Meet the Owner
Drew Bensen
Owner/President
He started Close To Home in 2008. The reason for choosing this Company has remained the same. Treat the animals with respect and love. Empower the team. Support the clients in order for them to be fully away, mind and body. Do the best job we can each day and be willing to pursue our own personal dreams.
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Better Business Bureau Accredited 2019/20
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Certified Professional Pet Sitter 2020-23 & COVID-19 Certified 2020
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Transgender Human and 100% owner of CTH Company
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Member of the ACLU & NGLCC Certified
Meet our Administrators
Jennifer Thompson
Manager / HR / Dog Walker Lead
Jenn is a born and raised West Seattle-ite and no matter how many times she leaves, she always settles back in West Seattle. Close to Home Pet Services gives her the opportunity to hang out with some sweet pups as well as keep her outside where she’s happiest. Her and her family have four dogs, three of which are rescues. All of their sweet boys are flat-faced lumps with many different needs.
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COVID-19 Certified June 2020
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Pet Sitters International Certified Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals- PSI
Katie Stam
Scheduler / Operations
Katie grew up in San Diego, CA and moved to Seattle in 2013. She has always had pets in her life including dogs, rats, guinea pigs, bunnies and fish. She is currently mom to a senior chihuahua mutt. She is passionate about Close To Home because she understands the internal dilemma of wanting to travel but not wanting to leave her pets, often choosing shorter vacations plans so she wouldn’t be away from them for too long. She hopes she can provide each pet parent with peace of mind that their furry family members will be well cared for while they are away.
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Certified in COVID -19 Pet care safety PSI
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Certified Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals- PSI
Meet our Dog Walking Team
Sherri H.
Dog Walking Team
“I have a special place in my heart for the littles!” After having adopted several senior littles over the years, Sherri’s current love is her rescue pup, Bentley. She also enjoys adventures with her partner Dave, which include watching football and snow skiing, plus sleepovers with her little granddaughter.
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Pet Sitters International Certified Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals- PSI
Dave
Dog Walking Team
Dave is a native of Seattle and loves living in West Seattle. When he’s not walking dogs he loves playing guitar and traveling.
‘Dave’s calm and loving energy is welcomed by the animals he meets.’ -Drew (owner of CTH)
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Pet Sitters International Certified Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals- PSI
Kersti
Dog Walking Team
(Keeer-steee) is a native West Seattleite, who brings over a decade of pet care experience with her.
She is a conservation scientist, community naturalist, science educator, wildlife photographer, herbalist and lover of all things wild; particularly birds.
She is an urban wildlife first responder and volunteer rehabber.
Adrian
Dog Walking / Cat Sitting Team
Adrian is a native Washingtonian with a deep love and respect for all animals. She grew up riding and training horses and has almost always had a cat around. Currently she and her husband have two gorgeous rescue kitties that they adore. Some day Adrian is determined to have a dog again (glares at husband) to take on hikes and other adventures. She’s an aspiring writer and artist recovering from a super stressful design job and now she wants to walk all the puppies!
Teri
Dog Walking / Cat Sitting Team
Teri is a native Seattleite who's a Husky (UW) that loves Coug's (WSU). Teri has a lifetime experience caring for and loving all animals. Her super powers are with cats. She founded Furry Faces Foundation in 2006 and in that time has tamed over 300 feral cats. Teri is excited to join both our Cat Sitting / Small animals team as well as our Dog Walking Team.
Pamela
Dog Walking / Cat Sitting Team
Hello, everyone. My name is Pamela and I've lived in Seattle for 6 years now. I've been a proud friend of animals my whole life and have a Jindo pup at home, along with a Tabby/Russian Blue mix kitty. I love to cook, make music, read books, and hike the beautiful PNW.
Looking forward to meeting your adorable fur babies.
Kate
Dog Walking / Cat Sitting Team
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Cathy
Dog Walking / Cat Sitting Team
Cathy is a seasoned problem-solver and lifelong animal and outdoor lover pursuing a degree and license as a Veterinary Technician.
"Every new animal and its person I get to meet will better prepare me to help every future animal and its person" - Cathy
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Meet our Cat Sitting Team
Michele
Cat Sitting Team Trainer / Lead
Michele was raised in Eastern Washington but spent most of her adult life in San Francisco. After retiring from corporate life in IT, she spent 15 years in Spokane and recently moved to West Seattle to be nearer to her son and the two tabbies they share.
Michele loves to travel and cook, and spends as much time as she can reading. Her friends and family call her a cat lady and she is happy to accept the title! Michele looks forward to making West Seattle her home and getting to know and care for your kitties and other family pets.
Ben
Cat Sitting Team
Ben was born and raised in Seattle and has been covered in cat hair most of his life. As a kid he earned his first dollar caring for cats of friends and neighbors. Since then he has understood the uneasy feeling of leaving your pets behind while you go out into the world. Both Ben and his wife love to travel and face the anxiety of leaving their pets behind regularly, so working for Close To Home feels like he’s really providing a useful service. Ben believes peace of mind while traveling is as important as the journey itself.
‘Visiting neighborhood kitties to make sure their needs are covered is my absolute pleasure’, Ben
Abby H.
Cat Sitting Team
Abby is a full time music teacher who moved to West Seattle in summer 2018. She grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and loves all animals, but is definitely a cat person! She and her cat, Phoebe, are the very best of friends. In her spare time, she enjoys making music, volunteering in her school and community, going to arts festivals, and drinking coffee. Lots of coffee.
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Pet Sitters International Certified Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals- PSI
Adrian
Dog Walking / Cat Sitting Team
Adrian is a native Washingtonian with a deep love and respect for all animals. She grew up riding and training horses and has almost always had a cat around. Currently she and her husband have two gorgeous rescue kitties that they adore. Some day Adrian is determined to have a dog again (glares at husband) to take on hikes and other adventures. She’s an aspiring writer and artist recovering from a super stressful design job and now she wants to walk all the puppies!
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Pet Sitters International Certified Pet First Aid & CPCR for Pet-Care Professionals- PSI
Jaimie
Cat Sitting Team
“I grew up in West Seattle and joined Close To Home when I moved back after graduating college. I love all animals, but I’m a cat person through and through. Outside of work I spend my time sewing, making pottery, and playing with my cat, Marigold!”
Teri
Cat Sitting Team / Dog Walking Team
Teri is a native Seattleite who's a Husky (UW) that loves Coug's (WSU). Teri has a lifetime experience caring for and loving all animals. Her super powers are with cats. She founded Furry Faces Foundation in 2006 and in that time has tamed over 300 feral cats. Teri is excited to join both our Cat Sitting / Small animals team as well as our Dog Walking Team.
Jennifer
Cat Sitting Team
Jen has been a Washingtonian for most of her life and a lover of cats for as long as she can remember. When not cuddling with kitties she loves to read, cook, travel, and play music with her husband. Working at Close to Home is a great fit for Jen, as it allows her the opportunity to give fellow pet parents the peace of mind of knowing their furry friends are well cared for while they are away.
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Join the Close To Home team!
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What a Former Employee Says
"I used to work for Close To Home and can attest to how much these people care about the animals and work they do. Attention to detail, love and professionalism are three things that come to mind when I think of them. You will be very happy with the care they give to your loved ones and home."