Ashley Brown-Weaver is the owner and operating manager of Rockin' Paws. Born and raised in North Little Rock, Ashley is a graduate of the University of Arkansas with a BBA in Small Business Management with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship. She has many hobbies and passions, including: the culinary arts, fitness & nutrition, and interior design, though animals have always been her first love. She has a beautiful baby girl dachshund, Foxxy, a ridiculous Chinese Pug, Uma, and no home is complete without a crazy kitty so Phoebe completes the Weaver Family Zoo. Since childhood, Ashley served as a care-taker/foster parent for many cats and dogs. She has worked for the Oregon Zoo, as well as with many local shelters and rescue organizations, helping to raise funds and awareness for those beloved animals who can't speak for themselves. Ashley spent several years in Oregon working for and helping to manage Portland's premier dog walking and pet sitting company. Rather than spending her days indoors stuck behind a desk like a typical manager, Ashley prefers to be outside walking or distance running with a peppy pooch! She has experience with many different breeds and never shies away from a challenge. Ashley also has experience working with special needs animals, administering oral and injectable medications, and subcutaneous fluids. She is also certified in Pet First Aid & Disaster Relief. In her "free time", Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband, Johnny, and her beloved step-daughter, Emily...going to see live music, dancing and skipping and enjoying this beautiful life. When asked what she loves most about her venture with Rockin' Paws Ashley replied, “I believe that people's pets are their children, and should be treated as such! I could not be more proud of the pet care team that we have formed here at Rockin' Paws. We truly love our jobs... and it shows!!
Alyssa Calder has had a passion for animals since she was a child. She is a full time pet care specialist with us and has been with the company for 4 years. Alyssa is certified in Pet First Aid and Disaster Response, and has 4 (plus) years experience in administering insulin injections and various other forms of pet medication. The daughter of a Navy pilot, Alyssa has traveled the world and lived in several different states. As a child, she took horseback lessons for 11 years, and is also a certified scuba diver. Though she calls Ohio home, she now resides in the Little Rock area with her three rescue cats Sinatra, Steel (featured in her photo) and Vivo. She jokes that though she may currently be a crazy cat lady, she dreams of owning property where she can own dogs, horses, and foster animals as well. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Criminal Justice, and spending years in the corporate world as a Trainer and Customer Service professional, Alyssa’s true passion is taking care of animals. Though she has finally found a way to turn her passion into a career, she doesn’t look at her pet sitting as a job. Instead, she calls the visits “Pet Therapy” as the animals bring her both happiness and relaxation. Alyssa covers the Maumelle area and neighboring towns, and looks forward to meeting her next pet client!
Brandy Buie comes to us with a long history in animal rescue. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2004 with a BS in Biology: Emphasis in Fisheries and Wildlife Management. She is currently pursuing her license in Wildlife Rehabilitation and has been the Senior Volunteer and Rescue Coordinator at the Cabot Animal Shelter for the last 7 years. Brandy resides in Cabot with her husband and their 3 rescue "mutts". She loves spending her spare time out in the wild of Arkansas with her camera and a couple of friends enjoying all that the Natural State has to offer. Brandy will be covering the Cabot area and neighboring towns as needed. She is experienced in caring for many different species of animals. No critter is too big or small!! You can feel confident leaving your home knowing that your pets are in the company of a true animal lover.
Amy Merrimen is originally from northeast Arkansas and graduated from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. She started her degree off as pre-vet but later switched to early childhood education. She has been in Little Rock for over 10 years now and currently teaches preschool. Her love of children won in her decision to become a school teacher but her love of animals continued! She has two boys now and continues to support her love for animals with pet fostering and pet sitting. During her free time she loves to play with her boys outside, climb pinnacle and attend her children’s sporting events. Amy covers the Little Rock area and neighboring towns as needed. In Amy you can’t hope to find a more organized and loving sitter for your fur babies.
Stefanie Arnold was born and raised in Cabot, Arkansas currently resides in Little Rock and teaches first grade at a local elementary school. She graduated from the University of Central Arkansas and has a Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master's Degree in Reading. When she doesn't have her hands full of first graders, she has her hands full of some of the Happy Rockin' Paws Family of pups, kitties, and critters!! She is the proud mommy of a miniature dachshund named Miles who she is admittedly obsessed with. How can she not be?? He's a doll! In her free time, Stefanie enjoys climbing Pinnacle Mountain, walking Miles, and listening to music. Stefanie covers the Maumelle area and surrounding neighborhoods as needed. She's an animal lover at heart and we're very happy to have her on the team!
