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Meet Molly Mayville of Molly Puppins Dog Massage & Pet Sitting

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Mayville.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Molly. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Hey! So, I pulled into Los Angeles from Denver in October of ‘99. I was the first to arrive of the four friends who were meant to make this move. We’d spent the previous several years as color guard performers and competitors (Go, Blue Devils!), and aged out of the activity in ‘98. Hoping for a life that would allow us to be creative and perform, we agreed to move back to our hometowns, save up for a year, and then meet in LA to study and become actors. Of course, it didn’t work out that way, and we have all gone down very different paths, but I’m so glad I made the move. It was tough to leave Colorado for what my family deemed ‘Land of the Fruits and Nuts’, however, I’m quite proud to call myself a Californian and an Angeleno. Silverlake has been my home for 15 years, and I can’t imagine a better community in which to foster a business that cares about the health and wellness of animals.

Jake and I found each other while I was visiting my sister in 2003. She was a working mom with two toddlers and a house full of rescued animals. Jake, a beagle, was overweight, depressed, and frightened of the other dogs. I sat down on the floor next to him, he leaned his body against mine, and he never left my side during that week.

I returned to LA knowing we belonged together, and mercifully, my roommate agreed to let him live with us at her home in Los Feliz. He survived two long, cold flights from Virginia, and arrived at LAX covered in rain, vomit, and poop. The poor kid was traumatized. He was my responsibility now, and the moment I started caring for him, I began to see all the ways he made my life better. I learned how important routine was for him and for me. Training him required my own discipline, which forced me to confront some bad habits. We walked everywhere, learned the hills and trails, and met our neighbors. I felt safer, I was more present in my relationships and in work, and every minute we spent together was infused with joy. We always had a family dog growing up, but I had never experienced a connection like this. Jake had not enjoyed a life of affection before we met, and when he snuggled up to me, I realized how important the nourishment of physical touch is to all of us. Years before I started to think about a career with dogs, I’d been practicing massage on Jake to ease his discomfort from hip dysplasia and arthritis. He was wonderfully demonstrative in showing me what he needed, and the bond we shared was bolstered by our understanding and trust. In 2009 when I met my partner, Dan, that bond grew. Our adventure as a couple was made richer for loving him, and we were lucky enough to be able to say goodbye to our boy together at home, with him in our arms. He died in May of 2014, after a feisty battle with cancer.

Still grieving Jake, and not yet ready for a new companion, I began pet-sitting for friends and acquaintances, and that’s when I fully realized how special our pets are. Every, single, one of them! They all have distinct personalities, their own histories and traumas, their own motivations and habits. I spent time learning each of them and how to interact with them according to their individual traits. Eventually, I realized that this is a gift. Animals respond to me. I had a very demanding acting teacher who often reminded us to ask, does acting need me? And after years of study, I honestly don’t know if it does. But, I am certain that dogs need me.

Caring for Jake expanded what fulfillment could look like. Growing up, my dreams didn’t really include raising a family, and that never felt like a bad thing. My love, work, energy, and drive, serve a different family. Dog massage and care-taking are very satisfying, and I love my work, but this is just the beginning. My biological clock is ticking like crazy… for land! I want an animal sanctuary with volunteers and trainers, a huge facility where kids and adults can get animal-assisted therapy, a safe and loving space for person or animal who needs it. Someday…

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
This portion, the dog portion, has been fairly smooth, because I’ve never wondered if it was the right choice. I feel pulled toward this work, as if there was already a place carved out that I was meant to find, rather than me trying to squeeze in somewhere. Like everyone, the obstacles and challenges I’ve faced represent both the darkest pain and the brightest sparks of change along the way. I lost my mother not too long after losing Jake. At the time, I was working at a comfy job, making comfy pay, and using my free time to engage with dogs… walks, overnight care, small animal CPR & First Aid classes… something in me knew to start preparing for a different life. I enrolled with the Ojai School of Canine Massage only weeks before I got the call to come back to Colorado. Mom’s death forced me to answer some urgent questions; How do I want to spend my days, my actual minutes? Where can I be the greatest contribution? Having grown up in a conservative, religious, military home, appearing soft or insignificant was the equivalent of failure to me. Every person in my immediate family has served in our armed forces. Three of them are war vets. Why worry so much about dogs instead of people? Are animals really worth all these resources? It took time for me to conclude that this work is valid and important, not some elitist indulgence. Every day, I read about animals who are making life better for humans. Their value is demonstrated through heroic acts and also through simple, quiet, presence. We are at the dawn of a much healthier appreciation of the animal world, and I’m excited to be part of it.

Baking also helps.

Please tell us about Molly Puppins Dog Massage & Pet Sitting.
I am the sole employee of Molly Puppins Dog Massage and Pet Sitting! My certification is in Small Animal Massage Therapy, but, full disclosure, all my massage clients have been dogs. I’ve worked with all kinds of breeds and ailments and would say that, by far, my most visible progress has been with seniors. Massage makes a huge difference with mobility and range of motion. It flushes out the toxins, improves circulation, and reduces general physical stress. Plus, getting older can be depressing, even for dogs! Massage releases endorphins and improves mood. It’s also incredibly handy with anxious and fearful dogs. I’ve been able to use massage to calm countless furry pals who were experiencing the first night without their family. Additionally, establishing that immediate bond helps to reduce the acting out that often occurs when pets are left with someone new.

In a society that can feel simultaneously crowded and lonely, our pets are more important to us than ever. The rapidly growing animal care industry is well aware of this and has its share of players who prey on that sentiment. So, it is particularly gratifying that animals can feel my intentions and my concern for them. Sometimes I worry about meeting people, but I never worry about meeting dogs. New clients come to me almost entirely on the recommendation of established ones, and I have enjoyed a fair amount of success without advertising.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
The first to come to mind are the people who have trusted me with their animals. It’s no small thing, leaving the welfare of your beloved pets in someone else’s hands. These clients are the foundation of my success, and I am beyond grateful for their willingness to endorse my work. My teachers in Ojai are unfailingly supportive and engaged with their alumni, and unlike many other industries, my colleagues within the animal massage community are encouraging and open with each other. And truly, I would be nowhere without family and friends.

What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
When it was time to step out as a professional and launch Molly Puppins, everything I needed was already there. The photos I had taken over the years, testimonials and recommendations from my existing client base, education and certifications, my personal mission: I was ready to take things up a notch and launch a website. And frankly, building the website myself felt like a massive accomplishment. What you see is exactly what was pictured in my head. It feels like me.

Pricing:

  • 30 Minutes = $30
  • 60 Minutes = $50
  • 90 Minutes = $70

Contact Info:

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