How we keep pets safe ottawa winter
How we keep pets safe ottawa winter
How we keep pets safe ottawa winter

Pet Care Services in Corktown | Loving Paws

You’re halfway out the door, coffee in hand, keys jangling, and your dog is already giving you that look. The one that says, “You’re really leaving me again?” If you live in Corktown and juggle a daily commute from Hamilton GO Centre with a pet who hates being alone, you already know the guilt. What if someone your dog actually loved showed up after you left?

That’s exactly why Corktown pet owners have been calling Loving Paws.

Your Pet Stays Home — Where They Belong

No boarding facility, no cage, no routine thrown out the window. In-home care means your pet keeps their own bed, their own smells, and the kind of calm that only comes from somewhere familiar.

Every Visit, Accounted For

After each visit, you get a photo update and an e-diary note covering feeding, walks, and anything worth knowing. Not a vague thumbs-up text, a real report from someone who was actually there.

Caregivers You Can Actually Count On

Every member of our team is background-checked, fully insured, bonded, and certified through Pet Sitters International. That’s not a checkbox, it’s a standard we’ve held since 2005.

In-Home Pet Care That Fits Corktown Life

Corktown is one of Hamilton’s most walkable neighbourhoods. It’s tight-knit, full of character, and home to a growing mix of young professionals in newer condo buildings and long-time residents who know every dog on the block. That kind of neighbourhood deserves pet care that actually fits, not a boarding kennel across town where your cat sits in a cage under fluorescent lights.

Loving Paws & House Sitting has been providing in-home pet care across Ontario since 2005. That’s over twenty years of walking dogs, caring for anxious rescues, and keeping homes safe while families travel. Our team of 15+ caregivers is all background-checked, fully insured and bonded, and certified through Pet Sitters International. More than 5,000 clients across Hamilton, Mississauga, and Ottawa have trusted us with their pets, and we hold a 4.9/5 rating, backed by 75+ reviews.

In-home care means your pet stays in their own space. Their own bed, their own smells, their own routine. No barking kennels. No strange animals. No stress. For a neighbourhood like Corktown, where condos are cozy, and pets thrive on familiar surroundings, that makes all the difference.

Services We Offer in Corktown

Dog Walking

Daily walks keep your dog healthy, happy, and tired in the best way. Our caregivers know the local streets and green spaces. A loop through Corktown Park or a stretch along the quieter blocks near Shamrock Park gives your dog real exercise, not just a quick bathroom break. We match the pace and route to your dog’s breed, energy level, and age.

In-Home Dog Sitting & Puppy Sitting

Heading out of town or working long hours? Our sitters stay in your home overnight or during the day so your dog keeps their routine. We handle feeding, walks, playtime, medication if needed, and all the belly rubs in between. Puppies get extra attention, including crate training support and those middle-of-the-night trips outside. If your dog struggles with separation anxiety, our sitters are trained to manage it calmly and consistently.

Cat Sitting

Cats don’t do well with change. A local cat sitter who comes to your home keeps things calm and predictable. We handle feeding, fresh water, litter box maintenance, and indoor enrichment, interactive play, puzzle feeders, or just being a warm lap for a while. Your cat stays comfortable. You stop worrying.

Small Pet Sitting

Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles — they all need someone who actually knows what they’re doing. We provide proper feeding, habitat cleaning, handling, and health monitoring for small and exotic pets. No guesswork.

Medical Pet Care

If your pet is recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, or on a strict medication schedule, we’ve got it covered. Our caregivers administer oral and topical medications, monitor signs of recovery, and keep detailed notes so you and your vet stay informed. Post-op recovery care at home means less stress and faster healing.

Nail Trims

An in-home nail trim is worlds easier than dragging your anxious dog to a grooming salon. We use low-stress techniques, go at your pet’s pace, and make the experience as calm as possible. Available for dogs and cats.

Virtual Veterinary Consultations

Not sure if that limp warrants a vet visit, or whether your cat’s new behaviour is cause for concern? Our virtual vet consultations connect you with a licensed veterinarian by video, quick, convenient, and available without leaving home.

Puppy Training

Good habits start early. Our puppy training uses positive reinforcement methods, reward-based, never punishment-based, to build a strong foundation. We work on house training, leash manners, basic commands, and socialization. It’s one-on-one, in your home, so your puppy learns in the environment where the behaviour actually matters.

House Sitting

Travelling for work or taking a vacation? Our house sitters move in and take care of everything — your pets, your mail, your plants, your home’s security. The lights go on and off. The driveway doesn’t sit empty. Your pet gets round-the-clock company. It’s pet care and peace of mind rolled into one, and it’s especially popular with Corktown condo owners who want a trusted presence while they’re away.