Jaime Skipper is a current nursing school student at UALR with an adorable Rottweiler mix named Nikki! (Shown here with her prize-winning horse, Sheza) Quite the caretaker, Jaime has three years of experience as a veterinary assistant where she worked the kennel areas, prepped for surgeries, and administered oral medications as well as injectable ones. She has experience with a vast array of animals including dogs and cats, horses and other livestock, birds, rodents, pond ecosystems, saltwater aquariums, and many types of reptiles. She knows how to properly care for almost any type of critter.....right down to the African hissing cockroach. (Eeeek!!) In her free time, Jaime enjoys hiking, rock climbing, horseback riding, cycling, bonsai, and nourishing her own saltwater aquarium. There's nothing pet-related that she can't handle and Rockin' Paws is very proud to have her on the team! Jaime covers the Little Rock area.
Scott Hallmark grew up in Central Arkansas and currently resides in Little Rock. He has a BBA degree from UALR and after many years in the corporate world is now a Realtor servicing the Little Rock and North Little Rock markets. Scott has owned or cared for many different kinds of pets throughout his life; including dogs, cats, fish, iguanas, chinchilla and horses. Dogs are always his favorite, especially high-energy dogs that like to play. Scott enjoys working with dogs and using positive reinforcement to teach tricks, obedience, and etcetera. Scott has joined the Rockin’ Paws team to help with dog walks, pet sittings and general pet care. Scott covers the Little Rock are as well as surrounding neighborhoods as needed.
Liana Poirrier was born in Harlingen, TX, but was raised in Cabot, Arkansas. In 2003, she graduated from Cabot High School. Liana spent much of her time waiting tables for a few years at various restaurants. In 2008, Liana joined the United States Army and graduated from the Army Aviation School in August of 2009. That same month, Liana was stationed in Mannheim, Germany, and was an Avionics Mechanic with Delta Company 1- 214th Aviation Regiment. In 2012, Liana got out of the Army to return the United States and spend time with her husband, Christopher, who is a flight medic with the Arkansas Army National Guard. They have been married for almost 6 years and have been through two deployments, and her three year tour in Germany. That same year, Liana began working as a receptionist at Treasure Hill Pet Hospital in Little Rock. She worked there full time for a year until she began attending college full time at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Liana currently does an assortment of jobs which includes being a receptionist at Boulevard Vet in Maumelle, still currently working as a receptionist when needed at Treasure Hill Pet Hospital in Little Rock, attends school, is the animal rescue coordinator at the North Little Rock, Arkansas Animal Shelter, and her favorite job is being a dog walker and pet sitter for Rockin' Paws! http://www.southernpawstransport.com. It is a transport group that saves dogs from the North Little Rock, Arkansas Animal Shelter and transports them to foster based rescues in Colorado, Minnesota, and Massachusetts. Last year, her group successfully saved 533 dogs from euthanasia at the shelter. Liana is owned by Denver, her 10 year old Boxer, Axle her 4 year old Great Dane, and Bronco her 10 month old Boxer Mix. Liana covers Sherwood and Jacksonville as well as surrounding neighborhoods as needed.
After 10 years in Atlanta, Hollie Bredlow moved back to Arkansas to work on the family farm. The farm is located just outside of England where she was raised. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and has a bachelor degree in marketing. When Hollie is not driving a tractor, she enjoys traveling, hiking, running, and kickboxing. If she's not running half marathons or mud runs, you can find her chasing down her three cats and two dogs. Hollie covers the England area as well as Lonoke and other neighboring towns as needed.
Paul Bates is a talented visionary, an artist with a passion for animals. He started his first business at the age of 16 repairing computers after school. Graduating from Mountain Home High School in 1997, he immediately moved to Kansas City to attend DeVry University for Telecommunications Management and then Ottawa University for Business Management. After working in the corporate world for 13 years as an IT Analyst, he wanted a drastic change from the 9 to 5 office environment and decided to move back to Little Rock in 2010. Once established in Little Rock Paul reinvented himself and became an Event Planner and the Director of Arkansas Destinations, Arkansas Trolley Company. After a 4 year venture, he saw his life needing a change from the rat race of the transportation and event planning industry and Paul ended his tenure with Arkansas Destinations, Inc. In May of 2014 he joined team Rockin’ Paws! Paul has always been a pet lover and supporter of pet rescues and foundations. He has rescued and fostered several dogs and grew up with Cocker Spaniels, his all-time favourite breed. Paul currently has a 5 year Spaniel named Sadie. He has attended many pet obedience and agility training classes while training his own dogs and is certified in Pet First Aid and Disaster Response. He always says “I love what I do!” Paul covers Little Rock and surrounding areas as needed.
