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
​
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).
​
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.
​
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.
​​
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
Team Member since 2023
Certified Professional Pet Sitter, 2024
PetTech PetSaver Certified 2024​​
​
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!
Sam Mills
Team Member since 2024
PetTech PetSaver Certification, Pending
​
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.
​
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!
Casey Altman
Team Member since 2025
PetTech PetSaver Certification, Pending
​​
Preferred Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Hi there, my name is Casey!
​
I’m originally from Los Angeles, but have lived in the Cleveland area for the past two years. At home, my fiancée and I stay busy wrangling our mini poodle, Noodle, and our two cats, Oliver and Lavender, each with personalities bigger than their toy collection.
Ever since I can remember I’ve loved dogs more than people. I never thought I would be a cat person, but after having 2 of my own they have my whole heart now too. I love all things animals and have always wanted to be around them as they bring me complete happiness.
With a degree in philosophy, caring for animals and overall animal welfare has always been extremely important to me. I believe that all animals deserve to be treated just as well as we treat ourselves. I’m looking forward to being able to pamper and care for your cuddly friends!
Over the past two years I have worked part time as a dog sitter on Rover doing both walking and overnight stays. I have also been a volunteer at the Cleveland APL as a dog walker for the dogs there. I have pet sat for friends and family since I was in high school and love to get to know people's pets and care for their homes and animals while they are away. I also love sending fun updates and pictures to clients furry friends while they are away to make sure they feel in the loop and don't miss any cute moments!
Meet The Team!
Libby Paul
Team Member since 2023
American Red Cross Animal CPR Cert., 2024
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hi, I'm Libby!
​
I have loved animals for as long as I can remember and any animal that has entered my home is thanks to me haha…what can I say- my parents love me!
Over the last 6 years I've worked with animals in a variety of ways! I was employed at a local doggy daycare, pet sat for friends and family, and cared for a few horses while their owners were away. I also worked in a lab environment at CWRU and have some limited knowledge and background in animal behavior and zoology.
​
Fun Fact! I am actually a registered yoga teacher with my RYT 500 level certification which is the highest level of yoga certification you can acquire! I have traveled to India twice to deepen my knowledge and understanding of the yoga practice and Indian culture. In May of 2025 I spent two months traveling through India, encountering cows, monkeys, and dogs on the roads which kept me connected to my love for animals. I try to bring the peaceful and mindful energy from India into everything I do. I am a true adventurer who enjoys hiking (especially with a furry friend), traveling, and trying all new activities.
​
Another fun fact is that I was actually Sarah’s first official teammate in 2023! Although I have taken many paths since then and traveled a bit around the world, I always seem to find my way back in one way or the other. Most recently I've been helping the Sarah the Sitter team with a lot of back-end admin and virtual assisting work, which means that I get to see and hear all about our clients day in and day out! It quickly made me realize that I missed being out in the field doing direct care, so I'm happy to say that I'm back at it, helping out with in-person visits whenever I can. It's an honor to care for your beautiful pets!
​
​
Cheryl Craver
Team Member since 2025
PSI's Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals, 2025
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hi, I'm Cheryl!
​
Hi! My name is Cheryl Craver. I’ve always loved animals and started out caring for cats from the time I was born in Berea until I was in my late 30s. I went to school in Cincinnati and received a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Art Education, then began a career in working with children and adults with disabilities. I received a Master’s Degree from Kent State in Infant Development and, seven years ago, I left that work to pursue being an artist. Over the past few years I worked at City Goods and loved it! Since they've closed, I've stayed connected to the art community and now work in Lakewood as a framer and sell my artwork at FunktiniLand in Lakewood! I also curate and hang exhibitions at the Yards Project which is located downtown in Worthington Yards.
When my son’s first word was “doggie”, I started to think about adopting a dog. The problem was I had never owned a dog before and my only in-depth experience with a dog was when I met a beautiful golden retriever on vacation in Upper Michigan. Well…you probably know where this story is going! That beautiful creature stole my heart and I contacted a golden retriever rescue to make my son's dream come true! At our first visit, Briar walked into our house, came straight over to me, and put his head directly in my lap. That's the day I became an absolute dog lover.
After our experience with Briar, we adopted several different dogs from several different local rescues over the years and even did some fostering. My child, Renn, now has 5 cats, so I am a proud Cat Nana to all of them. Unfortunately, I'm unable to have pets in my current rental, so becoming a pet care specialist with the Sarah The Sitter team is my way of filling that void. I'm so excited to meet your loved ones and look forward to caring for them just as I would care for my own!
​
​​
Nina DeMaria
Team Member since 2025
PSI's Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals, Pending
Preferred Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hi, I'm Nina!
​​
I was born in Cleveland and still proudly call it home, though I’ve lived all along the Cleveland–Akron corridor throughout my life.
​
I have a strong background in operational management and leadership, with expertise in team building, training, and SOP writing. I aim to leave every workplace better than I found it, empowering others with confidence they can carry forward. I value collaboration over competition and focus on providing excellent service while building authentic connections that feel rare in today’s world.
I’m also a lifelong animal lover. In 2020, I began offering in-home pet care, which quickly grew from a side hustle into a source of joy and purpose. I realized that pet care wasn’t just a way to earn extra income—it allowed me to live out my calling to be of service and help others. Since then, I’ve expanded into house sitting both for people I know and through platforms such as Rover and TrustedHousesitters. Over the years, I’ve cared for everything from small senior dogs with disabilities, to large, strong pups who don’t realize their own size, to entire households of cats with unique personalities. I also gained professional experience as both a dog handler and a supervisor at a local daycare and boarding facility, where I became confident handling pets of all temperaments and needs.
I find deep fulfillment in caring for my clients’ pets as if they were my own—making sure they feel safe, loved, and kept as close to their normal routines as possible while their people are away.
In addition to pet care, I work as a freelancer in the live events industry, specializing in music, arts, and experimental productions. I’m also a fully insured multi-prop fire entertainer, with poi and fire eating torches as my favorite props. I’m passionate about creating inclusive spaces in the music industry and mentoring women to pursue careers in production.
Outside of work, I enjoy writing poetry, exploring historical landmarks and museums, spending time in nature, camping, chasing sunsets, and stargazing. I’m fascinated by outer space and believe laughter is one of life’s best medicines—so I never pass up a good stand-up comedy show. I can't wait to spend time with your beautiful pets!
​​