Woman owned & operated
small business
Root
and
Roam
Nature-based canine pack walks &
attuned care for cats and dogs
including
recovery and veterinary care support
Fully insured care
serving Oakland, Emeryville & Berkeley
Hi, my name is Sutton
I own and operate Root and Roam which is crafted with a lot of love and intention
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I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and after many years living in Sacramento, I felt the call to return beginning of 2025 — not only to the Bay, but to a way of working that feels more aligned with who I am and how I want to serve.
For a decade, I worked in veterinary medicine holding roles that shaped both my skill set and my deep understanding of the complex inner workings of animals. I held positions as an office manager for a general practice, supported patients in neurology at UC Davis, and cared for critically ill animals in the ICU at VCA. My education in biology and science, along with completing a veterinary technician educational program in 2019, gave me a strong clinical foundation rooted in precision, responsibility, and presence.
Yet alongside this experience, I began to understand my true nature and a desire of how I want to impact animals lives through deep sensitivity, an understanding of animals as conscious beings, and a growing awareness that the pace and structure of clinical environments often left little room for relationship, slowness, and attunement.
Over time, I felt called to step into a different kind of impact, one where I could walk alongside animals through the rhythms of their lives, not just their moments of crisis. I wanted to offer care that honored their nervous systems, their autonomy, their emotions, their aging, their fear, their recovery, and their joy.
Root and Roam was crafted from that longing. -
My work today is guided as much by intuition and listening as it is by training and experience. I am a Reiki practitioner and hold a holistic worldview that sees animals not as property, but as sovereign beings with their own souls, wisdom, and ways of communicating. When I care for an animal, I pay attention not only to behavior and health, but also to energy, subtle cues, and the unspoken language they share when given safety and time.
I am especially drawn to timid, fearful, sensitive, aging, and recovering animals. Again and again, guardians tell me their animals are open to bonding and connection with me in ways they haven’t witnessed before; not because I push for connection, but because I meet the animal where they’re at, showing up with patience and presence.
At the heart of Root and Roam is relationship with animals, with the humans who love them, and with the living world that holds us. I value depth, presence, and care that feels grounded rather than rushed. Whether we’re moving through forested trails, supporting post-operative healing, or simply sharing quiet companionship, my intention is always the same: to offer care that is steady, respectful, and deeply attuned.
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Since beginning of 2025, I have been running my own animal care business, and through this lived experience, I’ve been able to refine the ways I want to show up not only for animals, but for the humans who love them. Being entrusted with an animal’s daily rhythms, their vulnerabilities, their routines, and their trust has clarified what care means to me in practice, not just in theory.
Roaming the natural world is a deep love of mine, one that becomes even more enriching when shared with my canine companions walking beside me. These moments provide regulation, curiosity, and connection, allowing animals to engage with the world in a way that feels instinctual and alive.
Alongside this, I hold a deep and intuitive connection with cats. I am especially attuned to their subtle body language, energetic shifts, and quiet forms of communication — the small signals that are so easily missed, yet speak volumes when truly seen. Because cats often express discomfort, fear, or illness with stoic masking, I approach their care with patience, observation, and respect for their autonomy. This sensitivity becomes especially important when they are navigating illness or recovery, when gentle presence and accurate reading of their needs can make all the difference.
I also carry a strong devotion to caring for animals in periods of recovery — whether they are healing from illness, navigating post-operative care, or adjusting to new physical or emotional limitations.
Root and Roam is grounded in the approach I take to care itself. Root reflects my commitment to active listening through body language, energetic expression, and the subtle cues animals share when they feel safe. It is rooted in my own nervous system regulation, in slowing down, and in the trust I cultivate with myself and the animal beside me. Roam honors the innate call toward exploration that lives within all beings; the remembering that we are of this earth, shaped by it, and invited into relationship with it.
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I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and after many years living in Sacramento, I felt the call to return beginning of 2025 — not only to the Bay, but to a way of working that feels more aligned with who I am and how I want to serve.
For a decade, I worked in veterinary medicine holding roles that shaped both my skill set and my deep understanding of the complex inner workings of animals. I held positions as an office manager for a general practice, supported patients in neurology at UC Davis, and cared for critically ill animals in the ICU at VCA. My education in biology and science, along with completing a veterinary technician educational program in 2019, gave me a strong clinical foundation rooted in precision, responsibility, and presence.
