Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Register.
Hi Maria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Before starting Pawfect Walks, I spent about seven years working in operations and hospitality. That experience gave me a strong foundation in customer service, relationship-building, organization, and managing all of the moving pieces that come with running a business skills I never realized at the time would eventually help me build one of my own.
Pawfect Walks began in November 2023, and it started incredibly small. In the beginning, it was just me, with maybe one pet on my schedule every other day. Through word of mouth, referrals, and building genuine relationships with my clients, those occasional visits slowly turned into regular clients, full days, and eventually a schedule that I could no longer manage on my own.
That’s when Pawfect Walks began growing from just me into a team. Today, we provide care seven days a week with a consistently full schedule, and on some of our busiest days, our team services anywhere from 45–60 pets in a single day. Without my team, the vision of Pawfect Walks never would have been able to come to life.
As we’ve grown, one thing I’ve always been intentional about is making sure Pawfect Walks is about much more than simply providing a walk or cat care. Our clients truly become part of our Pawfect family, and we want them to feel that. Whether it’s bringing flowers to a client for a birthday or after a surgery, celebrating milestones with them, or simply being there during important moments in their lives, the relationships we’ve built with the people behind the pets are just as meaningful to us.
That sense of community has also grown beyond our daily services. We host client appreciation events throughout the year, including our annual Halloween Spooktacular, and I’ve partnered with local realtor Jasmine Stevens to create Pawfect Home. Together, we’ve been able to bring our communities together through events and experiences that give people an opportunity to connect outside of our everyday businesses.
Since starting in November 2023, Pawfect Walks has grown into a six-figure business and has been recognized as Best in Dale City. Those accomplishments mean so much to me, but I’m even more proud of the team behind Pawfect Walks and the community we’ve built along the way.
At the end of the day, Pawfect Walks was built on a love for animals, but it’s the relationships, community and incredible team we’ve built along the way that have made it into what it is today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first started Pawfect Walks in November 2023, one of my biggest challenges was simply creating enough financial stability while trying to get the business off the ground. There were days when I would finish with one client, turn on DoorDash in between visits, make a few deliveries, and then head to my next pet. I was doing whatever I needed to do to pull my weight in supporting our family, while continuing to build the business and trusting that eventually the consistency would come and thankfully, it did.
Another challenge has been learning that growing a business doesn’t mean you have to say yes to every opportunity. From the beginning, I’ve tried to stay true to the type of care and environment I want Pawfect Walks to provide, and sometimes that means recognizing when we may not be the right fit for a particular pet or family.
I always say there are three parties who make the decision during a meet and greet: myself, the pet owner, and most importantly, the pet. The energy and comfort have to feel right for everyone involved. If one of those three doesn’t align, we’re comfortable saying that it may not be the right fit rather than forcing a relationship simply for the sake of gaining another client.
Learning to trust that instinct and stay true to the standards I set for Pawfect Walks hasn’t always been easy, especially while growing a business, but I believe it’s a huge part of why we’ve been able to build the relationships and reputation we have today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Pawfect Walks specializes in personalized, in-home pet care, including dog walking, check-in visits, cat care, and support for families who want the peace of mind of knowing their pets are being cared for by someone they know and trust. While the services themselves are important, I think what truly sets us apart is the level of personalization we bring to them. We understand that no two pets are the same, and their care shouldn’t be either. We take the time to learn each pet’s personality, routine, quirks, comfort level, and what makes them happiest.
That care also extends beyond the pets themselves. When our clients are away, we want them to have peace of mind that their home is being looked after, too. During check-in care, we bring in mail and packages, take trash cans out and bring them back in on collection days, care for plants, and help with the little things that keep a home running while a family is away. To us, caring for someone’s pets also means caring for the home and family they’re a part of.
I’m especially proud of the team I’ve built. As Pawfect has grown, I’ve been very intentional about making sure growth never comes at the expense of the quality of care we provide. My team genuinely loves the animals they care for, and I want our clients to feel confident that whether I’m personally walking through their door or one of my team members is, their pet and home are receiving the same level of attention, reliability, and respect.
I think we’re known for going beyond what people traditionally expect from a pet-care company. We celebrate our pets and clients through the exciting moments, support our families through the difficult ones, and make an effort to build genuine relationships with both ends of the leash.
What I’m most proud of is that Pawfect Walks has grown significantly without losing the heart it had when it was just me and one pet on my schedule. We’ve created a business where our clients feel like family, our team feels invested in what we’re building, and every pet in our care is treated as an individual rather than another appointment on the schedule.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I think the pet-care industry will continue shifting toward more personalized, relationship-based care. Pets are family, and owners are becoming increasingly intentional about who they trust with them and the type of care and environment they receive when they can’t be home.
For Pawfect Walks, I would love to continue expanding into surrounding communities such as Alexandria and Arlington while maintaining the personal approach we’ve built our reputation around. My vision is to establish strong team leaders within each city and community, with teams of walkers underneath them. This would allow us to grow geographically while still maintaining the consistency, accountability, and relationships that are so important to our business.
My biggest long-term goal, however, is to expand Pawfect into boarding and daycare with a facility that challenges what traditional pet boarding looks and feels like. I envision a space intentionally designed to feel more like a home than a facility, comfortable, warm, and familiar, with an environment created to help ease some of the stress and anxiety pets can experience when they’re away from their families.
A major part of that vision is providing true 24/7 on-site care. We currently care for many pets who require medication administration or additional supervision, including pets living with conditions such as diabetes and epilepsy. Those experiences have shown me how important it is for families, especially those with pets who have additional medical needs to know someone is physically present and attentive around the clock. I would love to create a boarding environment where those families don’t feel as though their pet’s needs limit their options for safe, comfortable care.
Ultimately, I see Pawfect continuing to grow beyond our current services while holding onto the same philosophy we started with: growth should never come at the expense of personalized care. Whether we’re caring for a pet in their own home, expanding into new communities, or eventually welcoming them into a Pawfect facility, I want every family to feel like their pet is known, understood, and genuinely cared for.
Pricing:
- $28 for a 30 Minute Walk/Check-In Care
- Subscription Packages start at $252 which includes 10, 30 minute walks
- $20 for a 15 Minute Walk/Check-In Care
- $38 for a 45 Minute Walk/Check-In Care
- $48 for a 60 Minute Walk/Check-In Care
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pawfectwalks123.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pawfectwalks123/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553918096026
- Other: https://share.google/dNBhdPyQm0USMlk4y
