donna paseltiner
owner

Current pets:
ROCKY - 13ish? black Lab who was left at a boarding facility for 3 months and never picked up by his owners. Truly the most wonderful dog (My Rockstar!).

RAMONE - 13ish one eyed black/tan Chihuahua-Rat Terrier combo from a shelter. After being mistreated and abused by kids, Ray decided to take the world on, in a nonsocial way. After picking a fight with a Chow and losing (the fight and his eye) Ramone has slowly come around to be a quirky affectionate old guy (The No Fun Police!)

PUTTER - 8 y/o Bichon was found in the backyard of an employee. After a good grooming, vetting and training, Putter moved from the Southside of Chicago to the golf courses of Boca Raton with my elderly parents. After their passing, Putter came back to Chicago and now rounds out my canine trio. A smart and loving stubborn fellow (Peanut Butter Putter!)

Animal Related Experience: Every Halloween I wore the same costume. It was a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging from my pocket and a dog leash around my neck. That much covered the veterinarian desires in me, but the want to be an artist also fought through. So a french beret on my head and a palette in hand completed the outfit. This goofy costume reflected who I wanted to be throughout my life. When my artistic skills proved to be no more than a hobby, I took to sketching and painting my favorite subject, dogs. I adored all animals. I saved birds with broken wings in the bathtub, tried to find a home for anything in need, brought the show & tell snake home from school when the fire alarm rang, you name it.

In my adult years I had various office jobs. Peppered throughout were jobs in animal related businesses. I managed a pet store, did dogwalking, took classes in training, and on and on. After working for an accounting firm for 10 years, I found myself headed back to my calling - I worked for a not for profit organization for 3 years where I took extensive classes on behavior, etc. and learned to train special needs dogs for the disabled, a truly rewarding experience! Next came long term employment as an operations manager for a doggy daycare and boarding facility in Chicago. There I found what I liked and what needed fixing, and before long opened Mutt Hutt, Inc. on May 1, 2006.

I decided to make Mutt Hutt what I would want if my dogs needed to be away from me. It needed to be safe, comfortable and as stress free as possible. It had to have the love and committment that I would give my own dogs. I wanted an intimate arena where all needs could be met without going to a mega-kennel. No big box mart for me. It had to work for everyone - the dogs, the clients, the staff, the pet community. So it is with these ideals that Mutt Hutt exists; dedicated to the finest care for pets and their owners. We also strive to help with the less fortunate by finding their forever homes. We work with a few small local shelters and by giving part of our space, our talent and our compassion, we hope to help put an end to the homeless pet population.