Today we’d like to introduce you to Lia McClary.
Hi Lia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In the summer of 2023, my family of six (two humans, two dogs, and two cats) moved from North Texas to just outside Pittsburgh, PA. I knew I needed a new job, but the thought of going back to the florescent lighting and fake social niceties of an office was not one that thrilled me. I put myself through college by waiting tables, and I also couldn’t imagine myself returning to the scent of fried ravioli grease that never seemed to leave my hair during those years. I told myself I’d figure something out.
I settled into my new home and spent lots of time with my animals. My two dogs are delightful, but also what some people might call *trouble*. I have a whip smart 105 pound Rottweiler, and the most loving peanut-brained 30 pound Chihuahua mix. This reminded me that other people also have dogs that don’t play well with others. I also reflected on what I had liked about my old jobs – getting to help people, solving problems, a degree of independence. I started taking clients on Rover (a platform that connects pet sitters and pet owners) in the fall of 2023 and immediately fell in love with my clients.
I set up the business and started operating officially as Lia’s Pet Care in the spring of 2024. In 2025, I released an updated website and started partnering with Precise Petcare to improve accessibility for clients and to manage visit messages, scheduling, and billing in one place.
No two of my days look exactly alike. Nearly all of my days are spent with animals that are delighted to see me, in the homes of people who have been gracious enough to trust me. I truly feel lucky!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Oh, I feel like I’m still traveling along that road! Maintaining a consistent schedule can be difficult at times.
I would love to see more clients, but I can’t create them out of thin air. My business is local, it’s specific, and we are in the midst of a continued cost of living increase that has been ongoing for years. I can’t help it if paying for a pet sitter is lower on someone’s priority list than paying the water bill.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I provide drop-in at-home pet care for animals in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. My standard service area is within a range to my home office in North Versailles, PA. Areas further away include an additional distance fee, but I am happy to see animals from anywhere in the PGH region.
My primary goals are always to keep all animals comfortable and safe. Before booking any sits, I require a (free) meet and greet with each new client so that we can determine if we’re a good match. I want my human clients and my animal clients to feel like I’m a safe person, and a meet and greet gives us all a chance to evaluate each other in person. It’s also important for my safety!
I’m proud of my work with pet owners to understand routines and potential triggers so that young and / or reactive animals can advance with their training. It’s a treat to watch a puppy grow up, and a genuine pleasure to be a sympathetic ear for someone who has had their chair leg chewed for the millionth time.
My favorite thing about my job is when someone says something like “Oh, I feel really good about this”, or “Ahh, I’m just really glad we met you”. The fact that I can offer some genuine relief for that pet anxiety that I know all too well is really lovely.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Make sure to get insurance to protect both yourself and the animals you work with! Have I ever had to use it? Nope. Does it bring me and my clients peace of mind? You bet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.liaspetcare.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liaspetcare/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555897899147
