MaryBeth Benton
MaryBeth and her dog Max
OWNER/FOUNDER
MaryBeth's love for animals began on her family's thoroughbred racehorse horse farm, where she developed a deep appreciation for their care. She later earned a degree in Animal Science with a minor in Natural Resource Management from The Ohio State University. Her passion for wildlife, particularly birds, led her to travel across the country as an avian field biologist for several years.
As MaryBeth and her husband, Andrew, began to settle down, she transitioned into the pet care field. Since 2011, she has gained extensive experience through pet sitting, dog walking and hiking, working at a parrot aviary, and serving as a veterinary technician at a small and exotic animal practice in Asheville, NC. Her diverse experiences working with animals helped her develop strong ethical standards for the care of pets and other animals, ensuring their well-being and advocating for compassionate and responsible treatment.
In 2018, MaryBeth founded Auntie M Pet Care, assembling a team of dedicated pet sitters and dog walkers to provide reliable, in-home pet care to the community. While she occasionally pet sits for long-time clients, she primarily focuses on managing the business to ensure sustainable growth for clients, their pets, and her team. She also serves as the Vice President of the Asheville Area Professional Pet Sitters Association.
MaryBeth and Andrew share their home with two beloved dogs: Max, a 7-year-old Border Collie/Golden Retriever mix, and Mica, an 11-month-old mixed breed puppy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her dogs, hiking, training her dogs, fixing up her 100+ year old house, camping, gardening, spending time with friends and family, and building community. She is also deeply committed to animal welfare, volunteering with the ASPCA Behavioral Rehab Center for fearful dogs and Mountain Pet Rescue. Dedicated to building community, she founded the WNC Dog Moms group to bring local dog moms together, fostering friendships while offering a neutral environment for their dogs to interact and socialize.
