The Best, Most Caring Pet Care Professionals

Jill’s Next Door is dedicated to working with only the best, most caring, and qualified pet lovers around. We run each sitter through an extensive screening.

How do we onboard our sitters?

All of our Pet Sitters go through a very thorough screening, vetting, and questionnaire process before they are considered to be part of our team. We look for stellar references, a clean background check, pet care experience, and completion of a 25 Step Onboarding Guide. Our sitters also complete a shadowing orientation on client directives before they receive their first solo assignment.

We only work with the best people and hold them to a very high standard! We can never be too thorough and YOU and your pets can never be too happy!

Meet Our Team

Shawna Langdon, Professional pet sitter

Hey Everyone! My name is Shawna and I’m both humbled and excited for the opportunity to work with you and your fabulous furry and non furry family members! I have fur babies of my own and I know how important it is to find someone reliable, caring, and trustworthy to look after them when you cannot. I want to offer you that piece of mind by providing your pets with companionship and exercise that they need and deserve! I have been dog walking and pet sitting on and off now for about a year and I’m ready to fully dedicate myself to being there for you and your pets. I’m originally from upstate New York and grew up with a wide variety of animals from white faced herefords to ducks (Donald & Daisy) to dogs and cats to fish and birds. My home was located on a few acres of land and it was like waking up to a wildlife preserve every day; from chipmunks to bears and everything in between! I have now been in South Florida for 6 years and couldn’t be happier. I truly look forward to assisting you with all your pet needs and essentially help to make your life easier and stress free!

WATCH SHAWNA’S INTRODUCTION VIDEO HERE:

https://youtu.be/e3BO02Zhljk

Laura Kaplan, professional pet sitter

Hello! My name is Laura Kaplan and I am very excited to have the opportunity to watch your beloved pets. I am originally from the Midwest. I moved to Palm Beach County in 2016, and currently live in West Boca with my husband and three boys ages 9, 7 and 3. We currently do not have any pets, but I have owned cats, dogs, reptiles and other small animals such as rabbits.

I worked at a veterinary clinic while in school as a vet assistant. I have volunteered at two different zoos and had the pleasure of working with all the animals. My primary role at one zoo was to crate train the African Penguins and a sweet Red Panda named Li-Wu. I worked at PetSmart for 2 years and worked very closely with the dog trainer and gained a lot of knowledge from that experience. In my spare time, I have done some volunteer work with local shelters. I’m so excited to be a part of Jills Next Door Dog Walking and Pet Services. I look forward to meeting you and your furry family members.

WATCH LAURA’S INTRODUCTION VIDEO HERE:

https://youtu.be/E18qu0uxAFc

JASON GORCZYCA, JND PROFESSIONAL PET SITTER

One of my fondest childhood memories is going on a bike ride with my brother to a farm down the street that had buffalo. My brother and I would spend the afternoon feeding grass to them through the fence. It was heaven! Growing up in the Ohio countryside I had cats, dogs, fish, guinea pigs, rabbits and gerbils. Needless to say, I’m an animal lover! I lived in Chicago for 15 years before relocating to South Florida about 6 years ago. I am a former financial advisor that decided to pursue my passions of standup comedy, wine, travel and not working behind a desk as I love being outside. Currently I have one, 3-legged cat named Trinity. I am thrilled to be working with Jill’s Next Door and look forward to meeting you and your pets while providing excellent care for your loved ones!

