MEET CHICO!
Our dog Chico was the inspiration and namesake of our company. A Chihuahua mix who thought he was more human than dog, Chico was born in a North Dallas shelter in 2009.
In the fall of 2014, Chico suddenly stopped in his tracks during one of our daily walks and began yelping in pain. Over the next several days, his condition progressed from muscle spasms to severe, debilitating pain. After multiple visits to the vet, he was diagnosed with a ruptured disc in his neck that required surgery followed by four weeks of strict crate rest.
With family and friends all leading busy lives of their own, we suddenly found ourselves needing someone reliable and trustworthy to help care for Chico during his recovery while we were at work. Finding that person wasn't easy.
That experience planted the seed for what would eventually become Chico & Chums. We knew there had to be other pet owners facing the same dilemma—people who needed someone they could genuinely trust to care for their pets when they couldn't be there themselves.
And so, Chico & Chums Pet Sitting was born!
MEET the owner: ALYSON keller
After years as a public school teacher (and now a school district administrator), I decided to pursue another passion of mine—helping four-legged family members in addition to the two-legged ones!
Animals have always been a big part of my life. Growing up, our home was usually filled with a mix of dogs, cats, guinea pigs, birds—you name it, we've probably had one! In fact, a childhood friend and I started our own little pet sitting business when we were still in elementary school. Little did I know that many years later, that childhood idea would become a reality.
My goal is simple: I want you to feel completely at ease when you have to be away from your pets. I know how stressful it can be to leave them behind, whether you're heading out of town or working a long days. And I know the uneasy feeling of having to repeatedly rely on friends, family, or neighbors for help.
That’s why we’re here. You can feel confident knowing your pets will receive care and attention while you’re away—and plenty of affection, too.
We’d love to welcome you and your pets as new "chums" at Chico & Chums! Give us a call at (512) 876-3354. We look forward to hearing from you.
CHICO's chums (a.k.a. his brothers and sisters)
Sissy, Stubby, Gata, & Eloise
These guys were Chico’s “siblings,” and they served as “the chums” in Chico & Chums Pet Sitting.
Sissy (English Pointer mix) and Stubby (Corgi mix) were found as strays in 2013 in an oilfield location in South Texas. Skittish around humans at first, they gradually warmed up to people and became the biggest hams around. We lost Sissy in 2021 after a long battle with cancer, and we lost Stubby in 2023 to what was very likely a broken heart. Inseperable to the end, and along with Chico, they made up quite an exotic little pack.
The cats Gata (gray) and Eloise (white) were also with us for a long time. Gata lived to be 18 years young and Eloise reached 16 years. Gata truly had more than 9 lives having had many adventures in her lifetime, and Eloise was the more social cat who slept the greater portion of every day. They both got along great with the dogs; although not always well with one each other. They were the perfect balance of pet personalities that also played a significant role leading me to establish Chico & Chums Pet Sitting.