becky's pet care team and staff

Our team is as diverse as Northern Virginia.

From our office-based support staff and Pack Leaders to our field-based petcare professionals, we are an eclectic group of pet lovers from all walks of life. While we’re all different, we’re similar in that we’re all kind, trusting, vetted, professionals who care about pets and their people.

We believe in a "Partners-in-Care" philosophy.

Our approach blends our strict professional standards of excellence with a soft-hearted and unconditional love for animals, creating a winning combination for clients and their pets.

Our employees are skilled professionals who gravitate to this challenging and rewarding profession due to their great love for animals. This love naturally shines through every encounter.

Meet the Team

  • becky o'neil headshot

    Becky O’Neil

    President & CEO, Mom, Organizer, Coordinator, Problem Solver

    Kind, forthright, and committed to doing the right thing, Becky founded her pet care business in 1998 on what she loves to do: taking care of pets and their people. Over the past 25 years, she has grown Becky’s Pet Care from a one-woman enterprise into one of the largest privately held pet care companies in the country and remains dedicated to delivering a great experience for pets, clients, staff, and the community.

    Becky believes that experiences are more important than things and she surrounds herself with people who are bright, hard-working, and who think outside of the box. Her team describes her as fun, solutions-oriented, creative, and hard-working, a testament to how she runs her successful company.

    Supporting the well-being of animals is central to Becky’s personal and professional life. In 2016, Becky launched PetPREP, a training division of educational classes at Becky’s Pet Care to help pet professionals and pet parents take better care of their pets by learning Pet First Aid and CPR. She also supports various local and national animal rescue groups and community organizations and has served on the board of directors at the Community Business Partnership in Alexandria. She's active in, and past President of, the National Capitol Area Professional Pet Sitters Network, and has served on her PTA boards in different capacities including past PTA President. She also serves on the Board of Directors for National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS).

    Becky loves to bring Rylee, her labrador retriever, to work.

  • eric mangelsdorf headshot

    Eric Mangelsdorf

    VP, COO, Marine, Dog Fanatic, Sports Fan, History Buff, Film and Movie Enthusiast

    Born and bred in Arizona, Eric joined Becky’s Pet Care in January 2019 – he says it is the smartest thing he’s done in years. He has always held a passion for all animals. The love of his life, Daisy - his tan and pink-nosed Pitbull, is the sweetest thing on the planet and a big, affectionate goofball….Daisy is the office mascot and comes to work with Eric. Retired from government and military service, he is a 10-time Full Ironman Finisher. Eric is a huge fan of movies and spends his free time training for and completing triathlons of all distances and lengths, he loves home projects and FOOTBALL, but mostly his favorite past-time is spending time with friends and Daisy.

  • karen blevins headshot

    Karen Blevins

    Office Administrator, Mom, Wife, Friend

    When we think of Karen, the word ambassador comes to mind. Funny, loving, playful, and sometimes sassy, Karen came to Becky’s Pet Care when she left her role as a Media Buyer and Office Manager for a Public Relations firm in DC. She stayed because she realized it was a great company and she loves how much Becky cares about her employees and clients. Karen started as a dog walker and sitter before becoming the Office Administrator, a role she has held for the past 8 years. She is the first person new applicants meet, and it’s a good thing because she truly lives to keep our staff happy and our company running smoothly.

    Karen is very loyal and prioritizes telling the people around her how important they are and how much they mean to her. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family and her kitty, Scout, and rooting for the Washington Nationals. Ask her about her love of live music!

  • hilary allsopp headshot

    Hilary Kautter Allsopp

    Director of Training, Lifelong Learner, Perpetual Tourist, Cat Whisperer

    Hilary, who is kind, thoughtful, and organized, joined Becky's Pet Care in September 2018. Initially a Senior Pet Care Professional in Alexandria, she now leads the PetPREP training program, excelling due to her natural inquisitiveness and teaching ability. Hilary is appreciated for her engaging and patient approach in our Pet CPR & First Aid courses, helping clients and staff respond confidently to pet emergencies. Before pursuing her passion for animal care, she spent a decade in higher education as a career counselor and faculty member, earning accolades at the University of Miami.

    Outside of work, Hilary enjoys exploring new places, dining, and experiences, equally fond of historical tours and ocean adventures. She shares her love for nature and animals with her boyfriend and their four rescue cats, Myles, Milo, Millie, and Molly.

  • jesse ragon headshot

    Jesse Ragon

    Content Creator, Marketer, Dog Dad, Film Enthusiast, Conspirator

    When it comes to telling our story, Jesse is our guy. In May 2022, Jesse took the helm to manage our marketing, advertising, events, website, and social media to ensure that our clients have the best pet care information at their fingertips. But his creativity didn’t start with us: Jesse is a graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and has worked in numerous design and marketing roles, including creating videos for Carrie Underwood’s brand CALIA. In addition, Jesse is working on a sci-fi/fantasy book series of his own which he hopes to release in the future.

    When he’s not at work, Jesse enjoys spending time with his girlfriend, playing video games, and enjoying Dungeons and Dragons. He loves pets and recognizes himself as a “Dog Dad” to his three girls: Quinn, Luna, and Kitsu. Have him recommend some of his favorite cheeses as he is a connoisseur.

