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About - Your Care Team

  

When we decided to start K9 Kids Pet Sitters and More, we realized what an important responsibility we were undertaking and the trust we were asking people to put in us.  We wanted people to realize we were serious about wanting our clients to feel comfortable placing their furry family members in our care.  To prepare, Karen joined and became certified through the National Association of Professional Petsitters(NAPPS),took an additional three veterinary assistant classes and worked for a year and a half at the Animal Wellness Center in Plant City.  After being certified in Pet First Aid/CPR through Pet Tech, the leader in pet safety education.   Karen took a further step and became certified as a Pet First Aid/CPR Instructor.  

 

While this is currently a part-time endeavor for Laurie, she hopes to enter the NAPPS certification program.  Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR, Laurie helps with First Aid and CPR classes.  We continue our education efforts and hope our hard work is a reflection of our dedication to providing the very best care for your furry friends and peace of mind for you

Karen Sykes Ed.D - Care Director

 

#1 WE ARE PET PEOPLE!


​Like many folks we work with I am a transplanted Floridian.  For thirty years I was a college professor and administrator in Massachusetts.  I earned a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts and had a wonderful career teaching and coaching prospective teachers.  While I loved every minute of my life in education, I was ready for a change.  There was never a doubt that my second career would somehow involve my other passions - animals and the out of doors.  I have been a dog and cat person all of my life and currently have five dogs, seven cats, a cockatiel and several fish..  For fun, my dogs and I have competed in both obedience and agility trials, but are now into hiking and continuing to look for someplace to swim that doesn't have a resident alligator.

Laurie Gouthro - Co-Care Director

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I am a native Floridian and can't imagine living anywhere else (although I tried once).  I graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Secondary Physical Education and for five years i taught high school health and coached.  I have coached in college, played professional softball and baseball and currently work for an international sports organization.  My entire life I have had pets and currently am owned by an entitled cat and a Havanese/Shitzu who has only three speeds - fast, faster and sound asleep.

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