get to know us

About

Leash on Life is a pet care service for people who want to live a more mindful and joyful life with their pets. I, Liza Roe, invite pet owners across greater Annapolis to work less and travel more all while knowing your pets are safely cared for in the comfort of their own home. Living a balanced life has become of increasing importance in today’s society and the effects of how we live trickle down to our caring canines.

As a premium pet care provider, it is my mission to treat your pets with the same love and care as I do my own. I strive to instill an intense level of trust in every dog mom and dad and find that authenticity is the best start to any relationship, be it dog or human. Reliable and committed, I have never canceled a reservation. (I once faced a tornado to get to where I was needed.) While my care is available to all pet parents, I especially love being able to create a bond through quality time with dogs who are nervous or anxious with new people. With individual walks, so that every pup gets one-on-one attention, I also provide overnight care in your home.

Every visit consists of customized care that is catered to each pet and their family so your pet(s) will get a perfect dose of outdoor time, affection, and supplemental training should you choose. You can expect daily updates with a “proof of life” picture and/or video as well as details about how your fluffy buddy is doing while you’re out and about, living life.

Are you ready to get a new “leash” on life? Contact me today!

get to know me

About me

My passion for dogs and animals started at a very young age. After realizing that my college degree and early career choices weren’t rooted in these interests, I knew I needed to pivot.

Not long after, I felt I found my calling as a Reservation Specialist at nearby Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat. The role was rewarding and I loved being able to express my creativity with each customer (doggy photoshoots anyone?), but after four years there, I was still craving a more hands-on opportunity with greater purpose.

After spending time volunteering at the Anne Arundel County SPCA as a dog walker and foster parent, I was presented an opportunity by the owner of Annapolis Dog Walkers to join their team. Combining my love of the outdoors with my newfound passion for dog walking, I accepted their offer. And after just two years, I decided to provide my own dog walking and pet sitting service, Leash on Life!

Since owning my own business, I have learned to value my time and how I spend it. I used to consider myself the “queen of multitasking” and I now see that this culture we live in, where busyness is often glorified, can actually be quite toxic. I want to know that I took time to enjoy the things I love, like spending time with friends and family and doing things that were truly important to me. This is another reason why I have chosen my line of work. It brings me great joy to have so many wonderful humans and animals in my life!

With Leash on Life, it is my pleasure to provide premium pet care services in the form of dog walks and pet sitting. I promote balanced living, not only for myself, but for my clientele and their pets. Life is what we make of it and when you take back your time, you take back your life. Trust me when I say, your sanity (and your dog) will thank you!

My passion for dogs and animals started at a very young age. After realizing that my college degree and early career choices weren’t rooted in these interests, I knew I needed to pivot.

Not long after, I felt I found my calling as a Reservation Specialist at nearby Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat. The role was rewarding and I loved being able to express my creativity with each customer (doggy photoshoots anyone?), but after four years there, I was still craving a more hands-on opportunity with greater purpose.

After spending time volunteering at the Annapolis SPCA as a dog walker (I previously fostered four dogs through their program and rescued my pup, Foster!), I was presented with an opportunity by the owner of Annapolis Dog Walkers to join their team. Combining my love of the outdoors with my newfound passion for dog walking, I accepted their offer. This awesome experience helped me brainstorm what I finally wanted to do; provide my own dog-walking and pet-sitting service!

So that pet parents and their companions can get to know me better, I offer meet & greets which also help pups who are especially nervous with new people. My mom’s late dog, Zeus (a mixed-breed rescue), was not only nervous but often aggressive with new people. I know how frustrating it can be to have an amazing pet who is hesitant to trust others. Eventually, we found a friend who was willing to come over multiple times to spend quality time getting comfortable with him. Every dog is a little different, but I find that investing one-on-one time with them strengthens their trust in me and our overall bond.

Life has taught me the true value of time: this is why I want pet parents to feel, not only comfortable but empowered when they travel without their furry friends. There was once a time when I considered myself the “queen of multitasking” and I now see that this culture we live in, where busyness is often glorified, can be quite toxic. I want to know that I took time to enjoy the things I truly love, like spending time with friends and family and doing things that were truly important to me.

