About Just Fur A While Pet Services
Giving pet owners peace of mind by providing personalized, dependable pet care
Cindy Johnson - Owner & Operator
My name is Cindy Johnson and I'm the owner and operator of Just Fur A While Pet Services in San Antonio, Texas.
My career as a pet sitter began in the summer of 2005. Some friends of mine sold their house and needed somewhere to board their Labrador Retriever "Buddy" for three months while they were having a new home built. Their dog was used to having a comfortable home environment and a nice yard all to himself, so they preferred not to take him to a boarding facility. They worried that confining him to a kennel for such an extended period of time would be stressful for him. I understood their sentiments and concerns completely, so I offered to care for Buddy in our house until theirs was finished. He fit right in with our own three Labs, and we soon considered him part of our extended family. She insisted on paying me, so we agreed upon a fair rate. At that point, I realized the value of such a service, and the rest is history. Initially we would simply welcome other people's pets into our own home, but eventually branched out and started offering pet sitting and dog walking, as well as overnight pet care. Once my husband and I had our first child in 2009, we had to start scaling back on the boarding side of the business, and we eventually phased it out. But we continue to provide loving, reliable care to pets in the familiar environment of their own homes.
As a fellow pet lover, I know how difficult it can be to find someone you trust to care for your pets while you're away. I absolutely love being a pet sitter, and you can rest assured that your pets will receive all the love, care, and attention they need in your absence.
Beth - Office Manager / Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Hi I'm Beth. I've been a team member since 2017. You'll often hear me on the other end of the phone if you call us. I also answer emails, do client onboarding, and create pet memorial collages, in addition to caring for many of our clients' pets. I recently accompanied Cindy to the annual Texas Pet Sitters Conference in Lakeview, Texas. I love learning new things, especially when it involves expanding my knowledge of pets and pet care.
I'm originally from Minnesota, but moved to Texas with my husband Tommy to escape the long, bitter winters up there. We have two kids, Nik and Courtney, as well as three precious fur babies, Tuna, Flair, and our newest addition - an adorable kitten named Vega. I've taken care of pets most of my life. I also love sports, reading, scrapbooking, making cards, and rooting for two my favorite teams, The Vikings and The Cowboys.
Patricia - Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Hello, I'm Patricia. I'm a native Texan, and have been married to my high-school sweetheart for over 30 years. We became empty nesters in 2008, and I decided to start fostering and helping rescues in my free time. I've helped foster pets and transport them to sister rescues out of state. My husband and I have fostered over 25 pets, and have personally provided two of them with a "forever home". I was previously a lifelong hospitality/restaurant service worker. I was also President of the Texas Chapter of Vesting America's Police K-9's from 2016 to 2019.
Danielle - Pet Sitting
Hello! My name is Danielle. I'm originally from Oregon. Getting a job caring for pets ignited a passion in me (despite the fact that we didn't have pets when I was growing up). From then on I wanted to care for pups of all shapes, sizes, and ages. I began learning all about different breeds, their personalities, dog language and dog safety. Eventually I felt ready to adop my first dog, Amia. We went through many trials and tribulations, but our experiences together made me a better pet parent and advocate. My pet family has grown, and I now have two dogs and two cats. I don't have any kids so my fur babies are my world.
When I turned 25 I uprooted my life from Oregon and landed myself here in San Antonio! Joining Cindy and her team in 2021 has been a huge blessing. I love being someone who people trust to watch over their pets. I view all our clients' pets as my family. Thank you for reading and I hope to meet your furry family members soon!
Rachel - Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Hello, I'm Rachel. I'm from Houston, and am currently a student at UTSA. I come from a family with lots of pets - three cats, one dog, three chickens, two African Dwarf Frogs, and one Ball Python. I joined Just Fur A While in July of 2022, and help care for our clients' furry kids on the northwest side of San Antonio. When I'm not studying (predental), I'm either reading, watching Rupaul's drag race, learning aerial silks, trying new foods and restaurants, tutoring kiddos at Kumon, or teaching the importance of oral hygiene at local elementary schools through a program run by my predental society at UTSA.
Marissa - Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
My name is Marissa, and I'm a San Antonio native currently attending UTSA. My family has a dog named Gunner, but during the pandemic I adopted my first dog Rex (or "Rexy"). We've spent a lot of time bonding together, and words can't express how much he means to me! He made me realize just how much I love being around animals, so I began volunteering at the San Antonio Humane Society. It wasn't long after that when I heard about Just Fur A While!
I started training during the busiest time of the year, and quickly grew to love all the different personalities of our clients' pets. I've been eager to learn as much as I can. When I'm not studying or pet sitting, chances are I'm hiking local trails (often with Rexy), reading thriller novels, baking desserts, or visiting plant nurseries around town.
Victoria - Dog Walking and Pet Sitting
Hello, I'm Victoria and I joined Just Fur A While in March of 2023. I've always had a special love for animals since I was little, and I'm excited to be a part of a team that shares my passion. I previously worked at the San Antonio Humane Society for about two years, before and during the pandemic. That's where I learned so much more about animal handling and care above what I already knew from growing up with dogs and cats my whole life. I'm currently attending school at St. Phillip's College, where I'm working towards obtaining a degree as an Ultrasound Tech. I grew up here in San Antonio, and I enjoy getting the opportunity to visit more of the city while also taking care of pets.