What we’ve been up to since Helene + a Pet Pro’s Guide to Warmth in the Winter
The past five months have been a whirlwind—navigating uncharted territory, building community, fostering resilience, and leaning on flexibility, understanding, and teamwork. Through it all, we’ve been incredibly grateful for our wonderful pet parent community, whose support has meant the world to us.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we’ve been focusing on the essentials—prioritizing mental health, cutting expenses while we recover, and continuing to provide professional, reliable, and compassionate pet care.
A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated to our GoFundMe! Your generosity directly supported our team members, and they’ve shared how much those contributions helped them through the rebuilding process.
While most of our team remains with us, we’ve experienced some transitions over the past few months. Some team members have moved away, others have shifted to full-time positions that better suit their needs, and some have chosen to simplify life by focusing on their primary jobs. Though we’ve said goodbye to some wonderful team members, our team is stronger than ever—and we’ve welcomed amazing new additions who we can’t wait for you to meet!
Auntie M Team Holiday Party
Since the storm, we’ve been holding weekly team meetings and occasional in-person gatherings to stay connected and decompress together. Of course, there’s always something fun involved—like Auntie M trivia or holiday crafts! These meetings create a supportive space for our team to check in, share stories about their favorite pets, or chat about the latest audio book they’re loving. Looking ahead, we’re planning some exciting and educational get-togethers, including an e-collar workshop led by our team trainer, Megan Thrasher, and a bird walk during peak migration—hosted by me (I’m a huge bird nerd if you didn’t know! 🐦).
Over the past five chilly months, the Auntie M Pack has braved the elements for 570 dog walks and 136 dog hikes! That’s a lot of time outside in the cold, and we’d love to share our best tips for staying warm. These are tried-and-true strategies we’ve learned over the years to keep loving what we do—even on the coldest days. We hope they help you enjoy outdoor adventures with your pup, too! 💜
Auntie M Owner/Founder Mary Beth & her dog Mica
Layers! Starting with a form-fitted base layer made from athletic material or wool will keep you dry and help your body to thermoregulate properly. We love a warm, cozy + breathable fleece mid-layer to maintain thermoregulation!
Windbreakers! Wear a coat or an outer shell that will break the wind will help keep out the cold. Rain jackets, or puffer jackets lined with reflective material will do the trick. Bonus: A long top layer like a parka will keep your thighs warm too!
Hats, Balaclavas, Scarves, and Gators- oh my! Any combination of these will keep your head and spirit warm despite the cold.
Warm, dry feet! Toe warmers will keep even the coldest feet warm. Dry foot Hack: Wear a grocery store plastic bag or poop bag over your sock if your shoes don’t entirely keep out the snow or water puddles.
And finally…the great debate: Mittens vs Gloves: We’ll take a combo, please! Gloves with the mittens popover gives us freedom to move and use our fingers when needed, while the mitten add-on is easy to use and keep our fingers warm the rest of the time.
Pro Tip: Thrift for outdoor and cold weather gear. Shops like Second Gear have an amazing selection of second-hand gear at an amazing quality and lower price point. Traveling to a cold climate? Check out second hand shops there for winter gear.