A Sit-down with the Founder of Woof! Dog Walking & Pet Sitting

For years, Rhode Island native Diana Pozzi spent her days behind the lens, capturing weddings, portraits, and life’s most intimate moments as a full-time photographer. But over time, the magic started to fade out of focus. Feeling burnt out and creatively drained, she knew she needed a change, something that would reignite the spark she once felt every time she picked up a camera.

In February 2018, a neighbor asked Pozzi to watch their dogs for a long weekend. What started as a casual favor quickly became a turning point. “I absolutely loved it,” says Pozzi of spending time with the furry friends. “I needed a part-time job while I figured out my next move, and after that weekend, my then-boyfriend (now husband) said, ‘you’ve always wanted to open a doggie daycare. How about you do something with dogs?’”

Pozzi took the suggestion to heart and hit the ground running. Within weeks, she built a website, consulted a lawyer to set up the business properly, got certified in pet First Aid and CPR, and officially launched Woof! Dog Walking & Pet Sitting on April 1, 2018. Next came the marketing: posting in Facebook groups, handing out business cards, and taping flyers on every bulletin board in town. Slowly but surely, the hard work paid off and within months, she had a steady group of regular clients – and a whole new lease on life. “It fulfilled me in a way photography never did,” says Pozzi. “I was finally doing something that made me happy.”

Today, Woof! provides professional dog walking, pet sitting, house sitting, and pet escort
services throughout the greater Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts area. Based in Rumford, Pozzi and her team care for animals within a five- to 10-mile radius, whether their humans are out of town, working that 40-hour work schedule, or just taking a day trip. And though Pozzi left photography behind professionally, it still plays a crucial role in her work: each visit comes with adorable cell phone

Each day begins bright and early for Pozzi and her manager, Amy LoSasso. They handle scheduling and last-minute client needs before hitting the road at 9am, providing visits that range from 15 minutes to a full hour. Every stop is filled with tail wags, belly rubs, and slobbery smooches. “You can be having the worst day, and the second the dog sees you, their excitement just breathes new life into you,” says Pozzi. “They’re magic. We really don’t deserve them.”

At home, Pozzi is just as surrounded by pets as she is on the job. She and her husband share their lives with two dogs, Dash and Chloe, and two free-roaming bunnies, Burt and Bethany, who’ve become unexpected internet stars. “People love them,” she laughs. “I post videos of them eating breakfast and they have quite the following!”

Now, with a thriving business and a 13-month-old son, Pozzi’s days are full, but never overwhelming. Her goals for Woof!’s future are still evolving, and while new projects and services are on the horizon, she’s happy to grow at a pace that fits her life. What matters most is doing work that brings her joy.

“It’s hard for me to even describe how much I love what we do,” says Pozzi. “It doesn’t feel like work. I can honestly say I have my dream job and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. We’re a crew of like-minded people who’d rather be outside with dogs than sitting in a cubicle all day. They’re like family,” she says of her team. “What we’ve built together is really special. I get very emotional thinking about how far we’ve come.” Learn more at WoofRI.com 

Pocket Pets

Woof! services include visits with guinea pigs, turtles, bearded dragons, and bunnies!