Why Corktown Pet Owners Choose Loving Paws

Finding a pet sitter you actually trust is hard. App-based platforms match you with whoever’s available — a different stranger every time. That’s not how we work.

When you book with Loving Paws, you get a dedicated caregiver who gets to know your pet’s quirks, preferences, and needs. Someone who knows that your rescue dog doesn’t like men in hats, or that your cat will only drink running water. Every visit comes with daily updates, and you can update to get e-diary notes, so you always know how things went, not a vague “all good!” text.

Our Ready-Key program means your caregiver has secure, authorized access to your home. No hidden keys under the mat, no fumbling with lockboxes. It’s a system built on trust and accountability.

Every member of our team is background-checked, insured, bonded, and PSI-certified. This isn’t a side hustle for us. It’s been our full-time profession for two decades.

Booking is easy, 24/7 online scheduling, no phone tag required. And our pricing is competitive with boarding facilities and pet hotels, with the massive advantage that your pet never leaves home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does in-home pet sitting work compared to boarding?

Instead of dropping your pet off at a facility, one of our caregivers comes to your home. Your pet stays in their familiar environment with their own food, bed, and routine. It’s less stressful — especially for cats, senior pets, and animals with anxiety — and your home gets looked after too.

Do you have experience with anxious or rescue animals?

Absolutely. Separation anxiety and rescue animal care are areas our team specializes in. We use calm, patient, consistent approaches — no flooding, no forcing. Many of our long-term clients came to us specifically because their rescue dog couldn’t cope with boarding.

Can your sitters give my pet medication?

Yes. Our caregivers are trained to administer oral medications, topical treatments, and manage post-operative recovery care. We follow your vet’s instructions precisely and log every dose so nothing gets missed.

What is the Ready-Key program?

It’s our secure home access system. Instead of leaving a spare key under a flowerpot, we manage key access through a documented, accountable process. Every key is tracked, and access is limited to your assigned caregiver. It’s one of the things clients tell us gives them real peace of mind.

Is your pricing comparable to pet hotels and boarding facilities?

We’re competitively priced with most boarding options in Hamilton — and your pet gets the benefit of staying home with one-on-one attention. No cages, no shared spaces, no kennel cough risk. Most clients find the value is significantly better once they factor in what their pet actually experiences.

Are your sitters insured and bonded?

Every caregiver on our team is fully insured, bonded, and background-checked. We’re also certified through Pet Sitters International. You’re never taking a chance with an unvetted stranger — that’s a promise we’ve kept since 2005.

How do I book a pet sitter?

You can book online anytime — our system is available around the clock. Pick your service, choose your dates, and we’ll match you with the right caregiver for your pet. It takes a few minutes, and you’ll hear from us right away.

Do you cover the area around Hamilton GO Centre and the Corktown condos?

We do. Our caregivers serve all of Corktown, including the condo developments near the GO station and the residential streets around St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church. Whether you’re on Ferguson, Catharine, or anywhere in between — we’re local and we’re here.

Services that we offer

Gently trimming Nails of cat

Pet Nail Trims Service | Stress-Free & Safe

Worried your pet’s nails are too long or causing discomfort? At Loving Paws, we provide professional nail trimming so your pet stays calm and relaxed in a familiar environment, avoiding the stress of vets or groomers.

Trusted House Sitting Ottawa

House Sitting Service | Trusted Care While You’re Away

Whether you’re traveling for a few days or several weeks, leaving your home shouldn’t come with worry. At Loving Paws, we provide trusted house sitting services, so your property stays protected, maintained, and lived-in while you’re gone.

Pet Medical Care Hamilton

Pet Medical Care | Medications & Recovery Support

Worried about giving medications or managing medical care for your pet? At Loving Paws, we provide professional in-home pet medical care services for both routine treatment and advanced recovery needs. Your pet receives veterinary-directed medical support at home, avoiding the stress of clinics, boarding facilities, or hospital stays.

Virtual Veterinary Care

Virtual Veterinary Care | Pet Health Consultations

Worried about your pet’s health but unable to visit a clinic? Our virtual veterinary care services connect you with licensed veterinarians and certified pet care professionals online, providing expert guidance, medical advice, and treatment recommendations from the comfort of your home.

Puppy Training

Puppy Training | Stress-Free, Positive Reinforcement

Bringing a new puppy home is exciting, but training can feel overwhelming. At Loving Paws, our puppy training uses positive reinforcement, practical skills, and confidence-building to help your pup grow into a happy, well-behaved dog, so you can enjoy puppyhood without the stress.

Cat Sitting In Hamilton

Cat Sitting Service | In-Home Care While You’re Away

When it comes to your cat, you want someone who will love and care for them as you do. At Loving Paws, we keep your feline friend in their familiar environment, surrounded by attention and affection.

