About Us

Jessica graduated with distinction as a Professional Dog Trainer/Certified Training Partner through Karen Pryor Academy (KPA)’s intensive dog trainer professional program as well as a licensed Family Paws educator and a member of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT). She is also recognized as a Certified Professional Pet Sitter by Pet Sitters International – the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters dedicated to educating pet sitters and promoting, supporting and recognizing excellence in pet sitting. She is trained in Pet First Aid and CPR through ProTrainings and is a certified Fear Free Professional.

Jessica graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science from the University of Connecticut in 2015. Her animal-centered coursework here included courses in animal behavior, health and disease management, anatomy and physiology, basic through advanced nutrition and feeding, genetics, comparative exercise physiology, endocrinology, reproductive physiology and equine science.

Her resume also boasts hands-on work experience managing horse farms, working with animals ranging from prairie dogs and bison to South American Primates at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, as well as care, training and management of domestic animals from hamsters to cows.

Outside of RCO, Jessica is the rescue mom of four dogs (Rocco, Luna, Owl and River), two rescued kitties named Willow and August, and enjoys reading, walking, Taylor Swift, visiting Disney World and pursuing further educational opportunities.

A recent addition to our team, Claudia lives in Oxford with her son and husband.  She grew up with everything from snakes to dogs and has been a pet sitter for friends and family all of her adult life!  

Claudia has a Bachelor’s degree from Johnson & Wales University in Hospitality Management.  She currently has two loveable rescue dogs in her family – both are black lab mixes.  In her free time Claudia loves gardening, baking and spending time with her large extended family.  Claudia prides herself on an extensive knowledge of song lyrics!  She can’t wait to meet and care for all your furry family members.

Claudia is currently being trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Mackenzie is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Jessie is a lifelong pet lover living in Southbury. She was thrilled to learn about RCO and join the team in 2020. She grew up with a black lab named Jason. She has pet sat for family and friends throughout her life but it wasn’t until she got a dog of her own in 2010 that she truly understood the joys of being a pet parent. Her pup is a pit mix named Joker and he is her best friend in the world. It was when she was on her own and took care of Joker that she fell in love with the needs that he has and it gave her a purpose.

She sees and feels all the love animals needs, especially while owners are away. Nothing makes her happier than caring for animals. Seeing them happy Jessie’s world happy!

Jessie is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Kim has been part of the RCO team since 2021. She is a huge animal lover and is the proud dog parent to Jack and her newest addition, Pepper! Kim lives in Naugatuck with her husband and kids. She joined the RCO Pet Care team with prior experience in walking dogs and pet sitting for her family and friends.

Kim has a knack for handling pups of all sizes, energy levels and types. She can’t wait to come meet your pets!

Kim is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Sara started her adventure with RCO as a client. We’ve been caring for her pets since 2016! She has always loved how well Jess and the RCO team cared for her pets and just had to join us!

After becoming injured as a police officer, Sara retired and realized I wanted to pursue my passion for working with animals. She is currently am a fur mom to four cats, three dogs, and five chickens and has taken care of all types of animals, from snakes to turtles and everything else in between.

Sara prides herself in keeping my fur babies happy, healthy, and safe. She can’t wait to meet your babies and spoil them with kisses, pets, and lots of love!

Sara is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through Pet Care Team Training and is background checked via Acutraq.

Jeana is our resident Cat Specialist! She is the mom of three beautiful kitties. She also grew up with cats and have volunteered with cat rescues in NJ and NY for four years. Jeana is proud to have fostered over twenty cats ranging from 5 week old kittens still being weaned, to seniors with medical issues.

Jeana also also have experience socializing cats of all ages and is skilled in handling cats of different temperaments – including getting them in the dreaded carrier!

Jeana absolutely loves cats and understands each cat has different needs, boundaries and tolerance levels of people. She will ensure to learn everything she needs to know about your fur babies and take care of them as if they are were her own!

Sheridan has had a passion for animals since she was a small child. Growing up she worked on a horse farm and pet sat for friends and people in her neighborhood. She is very passionate about taking care of all animals and is a big dog lover. She’s got a soft spot for the seniors!

When not working, Sheridan is home taking care of and loving on lots of animals. She moved to Oxford a few years ago to pursue her dream of creating, producing and owning a farm with many rescues and owner surrenders! She has always found that the special needs and animals needing a home find her!

Sheridan is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Lisa has loved animals as long as she can remember. She grew up with a sweet beagle named Tippy and dog sat for her neighbors when they went on vacation! In her adulthood, she had an unexpected encounter with a feral cat… she gave birth to five kittens underneath their deck!

This experience abruptly introduced Lisa to the world of felines. She would not claim the title of the “crazy cat lady” but, pretty close! They just seem to find her!

In the following years, Lisa has opened her home to strays, cared for neighbors’ and friends’ cats and adopted medically challenged cats. After spending a career in healthcare as a CAT Scan Technologist, Lisa felt it was time attend to the needs of her four legged friends. In her spare time, Lisa loves to work out, cook and explore the great outdoors by hiking!