WATCH JASON’S INTRODUCTION VIDEO HERE:

https://youtu.be/k4MZ4f-2tjo

KRISTIN CAIRNS, JND PROFESSIONAL PET SITTERA

Originally from New Jersey, as a kid, I had cats, hamsters, and trained my pet mouse. On the weekends we would go to the farm and feed the goats and retrieve eggs from the hens. While living in Alabama I rescued and bottle-fed a litter of puppies and found them forever homes. I was lucky to have the opportunity to live in Idaho for a few years where I learned how ride and care for horses. Upon returning to Florida, I continued my career as a Licensed Insurance Adjuster for corporate insurance companies. I traveled throughout Florida for work and while it kept me away from home, I was able to explore our state. I have seen 2 Florida Panthers in my years of driving around! After 15 years of insurance claims I partnered with another professional and become a small business owner in Boca Raton.
I have been residing in South Florida for over 20 years where I can enjoy my passions of traveling, gardening, cooking and paddle boarding wherever there is water. My husband and I have been living in East Boca for 10+ years. Our home is a bit quiet right now with only 1 rescue pup, Gretchen, who is approximately 15 years old and our 25 year old orange eared slider turtle, Ginger, who was saved from a crawfish net as a baby. Everywhere I have lived I become the neighborhood pet and house sitter. Being trusted with my neighbor’s home and animals is an honor and a great responsibility that I love!
My name is Kristin Cairns and I am excited and grateful to become your trusted Professional Pet Sitter and be a part of Jill’s Next Door family.

WATCH KRISTIN’S INTRODUCTION VIDEO HERE:
https://youtu.be/PsQGnGnFPRM

BRIAN MCGARY, WEBMASTER

Brian joined the Jill’s Next Door team in 2019 and manages the day-to-day operation of Jill’s Next Door’s website: ensuring the functionality, navigation, and overall performance that meets our clients’ needs.

Brian is also President of Sitetastics (www.sitetastics.com) a digital marketing agency specializing in websites, SEO, PPC, and analytics.

Brian resides in Sunrise, Florida with his daughter Riley, his pup Dakota, and kitten Mittens he rescued through Jill’s Next Door Pet Adoption Alliance Program.

TONY SAKAL, JND FELINE ALLIANCE RESCUE MANOR (F.A.R.M) PROPERTY oWNER

Tony Sakal is an established cat colony caregiver who maintains multiple feral cat colonies in Palm Beach County. Tony works in conjunction with several local rescues with the goal of reducing the feral cat population by trapping, neutering and releasing back into their chosen territory. Tony also owns and operates our F.A.R.M (Feline Alliance Rescue Manor) where kitties who are injured, unadoptable, or elderly call home. Through a successful fundraiser, Tony has built a catio to shelter vulnerable cats from predators.

Tony is a highly valued team member with JND Feline Alliance Program; offering feline procurement, transportation, medical care, and immeasurable knowledge of feline welfare.

Tony is the founder and circuit board technician of Board Busterz (Boardbusterz.com),

a company that specializes in appliance and all circuit board repair. A percentage of all proceeds from Board Busterz is donated directly to the to care of our local cat colonies.

BRANDY MARTIN EVERINGTON, JND FELINE ALLIANCE COORDINATOR & RESCUE LIASON

Introducing Brandy Martin Everington, Jill’s Next Door Feline Alliance Program’s Coordinator & Rescue Liason! Brandy is a star animal rescue advocate who is partnered with several rescues in Palm Beach and Broward Counties. She facilitates the overall process of adoptions and implements best practices and matchmaking skills to find kitties forever homes. Not only does Brandy herself foster animals, she also performs periodic check-ins with adoptive families and resolves any issues to prevent returns. Brandy is very active in regular adoption events around south Florida and is our head liason to various veterinary clinics, rescues, and shelters across the state.

MANDY PLATO, JND FELINE ALLIANCE VOLUNTEER

Meet our volunteer Mandy Plato, who generously donates her time, energy, and love to the kittens fostered with Jill’s Next Door Feline Alliance Program! Mandy’s focus in kitten socialization is a crucial component in kitten development and adoption preparation. Mandy comes to JND from California Paws Rescue in Palm Desert, CA, and currently specializes in canine socialization, transportation, and service dog training with Florida’s Big Dog Ranch and DC DOGOS. Mandy has a rescue pit named Toby and resides in Delray Beach, FL.