About Us!

At Pawsitive Strides, we are more than just pet sitters. We are college students with a lifelong love for animals and a genuine passion for caring for them. Each member of our team grew up surrounded by pets, learning early on the joy, comfort, and companionship they bring to our lives.

Balancing busy student schedules has not stopped us from doing what we love most: spending time with furry friends. Whether it is a morning walk, an afternoon play session, or an overnight stay, we treat every pet like family with patience, warmth, and plenty of belly rubs.

We proudly serve our local Northern Virginia community, from Burke to Fairfax, Annandale to Springfield, Alexandria to Ashburn providing dependable, affordable, and flexible care that fits your lifestyle.

At the heart of Pawsitive Strides is a simple belief: every pet deserves love, safety, and joy every single day.

A light-colored dog lying on grass near a sidewalk, with a black car parked behind it.

Meet the team

Cathy Turnbull

Ava Blindauer

A young woman with long brown hair smiling, wearing a black sleeveless top with pink lotus flower embroidery, against a white background.

Bahara Bahar

Adam Chinque

Hi! I am Ava Blindauer a Kinesiology major at George Mason University. I’ve been a pet sitter for four years for families I have also babysat for. I truly love animals and enjoy giving them the same care and attention they’re used to at home. If you’re looking for someone reliable who will treat your pets like family, I’d be happy to help!

Hi I'm Cathy Turnbull! I’m a Government student at George Mason University. I have been working as a dog walker and pet sitter for 1 1/2 years in the Northern Virginia area. I have grown up with a bunch of different pets. I truly love spending time with animals and caring for them.

Maxine Teague

A woman with long blonde hair, wearing a light pink strapless dress, looking over her shoulder at the camera, with a neutral background.

Zoe Lemon

Hi, my name is Zoe. I study Environmental Science and have always loved working with animals. I worked at a dog boarding kennel all through high school, which gave me a lot of experience with different breeds and personalities. I also grew up riding and caring for horses, so I am very comfortable with larger animals. I am excited to meet your furry friend.

Hello! My name is Maxine and I am so excited to take care of your fuzzy friends. I am a student attending George Mason university to pursue my Bachelors in Business. As a pet owner myself I understand the importance of quality pet-care and I look forward to meeting you!

Hi, My name is Adam. Growing up I always loved dogs, spending a lot of my time walking my neighborhood dogs and pet sitting friends and family dogs. These experiences growing up showed how rewarding, fun and exciting dog walking can be for me and your pet. Now, as a GMU student I would love to provide dog walking services and make sure every walk is active and enjoyable, giving your dog the exercise and attention they deserve while on a walk.

Hi there! My name is Bahara, and I’m a student at George Mason University, majoring in Criminology with a minor in Forensic Psychology. I’ve always had a lot of love for animals I grew up with dogs and currently have two adorable cats of my own. Caring for pets has always come naturally to me, and I love creating a safe, comfortable, and fun environment for them while their owners are away.

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Join the team

Why you’ll love it

  • Flexible scheduling around school and life

  • Supportive, friendly team of fellow students and animal lovers

About the role
You’ll provide safe, reliable dog walks and pet-sitting visits in our service area. Walkers are independent contractors and choose their availability. Most visits are 20–30 minutes on weekdays; occasional evenings/weekends/holidays.

What you’ll do

  • Pick up, walk, and return pets safely; refresh water and tidy up as needed

  • Follow client instructions (harnesses, meds, feeding)

  • Flag concerns to the admin team (behavior, health, access issues)

You are

  • Punctual, communicative, and great with people + pets

  • Comfortable handling various dog sizes/temperaments

  • Over 18 with consistent access to a car or reliable transport

    • A university student.

  • Willing to complete Pet First Aid/CPR certification (we provide a free option)

Nice to have (bonus)

  • Prior pet-care experience

  • Experience with reactive or shy dogs

  • Availability over school breaks/holidays

How to apply (simple):
Email your resume to pawsitivestrides.walking@gmail.com. We’ll reply with a short application form to complete. Once you fill out the form, email it back to us.

Include in your email:

  • Full name and mobile number

  • Home neighborhood (for routing)

  • Weekly availability (days/times)

  • A few sentences on your pet-care experience

What to expect next:
We’ll review and send you our application form within 1–2 business days. If it’s a fit, we’ll schedule a quick intro call and a shadow walk.