A recent addition to our team, Nadine has a passion for doing good in the world and giving back to the animal community. She is a lover of all and wants to make a difference in animals’ lives by finding a forever home for them. Nadine is a mother to not only three children but four furry friends. Since the birth of her first child, she has rescued six dogs from shelters in North Carolina and Texas.

Nadine has a Bachelor’s degree in Paralegal Studies from Quinnipiac University. She feels that her compassion for animals will be a great fit to take care of animal needs while their owners are away! Nadine loves to garden, cuddle with her doggies, spend time with family and make dozens of pierogis for Christmas Eve.

Nadine is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Olivia joined the RCO Pet Care team in 2022! She was raised in Middlebury but now resides in the Watertown area. Olivia was raised around dogs who have impacted her life in such a positive way, and a job working with animals is a dream-come-true.

Olivia attended film school in San Diego but later decided that a career in the legal field interested her more. In between pet visits, Olivia is pursuing her paralegal degree!

In her free time, Olivia enjoys walking her “dog pack” consisting of: Bentley the boxer, Roscoe the Pit/Lab/Chow mix, and Evie the American bulldog mix. Olivia cannot wait to meet you and your animals!

Olivia is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Rebecca joined the RCO Pet Care team in 2021. She has been a life long lover of animals – especially dogs. She has spent the last six years working her days working as a veterinary assistant. She also has experience pet sitting and dog walking for friends and family for the last 7 years and has three rescue dogs of her own. She likes to take her dogs hiking on her days off and is looking forward to meeting new friends – four-legged and two – with our team!

Rebecca is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Nicole’s love for animals began before she could talk, and only grew greater as she got older. She grew up with 3 dogs, Nala (American Eskimo), Toby (Newfoundland/Retriever Mix), and Bandit (German Shepard), 2 cats (Amber & Misty), a ferret (Cinnamon), 2 leopard geckos (Lester & Jasta), as well as many fish. Her current pack consists of 2 dogs, Sadie (Chihuahua/Minpin) and Guster (Boxer/Terrier Mix), a Pictus Catfish (Mr. Meowington), and of course her boyfriend Matt.

She attended the Agricultural Science program at Southington High School, many moons ago, in hopes of becoming a veterinarian. When she quickly moved up the ranks at her first job in the produce department of a big grocery chain, her vision shifted and she decided to continue down that path but her passion for animals remained. Fast forward 13 years and a career ending injury later, Nicole moved on to be an Event Coordinator and Social Media Specialist for her mother’s restaurant and a local distillery. It was her development of multiple events benefitting local animal shelters that re-sparked her desire to work with animals and made her realize something was missing in her life.

Nicole’s journey with RCO thus began in early 2023! She loves taking every opportunity she can to learn and grow with us. She is always excited to meet new furry friends and can’t wait to give yours all of her love!

Alora joined the RCO Pet Care team in 2021. She currently lives in Woodbury with two dogs, a cat, and two rats of her own! She has been an animal lover her entire life and has grown up around animals from having family pets to owning her own.

Alora is currently is finishing up her Bachelor’s of Psychology at the University of Connecticut. Outside of continuing her education, she enjoys spending time with her pets, reading, roller skating, and horseback riding!

Alora is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Brenda joined the RCO Pet Care team in 2022. She grew up with dogs and as an adult has always had cats. Brenda has a special place in her heart for all animals and is the proud cat mom of the pink nose, pink-eared Sabby.

Brenda taught music in elementary school for 24 years before deciding to pursue her first passion of taking care of animals. She is currently in school to be a vet assistant and works at a doggy daycare! She is excited to meet and take care of your precious pets.

Alora is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Sydney, a sophomore at the University of Maine, is excited to be a part of the RCO Pet Care team and provide exceptional care for precious pets. Having lived in Southbury her whole life, Sydney is dedicated to ensuring the utmost care for each animal. With a passion for animals that dates back to her childhood, she always knew she wanted to work with them in some capacity. After exploring various options, Sydney found her calling in pet care and is thrilled to be working with this team.

Sydney’s journey in pet care began by looking after friends’ pets during their summer travels. However, it quickly expanded as other members of the community reached out to her for assistance. During this time, she discovered her love for caring for animals and the importance of providing them with love, care, and attention. Sydney’s natural ability to connect with animals and comprehend their needs fueled her passion for pursuing a career in pet care.

Throughout the years, Sydney has gained experience in various areas of pet care, including feeding, exercise, and administering medication. While her primary focus has been dogs and cats, she is committed to further expanding her knowledge of other animals. Sydney’s priority has always been to ensure that every animal under her care receives the highest level of attention and care possible!

Sydney is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and background checked via Acutraq.

Missy joined the RCO Pet Care team in 2021. As a life-long animal lover, she has always been the go-to for all of her family and friends’ pet sitting needs.

