Our Staff
shona pascarello - assistant manager
I was taught to love and respect all animals from an early age. My mom took my brother and me on nature adventures to identify flora and fauna, and how to respect nature.I learned how to care for whatever animal needed help. Growing up, I took care of cats, abandoned squirrels, a snapping turtle - whatever we brought home!
When I was 12, I got my first dog, a collie named Herman, from the Humane League. Together we went to obedience school, and later obedience shows. Two years later we got a border collie name Cairo, also from the Humane League. Herman passed away a year ago at the age of 13, but he will always hold a place in my heart. Cairo lost his battle with cancer earlier in 2006, after a long period of remission. In my teens, I volunteered for the Humane League, visiting nursing homes with Herman. With the HL, I used my obedience skills to train dogs and their owners. I co-founded a club in high school called “It’s Their World Too” and also volunteered with ORCA (Organization for the Responsible Care of Animals).
My husband and I moved from Pennsylvania to Laurel in 2002. Although not ready to use my BA in History, I discovered professional pet sitting and chose a career that would allow me to continue to center my life around animals. It’s been one of the best experiences of my life! I can’t imagine doing anything else. Since I’ve started pet sitting, I’ve taken 2 PSI certification courses and participate in all opportunities to continue my education. I specialize in the care of dogs, cats, birds and freshwater tanks, but welcome every chance to meet and care for all creatures.
Today, my husband and I have 5 budgies, a cockatiel, a painted turtle with his own pond, and two 55 gallon freshwater fish tanks. In 2006 we adopted a border collie named Ajax, from Blue Ridge Border Collie Rescue. After obedience school and a first-place graduation certificate, we enjoyed sheep herding as well as trips to the Laurel dog park. We enjoy sharing our lives with our “zoo,” and we strive to give each pet the best care possible. I believe that if a person takes an animal into their home, they are solely responsible for providing a forever home, and insuring the well-being of that animal.
Shona and Eric now have 2 children; Lilly 2 1/2, and Jackson, 6 months old.
nicole pinnick - laurel, maryland
I have loved animals all my life. I grew up with cats, gerbils, guinea pigs, a rabbit and a couple stray dogs. As a kid, it was my job at the end of everyday to "round up" our 8 cats who were inside/outside cats, but they stayed inside at night. In college, my roommate's cat had kittens and I kept one and named him 'Holiday". I loved that cat. He was a beautiful, shorthair black cat. We were together 16 years until he died a couple years ago due to a stomach disease.
I've never bought a cat, per say, they just "show up" on the porch or through someone who needs a home for a cat. Other incredible cats in my life have been Scout, Snickerdoodle and Ashley. Right now I have 2 cats (they're sisters) who are under one year old, Tabitha & Kahve. They put a smile on my face everyday.
I've lived in Laurel most of my life. Went to school in Massachusetts, to study psychology and ended up in an accounting job. I left my accounting job about 3 1/2 years ago to pursue my internet marketing business, which I truly enjoy because I get to work with my husband. We have alot of fun, helping alot of people improve their lives.
I am really enjoying Terrapin Pets! It is almost a dream come true. When I was in 6th grade I had a dream of buying a really big house and splitting it in half and finding all the stray cats and dogs and giving them a home. So with Terrapin Pets, I get to take care of alot of pets, even though they're not strays.
ruth rosenthal - silver spring, maryland
In January 2008, I retired from the Treasury Department, where I worked in a variety of jobs, most recently supervising a small group of program analysts at the United States Mint. Once I retired, I started looking for ways to fill my new free time.
Lots of things have interested me over the years, most recently photography, travel and reading, but one recurring thing in my life has been my love of dogs – especially big dogs! I’ve always looked forward to taking care of the neighbors’ dogs when their owners went on vacation, and I’ve always lived with dogs, except for the four years when I was in college.
In grade school, I was able to convince my parents to get a dog. That first dog was a fox terrier, but when I got my own dog, it was a bit bigger – a beautiful furry black dog that I named Jennifer. After Jennifer, I had another black mixed breed named Stoney. By then I was married, and I let my husband participate in choosing the next dog. As a result, a beautiful red Siberian husky named Echo came into our lives. He was quite different from any dog I had owned, and I learned a lot about different breeds while sharing my life with him.
When Echo died, my husband and I went back to the shelter and picked out a nine-month old white German shepherd/Siberian husky that we named Allie. Allie got a brother a few years ago, when we added a rambunctious young rat terrier (Joey) to our family. It’s the first time I’ve owned two dogs, and it’s fun to watch the interaction and learning that goes on between sweet, calm Allie and her rambunctious little brother Joey!
