Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Schwab
Hi Amy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My love for animals started young – I grew up with three dogs, and by age 10, I was the neighborhood dog walker. At one point, I even dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and I would often dress my dogs up like patients and pretend I was their vet. Throughout my life, I was always the go-to friend for pet sitting when someone went on vacation.
Fast forward to age 31, I was deep in the tech world, working for startups and glued to my Slack and emails from 6am to 8pm, rarely taking time to step outside and see the sun. My bank account was growing, but my mental health was deteriorating. I knew this wasn’t sustainable, and I was searching for a way to create a more balanced and fulfilling life. In early 2023, as I sat in Palisades Park overlooking the ocean, an energetic Corgi named Winnie ran up to me with a frisbee. I tossed it, and she kept bringing it back. I didn’t finish my meditation, but I welcomed the adorable distraction.
“Why don’t I spend more time with animals?” I thought to myself. “Where did the 10-year old aspiring veterinarian go?”
That night, I created a profile on a dog walking app, only to realize it took a massive cut of the earnings and lacked proper vetting for walkers. After speaking with friends, I learned how difficult it was for pet owners to find reliable, consistent, trustworthy caregivers whether they needed someone the next day or months in advance. That’s when I knew: I can do this better.
I quit my six-figure tech job, scrapped the online marketplace profile, and set out to create a pet care business centered on reliability, consistency, and trust. Betches Walking Betches officially launched on March 9, 2023, while I was walking down Abbot Kinney, striking up conversations with dog owners, as I always do. I confidently told people I had just left my corporate job to become the most reliable, trustworthy dog walker on the Westside. Word spread fast and within the first month, I had 30 clients.
The name, “Betches Walking Betches” initially started off as a joke to one of my friends, when they asked me what I would call my new pet care business. “It’s funny, relatable, and I think LA dog owners will resonate with the name,” they encouraged me. To me, the name Betches Walking Betches has become a modern, empowered twist on dog walking that’s a reflection of exactly who we embody – strong, trained, and a fun-loving team that shows up when you need them and brings the energy. BWB is for the pet parents who love their animals fiercely and expect that same love from their pet caregivers in return. We are your next door neighbors who you can count on, the pet care professionals who just get it.
By summer 2023, demand had grown so much that I needed help, so I hired friends who were just as passionate about animals as I was. Overnight, I became a first-time manager and had to teach myself everything – accounting, bookkeeping, process implementation, contracts, marketing, and business taxes. My goal remained the same: to be the most reliable, consistent, and trustworthy dog walking and pet sitting business on the Westside.
Now, nearly two years later, we have an incredible team of 10 caregivers serving 150 families between the Palisades and Playa. The most beautiful part of this journey has been showing up for pet owners in life’s biggest moments. We’ve cared for pets while their owners got married, while they were in the hospital welcoming a new baby, and even on holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
One client recently told me, “We’re not just paying for a pet sitter, we’re paying for an extension of our family.” That, right there, is why we do what we do.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been the easiest road, but it has been the most incredibly fulfilling path. To witness myself go from a burned-out tech professional to an independent business owner, to a first-time manager in just a few short months has been nothing short of life-changing. The transition wasn’t seamless – I had to navigate the uncertainty of leaving behind a stable corporate role, learn the ins and outs of running a business from scratch, and push through moments of self-doubt. Suddenly, I wasn’t just responsible for my own success; I was relying on a team to provide the exact same quality of service. BWB would not be where it is today without the loving and consistent care my team members give every single day. They show up when you need them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Betches Walking Betches is a premier dog walking and pet sitting service, comprise of a team of 10 professionals, who all have a background in animal care, are trained, and certified. Each team member has, on average, about 10 years of experience working with animals. Each care team member is carefully chosen, vetted, trained, so each client gets the exact same high-quality care no matter who shows up at their door.
What makes Betches Walking Betches different is that it’s not just a pet care service where we show up, walk a dog, “clock in and clock out,” so to speak. We take a more holistic approach and focus on attention to detail. If it’s raining, we check if the pup has a raincoat and a towel to wipe their paws. If a pet seems particularly low energy or lethargic, we notice and let the owner know. If the note says to crate their dog after the walk but the crate isn’t in sight, we reach out. Each caregiver is emotionally intelligent and trained to go the extra mile, ensuring your pet’s safety, comfort, and happiness. Pet owners receive real-time updates and check-ins so they never have to wonder how their pet is doing.
One of our most notable moments was when one of our walkers, a vet technician, noticed a lump on a dog’s chest during a daily walk. She immediately informed the owner, who took them to the vet the following week. It turned out to be a growing tumor. Thanks to that early detection, they were able to schedule surgery in time, and their pup made a full recovery. Moments like this remind me of the importance of what we do – because sometimes, the smallest details can make the biggest difference.
We don’t offer medical advice, but what we do offer is consistency, attention to detail, and a genuine love for the animals we look after. Our clients don’t have to worry if their pet is in good hands – because they know they are. It is an honor and a privilege to have successfully built the most reliable team of dog walkers and pet sitters on the Westside.
What matters most to you? Why?
At the heart of everything I do, trust and connection matter most. When a pet parent hands us their keys and trusts us with their pet, we know it’s not just a business transaction – it’s a relationship built on reliability, care, and peace of mind.
I started Betches Walking Betches because I saw a gap in the pet care industry, there was an absence of truly consistent, trustworthy, and emotionally invested caregivers. My goal has always been to create a service where pet parents never have to wonder, “Will they show up? Will they take care of my pet like I would?” The answer is always yes. Beyond that, I care deeply about community. BWB isn’t just a business – it’s a team of people who genuinely love what they do, who treat every pet as their own, and who show up for our clients in life’s biggest moments. Whether it’s helping a new pet parent navigate puppyhood, being there while someone welcomes a baby, or providing comfort when a pet nears the end of their journey, we are there. At the end of the day, what matters most to me is simple: showing up, doing the right thing, and making sure every pet we care for feels safe, loved, and happy – because at the end of the day, that’s exactly what each pet parent is looking for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.betcheswalkingbetches.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betcheswalkingbetches/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betcheswalkingbetches/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betches-walking-betches/
Image Credits
Max Larsen
