At Paws at Home, every member of our team plays an important role in caring for pets and supporting the people who love them. For our receptionist Sofia, that care starts with listening, connecting, and being there for families during some of their most difficult moments.
A Love of Animals That Started Early
A lifelong love of animals eventually led Sofia to working with them professionally. During the pandemic, she began dog-walking in Chicago as a COVID-friendly job. It was her first experience working with animals professionally and it ended up being a bright spot during an otherwise incredibly difficult time.
“Everyone was going through it, but the pets I saw every day just wanted love and attention,” she says. “I could give them that, reminding me that there were wonderful things happening as well.”
After spending some more time in pet care, she eventually found her way to Paws at Home, where she was excited to return to work centered around helping both people and animals. Here, she found an opportunity to focus especially on supporting grieving pet owners and helping make an incredibly difficult experience a little gentler.
Finding Connection in Difficult Moments
One of her favorite parts of the job is the genuine connection that can develop between people who may have started the conversation as complete strangers.
“By the time I finish a call with someone, I often feel like I truly know them and their pet,” she says. “Like they’ve gifted me that part of themselves and their lives.”
In return, she tries to offer whatever she can. Whether that be a kind word, a listening ear, a personal story, or even a joke when the moment calls for it.
That ability to connect has become especially meaningful during the more emotional parts of her work. During a recent visit to Vermont, she accompanied Dr. Horn on several appointments that stayed with her long after the visits ended. Each family experienced grief differently, she recalls, whether through stoicism, calming laughter, or endless tears.
The experience reminded her that there is no single way to grieve, and that every person’s grief is real and deserving of compassion.
Meet the Cats Behind the Scenes
When the workday gets especially emotional, she has three very important coworkers waiting for her at home: Eda, Diesel, and Gorgonzola.
“Diesel and Gorgi are ridiculous and never fail to make me laugh,” she says. “And Eda is very clingy and loves to be held close when I need some extra kitty cuddles.”
Spending time with her cats is also one of her favorite ways to unwind after a long shift. She enjoys relaxing with her husband, getting outside, reading a book on the back porch, or visiting a nearby café and sitting on the deck.
A Little Renaissance Faire Magic
When she isn’t working or spending time with her cats, she and her husband enjoy visiting Renaissance faires whenever they can. Many of the faires near them even have pet-friendly weekends, which has inspired a very specific goal.
They’re hoping to train at least one of their cats to wear mini dragon wings while riding on their shoulders.
We fully support this ambitious endeavor.
Friendship, Respect, and Teamwork
When asked how she would describe the Paws at Home team, she describes a group built on friendship, respect, and support.
“We actually like spending time with one another and have fun together,” she says. “But we wouldn’t be able to be so close if there wasn’t already a strong foundation of respect for one another’s work and trust that we’ll all have each other’s backs.”
That teamwork is especially important on busy days. Rather than trying to handle everything alone, she relies on communication with her teammates, particularly Ellen and Paige, to keep things manageable.
It’s a lesson she’s still working on herself: asking for help before things become overwhelming and trusting the people around her to work through challenges together.
And that spirit, kindness, connection, humor, and teamwork is a big part of what makes her such a meaningful member of the Paws at Home family.