The Privileged Pet - Nashville Pet Sitting

About The Privileged Pet

Julia Duke, proprietor of The Privileged Pet, is like your pet's favorite aunt. She loves animals and cares for your pets as if they were her own. A Nashville native, Julia started her pet- and home-sitting business on a part-time basis in 1992 while working as a marketing and business development executive. Julia retired from the corporate world in 1997 to take her pet/home-sitting business full-time. With excellent references and more than 16 years of experience, Julia and her team offer clients the assurance that their pets and homes are in good hands while they're away from home.

Photo: Privileged Pets Butler and Rosie (on top) Duke. Photograph by Renee Rome.

Call us at (615) 354-5611 or send an e-mail to julia@theprivilegedpet.com

Last Updated: August 2008

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My PetFinder Site

"I love being in this business! Everywhere I go I get the kind of unconditional love only pets can give. My little clients are as happy to see me as I am to see them! And, getting to know their human families is a gift as well. I have been able to put my past experiences of marketing, management and organization to good use in owning my own business. I take all my responsibilities very seriously. And as a pet owner myself with five cats and a rescued Great Pyrenees, I know how important it is to have proper care for your pet while you are away for the day or the week."

- Julia Duke, Proprietor

Shelter and rescued pets deserve a privileged life, too!

Our Nashville-area animal shelters and rescue societies do an amazing job of rescuing thousands of lost or homeless dogs and cats each month. But sadly, only a small number of those pets are adopted into loving homes. To help reduce the number of unwanted pets:

Please consider adopting your next pet from a shelter or rescue organization.
Remember to check the local shelter if your pet escapes from home.
Spay and neuter your pets.

My passion is rescuing animals from the shelter and finding them homes. Please do not hesitate to call on me if I may help you find a wonderful pet. I also have a year-round bedding drive for the shelters if you have any blankets, sheets or pet beds that you would like to donate.

Links to animal shelters I work with and recommend:

Kimbers Kritters www.kimberskritters.petfinder.com

Cheatham County Shelter http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN353.html

Rutherford County P.A.W.S. http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/TN170.html

Williamson County Animal Control http://members.petfinder.org/~TN75/index.html

Bowling Green Humane Society http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/bgwchs.html

Humane Assoc. of Wilson County http://www.hawconline.com/

All rescues and shelters on Petfinder: http://www.petfinder.com/pet.cgi?action=4

Thank you!!!

Customer Comments:

"Whenever we were out of town, we didn't worry at all about how the boys, Woody and Louis, were being looked after. We knew they were being well loved and cared for. I couldn't imagine anyone else taking care of them. I'm certain that we missed them a lot more than they missed us. Thanks for looking after our home and our sweet dogs."

- Reed Trickett, Trickett Honda

"I can't tell you the peace of mind it gives me when Julia is with our rescue collie, Rex, and our two Himalayans, Sassie and Samantha. We have depended on Julia for years to care for our home and our four-legged children."

- Jennifer Frist, Nashville Zoo

"I met Julia through her wonderful animal rescue and have always been very impressed by her great heart for animals, as well as her professionalism and dependability. When we had a chance for a weekend trip, she was the only petsitter we considered using. Julia asked very detailed questions, so that our routine was kept to the letter (we have 3 dogs, 2 cats and 2 fish). We show our Bernese Mountain dogs, and it's quite important that the feeding times/feed amounts/potty breaks are consistent. Needless to say, we were quite impressed by Julia's making sure things stayed on schedule. We would recommend her above any other petsitter we've ever used."

- Cindy & Jesse Loflin

"We always feel very secure leaving our home in the care of Julia while we are out of town. For several years, she has made it possible for us to have peace of mind while we are gone."

- Kaye and Bob Frensley, The Superdealer

"I am very particular in my referrals and I have been referring Julia for the past 10 years. She is my top referral. In all that time, I have never had one complaint, only raves of how wonderful she and her services are."

- Chris Achord, The Cat Shoppe

"Julia has been our saving grace! We are now free to enjoy our vacations, knowing that everything will be just how we left it upon our return and more importantly, that our two favorite girls (cats) are just as spoiled, if not more, by their favorite and ONLY petsitter - Julia! ."

- Laura Faust, Nashville Symphony

"Julia is the best and really loves everyone's pets. She is fabulous about keeping them clean and playing with them, and taking care of the house, paper and mail."

