Doggie Divas: More Than Just Pet Sitters

Lots of people could use an exercise partner, a massage or just a midday break outside.

So could their dogs.

The Doggie Diva fills those needs for pets all over Pinellas County.

Since 2008, The Diva, aka Shannon Sullivan, has made "walking the dog" her full-time occupation. Her business serves cat and dog owners all over Largo, Seminole and the Pinellas beaches. Two of Sullivan's business partners cover the rest of the county.

Make no mistake: The Diva does more than take pets for a walk.

Caren Dana, a client with a Rhodesian ridgeback, said the Divas were there for her and her other dog, Farrah, when her beloved Bruno died. 

“They mourned with me. They have helped me get Farrah through her separation anxiety with Bruno being gone,” she said.

“She was an 85-pound marshmallow who cried the first two weeks of being out of her crate, and they strategized for me to get her through it,” Dana added. 

Emotional issues are nothing new to Sullivan. She has a plan to deal with them.

Sullivan is certified in Reiki. She uses the ancient healing art to soothe pets' emotional traumas.  

"It helps with emotional issues,” Sullivan said. It helps pets calm down and regain their trust after traumatic situations like abuse, neglect in cases of puppy mill rescue and hoarding situations."

"The Reiki helps with the touch to bring them out of that fear and get them used to human contact again,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan's clients use her services in lieu of boarding their pets in kennels while on short vacations.

“They can leave them at home in their own environment. They don’t have to put them in a kennel,” Sullivan said.

On a house call the Doggie Divas will walk, feed, give medications and pet your pets. They can also pet-sit overnight. 

Clients like Dana who work long days want their pets to have some company during the day. That's where Sullivan and the Divas come in. Sullivan sees Farrah twice a week.

Dana "leaves early in the morning and doesn’t get home till late in the evening, so this is kind of a break for Farrah to get out,” Sullivan said.

Pets in the Divas’ care range from pomeranians, which weigh about 4 pounds, to larger dogs like Farrah and greyhounds. 

Judy Barnes, who owns a schnauzer, said she feels that her pet is safe in Sullivan’s arms.

“Once when we were on vacation, Shannon came to walk Rudy, our Schnauzer. After his walk, it began to storm, and she stayed late and held him on the couch because he is afraid of the thunder. We would never trust anyone else with our little guy," Barnes said.

Sullivan, who grew up in Largo, said her business grew out of a deep love for animals and their well-being.

She volunteers at the in Largo and is a member of DART, the Disaster Animal Response Team. Sullivan donates her time for those causes and also cares for four of her own dogs.

Dana’s description makes it clear that she thinks one of the best things about the Divas is peace of mind. 

“They take pictures, clean up accidents and leave a report card every day. The biggest thing they have done for me is to help make Farrah an easy normal dog who is comfortable in her own home, alone, so she can enjoy watching the birds and lizards out of the window, sleeping on the furniture and watching TV,” she said. 

“They are helping me turn her into the kind of dog Bruno was … the best. Shannon is awesome, and I would be lost without her and the Divas.”

To contact Shannon about sitting for your pets, please visit her website, www.doggiediva .org, send her an email at Shannon_thedoggiediva@yahoo.com, or call her at 727-667-2622.