With Leash on Life, it is my pleasure and privilege to provide the premium pet care service of custom daily visits paired with one-on-one attention and supplemental training as well as reliable overnight care for preexisting clients. I promote balanced living, not only for myself but for my clients and their pets. Life is what we make of it and when you take back your time, you take back your life. Trust me when I say, your sanity (and your dog) will thank you!

when we’re free

Availability

 

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kind words

Praise

“Liza has been our trusted dog sitter for the past five years, taking exceptional care of our dogs, Jada and Jet. One of the many things we appreciate about Liza is her commitment to providing frequent updates and pictures/videos. It gives us immense peace of mind to see Jada and Jet happy and content in their own home. If you’re looking for a dog sitter who is reliable, caring, and goes above and beyond, we wholeheartedly recommend Liza. She has become an indispensable part of our lives and a beloved friend to Jada and Jet. We honestly don’t know what we would do without her!”

Matt & Lauren (Jet & Jada)
“Liza has honestly been a lifesaver. As a solo, first-time dog owner, there have been a lot of unforeseen challenges. She’s not only been help I needed but has been consistent and reliable during my inconvenient work schedule.  On top of that, the training she has provided Riva has been incredible. I see progress with Riva after each session. It’s wonderful being able to walk my dog/take her in public and not have to worry about her around other dogs or have her drag me the entire way. As a bonus, Riva now has a best friend she looks forward to seeing several times a week. Possibly most importantly, the knowledge and training Liza has provided myself has allowed me to be a 10 times better and more responsible owner.”
Ryan (Riva)

Liza has without a doubt been an ANGEL in our lives the last year! She comes to my home twice a week and Wally looks forward to her visits each time. Liza does a fantastic job providing feedback on her time spent with Wally and even sends the most photogenic pictures while I’m at work. Anytime someone asks who I trust my pup with when I’m away, Liza is one of the first names I give. She’s a local gem!

Lindsay (Wally)

“We could not have been any more impressed. She took phenomenal care of not only our fur babies but our house. It’s really huge when you can feel at ease that someone is taking such good care of your babies, but is also someone trustworthy in your home. Liza is the best! She went above and beyond and kept us updated on how our pets were. We will absolutely be reaching out to her again for future visits. Total gem!”

Karen (Sebastian & Lola)
We were traveling to Europe and needed care for our puppy. As any dog owner knows, going away can be stressful. But Liza stepped in and handled everything perfectly. The frequent text updates and quick response times put all of our stress at ease. We had no doubt that our pup was having a great time back at home. We have had other dog-sitters stay with us in the past and this is by far the best service I’ve seen. I can honestly say that we came home to a better behaved dog than when we left.
Aaron (Dottie)

“Liza is AMAZING! My husband and I couldn’t be more comfortable and confident in trusting someone with our precious puppy. She is very caring, knowledgeable, and honest. Liza constantly communicates with you…from text to pictures and even videos! She is extremely laid back and very flexible, which has worked out great for us! Without a DOUBT, I would 100% recommend Liza. She’s the best!”

Kathryn (Lewis)

“Liza is a lifesaver! I have been lucky enough to have her watch my dog several times over the past 5 years and couldn’t be happier knowing my pet is in trusted hands. Whether it is last minute or planned in advance she has been able to accommodate my needs. She is knowledgeable with pet medications as well and when needed I have felt confident that my pet’s needs will be met exactly as I would have done. Nothing has ever been missing or been given back when it shouldn’t have been. My dog always seems happy and healthy after spending time with her. It is the best feeling to find a trusted pet sitter, and to enjoy time away with peace of mind that my dog is being well taken care of.”

Caylen (Nefertari), Owner of More Than Dog Training

Liza is extremely reliable and trustworthy. Always on time and super friendly.
My puppies were well taken care of. One of my favorite things is the notes Liza leaves about her time with my dogs – it makes you feel really involved in their time together! Rain or shine, Liza showed up to make my life easier. I highly recommend her!

Marika (Leo & Lily)

“Liza cared for our dog brilliantly. She clearly loves the animals she cares for and is sensitive, knowledgeable and confident in their needs. She regularly updated us which was a lovely touch. I was completely happy and assured at all times. I’d use Liza again without hesitation and would highly recommend her. Thank you, Liza!”

Sally (Meg)

“We are so happy that we found Liza! She was super great with our two fur-babies. She sent detailed updates as well as pictures, which I really appreciated. She made us feel like our pups were in good hands. We will definitely be using her again!”

Kayla & Evan (Bentley & Juniper)

“Liza sent check-in photos of my dog being walked regularly. Poor Skippy ended up having separation anxiety and got very sick to his stomach. Liza cleaned him up and his crate multiple times and even took him to the pet store bath to be cleaned. I highly recommend her services! She is a pet lover and a passionate person by nature.”

