Leash By The Lake debuting in Sheboygan, Manitowoc in January

Rich Palzewic

Staff

December 1, 2025

SHEBOYGAN – Shannon Goebel, owner of Leash By The Lake, said she is bringing her love of animals and professional pet-sitting services to the Sheboygan/Manitowoc area in the upcoming new year.

“Personally, I have three dogs, four cats, a bearded dragon, a ball python, two rats, three tarantulas and two jumping spiders,” she said. “I’m a pet lover who married a pet lover – though my husband, Breydan, will never like my spiders, but he is a tolerant guy.”

The 48-year-old – who has offered the same pet services in the Wausau area since 2017 – said Leash By The Lake will begin service Jan. 1.

“I love getting to know my pet-sitting families as much as I love their pets, and I’m often referred to as the ‘Pet Auntie,’” she said. “Clients become friends pretty quickly in my world.”

Goebel said Leash By The Lake offers dog-walking services, drop-in care for all domesticated pets and house-sitting, including overnight stays if needed.

“Daily, I’ll stay within 10-15 minutes of Sheboygan and Manitowoc, but I do house sits all across the state,” she said. “I have been all over the state, but for me to travel [to further areas], people need to book early because I would stay at the home and stay for the extent of the needed time.”

Goebel said routine in-home visits have introduced her to a wide range of household pets.

“Though dogs and cats are the most common types of animals I care for, I happen to specialize in exotic pets,” she said. “I personally have lizards, spiders and snakes, so I’ve cared for those outside of my home. Probably the most unique pet was an African bullfrog, which I had to feed little pieces of meat to.”

Goebel said she’s also taken care of farm animals like pigs, goats, geese and donkeys.

The 30-minute in-home visits, she said, are shaped by each family’s needs, based on her initial meeting with them.

“The nice thing about the way I’ve always done business with the drop-in care, I don’t charge additional for extra pets,” she said. “If somebody goes on vacation, and they have a dog, but then their kids have a couple of gerbils, they have fish, etc., as long as I can take care of things within a half hour, it’s a flat rate. People really like that about my business.”

For dog-walking services, Goebel offers flexible time options – typically 30, 45 or 60 minutes – depending on what each pet needs.

“When I do my house sitting, most of the time, I stay overnight,” she said. “Some houses don’t require that, but if I stay overnight, it allows me to spend more time with the animals.”

From Wausau to the lakeshore

Goebel said she launched PawSau Pet Sitters in 2017 while living in the Wausau area, after first volunteering with a local animal rescue.

“The owner of the rescue knew someone who needed cat care over a weekend, and they suggested me,” she said. “At the time, I thought, ‘That’s just like a kid thing to do – can’t you have a teenager come over?’ I did the cat sitting, and then that person suggested me to other people, and pretty soon, I had all these people requesting drop-in care.”

Goebel said her subsequent research indicated that pet sitting was a viable business and that there was clear demand for it.

“I got insurance and bonding, so if anything happens to the home, it is covered,” she said. “I found a pet-sitting fraternity called Pet Sitters International – which I am part of – and I became certified through them. It’s a certification I renew yearly, and it educates me in the care of all domesticated animals.”

Goebel said she takes her pet-sitting duties “very seriously.”

“Within a year, I had quit my online day job and started doing PawSau full-time – I’ve never looked back,” she said. “It’s been eight years [of pet sitting] and seven years full-time – this is my job, and I love it.”

Goebel said though several online dog-walking services exist, she takes a more personal approach to caring for clients’ animals.

“I think by having insurance and bonding, right there, that shows how serious I am about what I do – all of that costs money, but it’s absolutely needed,” she said. “I consider myself a professional pet sitter who has gone through the certification and education to stay up to date. With some of the online services, anyone can sign up for that.”

Goebel said insurance is a necessary safeguard given the unpredictable nature of animal behavior.

“People might not think about it like they should,” she said. “Maybe the next-door neighbor comes and walks your dog – that’s great, but what happens if there is a loose animal that comes after your dog, or the child drops a leash, and your dog attacks someone else because they’re nervous? There are a lot of scenarios to think about.”

Goebel said having insurance offers peace of mind all around, ensuring she and her clients are protected.

“You really never know how animals are going to act in new environments, so I think having a professional is very important,” she said.

Gaining traction

The move from Wausau to Sheboygan means leaving valued longtime clients, but Goebel said she’s excited for the opportunity to meet new families in her new community.

“This is a new adventure for us,” she said. “I obviously have been researching the area, and it looks fantastic, and I’m excited to start. My pet-sitting families are everything. I love my career, so naturally, I decided to offer the same services in Sheboygan, and Leash By The Lake was born.”

Goebel said the response thus far has been “fantastic.”

“I already have almost 400 followers on Facebook, so I’m happy about that,” she said. “As soon as we settle down, I’m going to start complimentary meetings. I’ll go around, meet families, tell them about myself and what I do and see if I would be a good fit for them.”

Despite moving out of the Wausau area, Goebel said she still has some house-sitting appointments booked in the area through next July.

“The best way to find my availability and find out about my services is to go to Facebook,” she said. “There is a direct link to my software on Facebook. It shows my calendar and when I’m in town. I haven’t even started yet in Sheboygan, and I already have one client.”

Goebel said in the world of professional pet sitting, it’s essential to have a strong network of support.

“That has helped with Leash By The Lake in Sheboygan,” she said. “You never know what’s going to happen, and you need to have a strong network of people to help you, especially if you’re working solo. If you have clients who are out of town, and something happens [with their pets], you might need help.”

Though some Wausau clients will continue with her services temporarily, Goebel said she feels confident they’ll be well cared for by other local pet sitters.

“My old families will be going to pet sitters I’ve referred them to, who I’ve made friends with over the years,” she said. “In Sheboygan, it’s great because there are other pet sitters and boarding facilities that have reached out to me already. We’re going to get a coffee and meet, and I’m sure we’ll be friends in no time.”

For more information on Leash By The Lake or to check availability, head to its Facebook page.