Welcome to Pups and Recreation
Welcome to Pups and Recreation
Our goal will always be to find the most caring, reliable, and responsible people to watch over and exercise your pets. We do this primarily by finding Pet Care Providers through our vast network of local animal rescues and shelters, and word of mouth. We rarely tap into to job search engine sites, or help wanted ads as this rarely leads to type of ideal candidates we’re looking for. This is more than a job to us, your animals are like family to us.
Our number one priority is to find people who have already demonstrated a clear commitment to caring for the well being of animals in our community. Preferably through volunteering or working for a local animal rescue or shelter. However the right professional pet care experience has also been something we consider. The most important thing is that they value your pets, like you do, and like we do.
Owner / President
Luigi is one of the co-owners and founders of Pups and Recreation, a passion project inspired by his and his wife’s love for animals. Luigi spent most of his career working in sales primarily in real estate and property management but needed a change after the pandemic in 2020. This led him to pursue a more rewarding career in a field he’s been passionate about since he was a kid! In 2020 he began working again with local rescues training, and rehabilitating reluctant rescue pups. Since then his focus has been on Puppy Training and Pack Walking weekly for our clients.
Owner / Vice President
Alison is one of the co-owners and founders of Pups and Recreation, a passion project inspired by her love for animals and their well being. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in communications. While in nursing school, she began working with animals as a hobby and a way to save for our dream wedding, not knowing it would become her lifelong career! She cherishes working closely with every animal and client. Alison specializes in working with our most anxious dogs and helps them get their confidence back!
Founder of Save the Satos
Amy began her animal rescue journey nearly 20 years ago, working at a shelter in Oakland. She’s served as a Vet Tech and Animal Control Officer, and in 2017, while with Eleventh Hour Rescue in Roxbury NJ, she traveled to Puerto Rico after urricane Maria. Moved by the overwhelming number of strays, she founded Save the Satos–a mission that has since rehomed hundreds of dogs and completed over 30 rescue trips to the island.
General Manager
Carleigh brings years of professional pet care experience, confidently handling everything from energetic pups to more challenging dogs. Her attention to detail ensures every dog gets the best possible care. With a background in digital marketing management, she’s a natural fit as our General Manager! She oversees scheduling, marketing, and daily operations while supporting both our team and clients!
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ADB Certified Canine Behavior Counselor
Meredith, owner of Take a Paws K9 Behavioral Counseling, brings extensive experience in canine care and behavior. She has worked with dogs throughout her life, from training hunting dogs to fostering and volunteering in rescues. She studied under behaviorist Trish King and is an ADB Certified Canine Behavior Counselor (CCBC), as well as a certified New Jersey Animal Control Officer with CPR/First Aid and holistic wellness certifications. A trusted partner for years, we refer all our behavioral modification cases and overnight care for our most anxious pups directly to her.
Weekday Morning Team Leader
Isabella brings years of professional pet sitting and dog walking experience. She has a sharp eye for pet behavior and keeps owners updated with thoughtful, reliable communication. Known for her punctuality and attention to detail, Isabella finds joy and purpose in caring for every animal she meets.
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Weekend Team Leader
Jon is one of our longest tenured team members working with us for years ! He is a media professional by weekday and a dedicated pet caregiver on the weekends! From dogs to cats to birds and lizards, he treats every pet like his own. As an owner of an 8 year old Shih-Tzu, Jaxie (also a Pups and Rec Client), he understands the value of a trustworthy sitter.
Weekday Evening Team Leader
Jessica discovered her love for dog walking and hiking while working with Boston for the Dogs. Since moving to New Jersey to work in a children’s mental health facility, she’s thrilled to spend her free time exploring outdoors with pups! Her care and expertise shows in every appointment with her detailed thoughtful notes. Her expertise in pack walking with her previous company and passion for animals shows in each appointment.
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Weekday Team Leader
Corinne is a dog mom to eight pups of all ages and personalities, giving her hands-on experience with a wide range of behaviors and needs. She’s confident handling even our most challenging dogs and actively works on training during walks, especially with reactivity and behavioral issues. Her experience with such a diverse pack helps her connect easily with all of her furry clients.
Pet Care Provider
Jeanne first joined us as a client, trusting her chocolate lab, Willie, to our care- and now she’s part of our team! Dogs are instantly drawn to her calm presence and friendly personality. She has volunteered with us at events and is always putting dogs first!
Pet Care Provider
Tom has years of experience in professional pet care and is Fear Free certified, using positive reinforcement to help dogs feel safe and comfortable. He loves building lasting bonds with every pet he meets and is passionate about creating positive experiences for them. At home, Tom has two dogs, Benny and Rocky, along with a bearded dragon named Spyro, and his lifelong love of animals shines through in everything he does. He brings years of experience working at a Dog Daycare.
