Laura Stauffiger, Owner
Hi I’m Laura Stauffiger! I own and operate Laura’s Critter Care in Amherst, New York. Thank you for visiting my web site. I understand that your home and pets are your most valuable possessions. I am a dedicated animal lover, life-long pet owner and an experienced animal care provider. I started sitting for pets while in High School and College to earn extra money.
I spent 20 years in the corporate world as a Regional Manager in the employment services industry. I oversaw sales and operations for up to 6 different locations, managing anywhere from 10-50 internal employees as well as upwards of 400-1,000 temporary employees at any given time. I decided to follow my dreams and work with animals. So I retired from the corporate world and started Laura’s Critter Care.
I care for all types of pets, not just dogs and cats. Some of my clients have included goats, birds, salt water and fresh fish, ferrets, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, rabbits, reptiles, other small animals, and poultry. No matter what type of pet you have, I can sit for you! . My husband and I also share our home with 4 cats and 4 dogs (2 pugs, a pug/boxer mix and a Lhasa Apso), as well as an African Grey Parrot. We have previously owned other breeds of birds, fish, rodants, a burmese snake and a boa snake. Most of our pets have been rescued. I am also on the Board of Directors, Officer and Foster Home & Volunteer Coordinator for the Buffalo Chapter of Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue, Inc.
I am a member of petsitUSA and Pet Sitters International. PSI and petsitUSA provides valuable resources for the professional pet sitter, as well as continuing education opportunities. I am also college educated and have attended classes on dog training, pet care and animal health through UB’s Mini Vet School and I am PetSaver certified through PetTech. In August 2010 I was asked by WGRZ.com to be one of their Amherst , Clarence , Lancaster, North Buffalo , West Seneca and Williamsville Community Content Providers for the pet section. I also have a pet blog featured on wnywoman.com .
I am bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolina’s and I am vet recommended.
Nicole Pelkey, Pet Sitter/Dog Walker/Independent Contractor
Nicole is excited to have become a part of the Laura’s Critter Care family as an Independent Contractor/Pet Sitter as of March 2011. She is a newlywed living in Amherst, with her husband, and their mini SPCA. She and her husband have a rescued Lab/Pit Bull mix, Lab/Whippet mix, and 3 cats. They are also active with a local rescue, and currently have a Husky mix foster dog.
Along with volunteering and fostering for Diamonds in the Ruff Animal Rescue, Nicole is also a volunteer with a national Pit Bull Advocacy organization called StubbyDog Project. The StubbyDog Project is a media and communications organization with 501c3 status, whose purpose is to disseminate content that will help change public perceptions of pit bulls. Pit Bulls are Nicole’s passion, but she truly loves ALL animals.
She is also active in transports and drives to Erie, PA to pick up cats and dogs that are heading to different areas of the country to begin their new lives. Some of these cats and dogs are coming from high kill shelters, and heading to either foster homes or to their forever homes. These cats and dogs are very special to her, and she takes pictures of each pet she has transported.
Nicole has also worked with dogs to help them over come food aggression, guarding issues as well as training dogs with poor leash manners to become great walking companions. She also turned an un-adoptable dog into a great family pet.
Along with her cat and dog experience, she has also cared for ferrets, birds, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other small pets. She currently cares for a families Zebra Finches, Cordon Bleu Finches, and Green Singers, when they are away on business.
Nicole is a former employee of the United States Department of Treasury, but like Laura, realized that her passion lies with helping companion animals in anyway possible. Nicole looks forward to meeting you, and your furry friends very soon.
Nicole is also bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolina’s.
Jennifer Williams, Pet Sitter/Dog Walker/Independent Contractor
Joining the Laura’s Critter Care Team as a Pet Sitter/Independent Contractor in October 2011, Jennifer knows the importance of building a relationship with both pets and pet owners. As a pet owner of eight, Jen has a standard of excellence that can only be met if the pets in her charge are cared for as if they are her very own.
Jennifer admits, “I find it extremely difficult to trust my pets to anyone. I haven’t used a pet sitter in the past, but I would definitely call on the professionals at Laura’s Critter Care if I needed to. The reason I can say this is that Laura values the complete confidence involved in entrusting the care of your pet to someone. She take this responsibility very seriously, as do I. The level of integrity here is something you don’t see every day, and it’s really refreshing.”
With over two decades of professional experience, Jennifer demonstrates the outstanding level of service and professionalism that the customers of Laura’s Critter Care have come to know and expect. With a house-full of rescues, she has experienced just about any situation that may arise with a pet. Jen actually considers herself to be the epitome of a multi-tasker. She lives in Lockport with her husband, two sons, and a stepson, and her 8 animals which are her source of relaxation! Jennifer has two black pugs, Rufus and Bella, a Pit Bull/Shar Pei mix, Maggie, and an American Pit Bull Terrier, Argus. Her four kitties range in age from a year and ½ to eight years; they are Rudy, Lexi, Barley and Teddy.
Jennifer has volunteered with Smilin’ Pitbull Rescue and Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue, Inc. as an Application Moderator, and has fostered, transported, and performed home visits for the rescue. Her favorite part, aside from placing the animals, is seeing the look on the adoptive parent’s faces when they finally bring their puppy home. Knowing this feeling only too well, Jennifer adopted Maggie from Smilin’ Pitbull and was fostering Argus when she and her husband decided they couldn’t live without him. He came for a while and stayed forever!
In her spare time, Jennifer is committed to animal rescue and rehabilitation. She has experience assisting with the transition of puppy-mill dogs into a home environment, and has worked with food and dog aggression issues, as well as prey drive. She is extremely vigilant about safety, and very patient and even-keeled in all situations. She feels patience is the key and that here’s nothing that can’t be accomplished through dedication and patience.
Jennifer is also bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolina’s.
Cindy Caccese, Pet Sitter/Dog Walker/Independent Contractor
Cindy has joined Laura’s Critter Care as an Independent Contractor in November, 2011. She has been a lifelong pet owner, with a passion for animals and their welfare.
After having volunteered with several local shelters and rescues, she joined with fellow passionate animal lovers to form Diamonds In The Ruff Animal Rescue. She helps care for their rescued animals.
Cindy states that animals are a great source of comfort to her, and they make every day a good day!
Cindy is a resident and native of Lockport. She currently has two dogs, plus one foster dog, and two cats. All of her animals have been rescued from various situations, and are cherished members of her family.
In addition to her full time job with Niagara County and pet sitting for Laura, she spends countless hours volunteering at Diamonds in the Ruff as a member of the Board of Directors.
Cindy is also bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolina’s.
Bill Stauffiger, Volunteer Pet Sitter and Dog Walker
Bill is Laura’s husband and is very supportive of her business. He is a full-time technical support specialist but volunteers his extra time to also help Laura with evening and weekend pet sitting and dog walking services.
Bill is a natural with all pets and finds that even pets that are typically shy warm up to him immediately. Besides the 8 pets that he and Laura currently own, Bill grew up with multiple cats and dogs, and has owned a burmese python, a ball python, hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats. Many of the pets he has owned have been rescued.
Bill also volunteers and fosters for Buffalo Pug & Small Breed Rescue, Inc.
Bill is also bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolina’s.
