The Rover alternative Spring Branch dog parents actually trust.
If you've used Rover or Wag in Spring Branch, you already know the problem: a different stranger every visit, no real accountability, and a 1099 contractor who may or may not show up. Shaggy Chic is the opposite: a small, owner-run, employee-based dog walking and pet sitting team built for established mid-century streets, easy access to Memorial, and yards built for a real walk. A consistent team that knows your dog. Real reports. Insured and bonded. Run by Kristen Parkhurst, Fear Free Certified, since 2010.
What you get in Spring Branch
- W-2 employees, not 1099 gig contractors
- Familiar faces: trained employees your dog learns to trust
- $2M business liability insurance + bonded. Rover hosts are not
- Full background checks, in-person training, ongoing supervision
- Real photo + GPS report after every walk
- You can call Kristen directly. There is no app support tier.
- We cover all four Spring Branch ZIP codes — if you've been using Rover because you assumed no professional service reached your street, that assumption is worth checking
- No platform fee stacked on top of the walker's rate, no rotating strangers — same faces, on the same streets, since 2010
In Spring Branch
Spring Branch covers a wider geographic spread than our other neighborhoods — 77055, 77080, 77043, 77041. If you've been using Rover because you assumed no professional service reached your street, check your address. We cover the full Spring Branch range, and we've had long-term clients throughout the area since 2010. No platform fee, no strangers, same faces.
Why Spring Branch pet owners pick us
Sixteen years walking Houston dogs. Owned and operated by Kristen Parkhurst, Fear Free Certified Professional, Certified Professional Pet Sitter. Insured, bonded, and built around an employee-based team that actually shows up.
Call Kristen Directly
832-868-8430We have a senior dog with medications and a strict schedule. Shaggy Chic just gets it. Calm, careful, and they actually read the notes we leave.
Spring Branch · Frequently asked
What Spring Branch dog parents ask when switching from Rover.
Do you actually serve Spring Branch, or just list it on a map?
We actually serve Spring Branch. Our walkers and sitters work this neighborhood on foot, not from a contractor pool across the city. We've had clients here since 2010 — we know the streets, and we're genuinely local. Booking starts with a free meet & greet in your home.
What's the real difference between Shaggy Chic and Rover?
Rover is a marketplace — every walker is an independent 1099 contractor who sets their own rules, holds their own (or no) insurance, and gets matched to you by an algorithm. Shaggy Chic is an employee-based team. Everyone on our team is a trained, background-checked W-2 employee covered under our $2M business liability policy. You get the same familiar faces, not whoever happens to be available.
If something goes wrong, who do I call?
You call Kristen directly at 832-868-8430. There is no app support queue. Kristen Parkhurst owns and operates Shaggy Chic — she is not an account manager or a bot. If there's a situation with your pet, you have a real person who knows your dog and can respond.
How do I switch from Rover to Shaggy Chic?
Easy. Send us a note or call, and we'll schedule a free meet & greet in your home. After that visit, you're set up for ongoing care. Most clients find the transition seamless — we handle everything through the meet & greet and take it from there.
Rover had walkers available in Spring Branch — why should I assume you're actually here?
Because we have had regular clients throughout Spring Branch since 2010. Rover's 'available in your area' means a contractor accepted a job near your ZIP — it doesn't mean they know the neighborhood or will be there tomorrow. We cover 77055, 77080, 77043, and 77041 with a consistent team that walks these streets every week. One note confirms your block.
More in Spring Branch
All Shaggy Chic services in Spring Branch
- Dog Walking
- Pet Sitting
- Cat Sitting
- Rover Alternative
- Almost Overnights
- Staycations