Pet Care Provider
Cassandra is one of our most reliable and tenured walkers, helping out during the week and on weekends and always jumping in when someone needs coverage. She has a calm, easygoing way with dogs and is especially great with our more anxious pups! You can tell she genuinely cares. She takes her time and makes sure every dog feels comfortable and safe. As a dog owner herself, she treats every pup like they’re her own!
Pet Care Provider
With 14 years of experience walking and handling dogs, she brings compassion, knowledge, and a true passion for animal care to every pet she serves. Certified as an Animal Control Officer and Animal Cruelty Investigator in 2012, she has extensive experience with dogs of all breeds and personalities. She loves creating positive experiences for her furry clients through exercise, enrichment, and genuine companionship. As a proud dog mom to Dolly, a rescued pit mix, and Cody, a permanent foster from the Randolph Regional Animal Shelter, she understands that every dog deserves patience, love, and individualized care. She currently works as an ACO in Mendham NJ when shes not walking or pet sitting with us!
Pet Care Provider
Karen retired in 2024 after a fulfilling career and has been a devoted dog owner her entire life. She currently cares for a large Labrador, with whom she has completed puppy and behavioral training, and together they’re a certified therapy team through the Creature Comfort Organization. Walking is her favorite form of exercise, and she loves combining it with quality time with dogs. She's been a reliable weekly walker with us for quite some time!
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Pet Care Provider
Will has over 25 years of experience in talent acquisition and has always had a genuine love for dogs. He’s reliable, attentive, and thoughtful in how he cares for each pet! He enjoys getting to know every dog’s personality and makes sure they feel comfortable on every visit. Will especially focuses on making sure each dog gets the exercise they need, tailoring walks to their energy level while keeping things calm, structured, and positive!
Pet Care Provider
Faith gained valuable experience at a local Morris County doggy daycare, helping dogs, while comforting both pets and their owners. She thrives on creating a happy, calm environment for every dog she meets! Now she handles even our most reluctant to walk dogs and has a really strong sense in how to win over a pup's attention. She now handles even our most reluctant walkers and has a strong sense of how to win over a pup’s attention.
Giuliana has been with us for over a year now and has been a a major part of our team each summer she’s home from college at Coastal Carolina University where she plays lacrosse. She’s been a dog owner her whole life, raising her own happy and healthy pups. Now she’s been training with us and has a sharp focus for identifying issues and triggers in many of our dogs. She’s an amazing problem solver and fun fact… She also plays for the Argentinian National Lacrosse team and will represent them at the World Cup this summer!
Pet Care Provider
Chelsea is a dependable member of our team who’s always quick to step in when we need extra help or coverage. She takes the time to read through each dog’s notes so she knows exactly what to expect and how to make them comfortable! Detail-oriented and thoughtful, she brings a calm, steady presence to every visit. Chelsea especially enjoys working with our more sensitive rescue pups, giving them the patience and care they need to come out of their shell!
Pet Care Provider
Hanna is currently studying veterinary medicine at Saint Elizabeth and has built a strong foundation through hands-on experience in both shelter and clinical settings. She’s volunteered with Sammy’s Hope and New Beginnings and completed an internship at Willowbrook Animal Clinic. She has a sharp eye for detail and is quick to notice when something seems off, always communicating concerns and making sure each dog is okay, even if it means staying a little extra time! As a dog owner herself, she brings a thoughtful, attentive approach to every walk!
Pet Care Provider
Lorraine has spent decades working with animals, from three animal hospitals as a receptionist and vet tech to 20 years caring for horses at a stable. She enjoys staying active and bringing her years of experience to each walk she takes. She has brought a tremendous amount of skills to our team and has been instrumental in helping our other walkers grow with our team.
Brooke has been working in pet care for over 2.5 years and loves getting to know each pet's unique personality. She has experience in training, daycare, and overnight care, and is passionate about making every visit fun, enriching, and rewarding. At home, Brooke has a stubborn but lovable 12-year-old Lhasapoo who often helps her practice new training ideas. She enjoys building lasting bonds with pets and helping both dogs and their owners thrive.
Pet Care Provider
Madeline is a Fairleigh Dickinson honors student and a three-season track athlete who brings that same drive and focus to her work with dogs! At home, she cares for a Rottweiler mix and a Shepherd mix and has hands-on experience with more involved needs like insulin care. Between her time volunteering at the Pet Adoption League and her active lifestyle, Madeline shows up to every walk ready to give our dogs the attention and care they deserve!
Pet Care Provider
Alexandra grew up on a farm in Maine surrounded by animals and has always had a special bond with dogs. Fascinated by dog psychology, she loves learning about their behavior and has helped care for her mother’s Pitbull rescues. She also enjoys fostering dogs with special needs for Eleventh Hour Rescue, bringing patience, understanding, and extra love to every pup she works with. Her work volunteering has made her a valuable part of our team!
Clients Served
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Appointments
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Raised for Charity
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