Yet alongside this experience, I began to understand my true nature and a desire of how I want to impact animals lives through deep sensitivity, an understanding of animals as conscious beings, and a growing awareness that the pace and structure of clinical environments often left little room for relationship, slowness, and attunement.
Over time, I felt called to step into a different kind of impact, one where I could walk alongside animals through the rhythms of their lives, not just their moments of crisis. I wanted to offer care that honored their nervous systems, their autonomy, their emotions, their aging, their fear, their recovery, and their joy.
Root and Roam was crafted from that longing. -
My work today is guided as much by intuition and listening as it is by training and experience. I am a Reiki practitioner and hold a holistic worldview that sees animals not as property, but as sovereign beings with their own souls, wisdom, and ways of communicating. When I care for an animal, I pay attention not only to behavior and health, but also to energy, subtle cues, and the unspoken language they share when given safety and time.
I am especially drawn to timid, fearful, sensitive, aging, and recovering animals. Again and again, guardians tell me their animals are open to bonding and connection with me in ways they haven’t witnessed before; not because I push for connection, but because I meet the animal where they’re at, showing up with patience and presence.
At the heart of Root and Roam is relationship with animals, with the humans who love them, and with the living world that holds us. I value depth, presence, and care that feels grounded rather than rushed. Whether we’re moving through forested trails, supporting post-operative healing, or simply sharing quiet companionship, my intention is always the same: to offer care that is steady, respectful, and deeply attuned.
-
Since beginning of 2025, I have been running my own animal care business, and through this lived experience, I’ve been able to refine the ways I want to show up not only for animals, but for the humans who love them. Being entrusted with an animal’s daily rhythms, their vulnerabilities, their routines, and their trust has clarified what care means to me in practice, not just in theory.
Roaming the natural world is a deep love of mine, one that becomes even more enriching when shared with my canine companions walking beside me. These moments provide regulation, curiosity, and connection, allowing animals to engage with the world in a way that feels instinctual and alive.
Alongside this, I hold a deep and intuitive connection with cats. I am especially attuned to their subtle body language, energetic shifts, and quiet forms of communication — the small signals that are so easily missed, yet speak volumes when truly seen. Because cats often express discomfort, fear, or illness with stoic masking, I approach their care with patience, observation, and respect for their autonomy. This sensitivity becomes especially important when they are navigating illness or recovery, when gentle presence and accurate reading of their needs can make all the difference.
I also carry a strong devotion to caring for animals in periods of recovery — whether they are healing from illness, navigating post-operative care, or adjusting to new physical or emotional limitations.
Root and Roam is grounded in the approach I take to care itself. Root reflects my commitment to active listening through body language, energetic expression, and the subtle cues animals share when they feel safe. It is rooted in my own nervous system regulation, in slowing down, and in the trust I cultivate with myself and the animal beside me. Roam honors the innate call toward exploration that lives within all beings; the remembering that we are of this earth, shaped by it, and invited into relationship with it.
Nature-Based Pack Walks for Dogs
What’s a pack walk?
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Imagine your dog stepping onto the trail with a familiar group of companions, each bringing their own personality, play style, confidence level, and way of experiencing the world.
One may race ahead with joyful zoomies, while another quietly wanders, nose to the earth, taking in every scent along the trail. Some naturally gravitate toward a trusted friend, and others simply enjoy being part of the group without needing to interact much at all.
Like any healthy social community, every dog contributes something unique.
Pack walks provide dogs with the opportunity to practice navigating these different personalities while exploring the richness of the natural world together. Through consistent weekly adventures, dogs build confidence, strengthen social skills, and learn to move cooperatively within a group. They experience the freedom to express their natural instincts (sniffing, exploring, climbing, observing, playing, and simply being dogs) within the safety and structure of a guided pack.
Pack walks take place on off-leash trails in the Oakland and Berkeley Hills.
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Creating a balanced pack starts with choosing dogs who are a good fit for one another. Every new dog participates in a screening process to assess temperament, behavior, and overall compatibility.
Participation requirements:
Walk comfortably on leash
Respond when their name is called
Be able to safely interact around other dogs
Dogs with a history of biting or overt aggression toward other dogs are not appropriate candidates for pack walks.