Andrew & Catie (Skip)

our price is right

Services and Rates

20 Minutes

$25per visit
  • $5 for each additional pet

30 Minutes

$35per visit
  • $5 for each additional pet

45 Minutes

$50per visit
  • $5 for each additional pet

Overnight Care

$200per night
  • All-inclusive (in-home pet care, review of basic commands & light housekeeping)

If you don’t see the pet care service you are looking for or would like more information, please contact Liza at liza@getaleashonlife.com.

we’ve got answers

FAQ

With over a decade of experience in pet care, I promise to love and care for your pets as if they were my own. I would have more pets myself, but as it turns out, it’s much more cost-effective to simply incorporate other families’ fur babies into my life so that I am not the sole provider. All joking aside, this work is my career and passion and I take the care of every pet very seriously. As my previous and current clients have stated, I am extremely respectful, responsible and reliable when it comes to the care of their animals as well as their home.

I am fully bonded and insured through Pet Sitters Associates, LLC so that both myself, your pets and your home are protected. My comprehensive insurance includes broadened property damage coverage and bonding as well as expanded coverage for client pets; Only the best for my furry friends and their pet parents! Thankfully, I’ve never actually needed to utilize my insurance.

Our initial meet and greet will simply be a “getting to know you” session. The meet and greet is at no cost to you and typically takes about 30 minutes. We will discuss the expected method of home entry and walking gear as well as any special requests or needs your pets may have while noting baseline behavior from your pet.

I cannot provide services if I have not had the opportunity to meet you and your pet(s) prior to starting services.

Daily visits every 3-4 hours are included at a minimum, but generally I stay with your pet(s) all throughout the day. Also included is medication administration, meals, lots of love, a review of basic commands and light housekeeping. I treat your home as I would my own in that I cook, eat, read and relax in your home so that I can spend as much time as possible with your pet(s). I typically sleep in my own home and stay overnight on a case by case basis.

Great question! In my many years of experience, I have witnessed dogs boarding at kennels, cared for pups in my own home, and stayed with them at theirs. It’s been my observation that kennels are often overstimulating and stressful and my own home is too new and unfamiliar. It is evident that most pets prefer the comfort of their own home and I don’t blame them. This is why I exclusively provide overnight care in your home. I do not take pets into my own home.

Supplemental training is available for any visit duration and is catered to each pet. Most commonly, I provide pups with a guide to good leash walking for those who struggle to walk well on a loose leash. In other words, I help dogs who are notorious for dragging their pet parents down the street. I can also review basic commands (i.e. sit, down, stay, come, etc.). This supplemental training has multiple benefits, some of which include extra mental stimulation for your pup and a better-behaved fur baby when you get home!

If you find yourself needing to add or change a service last minute, I cannot make any guarantees regarding availability although I will do everything in my power to accommodate you and your pet’s needs. If you need to cancel a daily visit, there is no cancellation fee. However, I do not provide refunds.

For overnight care, a half down nonrefundable deposit is required to make a reservation. Deposits are transferable up to 30 days before the start date (pending availability). Reservations may be adjusted up to 2 weeks before the reservation (pending availability) and the remaining deposit altered accordingly. Once within the 2 weeks before a reservation, the remaining deposit is due in full regardless of any need to cancel or adjust the reservation.

If there are extreme weather conditions such as thunder, lightning or temperatures below 30 degrees or above 90 degrees (when considering the heat index), going outdoors becomes a safety concern. In addition to the issue of safety, I also consider what your pet is most comfortable doing. Of course, if your dog hates to be out in the rain, I will not be forcing them to take a 20-30 minute walk. Keeping your pet’s preference in mind as well as safety, we will make a judgement call when needed. I do have towels with me at all times and will leave your pet(s) in as dry and clean a condition as possible. If you’d like to provide your own towels, I welcome that as well.

Payment for daily visits is due at the end of each week of service. For overnight care, a half down nonrefundable deposit is required to make a reservation. The remaining deposit is due on the first day of overnight care. The following payments are accepted: Venmo, PayPal, Zelle, CashApp, cash and check. Physical credit/debit cards are not accepted at this time.

For daily visits, each pet is an additional $5 per visit and there is a surcharge of $5 on all government holidays. There are no additional charges for overnight care.

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