My journey into mindful pet care began long before Nikki’s Pet Services was founded.

In 2014, I began my career in education, where I was introduced to Social Emotional Learning (SEL), mindfulness practices, and trauma-informed approaches to growth, healing, and human development. During that same time, I was the primary caretaker for eight horses, providing daily care, teaching riding lessons, and spending countless hours immersed in the rhythms of nature and animal care.

  Working with horses taught me some of my earliest lessons about communication, patience, boundaries, trust, and nervous system awareness. Horses are incredibly sensitive animals, and caring for them helped shape the relationship-centered approach that continues to guide my work today.

  My love for animals has always existed alongside a deep connection to nature and a belief that some of life’s greatest lessons come from observing the natural world. Throughout my years in education, I facilitated art therapy groups, children’s wellness circles, mindfulness practices, and meditation-based programming within therapeutic communities. These experiences not only shaped the way I worked with others, but also became an important part of my own healing journey.

In 2017, I earned my TEFL certification and traveled to Costa Rica, where I taught English. Immersing myself in a new culture and spending time surrounded by Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity further deepened my connection to nature and reinforced my love of learning. The experience broadened my perspective and strengthened my appreciation for the many ways people, animals, and communities are connected.

  While teaching remained my primary career path, pet care steadily grew from a side hustle into a calling. During this time, I worked as a professional dog walker before becoming Weekend Manager at Dan’s Pet Care, where I gained valuable experience supporting clients, coordinating care, managing staff, and working hands-on with dogs of all ages, temperaments, and needs. These experiences helped bridge my background in education with my growing passion for animal care and eventually inspired me to build Nikki’s Pet Services.

 

As my interests evolved, I continued my studies in yoga, Ayurveda, herbalism, somatic practices, sound healing, Reiki, energy work, and holistic wellness. In 2024, I discovered qigong, a practice that profoundly deepened my understanding of energy, nervous system regulation, and the connection between mind, body, and spirit. My work with animals expanded, so did my desire to better understand behavior, communication, 7the nervous system. Through my own studies in Reiki, somatic practices, mindfulness, qigong, and holistic wellness, I developed a deeper understanding of regulation, trust, and the importance of meeting individuals where they are. These teachings continue to influence the way I care for animals today. I have also continued my professional development through ongoing education in animal behavior, enrichment, and training, including Animal Reiki studies, and I am currently pursuing my dog training certification through Method K9 to further strengthen my ability to support the dogs and families I work with.

  Over the years, my experience has expanded beyond dogs and cats to include horses, birds, reptiles, fish, small mammals, and other exotic animals. Caring for such a wide variety of species has reinforced my belief that every animal is an individual and that meaningful care begins with understanding the unique needs of the animal in front of you.

  The more I learned about healing, behavior, and regulation, the more I began to recognize the same patterns in animals.
Animals, like people, communicate through their nervous systems. They communicate through body language, behavior, energy, movement, and relationship. The more I studied regulation, mindfulness, and somatic awareness, the more I realized that many behavioral challenges are not simply about obedience; they are about communication, safety, trust, and understanding. That realization transformed the way I approach animal care.   

                                                                                       

                                  Energy is everything.

  I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Every animal is different. Every dog has their own personality, preferences, sensitivities, history, and way of moving through the world. Some dogs need adventure and stimulation. Others need predictability and patience. Some thrive in social settings, while others need support building confidence at their own pace.
My goal is never to force an animal into a mold. Instead, I take the time to understand who they are.

  Whether I'm leading a pack walk, providing daycare, caring for a senior pet, supporting a nervous rescue, staying overnight, caring for exotic pets, or simply sharing a quiet moment with an anxious animal, I approach each pet as an individual. I pay attention to what they're communicating and adapt my care to meet their unique needs.

  Today, Nikki’s Pet Services combines over a decade of experience in animal care, education, mindfulness, and holistic wellness. Drawing from my background in education, international teaching, mindfulness, holistic wellness, equine care, outdoor and nature-based learning, pet care management, and hands-on experience with a wide variety of species, I bring a unique perspective to the work I do.

While these studies and experiences have shaped my understanding, the animals themselves continue to be my greatest teachers. My work is guided by the belief that regulated humans help create regulated animals.
The energy we bring matters. The way we communicate matters. The way we respond to fear, excitement, stress, and uncertainty matters.

  Through structured enrichment, mindful handling, nervous system awareness, clear communication, and genuine connection, I strive to create experiences that help animals feel safe, confident, and understood.

 

  Whether it's a daily walk, daycare adventure, overnight stay, exotic pet care visit, transportation service, or wellness-focused support, my intention remains the same: to provide compassionate, reliable care that honors each animal and human as an individual.

                                                                     

                                                          

Sincerely,
Nicole Valenti
Owner & Founder
Nikki’s Pet Services | Mindful Pet Care™
Serving Long Island Since 2020
Your Pet’s Other Mother™