Danielle McCollough grew up in Jacksonville, Arkansas and has been around animals pretty much her whole life. She grew up with a pet calico cat, whom she loved very much. After getting married, she had two little puppies with her husband. At one point Danielle, her husband and their growing family moved in with her in-laws. At the time their home included two dogs, three cats, a fish and two rats (which then later turned into twenty little cuties). Danielle is an animal lover all around. She spoils her cat enormously and considers her “my four legged baby!” To Danielle animals are the perfect cuddle buddy when nobody else wants to cuddle. Her interests include being with her family, and lately has developed a passion for thrift shopping and repurposing the clothing she discovers! She is also a Beach Body coach and loves helping others reach their health and fitness goal. There's nothing she’d rather do than to pay it forward. Danielle covers the Jacksonville area.
Katrina Van Ryzin grew up in South Louisiana taking care of many animals. In ’92 she joined the United States Army and turned her love for dogs into a career as a dog handler for the military! Twelve years later she went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Visual Communications. She has since retired from the Army and moved to Saline County, Arkansas where she spends countless hours working in animal rescue and fostering dogs. She has many years’ experience in working with special needs animals and providing basic obedience training. Besides working with animal rescue and Rockin’ Paws, Katrina also owns her own graphic design business and works with the American Service Group providing services for members of our military and their families. Katrina covers Saline County and surrounding areas as needed.
Kimberlee Etzberger grew up on a mini farm in West Little Rock raising several different animals such as goats, pigs, rabbits, horses, cows and (last but NOT least) dogs and cats. At the tender age of 9 she began giving all of their puppies their vaccines and at the age of 12 she was given the responsibility for giving all vaccines to all of their animals. Also, at the age of 10, Kimberlee was responsible for bottle feeding 4 orphaned piglets. Throughout the years on the farm she assisted in helping birth dogs, cats, and goats. Kimberlee has had a passion for animals since before she could talk or walk and carries that passion into her own children's lives. Her family fosters dogs for several organisations, such as Rescue Road, SPT and other non- certified foster groups. They have had close to 100 dogs and puppies in their home over the last year; two of which were long term fosters due to health and behavior issues. Aside from their fostering, Kimberlee’s family also has 3 dogs, two rescues and one family dog. Kimberlee covers Sherwood and surrounding areas as needed.
Crystal Meek is a native of Saline County. She grew up in the Haskell/Benton area and now resides in Maumelle. Crystal has been around animals all of her life starting out with cats, dogs, turtles, horses and farm animals. Caring for animals is her passion, she currently volunteers for the Humane Society of Pulaski County, Rescue Road and transports rescues weekly for various rescue groups. She has 2 cats of her own, Oscar and Cheddar. Crystal is experienced in handling animals, administering medications and injections.
Sheila was born and raised on a farm outside of Conway where she lived for 32 years before moving into the city limits. She started riding horses when she was 4 years old and grew up with German Shepherds and many other farm animals. After moving into the city, she fostered puppies until they were ready to be transported to rescues and permanent homes. Sheila’s love for rescue/transport doesn’t stop at dogs...over the past 5 years she has helped transport rescued dogs, injured squirrels, a Pot Belly pig, a raccoon, injured geese and a Prairie Dog! She is still very active in transport and on her second vehicle. She doesn’t have any pets at home because between work and her volunteer commitments she isn’t home very much. Which makes her a more affectionate sitter for her clients at Rockin’ Paws...everybody loves Aunt Sheila! She mainly services the Conway and Mayflower areas.
Hailing from Paron, Justin proclaims his real and true love for animals! He says the two years that he spent working the kennels at a local animal clinic taught him more about patience and compassion for animals than he ever could have imagined. He says since we can not communicate in full dialogue, animals tend to be more about actions than words. And for that fact alone, it’s easier to love them. Justin feels that the client’s pet is the utmost priority and utilizes the approach “I let them speak to me and I follow along”. In his free time Justin is quite the musician, playing and teaching drums, guitar, etc....a perfect fit for the Rockin’ Paws crew! He services Little Rock and surrounding areas.
Araya Sunshine Harrison tries to live up to her name by trying to brighten other people's lives, and animals definitely brighten hers! From a young age, she's always found her heart lies with animals, and the wonder and unconditional love they possess. Her family bred Belgian Malinois for police and rescue forces for several years, helping her learn patience with young animals. Helping take care of their five goats also taught her the importance and hard work that caring for animals calls for, and also that not all pets come in the form of cats or dogs. A hard worker, Araya is currently attending Arizona State University online through Starbucks where she intends to graduate with a degree in Early Childhood Education so she can pursue her dream of being a teacher. Lucky for her, she's also able to work passionately with animals while she pursues her dream. For her, pet sitting isnt just a job; it's a way for her to cope with the stresses of life and help keep her happy and healthy. She says that even though she's an adult, playing with animals keeps her playful and bright spirit alive! Araya services Little Rock and the surrounding areas.