My name is Sumita, or Sumi for short. I am the owner and sole caregiver behind Paws and Hooves Care Services. Animals have always been an important part of my life, and caring for them is something I approach with patience, respect, and genuine dedication. I understand that inviting someone into your home or barn and trusting them with your animals is a big decision.

I started Paws and Hooves Care Services because I saw a real need for dependable, knowledgeable animal care. Too often, animals experience stress when their routines are disrupted or when they are placed in unfamiliar environments. I also noticed that most pet sitting services in the area do not include horses, small animals such as bunnies and guinea pigs, reptiles, or even fish. I know from my experience working with horses that it is important to have an experienced, knowledgeable, and dependable person to care for your equines.

My goal is to provide care that allows animals to stay where they are most comfortable, at home or on their property, while giving owners peace of mind that everything is being handled responsibly and professionally.

I have hands-on experience caring for a wide variety of animals, including:

- Dogs and cats of all ages and temperaments

- Small household animals such as hamsters, bunnies, guinea pigs, and exotics

- Horses and equine daily care routines

- Farm animals

I am comfortable following detailed care instructions, administering medications as directed, and recognizing changes in behavior that may require attention.

I believe great animal care is built on:

- Consistency

- Patience

- Understanding

- Observation

- Calm handling

- Respect for routine

Every visit is done with attention to detail and a focus on the animal’s comfort and well-being. I take the time to understand each animal’s personality and needs, ensuring care feels familiar and reassuring.

Paws and Hooves Care Services is a fully insured, professionally operated business. I value clear communication, written agreements, and dependable service so clients feel confident and supported from the first consultation onward.

A Little More About Me

My love of animals started when I was a little girl on my grandparents' hobby farm outside of Kemptville, Ontario. I would follow my grandfather around the barnyard and help him feed and take care of the animals. He taught me to be kind, patient, and loving towards them. When I was about 8 years old, we welcomed our first dog, a small Yorkie named Katie, who was a part of our family for 10 years. Our second dog, a spunky, mischievous Beagle named Shadow, had a big personality and was with us for over 18 years. My sweet little black Chihuahua, Bella, I brought home from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, along with my first cat, a Calico cat named Peaches when I was 22 years old, who lived with me until she passed away from old age at 16 years. Bella was my little black shadow and would follow me everywhere I went. She passed away at the age of 18 years from old age. Peaches was my first cat that I had adopted from the Humane Society in Sault Ste Marie. I named her Peaches because of her peachy colors. She was a very chatty cat, and she loved drinking water from the tap. I also had a bunny named Buddy who was with me for a short period of time and two hamsters, Speedy and Patches.

I currently share my life with a 6-year-old rescued Terrier-Mixed breed named Prince, who I adopted from SCAAR dog rescue a month before the first Covid-19 Lockdown in 2020. Prince is a very high-energy dog that loves to play outside and loves going out to the barn. He is my little wingman. I adopted a Tuxedo Cat named Harley from the Middlesex Humane Society in 2021 as a companion for Prince. Harley is a very sassy, sweet little cat and very independent. It took some time for her to trust and bond with me. I decided I wanted to get a friend for Harley because I thought she was getting lonely when Prince and I would go out, so I brought my youngest cat, Autumn, home in September 2024. My friend had adopted her sister from a litter of barn kittens, and Autumn was the last kitten in the litter that needed a home. Autumn is a sweet, curious, and outgoing little cat. She has bonded with Prince and follows him everywhere.

I have been a volunteer at Gateway Equine Healing Centre located outside Poplar Hills, Ontario for the past 10 years. My first year volunteering, I was asked by my friend and the barn owner to work with a little horse that needed some attention. That is when I met Contigo. He is a very sensitive and reactive horse that needs a confident and brave rider. He experienced some trauma as a young horse, and it took me a few years of working with him consistently in natural horsemanship to gain his trust and establish a strong relationship with him. He is a very intelligent horse, and he loves to learn new things. Contigo is a 17-year-old Paso Fino gelding, which is a small Latin American breed of horses that are known for their smooth, flowing gaits. Contigo is very special to me.

I adopted two Roborovski dwarf hamsters named Vixen and Aspen from the Middlesex Humane Society in 2025. They are nocturnal and tend to be up during the night. They are very cute and not as friendly as other breeds of hamsters, but they are fun to watch in their cages. I love spending time out in nature at my family's cottage in Grand Bend, Ontario or spending time with my friends and family.

My animals provide me with unconditional love, companionship, and friendship. I believe when you open your heart and your home to an animal, whether it is a dog, cat, bunny, or horse, you are promising that animal a lifelong commitment to their health and well-being. My animals are my whole world, and I promise to treat your animals in my care as if they are my own.