Some dogs who experience anxiety or mild uncertainty around other dogs can benefit tremendously from carefully managed pack experiences. Whether pack walks are the right fit depends on each individual dog and is determined during the screening process.
For the health and safety of the pack, all participating dogs must:
Be current on core vaccinations
Receive monthly flea and tick prevention
Is my dog a good fit?
Pack Commitment
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Consistency creates confident dogs.
To help maintain stable social groups and routines, pack walk members commit to:
A minimum of two walks per week
One recurring, fixed walk day each week
Additional walk days can remain flexible based on your schedule and my availability
One recurring walk day helps create consistency for your dog, the pack, and my scheduling. For families with hybrid or alternating work schedules, I offer flexibility for the second weekly walk whenever possible. Flexible scheduling is based on availability and may change as pack membership grows.
Pack walks are designed as a consistent weekly routine. Because dogs form stable social dynamics within the group, attendance that is frequently skipped or unpredictable does not align well with the structure of this program.A 24-hour cancellation notice is required for all scheduled walks.
Pack walks are $40 per walk.
Imagine your dog stepping onto the trail with a familiar group of companions, each bringing their own personality, play style, confidence level, and way of experiencing the world.
One may race ahead with joyful zoomies, while another quietly wanders, nose to the earth, taking in every scent along the trail. Some naturally gravitate toward a trusted friend, and others simply enjoy being part of the group without needing to interact much at all.
Like any healthy social community, every dog contributes something unique.
Pack walks provide dogs with the opportunity to practice navigating these different personalities while exploring the richness of the natural world together. Through consistent weekly adventures, dogs build confidence, strengthen social skills, and learn to move cooperatively within a group. They experience the freedom to express their natural instincts (sniffing, exploring, climbing, observing, playing, and simply being dogs) within the safety and structure of a guided pack.
Pack walks take place on off-leash trails in the Oakland and Berkeley Hills.
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To begin, please fill out the contact form at the bottom of the website. This is followed by a phone conversation where we can connect, discuss your needs, and confirm that the care I offer is a good fit for you and your dog.
If we both feel aligned, we then schedule an in-person meet and greet. This is an opportunity for us to meet face-to-face and for your dog and I to begin building familiarity and trust.
Before joining a pack walk, your dog will complete a 30-minute neighborhood walk with me. This allows me to observe their behavior in a more stimulating environment, understand their comfort level on leash, and assess compatibility within the pack dynamic. It also gives me a clearer sense of how to best support your dog as they integrate into group walks.
Creating a balanced pack starts with choosing dogs who are a good fit for one another. Every new dog participates in a screening process to assess temperament, behavior, and overall compatibility.
Participation requirements:
Walk comfortably on leash
Respond when their name is called
Be able to safely interact around other dogs
Dogs with a history of biting or overt aggression toward other dogs are not appropriate candidates for pack walks.
Some dogs who experience anxiety or mild uncertainty around other dogs can benefit tremendously from carefully managed pack experiences. Whether pack walks are the right fit depends on each individual dog and is determined during the screening process.
For the health and safety of the pack, all participating dogs must:
Be current on core vaccinations
Receive monthly flea and tick prevention
Consistency creates confident dogs.
To help maintain stable social groups and routines, pack walk members commit to:
A minimum of two walks per week
One recurring, fixed walk day each week
Additional walk days can remain flexible based on your schedule and my availability
One recurring walk day helps create consistency for your dog, the pack, and my scheduling. For families with hybrid or alternating work schedules, I offer flexibility for the second weekly walk whenever possible. Flexible scheduling is based on availability and may change as pack membership grows.
Pack walks are designed as a consistent weekly routine. Because dogs form stable social dynamics within the group, attendance that is frequently skipped or unpredictable does not align well with the structure of this program.
A 24-hour cancellation notice is required for all scheduled walks.
Pack walks are $40 per walk.
