THE PERSON BEHIND THE BUSINESS
About
Tory
Founder of Daws & Paws · Certified Pet Sitter in Houston · Lifelong Animal Lover
MY STORY
"I started Daws & Paws because I'd heard one too many stories that broke my heart. I knew something had to be different."
Early in my career, I watched client after client come to me carrying the same wound: they'd trusted a stranger from an app, and that stranger had let them down. Dogs left alone for hours. Pets that couldn't tell anyone what had happened. Families who came home to find their animals in distress and felt guilty for ever leaving.
Animals are precious. They cannot speak up for themselves when they're being mistreated; they are completely dependent on whoever walks through that door. And that is something I carry with me on every single visit.
I started this business to prove that good people still exist in this industry. People who will love your pet the way you do. People you can actually trust.
WHO I AM
My passion for animals has existed my entire life. Not as a hobby, but as a way of being. My experience with domestic animals spans over two decades and I have several years of livestock experience from working on my family's farm. I've cared for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses, and many more domestic and livestock animals. I volunteered at the SPCA shortly after moving to Houston, nursing baby squirrels back to health and providing love and care for cats and dogs.
It's also what led me to become a member of Pet Sitters International (PSI) and pursue the Certified Professional Pet Sitter (CPPS) designation — a credential held by a small fraction of pet sitters nationwide.
Earning it required demonstrating knowledge most hobbyists never pursue: animal behavior and body language, health and wellness indicators, emergency protocols, and sanitation standards that protect your pet from illness and cross-contamination. It wasn't a box to check. It was a commitment to doing this work at a professional level, because your animals deserve someone who takes that seriously.
"I've cared for pets in some of Houston's most distinguished homes — and I understand that access to your property, your routines, and your animals is a privilege, not just a job."
My clients trust me to pick up medication from their vet when they can't. They trust me to transport their pet to an emergency appointment if something goes wrong. They hand me their keys, their alarm codes, and their peace of mind. That kind of trust isn't given. It's earned, one visit at a time.
MY COMMITMENT
Health & Safety
Earning the Certified Professional Pet Sitter credential meant studying what most pet sitters never learn: how to recognize early signs of illness, when a change in behavior needs a vet’s attention, and how to make an animal’s environment safe from common hazards. That knowledge is the foundation of how I select and manage Daws & Paws care. I’m experienced with oral medications and subcutaneous injections, and anxious or reactive animals often settle with me. Medication services are available to clients who request them and are matched with a Pet Concierge who has the relevant experience. Every dose follows your veterinarian’s instructions and is recorded in a written log you receive.
Sanitation
Sanitation is written into every service agreement: waste is cleaned up promptly, food and water stations stay separate, and nothing carries illness from one home to another. A tidy house and a safe house are not the same thing, and the agreement holds both standards.
Reading Animal Behavior
Most incidents can be prevented by recognizing stress before it escalates. I draw on over twenty years of hands-on experience and my certification when I select our Pet Concierges, and I expect every single one of them to be able to read body language, give a fearful animal space, and know when to stop an interaction. When something isn’t right, the sitter contacts your vet first and you second.
MY PROMISE
Complete peace of mind. Every time.
When you leave your pet with us, I want you to feel one thing: complete peace of mind. Not a nagging thought in the back of your head. Not a quiet worry you're pushing down so you can enjoy your trip. I want you to leave, be fully present wherever you're going, and come home to a pet who is happy, healthy, and exactly where they should be.
That's not a tagline. That's the entire point.
We take a limited number of clients. This is because the level of care we provide requires presence, not volume. If you're reading this, we would love to learn more about your pet before we talk about availability.
- Tory Daws
CREDENTIALS & CERTIFICATIONS
Qualified Where it Counts
I've also made it my business to be the most qualified person walking through your door.
PSI PET SITTER
Member of Pet Sitters International, a leading professional association for pet sitters.
Bonded & Insured
Business Insurers of the Carolinas (BIC). Full liability and bonding coverage on every visit.
Cat & Dog First Aid/CPR
ProPetHero / ProTrainings certified. Because emergencies don't wait for a vet appointment.
CPPS CERTIFIED
Certified Professional Pet Sitter. Pet Sitters International's advanced credential.