Dog & Puppy Sitting

Dog & Puppy Sitting | Personalized In-home Care

Worried about leaving your best friend while you’re away? Our dog & puppy sitter keeps your dog in their favorite place, their own home. No stressful kennels, no loud barking from strangers, and absolutely no change to their favorite routine.

Pet Sitter loving guinea

Reliable In-Home Small Pet Sitting Service

Worried about leaving your small pets alone while you’re away? Our small pet sitting service ensures rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, fish, reptiles, and other pocket pets stay comfortable in their own home. We follow their daily routines, and offer gentle attention to keep your pets stress-free while giving you complete peace of mind.

Dog walker walking a happy dog through garden in Ottawa

Professional & Trusted Dog Walking Service

Worried your dog’s not getting enough exercise while you’re busy? We turn your busy workdays into your dog’s favorite time of day with fun, relaxed strolls full of play and totally loved while you're away.

Review from our customers

From daily walks to medical care, we provide trusted, compassionate support for your furry family members

Reasons to join our team and earn a good income

WE WORK HARD TO SUPPORT OUR DOG WALKERS, AND PET & HOUSE SITTERS

  • Work with us as one of our sub-contractors by driving to the homes of our clients to provide dog walking, pet sitting, medical care, and house sitting services.

     
  • The amount of work depends on the number of requests we receive from clients for our services, and that number keeps on growing as more and more pet parents and home owners learn of our services.
     
  • We diligently maintain our website and routinely work to ensure strong Web Search Engine Optimization so that our website appears top-most on web pages for search results.
     
  • Requests for our services come from clients who come to our website and submit quote or reservation requests. We then assign the work directly to you.
     
  • All work is paid, and we pay one of the pet care industry’s best rates for walking dogs, pet sitting, and house sitting.
     
  • No purchase of any “kit” is required to work for us. We do not charge any fee as a condition of working with us. We are not a pyramid-type organization.
     
  • There is much flexibility in terms of where, when, and how work is done, as long as the needs of our clients and their pets are met, and as long as what is paid for is done (we guarantee the duration of each visit, and that the visit will take place). Most clients are easy going about the services they need. Some clients are more specific; e.g. if their pet needs medication.
     
  • Aside from a computer with internet access, cell phone, and a vehicle that you need to work with us, we provide everything else you need to do the work, and for free: our admin software tool, access to our database, personalized email address, your insurance coverage and bonding, all the necessary printed materials, a professional binder for all documents, 4 handbooks covering medical care, procedures, and policies topics, and brochures/posters for networking.
     
  • We generally sponsor one major pet-related event annually; e.g. Pet Expo, and expect you will attend with us.
     
  • We put you in touch with new clients after they accept our quotes or existing clients after they reserve our services. Essentially, we pre-screen each assignment request to ensure it is valid before asking you to decide whether or not you want to take it on.
     
  • You can reduce your taxable income on your annual income tax filing with the Canada Revenue Agency by claiming eligible expenses for working as a sub-contractor, for using space where you live for office / admin work, and for using your vehicle for work.
  • We provide service every day of the year, especially on weekends and holidays when people tend to go away, and we pay 1.5X the normal rate for work done on a holiday.

     
  • You will interact with kind, animal-loving people who will appreciate and welcome the services you will provide, and who will trust you with their homes, belongings and their living pet(s).
     
  • You will have a territory and only be expected to drive to the homes of clients who live within typically 15-km from your home. We pay extra if you need to drive further (unless you agree to a larger territory when you join our team).
     
  • Walking dogs leads to getting exercise and the fresh are is as good for you as it is for the dogs; count on your health improving and not being stuck in a windowless office cubicle.
     
  • You will be pleasantly greeted at front doors by many pets that will be happy to see you and to also give you lots of unconditional love, affection and attention in return for just enough simple food and water, and all the play time and TLC you can afford.
     
  • You will experience improvements to your stress levels … numerous studies show that spending time with animals is relaxing and beneficial to human health.
     
  • You will learn about pet health and what it takes to become one of the region’s most respected, professional pet sitters.
     
  • You will have the opportunity to grow with us … we are increasingly called upon for our dog walking, pet sitting, medical care, and house sitting services. We provided our services to thousands of clients in the greater Ottawa region since 2005 and in Mississauga since 2012. Our goal is to reach more and more communities as we move forward.
     
  • We work on a very personalized level and are always available. We answer questions and solve problems quickly, and we invite suggestions for change and improvement regularly.
     
  • We have clear and concise policies and procedures so you will never have to guess about what you should or should not do.
     
  • We provide 4 detailed Orientation, Emergency, Procedures, and Policies Handbooks. Job shadowing and we continues with on-the-job coaching and accessibility. 
     
  • We provide continuing education opportunities relating to all areas of the pet care industry.

If you love interacting with and giving care to animals …
we and our clients … and their pets … can’t wait to hear from you.