  • peggy o'neil headshot

    Peggy O’Neil

    Marketing Administrator, Comedian, Model, Race Car Driver, Friend

    As loyal as they come, Peggy excels at helping our vendors and clients feel appreciated and loved. Peggy puts partnerships first, which is why she’s perfect for managing relationships with companies and running our booths at public events. She loves to put together personal thank you baskets and little surprises for partners and brings fun times to the team.

    You can find Peggy with her friends, watching movies, going to concerts, and exploring DC and the surrounding nature during her personal time. Ask her about her love of sports and how she’s currently excelling at racing cars.

  • headshot of Sarah Beighley

    Sarah Beighley

    Pack Leader

    Kind, creative, and reliable to the core, we couldn’t think of a better person to manage our pet sitters than Sarah because she’s always willing to lend a helping hand. Before becoming a Pack Leader, Sarah was in the field as a Senior Pet Care Professional and she’s been with the company since 2018. She loved the positive energy she got from working with the pets and continues to bring that same positive energy to our staff and clients.

    Her open-minded nature and team-player attitude make her a natural leader. When she’s not in the office, you can find her hiking in nature with her English Cocker Spaniel, Theodore, or reading a great mystery novel.

  • dezerae thoden headshot

    Dezerae Thoden

    Customer Service Representative

    Providing excellent customer service is the most important thing to our dedicated staff member, Dezerae. She is caring, selfless, and guided by helping people, which is why she is a perfect fit for the Becky’s Pet Care team. Dezerae joined the Customer Care team at Becky’s Pet Care in September 2021. She loves working in the pet care industry because, as she stated, “it’s where I’m happiest.”

    Outside of work, Dezerae loves to hang out with friends and family. She also spends a lot of time taking her dog, Luna, to the park for some playtime.

  • Tyler Teets headshot

    Tyler Teets

    Customer Care Specialist, Parent, Artist, Wife

    Caring, fun, and enthusiastic, Tyler joined the Becky's Pet Care team as a full-time Customer Care Specialist in September 2022. She grew up with cats and dogs, and currently shares her home with a black cat named George O'Maley Teets and a husky/malamute mix named Spike (Mr. Spikles) Teets. Tyler says that pets bring joy to her life and she'll take all the pet love she can get! Prior to working at Becky's, Tyler spent time in a management position at Valvoline. One of her biggest accomplishments was going from not knowing anything about cars to having the skills to keep her car in running condition. When not at work, Tyler enjoys spending time with family and friends.

  • Ayumi Mitchell headshot

    Ayumi Mitchell

    Pack Leader, Optimistic. Friendly. Caring.

    Meet Ayumi Mitchell, our esteemed Pack Leader at Beky's Pet Care and a devoted mother of two. Born in Sasebo, Japan, Ayumi has lived across the U.S., including in Illinois, Washington, Rhode Island, California, and Virginia, enriching her with a multitude of cultural experiences. Fluent in both Japanese and English, her communication skills are unparalleled.

    Ayumi's deep-seated passion for pets is evident both in her work and her leisure activities, which include visiting wineries, dancing, fostering dogs, and beach outings. She especially enjoys fostering dogs with her family and visiting Glencarlyn dog park with their black lab, Bailey. Her work at a dog boarding facility once a week reflects her enduring commitment to animal care.

    Raised in a Navy family, Ayumi's diverse experiences and love for animals render her an essential asset to Beky's Pet Care, perfectly embodying the spirit of a Pack Leader.

  • Alisa Arruda headshot

    Alisa Arruda

    Customer Care Specialist

    Alisa is a multifaceted gem: Her titles include being a parent, an artist, a traveler, and a performer with a specialty knack for spilling drinks without a touch. Alisa is our explorer; she braved a winter hike on Hallasan in JustFab boots! Beyond her human family, she adores her two rats, Sherlock and Garrus, and a curious cat, Kit-Kat. When not pampering pets at Becky's, she indulges in fiber arts or shopping sprees at Five Below and Wegmans. After a corporate stint, she swapped boardroom meetings for pet care, blending her love for animals with her desire to help. Want to win her over? A Snickers or a Sugar-Free Red Bull will do!

  • Janice du Plessis headshot

    Janice du Plessis

    Lead Dog Trainer

    Janice is a compassionate, dedicated animal lover and caregiver, with a talent for understanding pets and their owners. A proud wife, stepmom, and pet mom to two dogs and three cats, she excels in training dogs and educating owners, fostering harmonious relationships.

    Known for her loyalty and passion, Janice enjoys witnessing breakthroughs between pets and people, driven by her desire to make a positive impact. In her free time, she reconnects with friends, travels, and shops for household needs at favorite stores like Home Depot and Kohls. Janice's love for coffee, chocolate, and Nerds clusters mirrors her practical yet adventurous spirit.

    Her work is rooted in nurturing positive behaviors in animals, aiming for a world where pets and humans thrive together.

team photo of Becky and Eric

Join the team.

Whether in the office or in the field, our people are kind, trustworthy, caring souls from all walks of life who love animals and who want to deliver a great experience to pets and people alike.