Our mission is to love each and every pup and kitty as if it were our own. We promise to give you complete peace of mind when you entrust us with your furry family members.
Our Story
In 2010, founder Nancy Grant launched A Friend for Fido, LLC.
When Nancy and her husband Steven returned to Winnetka to raise their two daughters, they realized it was far easier to find a trustworthy babysitter than it was to find someone they trusted to walk and take care of their beloved Portuguese Water Dog, Vasco de Gama.
Nancy had the idea of creating a different type of pet care company for the North Shore. She had the vision of hiring local moms she would trust with her own pups. More recently, Nancy has welcomed college graduates and other local North Shore residents to the Friend For Fido team.
A Friend for Fido, LLC has provided hundreds of North Shore families with first rate dog walkers and kitty sitters over the last ten years.
Nancy Grant, Founder
Nancy is a former attorney and fundraiser for political campaigns. She continues to live in her hometown of Winnetka, IL with her husband Steven and their two rescue pups, Athens (left) and Plato (right).
Meet the Team
Meet the people that make up our Friend for Fido team.
All walkers are employees of A Friend for Fido, LLC - not independent contractors. Nancy prides herself on having the “pick of the litter” when it comes to her Friend for Fido walkers. Team members are trained in the field, bonded and insured, and undergo extensive background checks prior to hiring. Every walker is not only an avid animal lover and highly responsible and trustworthy, they are lovely spirited people as well.
Get to know our small group of dedicated walkers.
Amy Acri
Amy has lived in Winnetka for twenty years with her husband Jim. They raised their triplet daughters and their beloved yellow lab Maggie here. Amy joined A Friend for Fido in 2013.
Amy taught at Hubbard Woods School and she now spends her mornings teaching at Willow Wood Pre-School in Winnetka.
“I have the two best jobs in the world.”
Chris Paul
Chris is a life long North Shore resident. She grew up with Collie mixes and has had pups her whole life. She is a mother of four and started dog walking in 2006. Chris has been with A Friend for Fido for seven years. She could not imagine a better job, even in bad weather!
“Being with pups is a gift every single day.”
Chris studies dog behavior from California dog behaviorists Cheri Wulff Lucas, Samantha from Pack Life, LA, and Kim Erickson.
Karl Remien
Karl has been a dog walker for nearly sixteen years. He was raised in Evanston and enjoys walking dogs on the North Shore. Karl is married with one daughter, two Russian Bolonka dogs, named Dixie and Nova, one Kakariki bird named Chicken, and many fish.
Kathy Ballantine
An Evanston native, Kathy has lived in Wilmette and Winnetka for thirty years. Kathy and her husband Frank reside with a Corgi, a Corgi/ Mini-Pinscher rescue (both pictured here) and a seventeen year old rescue kitty.
Kathy is a mother of three and proud grandmother of seven. She has also raised twelve cats and eight dogs. Kathy joined the Friend for Fido team in 2016 after being a client herself and cherishes the connections she makes with fellow animal lovers and their pets.
Lamar Ezell
Lamar is a Sheridan Park Chicago native with a personality as colorful as the neighborhood he grew up in. Formerly a Glencoe postman, Lamar was looking for some excitement and fulfillment in his life when friend and fellow walker Chris Paul recommended Nancy Grant and A Friend for Fido.
"Everyday I get to spend time with all these furry babies who I absolutely love. Life couldn't be better. Thanks to Nancy for this life changing opportunity. I will forever be grateful."
Lamar currently lives in the West Ridge neighborhood and is delighted to be a part of the Friend for Fido team!
Mike Jolls
Mike grew up in the Chicago area. He lives in Wilmette with his wife and three sons. Mike loves all animals, especially dogs, cats, and marsupials.
Pamela Williams
Pam is a lover of the great outdoors and animals big and small. She enjoys biking, cooking for her fiancé, watching a good comedy, and listening to music. Pam comes from a fashion background and found her passion in walking pups and caring for kitties. Pam and her fiancé have a Calico rescue cat named Pebbles who makes every day brighter.