About Care4Paws

Heather is a lifelong Mankato area resident (having been born and raised in Mapleton) and a trusted provider of dependable, compassionate pet‑sitting and pet‑care services. Her top priority is giving clients peace of mind by ensuring their pets remain healthy, safe, and happy while they’re away from home.

With hands‑on experience caring for a wide range of animals—including dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rats, mice, gerbils, rabbits, and birds—Heather brings both knowledge and genuine affection to every pet she meets. Her love for animals began early; she grew up in a home where her mother raised cockatiels and hand‑fed baby birds, and her family has always shared their lives with cockatiels and parakeets.

Heather’s commitment to animal welfare extends deeply into the community. She has served in several volunteer and leadership roles, including:

• Treasurer, Secretary, and Board Member for For Pets, a nonprofit providing low‑cost pet food and spay/neuter services in the Mankato area
• Certified volunteer dog walker for BENCHS (Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society)
• Cat condo caretaker for Martin County & Watonwan County (during PetCo’s time in Mankato)
• Foster home volunteer for Mending Spirits Animal Rescue, specializing in small‑animal fostering

Professionally, Heather previously worked as the General Manager of the Paw Pet Resort in Mankato. She has also completed numerous dog‑training classes with her own pets, including guiding one of her dogs to earn the Canine Good Citizen certificate and become a Certified Therapy Dog through Therapy Dogs International. Together, they visited hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other facilities to bring comfort and joy to those they met.

Heather’s philosophy of care is rooted in her C.A.R.E. values: Careful & Compassionate, Available, Reliable, and Energetic. She treats every pet as if they were her own—loved, safe, spoiled, and genuinely happy.

In addition to her animal‑care experience, Heather holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in accounting and has over a decade of professional experience in the field. After more than six years as a Credit Analyst Support Specialist, she was promoted to Senior Accountant at United Prairie Bank in Mankato in January 2025.

When she’s not caring for animals or volunteering, Heather enjoys Bible study, reading, walking, listening to music, and tending to her flower and vegetable gardens—especially her sunflower patch.

Eric brings extensive hands‑on experience in animal care, with a strong background rooted in both professional work and community service. He previously served as the Cat Specialist at the Blue Earth Nicollet County Humane Society (BENCHS), where his responsibilities included administering fluids, giving medications and supplements, bathing animals, cleaning condos, and providing grooming care such as brushing and claw trimming.

His commitment to animal welfare extends beyond his professional roles. Eric served as a board member for For Pets, a local nonprofit that provides spay and neuter financial assistance to low‑ and middle‑income cat owners. Even after his employment with BENCHS ended, he continued volunteering and later assisted the Watonwan and Martin County Humane Societies. In these roles, he supported cat‑condo caretaking—trimming nails, brushing cats, and helping them look and feel their best to improve their chances of adoption. Eric has experience working with both cats and dogs.

Eric holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and advertising, along with educational training in drug rehabilitation. As a non‑traditional student, he returned to school in January 2025 to pursue his Associate’s Degree in Veterinary Technology through Penn Foster, with the goal of becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician.

Outside of work and school, Eric enjoys cooking, watching sports, building with Legos, creating art, and spending time with his own cats and dogs.