Licensed ● Bonded ● Fully Insured ● 4.8 ★ on Google ● 5.0 ★ on Yelp ● 30+ Years of Experience ● +1 914-755-7478
Pet Sitting in New York
In-home pet sitting, dog sitting, cat sitting, and full pet care for Hudson Valley families from a single overnight to extended holiday cover. Don and Mia Henderson. Over 30 years of experience. The same trusted faces, every visit. Licensed, bonded, and insured.
The Families Who Have Been Calling for Years
Don and Mia Henderson have been caring for pets across Pawling, Patterson, Stormville, Poughquag, and the wider Hudson Valley for over a decade, and the families who found them tend to stay. Some for five years. Some for ten. One reviewer noted they had been a client for 14 years.
That kind of loyalty doesn't come from a good first impression. It comes from showing up reliably in rain, in snow, through ice storms, and in rough winter and never treating someone's pet as an inconvenience. Lisa from Patterson said that through the difficult winters of 2014 and 2015, Don and Mia never let her down once. Joyce from Wappingers Falls says they send photos after every visit, so she always knows how her pets are doing. Nora from Pawling isn't sure who loves them more, her or Lily.
When you go away, you want more than someone who will fill a bowl. You want someone who will notice if your pet is off, who will act quickly if something goes wrong, and who will still be there the next time you need them. That is what Don and Mia have built, one Hudson Valley family at a time.
What New York Pet Owners Are Saying
Nora, Pawling, NY | Lily
"My Lily loves Don and Maria even my neighbors comment on the dedicated 'dog people' who walk her while I'm at work, watch her when I have to travel on biz, and help with her feed, training/behavior training. I couldn't do it without them! Not sure who loves them more, Lily or me!?"
Randi, Poughquag, NY
"Maria and Don are great caretakers of our dogs. They are dependable, flexible and our dogs enjoy their company."
Tom, Pawling, NY | Two Labrador Retrievers
"We found Don and Maria through Google search to walk our two energetic Labs when we were not able to let them out during the day. They are fantastic with the 'Boys' and care for them like they were their own. They were even more reliable than the USPS during the recent March 2018 snow storms."
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Dog Sitting New York - Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley dogs are often used to space a garden, a trail walk, or a particular routine that fits life in Pawling or Patterson rather than a city apartment. Putting that dog into a kennel environment strips all of it away at once: the familiar smells, the space, the people, the routine. For many dogs, the anxiety that produces doesn't resolve until well after they're home.
Don and Mia keep their dog in their environment, on their schedule. Matt from Rye pet-sat his Siberian Husky, Lola and his dog Fitz with Don across an entire summer: "He treated Lola as if she were his own. I could not have asked for more." Wendy relies on Don and Mia to make sure Echo isn't sitting alone all day. Maggie from Pawling says she and Heidi would simply be lost without them.
For dogs with medical needs, diabetes, post-surgical recovery, and anxiety medication, Don is certified in Pet First Aid and Canine CPR and is experienced in administering oral, topical, and insulin medications.
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Every dog-sitting visit includes:
- Feeding and fresh water on your dog's schedule
- Bathroom breaks, neighbourhood walks, or longer outings
- Brushing and basic grooming check
- Playtime and real companionship
- Oral, topical, or insulin medication if required
- A check-in update with photos
- Mail collected, plants watered, and home lighting rotated
All breeds welcome.
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Cat Sitting New York - Hudson Valley
Many Hudson Valley households include a cat who has settled into a quiet, predictable daily rhythm and who notices immediately when that rhythm breaks. The owner who assumes a full bowl will carry a cat through a long weekend often returns to find the bowl untouched, the litter overdue, and a cat who has been genuinely distressed rather than simply waiting.
Don and Mia visit on your cat's existing schedule. For a cat that grazes on dry food, a single daily visit is usually enough. For cats fed wet food morning and evening, two visits maintain that routine without disruption. The right number is whatever matches what your cat already does, not a fixed schedule imposed from outside.
Don has cared for cats in Pawling and Patterson households that would not accept attention from strangers. The unhurried, patient approach that Don and Mia bring is what makes the difference for a selective cat.
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Every cat-sitting visit includes:
- Feeding on your cat's existing schedule
- Fresh water and a full litter clean
- Time together, however much or little your cat wants
- Oral, topical, or insulin medication if needed
- A brief update after every visit
- Mail, plants, and home checks included
All breeds and temperaments welcome.
Pet Sitting for All Animals
Don and Mia are not limited to dogs and cats. They care for lizards, snakes, hermit crabs, fish, rodents, rabbits, chickens, ducks, horses, goats, birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, and more.
