Paws to the Wall: Local Sisters Set the Standard for Community Pet Care

Rebecca Wall Boling and Anna Wall have turned their love of animals into a pet-sitting service that fulfills an important need in Hancock County. Paws to the Wall is now a thriving business, and the sisters provide quality care for the pets of more than 20 local families.

Anna and Rebecca have dedicated themselves to offering the very best at-home care for pets ranging from dogs and cats to cows, frequently making multiple stops each day to keep animals healthy and happy when owners are away. Along with pet sitting, they also take care of other chores clients may need, such as watering flowers, bringing in the mail, and even maintaining pools. They handle many of the tasks the clients would normally do if they were home.

“This little business truly is a blessing and I am grateful for each client,” Anna said. “Rebecca started dog sitting 7- or 8- years ago when she was in college, and I was still in high school. She and I both have had a soft spot for animals. There have been several instances where we have brought home abandoned cats. Rebecca has fostered kittens and cats, young enough that they still needed to be bottle fed.”

Rebecca married in 2018, which is when Anna began taking on more of the appointments on their schedule.

“Just last summer we decided to make something more out of this, and now we stay pretty busy. We only go to clients’ houses, and we’ve mainly had dogs and cats. Over the summer I took care of chickens, which was a first. I’ve taken care of guinea pigs, which is also kind of newer to me, and some cows,” Anna said.

Rebecca and her husband, Zayne, are blessed with a one-year-old son, Leyton, and are expecting another baby in November. Because of her growing family, she isn’t currently able to do as much with the business as she once did. Anna loves being an aunt, and is excited to welcome the new baby. She doesn’t mind taking on more of the work. As she finishes her last year of college and attends classes remotely, she says the job is the perfect fit for her schedule.

“Most of our bookings are when people are on vacation. Although we do have a couple of clients that need us to go when they’re having a busy work week, and we can go throughout the day and let their dogs out and play with them. That way they aren’t inside all day,” she said. “We offer drop-in visits or overnight stays. If we have drop-in visits, I always see if Rebecca wants to split those with me. I mainly do the overnight stays.”

They occasionally have availability for taking on clients in Daviess County and other nearby counties, but they are usually fully booked in Hancock County. When someone needs pet sitting services in surrounding areas and they are already booked up, they try to refer them to other sitters.

“I’ve had a lot of clients tell me that they prefer me in their home. I know some people only dog sit at their personal homes and they don’t go to the client’s home. I feel like a lot of people have peace of mind knowing that we are in their house watching their pets, but also keeping an eye on the house for the week, while they’re out,” she noted.

The most rewarding part of running the business, Anna said, has been the flexibility it offers. Since she is taking college classes online through Western Kentucky University’s Owensboro campus, pet sitting allows her to avoid a full-time job while in school. She said she has plenty of time to do homework, which has been very helpful. For example, after taking pets out for exercise, she often has time to read, work on papers or complete assignments before the next visit.

She sometimes juggles multiple pet sitting jobs, as she was busy doing last weekend. She said managing the workload is easier because most of the jobs are located near each other. On busy weekends, she typically starts her day between 5 and 6 a.m., visiting each home to let pets out in the morning, feed them and refresh their water. She returns between 11 a.m. and noon, then again in the afternoon, and makes a final stop in the evening around 7 or 8 p.m.

If clients need extra care, Rebecca and Anna can accommodate more visits throughout the day. Usually when double or triple booked, they make three to four stops daily to meet the pets’ needs. The routine is manageable and keeps pets well cared for even on the busiest days.

“We also give medication to the pets that require it,” Anna said. “And we feel comfortable doing this.”

Community trust has played a significant role in the rapid growth of the business. They initially thought most people already had someone they relied on for these services, so they did not expect their client list to expand so quickly. Advertising only began last summer with the creation of a Facebook page. Before that, the business grew almost entirely through word of mouth. The extent of the community they now serve has been surprising, Anna said.
They haven’t yet calculated this year’s total yet, but last year they cared for 78 pets belonging to approximately 20 different families. Most of the pets were dogs and cats, with each family having around three animals, on average. The number of pets they look after has already grown this year and is expected to be even higher than last year.

This foundation of local support remains the driving force behind their success, allowing steady growth without heavy marketing efforts. It reflects both the strong demand for reliable pet care and the trusted reputation they have earned in the area.

“I will go to their house before the owners leave and get to know them first. I haven’t had any problems with that. I usually go there, mind their routine and then from there I’m good,” Anna said. “Providing services in clients’ homes has several advantages. The main one being that the pets can stay in their own home.”

She and Rebecca have always had a strong love for animals since childhood. They enjoyed having cats and dogs of their own when they were growing up. Anna also worked at a veterinarian’s office in Owensboro a couple of years ago, while she was taking classes at Owensboro Community Technical College.

“Working at a vet’s office, I have seen how stressful kenneling your pets can be,” she said. “They are confined to a small space most of the day, getting let out 3 times max per day. They don’t eat because they are stressed and confused on why their parents aren’t back yet, etc.”

Pet sitting at the client’s home is popular because it provides a more secure setting for pets, and tends to make their owners feel more confident as well. Knowing their pets stay in a familiar environment makes them feel more comfortable about having to be away.

“I take pride in knowing that my clients can trust me in their home and with their pets. I send pictures to them throughout the stay and also post pictures on Paws to the Wall,” she added.

Rebecca and Anna volunteered at the Hancock County Animal Shelter in Lewisport earlier this year. The shelter, often at full capacity, takes in dogs in need of loving homes but operates with a small staff, making every volunteer essential and deeply appreciated.

“We got almost every dog out of the kennel to play,” Anna shared. “We were planning on going back, but that was right before the flooding and we never went back. We really need to go and volunteer there again soon.”

Anna worked full time as a kindergarten assistant at North Hancock Elementary School while beginning classes at WKU. She is majoring in organizational leadership and plans to pursue a career in human resources or management after graduation.

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot because I’ll be graduating in May from college, and I’ve been wondering if I’m still going to be keeping the business up and running. I take care of a lot of people’s animals and I don’t really know anyone locally to refer them to,” she said. “My goal is to work remotely, and I’m hoping I can still maintain the same kind of schedule. I might try to find someone that can help us out, if we need it. I don’t see us opening up a facility just because people do prefer that we come to their homes.”

Anna and Rebecca live just minutes apart, making it easy for them to stay close both personally and professionally. Anna especially enjoys spending time with her nephew, and the proximity adds a supportive dimension to their busy schedules and shared commitment to their pet sitting business.

“I love being an aunt,” she said. “It is the best. I’m obsessed with Leyton. He is growing so fast. He’s 1 1/2 years old now. It feels like he was just born; It’s crazy how fast they grow. My camera roll is all just of him now.”

Although they already have many clients, Anna and Rebecca are happy to welcome new ones. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to message, text or call. To book an appointment, reach out to them through the Paws to the Wall Facebook page or call or text (270) 922-9223.