Attuned Daytime Care & Drop-In Visits
Drop in visit care designed for cats and dogs who benefit from a calm, present, and intuitive approach. This offering is well suited for animals of all needs including healthy, sensitive, fearful, aging, or special-needs
Care capabilities include medication administration, routine care, health concern monitoring and social enrichment
$30 drop in visit (10 min or less)
$40 30-minute visit
*Additional fee for medication administration
Care Services
Veterinary Transport
& Care Support
Reliable transportation to and from veterinary appointments, including morning drop-offs and end-of-day pick-ups
This service is ideal for guardians with limited availability, as well as animals who benefit from a familiar, regulated presence before and after appointments
Support is provided in coordination with your veterinarian and does not include medical treatment
Post-Operative & Palliative Support
Attentive daytime care for animals recovering from surgery, managing chronic conditions, or navigating end-of-life transitions. These visits are longer in duration and can include care for up to several hours
Support is tailored to each animal’s physical and emotional needs and may include monitoring, medication administration, updates to guardians, comfort care, and gentle companionship
Pricing for health management and
veterinary support services is custom-quoted
and varies based on time, mileage, and level of care
required. I prioritize individualized support and
encourage reaching out to discuss your animal’s
specific needs
Testimonials
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Our four-year-old Boston Terrier, Toby, is a rescue who came to us with significant fear-based trauma. Because he was rescued from the streets, his history was a mystery. He was intensely attached to his beds and a blanket he used for comfort, and he struggled to settle without them. He was resistant to leaving the house for walks and showed a strong aversion to new routes or unfamiliar places. He was also inordinately afraid of common household sounds—avoiding the kitchen entirely—and would react with extreme fear toward inanimate objects like buckets or garbage cans on the sidewalk. To make matters more difficult, he was attacked by a neighbor’s large dog as a puppy, which led to fear-based aggression toward other dogs.
The saddest part was seeing Toby try to initiate play without mastering social cues. Without a tail to help signal his intent, other dogs often struggled to tell if he was being friendly or aggressive. Recently, he even began showing aggression toward our roommate and friends. We knew we needed professional help.
Our Goals
We wanted Toby to be able to confidently meet and play with other dogs while improving his social skills and lowering his anxiety without medical intervention. After seeing her post on Nextdoor, I had a great feeling about Sutton's approach. I appreciated her assessment that Toby wasn't ready for group hikes yet, and I was grateful when she offered to work with him one-on-one.
Incredible Achievements
We saw changes in Toby’s behavior almost immediately. He began entering the kitchen on his own and showed significantly less fear when exploring new walking routes. During a recent hike, he remained completely calm when five dogs approached to sniff him simultaneously. Additionally, our roommate reported this week that he has stopped barking and growling at her.
What Sutton does is so much more than a simple walk. She has an intuitive sense of how a dog’s mind works and how they feel. By using positive reinforcement with new commands and treats, you have provided a level of expertise that has paid off in dividends for our family. Toby’s trust in people, other dogs, and the world has increased immensely. It is clear how much she cares for both Toby and for our cat, Isabella. Working with Sutton was the best decision we could have made.
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coming soon!
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We have been so incredibly fortunate to have found Sutton a little over a year ago. We had our ups and downs over the past several years with prior animal walkers, caretakers, trainers, and rehabilitation specialists. It’s not to say that all were insufficient in one way or another, but what we do know is ever since our fur babies (3 cats, 2 dogs, and cat foster’s) have been cared for by Sutton, they are mentally and physically healthier. As are we! I am happy to report that she has an indescribable way to communicate with all of them, often by her sheer ability to just hold presence with them. We believe a huge part of what makes choosing her to work with our fur babies so attractive, is her vast background and experience. Root and Roam is the perfect confluence of her expertise in several animal science and behaviour modalities, as well as her mental and spiritual sensitivity. She is reliable. She is compassionate. She is trustworthy.
It is rare to find someone who truly loves what they do, and you feel it immediately in the way she shows up. There’s a calm, grounded energy she brings that our dogs and cats respond to her so naturally. Since working with her, our dogs are far less reactive, more focused and attentive, more at ease, and honestly just happier day-to-day. It’s been such a noticeable shift. The videos she sends literally show our dog’s adventuring, smiling, learning, and so very happy. You can sense the immense fun that those pups are having. Thank you Sutton! We are grateful for you
Meet the pack
Let’s Chat
If what you see here resonates with you and the care you’re seeking for your beloved animal, I’d love to connect with you. This is a space to introduce myself more fully and to answer any questions or concerns you may have