Inez from Patterson trusted Don and Mia with her three dogs alongside her snakes and gerbils across an entire holiday. "It was a pleasure knowing I could enjoy my vacation and not worry about my animals," she said. Every animal's routine, feeding requirements, and health needs are discussed before you travel so nothing is left to guesswork.
If you're not sure whether Don and Mia can care for your specific pet, just call. The answer is almost always yes.
COntact us
Whether you need cat sitting in Pawling, dog sitting in Patterson, or in-home pet care across the Hudson Valley — Don and Mia are available 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Don and Mia Henderson. Licensed, bonded, insured. Available 7 days a week, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Yard Poop Control
For Pawling, Patterson, and surrounding Hudson Valley homeowners with larger gardens Don and Mia also offer a yard poop control service. Additional poop control is priced according to the number of dogs and yard area. Call to discuss.
What It Looks Like Over Time
Many of The Doggie Tutor's longest-running New York relationships started with a single trip a weekend away, a business visit, a family holiday. One visit turned into regular care. Regular care turned into years. Joyce from Wappingers Falls has trusted Don and Mia with multiple pets across multiple years and keeps coming back because the standard hasn't dropped once. Lisa from Patterson went through two consecutive harsh winters without a single missed visit. These are not exceptional cases they are what Don and Mia's approach produces consistently.
That continuity matters for your pet. A carer who has visited your home many times, who knows your dog's particular habits, who knows which cat prefers to be left alone and which one wants company — that knowledge can't be replicated by a new face every booking. It builds over time, and it shows.
Serving New York Pet Owners Across the Hudson Valley
The Doggie Tutor provides pet sitting across the Hudson Valley and surrounding New York communities:
Pawling · Patterson · Brewster · Holmes · Stormville · Poughquag · Dover Plains · Wappingers Falls · and parts of Westchester
Don and Mia come to you. All care takes place in your home.
Testimonials
"Don has walked my dog Lola (Siberian Husky) for an entire summer as well as pet sat for Lola and our dog Fitz… He treated Lola as if she were his own. I could not have asked for more from Don. I highly recommend Don for any dog walking, training and pet sitting needs."
"Don and Maria took care of our dog Katie that passed away and now take care of our dog Izzy and our cat Socks! We trust them both in our home and are happy they keep us updated while we are away on how our pets are doing. They send us pictures too. We highly recommend them for pet care."
Joyce | Izzy & Socks
Wappingers Falls, NY
"Wish we hired Don sooner! He began training our Golden puppy Harley when the group class training we ad attended proved to be insufficient. He's done a remarkable job and he is now our puppy walker too! Family and puppy are very happy. Thank you Don!"
Jane Faber
Patterson, NY
"When Kodi, Kiki and I went searching for pet/house sitting services, we never thought we would find such wonderful people… It was a rough winter of 2014 into 2015 with the snow and ice and they never let us down. When you love your pets with all your heart, it is a blessing to find such wonderful people that you can trust to love and care for them when you cannot."
Frequently asked questions
Do you cover the whole Hudson Valley or just certain towns?
Don and Mia cover Pawling, Patterson, Brewster, Holmes, Stormville, Poughquag, Dover Plains, Wappingers Falls, and parts of Westchester. If you're not certain whether your address is included, call +1 914-755-7478 — it's a quick question.
What's included in an overnight pet sitting stay?
Overnights cover all the same care as daily visits — feeding, exercise, companionship, medication if needed, home checks — but with Don or Mia staying at your home overnight so your pet is never alone for an extended stretch. The arrangement is agreed during the free consultation based on your pet's needs.
Can you care for animals other than dogs and cats?
Yes — lizards, snakes, hermit crabs, fish, rodents, rabbits, chickens, ducks, horses, goats, birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, and more. Call and ask.
Do you send updates while we're away?
Yes. Don and Mia provide updates after visits. Joyce from Wappingers Falls notes that they send photos regularly — so she always knows her pets are settled, without having to chase for news.
Can you handle my pet's medication?
Yes. Don is experienced in oral medications, topical treatments, and insulin injections. Pets with ongoing health conditions or complex care needs are accommodated — discuss specifics during the free consultation.
Are you reliable in snow and bad weather?
Yes. Lisa from Patterson trusted Don and Mia through the rough winters of 2014 and 2015 — snow and ice — without a single cancelled visit.
Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
Yes. The Dog Tutor is fully licensed, bonded, and insured through Pet Sitters Associates LLC. Don is also a member of the ASPCA and Rover.com.
Ready to Book Pet Sitting in New York?
Whether you need cat sitting in Pawling, dog sitting in Patterson, or in-home pet care across the Hudson Valley — Don and Mia are available 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Don and Mia Henderson. Licensed, bonded, insured. Available 7 days a week, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.
