennel.
I’ve completed both dog reactivity and basic manners training classes with Cold Nose Companions, a positive reinforcement training facility in Chardon. I continue to use what I’ve learned to help pups become their best selves.
Whether I'm hanging out with some adoptable furry friends or building networks to improve local food access, I'm always committed to making our community a kinder, better place. I prioritize building and keeping trust in all my relationships, including my relationship with pups and kitties.
In my spare time, I love to be out in nature, travelling, thrifting, and cooking from one of my many (many) cookbooks.
I'm so happy to join the Sarah the Sitter team! Caring for animals brings me so much joy, and I'm looking forward to sharing that joy with your pets!
Meet The Team!
Libby Paul
Admin Extraordinaire
American Red Cross Animal CPR Cert., 2024
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
I’m Libby! I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember and currently have two adorable tuxedo kitty brothers, Milo and Maceo. In the past I’ve worked at a dog boarding kennel, have petsat for friends and family, and even watched a few horses! I’ve worked at CWRU and also have a limited background in animal behavior and zoology.
I recently earned my Yoga Teaching Certification and currently teach at Satsang Yoga in Berea and in studios all around Cleveland.
A recent, life changing trip to India solidified my love for the practice and I try to bring that peaceful, mindful energy to everything I do.
I am a true adventurer who enjoys hiking (especially with a furry friend), traveling, and trying all new activities. It’s an honor to care for your pets!
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