When you think of Dogs On The Run®, you might picture a happy dog heading out for a walk, a Pet Care Professional arriving for an overnight stay, or the relief of knowing your pet is in good hands while you’re away. But behind every match, every reservation, and every reassuring update is a team working to make the experience feel seamless.
As we continue our November celebration of the people who make DOTR what it is today, we’re opening the doors behind the scenes to introduce the teams that help bring our concierge approach to life. Each team has a distinct role, but we share one purpose: connecting Pet Parents with trusted independent Pet Care Professionals and supporting a thoughtful, well-coordinated care experience.
Concierge: Where Every Relationship Begins
For many Pet Parents, the Concierge Team is the first point of contact with Dogs On The Run®. It’s where questions are answered, needs are heard, and the process of finding the right Pet Care Professional begins.
Our Concierge Team takes the time to understand each pet’s routines, personality, care requirements, and family preferences. From there, the team thoughtfully identifies potential matches based on the information shared, helping connect Pet Parents with professionals whose experience and availability may be a good fit.
But concierge care goes beyond making an introduction. It’s about listening, offering guidance, and helping Pet Parents feel supported as they navigate their care options. Whether someone is exploring services for the first time or has been part of the DOTR community for years, our Concierge Team helps make every interaction feel personal and considered.
Reservations: Keeping the Details in Motion
Once a match is made, there are plenty of details to coordinate. That’s where our Reservations Team comes in.
Working behind the scenes, this team helps coordinate requested services, maintain reservation details, and keep communication moving between Pet Parents and independent Pet Care Professionals. They check in regularly, help clarify scheduling needs, and work through changes as plans evolve.
From recurring dog walks to holiday stays and last-minute requests, thoughtful coordination helps everyone stay informed and prepared. It’s work that often happens quietly in the background, but it plays an important role in creating a smoother experience for the people and pets who depend on us.
Onboarding & Support: Building a Stronger Community
The DOTR community is shaped by the independent Pet Care Professionals who bring their own experience, skills, and approach to caring for pets. Our Onboarding and Support Team helps connect DOTR with professionals who align with the values and expectations of our community.
The process begins with getting to know prospective Pet Care Professionals, learning about their experience, and reviewing relevant qualifications and professional requirements. Depending on the individual and applicable requirements, this may include business licensing, liability insurance, and background screening. The goal is to help establish a strong foundation of professionalism and trust while ensuring prospective professionals understand the resources and opportunities available through DOTR.
Once professionals join the community, support continues. Our team helps them navigate DOTR's processes, access useful resources, and connect with the administrative support available to them as independent business owners.
We recognize that every Pet Care Professional brings their own strengths and operates their own business. Our role is to facilitate connections, provide support, and help create opportunities for professionals and Pet Parents to build lasting relationships.
Accounting: Bringing Clarity to Every Transaction
Great service includes getting the details right, even the ones you may never see.
Our Accounting Team helps keep the financial side of pet care organized, accurate, and transparent. From reviewing invoice details to helping ensure charges reflect the services arranged, this team plays an important role in making the administrative side of care easier to navigate.
Clear invoices and dependable payment processes help Pet Parents understand their charges and give them one less thing to worry about. Behind the scenes, careful attention to financial records and administrative details supports the smooth operation of the entire DOTR experience.
It may not be the most visible part of pet care, but accuracy, clarity, and attention to detail make a meaningful difference.
Marketing: Sharing the DOTR Story
Every community has a story, and our Marketing Team helps tell ours.
Through our website, articles, newsletters, social media, and community initiatives, marketing helps Pet Parents discover DOTR, learn about the services available to them, and understand what makes our concierge approach different. It also helps independent Pet Care Professionals and community partners stay connected to the broader DOTR story.
Our work is about more than sharing information. It’s about communicating the values behind the brand, celebrating the people who make our community special, and creating useful resources that help people make informed decisions about pet care.
Whether we’re spotlighting a Pet Care Professional, sharing seasonal safety tips, introducing a new service, or celebrating a community partnership, our goal is to make meaningful connections and keep the people we serve informed and engaged.
Leadership: A Vision That Became a Community
Every organization begins somewhere. For Dogs On The Run®, it began with April M. Henley and a vision for a better pet care experience.
In 2003, April founded DOTR after experiencing firsthand how challenging it could be to find dependable, thoughtful care for her own animals while traveling. What began as one person's desire to make pet care easier and more reassuring for families grew into something much larger.
Over the past 23 years, April has helped shape DOTR into a concierge pet care business built around relationships, thoughtful matching, and support that extends beyond a single visit. Her vision created an opportunity to bring together Pet Parents seeking care, independent Pet Care Professionals building their own businesses, and an HQ team dedicated to coordinating the many details that connect them.
That growth represents more than the expansion of a business. It reflects years of listening, adapting, building relationships, and continuing to find ways to serve the community.
Today, DOTR is the work of many people, each contributing their own knowledge, perspective, and commitment. April's original vision remains at the heart of what we do: helping people find the right care for the pets they love while building a community where relationships matter.
It’s a remarkable journey, and one we’re grateful to continue together.
One Community, Many Moving Parts
From the first conversation with a Pet Parent to the coordination of a reservation, the support of an independent Pet Care Professional, the accuracy of an invoice, and the stories we share with our community, every team contributes to the DOTR experience.
Much of this work happens behind the scenes, but its purpose is felt in the details: clearer communication, thoughtful introductions, organized scheduling, and the reassurance of knowing there are real people available to help.
As we celebrate the people who make Dogs On The Run® what it is today, we’re reminded that no one team does it alone. It takes different skills, shared values, and a collective commitment to make the whole experience work.
To our HQ team, independent Pet Care Professionals, and Pet Parents, thank you for being part of the story. We’re proud of what this community has built together, and excited for what comes next.
