Why Urban Paws Co.

Where does a business really begin?

For some people, it’s a lightbulb moment. An idea that hits and they just go. Others sit on an idea for a while, letting it grow quietly before nudging it out of the nest to see if it’ll fly. Some folks never let their ideas leave their mental drawing board at all.

I guess I fell somewhere in the middle.

Growing up, my family always had dogs, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything. Looking back, I realize how much having family pets taught me about life. Responsibility. Caring for something and helping it grow. Ownership. The cycle of life and loss. But it also taught me something bigger: that I have a deep passion for animals—and that dogs would play a much bigger role in my life than I ever realized.

Fast-forward to today. I’m a firefighter with the Oklahoma City Fire Department. And as most people know, firefighters almost always have a “day-off job” or side gig. Anyone who knows me will tell you it’s hard for me to sit still. I like having multiple things going on—sometimes a blessing, sometimes a curse.

I knew I wanted a day-off job, but I had no idea what it should be. Plenty of firefighters mow lawns, hang Christmas lights, do trade work, own rentals—the list goes on. But none of those felt like something I’d truly enjoy doing long-term. So I went back to the drawing board.

Owning my own business sounded great, but I wasn’t sure what I could actually do based on my skills and experience. Then one day, while browsing online, I came across someone in another state who had started their own dog-walking business—and they were loving it.

I already had four dogs of my own. I already walk them every day.
So why couldn’t I walk other people’s dogs… and get paid doing something I actually enjoy?

Enter Urban Paws Co.

After researching the pet service market in OKC and giving myself a crash course in small business start-up basics, I decided to take the leap.

With Urban Paws Co., my goal is simple: to provide professional, reliable pet care for families and busy professionals who are always on the go or just need a little extra help in their day-to-day lives. But I didn’t want to stop there. I didn’t want to be “just” a dog walker, pet sitter, or poop scooper.

My whole life has been about serving—whether on sports teams, in the military, or now at the fire department. I wanted Urban Paws Co. to reflect that same spirit of service. Two of our four dogs are rescues, and another was rehomed to us, so supporting rescue organizations and animal welfare has always been close to my heart.

This business is my way of giving back.

I want to strengthen our community by building relationships with local businesses, pet service providers, and animal welfare organizations throughout the OKC metro and beyond. I want to contribute to OKC’s small business ecosystem, support fellow pet professionals, and help more dogs find the loving homes they deserve.

Urban Paws Co. is more than a business.
It’s my way to serve—people, pets, and the community that raised me.