As a dog mom of a blue heeler rescue named Shaka, she is very sensitive to the needs of dogs. Missy is very active and has the patience, enthusiasm and love for ALL types of dogs! Missy takes pride in being  focused on delivering quality care and making sure pets feel loved and taken care of. She will make sure your best friend has everything they need while providing a fun and safe visits!

Missy is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Leila lives in Oxford with her husband, two kids, and two dogs. Rainbow Blaster is a 3 year old Italian greyhound /chihuahua mix and Phillip S. Thompson, also a chihuahua mix, is a new addition to her family. He was adopted in February of 2023 at 4 months old!

Leila has always felt a great affection and connection with animals. She was the kid who watched her neighbor’s and friend’s pets when they went on vacation and that carried on into my young adulthood. In her youth she always thought of myself as a cat person, but when she met and married my husband, he was allergic! She got what she thought was the next best thing – a chihuahua. She taught her that dogs are just as amazing as cats.

Leila is excited to start her new adventure meeting and befriending your beloved four legged family!

Leila is currently being trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Nicole has always been a lifelong lover of every type of animal, from small to big. She has numerous years of experience watching family and friends pets. She now resides in Middlebury with her 3 large dogs, two of which are rescues, a rescued bunny, and now has added chickens into the mix!

Besides hanging out with her gang of animals, Nicole loves to go on hikes across CT, running, and reading by her pool. Nicole is meticulous about taking care of her own animals which she considers her family members so she would love to do the same for anyone else !

Nicole is currently being trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Brianna (AKA Bri!) describes her “happy place” as working/being with animals. She graduated with an Associate’s in Equine Science and Bachelor’s in Equine Rehabilitation and Therapy from SUNY Morrisville in 2019. She went on to work in Texas as a manager Equine Rehab Therapist at an esteemed Equine Rehabilitation and Fitness center where she created schedules based on individual horses’ needs and provided daily treatments to ensure each horse could heal properly.

From a young age, Brianna knew she wanted to work with horses, and pursuing the dream only solidified her choice. Now in Connecticut, Brianna works at en emergency equine vet hospital as a hospital and rehab technician. Her love of animals extends to all species as, personally, she owns a dog, four cats, and three mice (…and she only wants more!) and has owned horses, rabbits, and goats in the past! Brianna knows, in her heart, she never wants to stop working with animals. She’s very excited to be a part of the RCO Pet Care team!

Bri is currently being trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Abi has always had a strong passion for animals since a young age. Growing up, animals were a constant presence in her home, including dogs, cats, a bunny, and even squirrels she rehabilitated! However, her passion and love for horses truly ignited when her grandmother took her on a trail ride for her 13th birthday, resulting in an unwavering obsession ever since!

After her family moved to a farm in Terryville, Abi had the opportunity to fulfill her dreams by owning two horses along with a few goats and chickens. Her dedication to animals led her to work as a small animal Veterinary Technician for five years, deepening her love and knowledge of various creatures. Fueling her passion, Abi went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Equine Studies and gained valuable experience working on a large commercial horse farm.

When Abi isn’t busy caring for animals, her free time is spent with her beloved horse, Doppler. She enjoys going on hikes with her family and weightlifting at the gym. Excited to join the RCO Pet Care Team, Abi looks forward to meeting incredible people and their beloved pets.

Abi is currently being trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Catherine or Cat, has always been an animal lover and was excited to join our team in 2023! She currently has a rescue cat (Mama), a rescued bunny (Dahlia), two guinea pigs (Lily & Orchid), and an energetic senior dog (Cocoa). Growing up Catherine has spent much of her time working with animals from taking care of her horse when she was younger to cleaning her cat’s litter box. She recently graduation from Nonnewaug High School’s agriscience program and will be continuing on her education as an Elementary Education major at Western Connecticut. Cat has always wanted to be a teacher and help others!

While Catherine isn’t napping in a horse stall or volunteering at a local Equine Therapy Barn, she spends her time looking after her younger brother who has Down Syndrome, loves animals just as much as she does, and is her biggest supporter!

Cat is trained in Pet CPR and First Aid through ProTrainings and is background checked via Acutraq.

Owl is a a sweet lab mix that Jess adopted from PAWS New England and we love her to pieces! She was Jess’s training partner throughout her KPA certification. She is RCO’s demo dog for training exercises and videos as well as the biggest ham you’ll ever meet!

Owl’s hobbies include sleeping upside down, shredding any paper and cardboard she can get her paws on, and playing with her younger sister, River.

Owl loves beef treats, toys and EVERYONE she meets! She is happy to greet you with a big hug around your neck and lots of kisses!

Rocco is a graduate of the Obedience Dog Training Club‘s basic class (…he is very proud of this!). He is professional treat tester, ruiner of grass, welcoming committee leader and a certified good boy. His hobbies include laying out in the sun, trying to convince strangers he needs their attention or he just might not survive and howling when you ask him “Rocco, where are you?”

Rocco is the model for the canine in our logo as well as the poster rescue pup and inspiration for starting RCO!