Ruff Life was started in January 2006 by Carla.
Our mission has always been to provide extraordinary care to Portland pets, and now there are several of us working hard
to ensure your animals have the best care possible while you are away.
Meet the Ruff Life pet care specialists:
Carla|
Tera|
Rebecca|
Sarah|
Kelly|
Jason S.|
Dana|
Jason W.|
Carla
I was born and grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. My love for dogs began when I was 2 years old. A stray dachshund wandered into our yard one day, and
after trying unsuccessfully to find her family, we took her in and I named her Maxine. She was my dog...we ate together, played together,
and slept together. I adored my little Max, and decided at a very young age that I was going to be a veterinarian when I grew up so I could
care for Max when she got sick. 
Jump ahead to college...during my third year at the University of Wisconsin, the reality of how much school it took to be a veterinarian hit me, and I started to think about what else I could do with my life. I eventually settled for a BS in general biology, worked for several years in various lab jobs, and took classes in biology-related subjects trying to find my calling.
In June 2004 I left behind my mom, brother, and 3 mini dachshunds (and the too-cold Minnesota winters!) and moved to Portland.
I worked for a little over a year in a miserable job, and lived in an apartment where I could only have animals that lived
in cages...
and for the first time in my life I was living without a dog. To get my "fur fix" I volunteered at the Oregon
Humane Society as a dog walker, but it wasn't enough.
Then in December 2005 I had an "a-ha" moment while looking through the cragslist job postings. A lady was looking for a last-
minute pet sitter to stay with her dog, I called her up and got the job, and a week later Ruff Life was in business! I am
constantly in the company of dogs and cats and rabbits and more....I truly have the best job in the world!! Thanks to all
my loyal clients for continuing to support Ruff Life...I couldn't do what I do without you and your animals :)
In March 2006 I became Pet First Aid & CPR Certified by the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter.
In June 2008 I refreshed my Pet First Aid & CPR by completing the PetSaver Program through Pet Tech.
In 2007-'08, I studied and became certified in Small Animal Massage and Acupressure. Visit the Massage page for full details on this exciting service.
TeraI was born and raised in Door County, Wisconsin. For those of you who aren't familiar with Door County its the "thumb" of Wisconsin. It's surrounded on both sides by water, Green Bay to the west and Lake Michigan to the east. I graduated from Gibraltar High School in 2002 and continued living in the Door for four more years. During those years I filled my time cleaning, dog sitting and making art. In 2005 I organized a fundraiser to help artists affected by Hurricane Katrina, I was proud to find out that we had raised over $1500 to donate to the C.E.R.F. (Craft Emergency Relief Fund) foundation. I was surrounded by many friendly faces, mostly furry. I made many long life connections with my friends and their pets and was their proud pet sitter for many years. In 2006 I met my then boyfriend Jim and moved here to Portland, OR. I'm sad to say that we had to leave my cat, Ned, with my sister Brooke, in Colorado. He is quite content sleeping on the couch and snuggling with my sister's border collie, Norman. Coming to Portland brought many new challenges and not having any animals made things a little harder, so that's when I decided to get back into dog sitting. Using the fabulous technology we have I discovered Carla and her wonderful business Ruff Life. I am very excited for this opportunity to be around animals again because they really do bring happiness into your lives. I look forward to meeting you and your furry friends!
Tera is Pet First Aid & CPR Certified by the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter (April 2007).
Rebecca
I am a transplant to Portland, originally from Wisconsin--where I had an aunt that bred golden retrievers. Every year my family would visit her; I would beg for a puppy to take home, and every year my parents would say, "not this year." We already had a beloved cat, Mindy, but I wanted a dog I could take to the park and bring along on hikes. I quenched my thirst for a dog by volunteering for over four years at the local Humane Society. Eventually, my parents recognized my dedication to the animals, and surprised me when I was 13 years old by saying, "yes, you can pick a puppy." The four hour car ride back home to La Crosse from Milwaukee was the most joyous yet! I contentedly rode with the puppy in my lap, dreaming of the perfect name. We eventually settled on "Sunny," for his joyful disposition. Sunny and Mindy were my best friends through my adolescent and young adult life, until both passed away in recent years. Since then, my life has been very mobile, making it an innappropriate time to own my own pet. After moving to Portland in May of '07, I discovered a way to spend significant time with animals, without having to give up my traveling lifestyle--professional petsitting! I get to play, walk, and pet people's animals and get paid?! Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair.
When I'm not hanging out at the dog park, I am busy serving as Administrative and Outreach Coordinator of Tierra Educational Center, a Spanish and ESL language school that I opened in May of 2009 with two business partners. I can also often be found vegetable gardening, camping, swing dancing, or going to live music shows. Having grown up in a heavy meat and dairy agricultural state, I feel much more at home among other vegans here in Portland. I find it impossible to deny that any animal has a soul and a purpose equally as valuable as a human's. I believe animals are equal to children in their innocence--they require no more than food and love! I look forward to finding an outlet for my love while spending time with your furry loved ones!
Rebecca completed the PetSaver Pet First Aid & CPR Training Program through Pet Tech in June 2008.
SarahMy family always had dogs when I was growing up and since my sister was much older and already out of the house, our pets acted as my buddies and a bit like siblings too. I even taught our border collie Bailey how to play soccer. And she could also catch a frisbee in her mouth like the best of them. Most recently my family got Jack, a lovable corgi, with great big ears and short little legs. He’ll follow you anywhere and is always smiling. Unfortunately Jack lives in Wisconsin with my parents so I only get to see him a few times per year. But I do take the chance to give a little shout out or ring on my bicycle bell to any passing corgis. While I dream of having a dog of my very own someday I’m still in that renting, traveling, running around sort of a way and I’m not quite ready to add a new member to my surrogate family here in Portland. So instead I have become the go-to pet sitter for friends and coworkers and now happily, families through Ruff Life. I love getting the chance to traipse around new neighborhoods with a furry friend in tow. When I’m not pet sitting I spend time making art, cooking, and doing things around town on my bicycle. I also have a life goal of becoming fluent in Spanish so I spend a few days a week taking classes and studying on my own. I look forward to meeting and spending time with the non-human members of your family!
KellyA native Oregonian and born animal lover, I have had cats since I can remember, ridden horses since I was 10 and felt for the first time what it truly meant to have a dog as a part of your family when I was 17. I currently have a Pitbull, Taylor, and a Min-pin, Jordan. I also have a horse named Missy and a cat, Riley. Each one of these animals is a significant part of my family and brings so much joy to my life. My passion for animals doesn't stop at domesticated animals or even mammals. I have had my share of reptiles and currently have 3 Crested Geckos.
I have spent my post-college career in social work, but have felt that I am missing out in my professional life. I realize how much time is spent every week in a professional setting and crave the chance to direct my talents into my true passion; helping animals and people with animals.
I'm very interested in animal behavior and spend a lot of my time expanding my knowledge in this area and spreading my knowledge to others.
I'm so excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Ruff Life team, where compassion for animals is number one and I can continue to meet and learn from new animals and people, as well as be supported in my goals to continue to help others and their animal companions.
Jason S. info coming soon!
Danainfo coming soon!
Jason W.info coming soon!
