With their busy schedules, Yana and Dan had to hold off on their longing for a canine family member. They pursued every chance to help out friends with pets, and would frequently take out friends’ dogs for walks and hikes. After pet sitting for a friend, and being recurrently asked if they were dog walkers, Yana and Dan decided that maybe this was an idea falling into their hands and they should inevitably embrace it. So they gave it a trial run and Walk A Pup was born! Before either one could think twice, they were surrounded by a great variety of dogs on a daily basis. It was such a blessing! In no time at all, with a little help from “word of mouth”, Walk A Pup established itself as a valuable asset in the Pet Care community. And best of all, the creation of Walk A Pup has given Yana and Dan the chance to finally add a new member, a beautiful Weimaraner name Nesta!
Walk A Pup is Bonded and Insured through Pet Sitters International as well as Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR. Although the main focus is to keep all their Pups happy and healthy with proper exercise and discipline, Walk A Pup is eager and excited to provide genuinely kind, highest quality care for animals of all ages and personalities. Being proud pet owners, Yana and Dan realize that every parent wants the best, specialized care for their loved one. Walk A Pup is more than happy to work individually with their furry friends and parents to meet any special needs and adhere to all different circumstance
Dan Carlson grew up on the North-Shore in a home filled with dogs, cats, guinea pigs, snakes and once even had a flying squirrel as a family pet. Many family vacations as a child nurtured a love of travel for Dan, and after a few years of college, he took off with some friends to see the country. He lived briefly in Arizona, and for a little while in California, and a good stint in the Midwest as well. Working mainly in the music and service industry, Dan has always had pets to come home to. Shortly after rescuing his current feline companion ‘Roaw’ in Grand Rapids Michigan, he decided to make his way home to the east coast. In the spring of 2003, after a sixteen hour car ride, Dan and Roaw found themselves back at home in Salem, MA. As he walked into his first day at a new job, the first person he met, of course, happened to be Yana. Many laughs, smiles and four years later the pair moved into a cozy little Salem apartment together and started thinking about the future.
Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Yana Fookson grew up surrounded by lots of loving family, none of which unfortunately included any pets. In 1990 her family had packed up their things and moved across an ocean to Melrose Ma, where Yana would spend the next ten years of her life. All through her teenage years Yana wanted a dog more than anything, however her parents did not share the same urge. After High School, Yana went on to pursue a degree in Economics and Anthropology from UMass Boston. During her time there, she developed a very strong travel bug and a fascination with the art of foreign culture. After a bit of worldly travel, Yana settled down in Salem, MA with her new found partner Dan Carlson and began a “right out of college” career in the corporate world. Two years later, Yana found herself a bit empty on the inside because little of her days were devoted to a greater good. She made the grand decision to say goodbye to a great opportunity within a software company, and set off on a journey to find a more rewarding and spiritually fulfilling path.
“I heard about Walk A Pup through a friend and dog owner and shortly after, left my little Cocka-poo puppy with them for a week while I went on vacation. Dan and Yana are big-hearted, solid people who love dogs! They instantly fell in love with Derby and took her in as their own. Their place was warm, immaculate and well organized. When I came back, it was obvious my puppy had been well cared for and they even emailed me photos while I was gone and gave me a disc full of fun photos when I got back, as well as a homemade card with Derby's picture. Now, they can walk her on practically a moment's notice at a reasonable price when something unexpected comes up for work. They have offered training sessions and advice and even called to check on her when she was spayed.
Any new puppy owner knows the first year is a lot of work. Now, I don't feel I'm in this alone when I have the folks at Walk A Pup supporting me.”
–Dinah from Salem, MA