I have met wonderful dogs through my work with Terrapin Pets. It’s rewarding to be greeted with a wagging tail or a gentle nose on my arm. It’s also fun to spend free time in the great outdoors with such elegant and appreciative company!
christi fries - owner, ceo
Christi and John have lived in Maryland for over four decades, and as Beltsville residents since 1991.They met at a local building materials supplier; Christi retired in 2002 after 23 years in a Customer Service career. John just celebrated his 22nd anniversary with the same Beltsville company. Both hold degrees in Business Management; Christi returned to school in 2005 to earn her Veterinary Assistant Certificate. Their hobbies include travel, reading, cooking, and working as caretakers for a local feral cat community.
Christi and John both grew up with cats; most of them were adopted strays. Cats currently ruling the house are former ferals. Butterball—a 12 year old orange tabby boy, Meep— a 12 year old brown tabby girl, and Puzzle—a 4 year old all black crazy kitty boy. Recently, we added Poppy - a 2 year old blind brown tabby that gave birth to kittens the day we tried to get her to a spay-neuter clinic, Peekaboo - a 3 year old grey tabby feral trapped in our colony, and Babycakes - a black-and-white feral 6 month-old trapped at a client's house that keeps us laughing non-stop.
Since the late 1990’s, Christi & John have rescued over a dozen feral cats. They all have been socialized, taken to vets for spay/neuter surgeries, and vaccinated. In 2009, Christi volunteered to trap feral cats in the Riverdale, Mt. Ranier, and Beltsville communities, and has trapped, transported, and returned 32 cats to their communities after surgery and vaccinations.
Christi works 7 days a week in the business, enjoying pet care visits, and managing scheduling and admin duties in the office. Training and assisting on pet care visits with Shona, Ruth, Nicole, Laura and Lynn fills out the days, and nights! . John helps manage the feral colony (the “outies”) as well as caring for the “innies.”
Continuing education is important to us! All of our sitters are continually cross-trained, so that we have multiple sitters available for any client at any time. Weekly updates on pet nutrition, animal and zoonotic disease and treatment, as well as customer service skills are shared so that sitters and clients alike have confidence in our skills.
Christi, as a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) chairs and participates on many committees, and was elected to the 2010 Board of Directors. NAPPS has published more than half a dozen articles written by Christi, including Customer Service, Certification, and Emergency Responder topics.
melissa bailey - laurel, maryland
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I've been a registered nurse for over 20 years. I've been an animal lover for longer than that. My daughter is Jennifer, and she is 13 years old. She and I have a love for all animals. We wish we could afford to adopt more and more every day.
Currently, we have 1 dog, 5 cats and 2 goldfish. We have been mommas to a rabbit, 2 rats, many gerbils, a few birds and a little hamster.
We were blessed to have Christi join us in the care of our pets when we got a puppy years ago. He was a terrier and needed a lot of outside time. Unfortunately, he died at the age of 2. Christi was there for all the fun with him when he was "training" us, and she was the one I called when we had to make the very tough decision to let him go when he became gravely ill.
Because of the loving care and attention Christi has always shown us and our animals, I was very glad to be able to join her team of mid-day pet sitters.
We'll miss Melissa when she retires from pet sitting at the end of 2009, as she assumes a new nursing position in Anne Arundel County.
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laura christoplos - pet sitter & pet nutrition consultant
The Terrapin Pets team is proud to welcome Laura to our staff. You may recognize her from visits to Mighty Healthy pet in College Park!
Laura has been a dog owner since she was 6 years old, and currently owns Bert, a black lab, and Lucy, a coonhound mix. She holds degrees from Windham College and Washington State Univeristy, and is currently continuing with education in Holistic Pet Care. Laura is very attuned to the behavioral aspects of our most precious companions, and she is an ace at getting medicine into very recalcitrant pets. She recently earned her American Red Cross Pet First Aid Certification.
Laura also owns Black Dog Studio, and specializes in pet portraits, weddings, mitzvahs, and corporate events.
lynn wexler -
When I was growing up, four legged furry creatures were not allowed in our house (I made up for this great injustice with a huge collection of stuffed animals). When I finished graduate school I was determined to get a dog and friends were breeding their Golden Retriever and they set one aside for me.
My mother was terrified of dogs. Before her first visit after I got CJ, my Golden Retriever, she told my brother “I don’t know who is going to end up in the closet, me or the dog”. By the end of the visit, CJ was sleeping with my Mom and she was referring to her as her granddog – wallet and refrigerator pictures too. That was over 20 years ago and I’ve had six dogs and seven cats and I’ve loved every moment of it!
After way too many years in the corporate world and a 15 month battle with breast cancer – which I did happen to win – I wanted to do something that made my heart sing. I am so excited to be a part of Terrapin Pets. I never knew there was such a thing as a “Professional Pet Sitter”, but I am thrilled to know that I am associated with a company that has been recognized by its national association as the best.
I live in Silver Spring with my partner Liz and our pack which includes Sarah, a 9 year old Dachshund/Jack Russell mix, Max, a 5 year old mutt I found sitting on the side of the road , and Prissy, we are not sure of her age (and she is not telling), our cat.
