THE FOUNDER
Zoo Sitters was established in 2006 by Pet Sitter of the Year, Vanessa Hess.
In 2007, she hired her first pet sitter and Zoo Sitters began to grow into the highly respected company it is today.

Hi! I’m Vanessa, the owner here at Zoo Sitters!
I know how hard it is to leave your pet in someone else’s care when you can’t be home. For that very reason, I created Zoo Sitters. I wanted to provide our community with a company they could truly entrust with the care of their pet and their home. It’s my goal to ensure your time away is worry-free and filled with confidence in the services Zoo Sitters provides. We don’t take that responsibility lightly.
Additionally, I’ve created an extensive training program for my staff which allows them to provide you with the highest standards of professional pet sitting. I personally hand pick every employee, ensuring I would have them in my own home, before I would ever place them in yours. I will only hire sitters who have the utmost understanding of professionalism, are pet enthusiasts, and those whom I trust completely.
It’s our goal to exceed your expectations.
ABOUT ME
I have extensive pet care experience with a wide range of domestic and exotic animals. After graduating from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a concentration in Animal Behavior, I went to work as a zoo keeper. As the years went by, I shifted gears and “went Corporate” but something was still missing. In 2006, I decided to embark on a career that I knew I would be truly passionate about. It was then that I returned to my hometown of Cape May, NJ and opened up a professional pet sitting and dog walking business. Zoo Sitters was born.
I am a Certified Professional Pet Sitter and was named Pet Sitters International’s 2012 Pet Sitter of the Year. I was a certified pet first aid and CPR instructor through Pet Tech from 2013-2017. Additionally, I was a pet-care columnist for Court House Life magazine. I am also a professional speaker within the pet sitting industry and have taught classes in professional pet sitting to pet sitters from all over the country.
I handle the day to day operations at Zoo Sitters and am always available to my clients. I hope you decide to come on board with us and I look forward to working with you or answering any questions you may have.
MORE TIDBITS
Outside of my passion for pet care, I am an avid gardener, travel bug, and I focus on healthy living. I also own another business! Vintage Alchemy is where I let my creative side and love of natural products flourish. There, I make handcrafted artisan products such as soaps, soy candles, aromatherapy creations, skin and hair care products, and organic lip balms. I even make an all-natural Oatmeal Dog Shampoo Bar and adorable pet-themed soaps for humans!