Green background with white bold text reading: 'Compassionate care for nervous pets in Central Massachusetts.'

Alex & Shannon, Founders

Based in Central Massachusetts, we’re lifelong animal lovers who grew up surrounded by pets and now share our home with two rescue dogs.

Our passion for animals is at the heart of everything we do, driving our dedication to rescue work and making the world a better place for our furry friends.

Whether your pets need love, playtime, or just some cozy company, you can count on us to treat them like our own.

Meet your pet’s new best friends.

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A man and woman standing on a forest trail, each holding a dog, with trees and sunlight in the background.
A man and a dog sharing a moment of affection in a forest, with trees and sunlight in the background.

Our Inspiration: Luna’s Story

When we adopted our first dog, Luna, at just six months old, we were in for a big surprise. We brought her home, helped her settle in, and soon discovered how anxious and reactive she really was. Simple things—like the sound of the doorbell or a passing stranger—would send her into a full-blown panic. We’re talking lunging, barking, and spinning. It was a lot for two first-time dog parents!

When we first adopted her, we imagined taking her everywhere—breweries, dog-friendly events, meeting all our friends—but we quickly realized that was not the life Luna wanted. It was disappointing at first, but we learned an important lesson: we had to build a life that suited her, not try to force her into a box that suited us.

Is Luna still reactive? Yes! But now we have the knowledge and skills to help her cope when faced with her triggers.

Luna taught us something life-changing: nervous pets aren’t giving us a hard time, they’re having a hard time, which is so often misunderstood. With time, patience, and the right approach, these pets can feel safe and thrive. Her journey was the inspiration for making nervous pet care the foundation of A&S Pet Care.

Woman feeding dog on leash in a wooded park with trees and sunlight.

Our Approach

Slow & Gentle Introductions: We take things at your pet’s pace, letting them approach us when they’re ready.

Meet & Greets: We always start care arrangements with a no-pressure meet and greet with you present to help your pets get comfortable before we care for them.

Calm Energy: From our tone of voice to our body language, we’re intentional about creating a stress-free environment.

Positive Reinforcement: Using treats, toys, and lots of patience, we associate our visits with safe and happy moments.

Tailored Care: Every pet is unique. We adjust our visits based on your pet’s triggers, comfort level, and needs.

We follow the Fear Free approach with all pets in our care.

Success Stories

  • "Shannon was super understanding of our cat's stress from us being away and helped ensure she felt as comfortable as possible while taking care of her needs."

    Burton W.

  • "Alex & Shan have cared for my pets on numerous occasions. I have 3 cats and 2 dogs, one being a blind and reactive dog. They took the time to make him feel comfortable and at ease and he is always so excited when he gets to spend time with them. All of my pets adore both of them and as an anxious dog parent, I feel at ease whenever they are in A&S' care."

    Sarah F.

  • “Shannon is an amazing pet sitter. Our GSD is a rescue with anxiety and uncertainty but Shannon was willing to work with me for a time so Bruiser can build comfort and trust. Pet sitting with him brought him calmness during a busy event we had at the house where she watched him solo."

    Deborah C.

  • “Shannon is phenomenal! She took care of our shy, old female pup (and senior cat sidekick) and she was absolutely wonderful."

    Bianca W.

  • "Our cats can be very skittish with strangers and Shannon was great with them! Terrific communication and daily updates - definitely recommend!"

    Rachel G.

  • "Shannon was an amazing cat sitter who went above and beyond..every day she would bring out the string toy to see if they wanted to play. One of my cats has anxiety and started showing signs of stress after a week into our trip. Shannon was so patient with him and was able to calm him down before we returned home."

    Christina S.

  • “We are very pleased with Shannon’s care of our dog, Mia. Mia is a rescue from the Middle East who had a very rough start to life and has a difficult time warming up to people, especially in our home as she can be territorial. Shannon has great instincts with dogs and approached her perfectly. She also did 2 trial drop in visits for us before the housesitting to ensure Mia had time to warm up to her. It clearly worked as Mia now loves her. She took excellent care of both Mia and our home. Looking forward to having Shannon sit for Mia more often in the future.”

    Alexa M.