About Grace
My name is Grace Altieri. I’m an avid animal lover and the founder/owner of Grace n’ Paws, LLC. From my earliest memory, I gravitated to my pets. They were my best friends! I was always drawn to the energy animals exude, giving me a sense of calm and warmth. As a kid, the answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was always to be a veterinarian. That is until I realized how squeamish I was with the idea of surgery. So, in high school I worked a less medical option; a pet caretaker at a local boarding facility. It was perfect! I got to know different breeds and the traits that make them unique. I also experienced pet care from a new perspective: being a total stranger to these pets. Overall, it further confirmed my love of bonding with and caring for animals.
When I started college and moved on from my after-school job, I was undecided about my major for a year and a half. I was torn between my passion for animals and what I thought would be a more traditional career route. As I knew veterinary wasn’t an option for me, I didn’t really know of another major that could fuel my passion and be a “traditional” career. I graduated at the top of my school from Kent State University in 2022 with a degree in digital media production as I enjoy the art of video production. I moved back home to work on my path in life since my heart still tugged at the possibility of working with animals as a career. I found myself pet sitting as a way to earn money in order to save enough to move out. After a solid year of getting requested, booked and referred by family and friends who felt they could trust me with their beloved pets, I started pursuing my own pet sitting business.
Meet My Inspiration
I grew up with labs my whole life—the goofy, social, food-obsessed and lovable breed beloved by families all across the country! At 12 years old, a special girl named Charli entered my life. She is the fourth family dog I’ve had at this point in life and, from the start, the most dear to my heart. However, unlike the rest of our pups, we noticed Charli is more of a wallflower. She stays close to the humans in her pack and is very shy and anxious when meeting anyone new (dog or human). This new personality (to us) made it tricky when we’d go out of town and couldn’t find a relative to look after our pups. Who could she trust when no one familiar was around?
Charli has strengthened my compassion for pets that have anxiety. She has fostered in me an even stronger desire to bring comfort and security to all animals I care for. And when creating this business, she reminds me the value a trustworthy, dedicated and familiar outsider can really be. Founding Grace n’ Paws is my solution to not only at-home pet care, but personalized care for the special ones in our packs.
