Our Team

We started Animal Magnetism in 1999 and clients multiplied by word of mouth.  As a lifelong pet owners, we know exactly what other pet lovers are looking for with their cherished pets:  someone to love, exercise, and care for their companion (child).  Whether it’s a daily walk, pet sitting, beach excursion or an overnight visit, we have become an important part of our clients pets lives and thus an integral part of their family.

Our company is fully licensed, bonded and insured and we are a participating member of Pet Sitters International.  We perform reference, DMV, and background checks on all of our employees through a leading national service – we screen for the best, so that you don’t have to.  We only welcome to our team those who mirror our values and vision to provide love and care for your pet.

We are very proud of our staff.  They are all people that we trust to watch our own pets.  We wouldn’t have it any other way!  Our team is very aware that you view your pet as your child.  Everyone on Team Animal Magnetism shares a true affinity for all animals.

After almost 20 years in business, we continue to hear how our clients’ pets are so happy when they arrive home.  That is the goal of Team Animal Magnetism and that is what puts a smile on our faces.

Heather Barton

Must love dogs. Sure, it’s a movie title but it is also required in my line of work. I don’t just love dogs though, I was born with an innate love for animals. When I was a kid I had various kinds of animals in my home and life—dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, turtles, birds, fish and horses. I always knew that I wanted my career to involve my passion for animals so I enrolled in the prestigious pre-veterinarian program at North Carolina State University. My studies took an unexpected turn when, during my second year in the program, we began learning about euthanization. I began to question whether veterinary medicine was the best choice for me. I understood that this practice was sometimes necessary; I never gave much thought to the fact that, as a veterinarian, I would be responsible for deaths of sometimes perfectly healthy animals. I decided at that point to pursue my second love of film/entertainment. After my graduation from college I started my career in the film and entertainment industry in Wilmington, NC. In order to further my career I needed more opportunities so I moved to sunny southern California. I worked on many TV and Film productions and eventually found my way to product placement. In 1999, after a couple of years working at someone else’s product placement agency I decided to break away and start my own company. To subsidize my income while building my client base I started pet sitting. After a year of pet sitting on my own I decided to start another company and that is when Lori and I joined forces to create Animal Magnetism. I ran both companies for a while and decided that I wanted to focus all of my energy on my first love… the animals. In addition to Animal Magnetism I also love to help the animals in other ways and have been a volunteer with the Whale Rescue Team and at Animal Acres.