Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Eshelman.
Hi Kelsey, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been working with animals in one way or another for most of my life. Even in elementary school, I was the kid going around the neighborhood offering to bathe people’s cats, walk their dogs, and scoop their yards for a little extra money. I originally dreamed of becoming a veterinarian, but growing up in Wichita, Kansas, I didn’t have many opportunities to get hands-on experience in animal care.
I was determined to find a way in, though. One of my first opportunities came from an animal nutrition business near my apartment. I kept showing up and asking the owner if he needed help — I even offered to work for free because I desperately wanted experience! Eventually, I think he realized I wasn’t going away and hired me. That gave me my first real opportunity to learn about animal nutrition, different breeds, and their individual needs.
After moving to Tennessee, I began working as a dog bather at a boarding, daycare, and grooming facility. From there I worked my way into dog daycare and reception, enrolled in veterinary technician courses, and eventually began working in veterinary medicine. I spent about four years with Banfield Pet Hospital, including transferring from Tennessee to Oregon when I moved closer to family.
Veterinary medicine taught me an incredible amount, but it also helped me realize that there were other ways I could make a difference in animals’ lives. After stepping away from the veterinary field for a while, another local pet-sitting business owner introduced me to professional dog walking. I honestly didn’t know at the time that someone could make a living doing it. Once I started, though, something clicked. The dogs were genuinely excited to see me every day, I was outside and active, and I was still able to use so much of what I had learned throughout my years working with animals.
Eventually I began taking clients of my own. Part of my motivation came from my own experiences trying to find dependable care for my pets. I knew how stressful it was to leave town and wonder whether someone would care for them with the same attention and affection I would. I wanted to create the kind of service I had always wished I could find myself — professional and reliable, but also deeply personal.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road from there definitely wasn’t straight. I started my pet-sitting business only about six months before COVID hit, and suddenly almost nobody was traveling or needed pet care. I had only a handful of clients, so I stepped away and worked everything from house painting to mechanical work and other side jobs to support myself. As life began returning to normal, though, those original clients started calling me again. I found myself asking for longer lunch breaks or leaving work early because I hated turning them down.
Eventually I reached a point where I had to choose. I could keep finding “safe” jobs and squeeze pet sitting in around them, or I could finally give this the chance I had wanted to give it all along. So I went for it.
That decision eventually became Lux Pet Sitter.
What surprised me most is that somewhere along the way, my reason for doing this grew beyond simply loving animals. As the business grew, I began seeing how much dependable pet care affects an entire family. Clients would tell me that before they found us, friends, relatives, and neighbors had to rearrange their own lives to help care for their pets. Now their whole support system could relax knowing someone they trusted had it covered.
Then I began building a team and experienced another unexpected reward: being able to give other animal lovers an opportunity to make a living doing something they genuinely enjoy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Lux Pet Sitter is a Portland Metro-area pet care company built around a pretty simple idea: pet owners shouldn’t have to choose between professional, dependable care and someone who genuinely loves their animals. They deserve both.
We provide dog walking, in-home pet sitting, overnight care, pet taxi services, bath and tidy services, and other customized care depending on the needs of the pet and family. And while dogs make up a large part of what we do, we’re definitely not limited to dogs. Our clients include cats, rabbits, reptiles, senior pets, multi-pet households, and animals with personalities and routines that don’t always fit neatly into a standard pet-care package.
One thing that sets Lux apart is that I’ve intentionally built the company around relationships rather than transactions. We want to know the animal in front of us—their routine, quirks, favorite things, fears, energy level, and what makes them feel safe. Some pets want an adventure and a long walk. Some want you to sit on the floor with them until they decide you’re trustworthy. And sometimes the most important part of a visit is simply keeping life feeling normal while their person is away.
Reliability is equally important to us. As Lux has grown into a team, one of my biggest priorities has been creating continuity of care. Life happens—people get sick, schedules change, emergencies come up—but our clients shouldn’t have to scramble because of it. Having a trusted team means we can support one another while giving our clients the peace of mind that their pets are still taken care of.
I’m especially proud that we’ve been able to grow without losing the personal side of the business. I never wanted Lux to become a company where a client feels like a number on a schedule or where an employee is simply rushing through a checklist. I want our team to understand that when somebody hands us a key to their home and trusts us with an animal they love, that is a very personal responsibility.
I’m also proud of the opportunities Lux has created for other animal lovers. I know firsthand how difficult it can be to find work that is both financially sustainable and genuinely meaningful. Watching members of my team build relationships with their own regular clients and pets—and seeing those animals light up when their sitter arrives—has become one of my favorite parts of growing the company.
Ultimately, I think what we’re known for is showing up. We show up for the energetic dog that needs an outlet, the shy cat hiding under the bed, the senior pet who needs a slower pace, the owner working a long shift, and the family trying to take a vacation without worrying about what’s happening at home.
Lux may be a pet-care company, but what we’re really providing is peace of mind. We take care of the animals so the people who love them can live their lives knowing somebody they trust is there when they can’t be.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I started out as a little girl who simply loved animals and wanted to work with them. Today, I realize that pet care is also about caring for the people attached to those animals and becoming part of the community around them. That sense of trust and community is what continues to inspire me.
Pricing:
- Dog Walking 30 min/$25 60 min $40
- Bath & Pedicure $45
- Overnight Pet Sitting $75
- Pet Relocation $250+/ Pet Taxi $3/mi
- Wedding Day -All Day- Pet DayCare $250+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://luxpetsitter.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxpetsitter?stkn=OXkzaWpkaDFza25o&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D8BjyBf4k/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@luxpetsitter?si=5pvrYnU3nQp5_Vri