- Valerie Anderson, Caldwell Travel

"Julia is truly the best kept secret in America! She's the best!! The "girls" were so lucky to have her watch over them and we were blessed to find her."

- Beverly Sledge, Lincoln Financial

"It is so great to have someone like Julia Duke take care of your pets when you have to leave them home alone. You can go on a business trip or vacation and never have to worry about the care they get in your absence. Julia is extremely responsible and always inquires about my dogs even when I am in town! Most importantly, you know your pets are being loved. I think my yellow labs may like Julia better than me. Could be the treats she always seems to have on hand...

- Dru Anderson, Corporate Communications

"We meet the very best people because of our pets. We have known Julia Duke for six years and cannot imagine getting along without her. She has become part of our family, and our dog and five cats love her as much as we do. Julia is thoughtful, caring, absolutely dependable and impeccably honest. The quality of our lives would suffer greatly without her."

- Dr. Richard and Suzi Oldham, Baptist Hospital

"Julia has been pet-sitting for us for over 5 years now. She is like a guardian angel for our beloved pets and our home when we're away. Julia's devotion to her clients, the 4-legged ones AND their owners, is beyond compare.

A couple of years ago, when we were already in the midst of a major family crisis, we found out our precious 14 year old cocker spaniel, P.J., was gravely ill. Julia offered to accompany me on the heartbreaking trip to the vet that would ultimately take P.J. out of his pain. I COULD NOT have done this without her. I will be forever grateful.

On a happier note, we are now the proud owners of 2 adorable kitty-cats name Milo and Oreo. We can leave town confident that they are happy and safe in Julia's care! It's also a relief to know Julia is watching out for plants, deliveries, power outages, you name it!! She is one-of-a-kind and we are blessed to know her."

- Janet Runkle Dunn, Southern Living At Home

"Ms. Julia was sent from heaven to us! It is so comforting to know I can leave Betsi Ross with Ms. Julia and know that she will be loved and taken care of. I never worry about Betsi when she is with our angel, Julia! Betsi gets so excited when Ms. Julia drives up. She knows she will have a fun day!"

- Kim Karrels, Old Natchez Country Club

“I can concentrate on my job everyday knowing that little Riley is looking forward to “Aunt Julia’s” arrival and playtime. She always goes beyond the call of duty in her tasks and is a treasured friend to our family! We don’t know what we would do without her!"

- Terri Merryman-Frio, WSMV Anchor

“Julia Duke is a person to be respected and admired. She has combined her love of animals with her enterprising career as your pet's best friend and yours. At this time in our lives my husband Neil and I do not have pets, therefore I cannot speak of Julia's ability as others may; what I can speak of is Julia as a person of integrity and high moral character. Never have we encountered a person more dedicated and passionate about an animal's welfare than Julia. She cares and it shows in her every action. Every pet should be so lucky to have Julia in its life."

- Nan Nelson Parrish, Nashville Community Volunteer & Animal Rights Advocate

"I consider Julia part of the family, and a very important part. I couldn't do all I do professionally without Julia to take care of my dog. Not only can I rely on her rain, sleet or snow to walk Dodi every day, she has even taken him to the vet when he gets sick during the day.

It is such a relief to know that Dodi is taken care of by such a loving person. Working with Julia adds to the quality of my life, as well as my dogs."

- Beverly Keel, Tennessean Columnist and MTSU Professor

"I have the pleasure of being Julia's original client. Fifteen years ago, we moved to a new neighborhood with our aging dog, Molly. Julia cared for Molly and looked after our new home. After Molly died, we adopted a young puppy named Lucy, and Julia went through all the puppy stages with us! Today, Lucy is 13 and has multiple health problems. Once again, Julia is always there to care for all of Lucy's needs whenever we're away from home. Honestly, I don't know what we'd do without Lucy's Aunt Julia."

- Anita Bailey, Marketing Communications Consultant

My PetFinder Site:

The Privileged Pet Rescue is a volunteer effort of The Privileged Pet. We work with regional animal shelters in the last ditch effort to keep a kitty from meeting its maker just yet. We are a smaller rescue, focusing on quality instead of quantity. Our goal is to provide you with a wonderful family member, and provide the kitty with a privileged home in which to live happily ever after.
Please View All of Our Adoptable Pets on Petfinder