About The Privileged Pet
Julia Duke, proprietor of The Privileged Pet, cares for your pets as if they were her own. A Nashville native, Julia started her pet-sitting and home-sitting business on a part-time basis in 1992 while working as a marketing and business development executive. She retired from the corporate world in 1997 to take her business full-time. With excellent references and more than 20 years of experience, Julia offers clients the assurance that their pets and homes are in good hands while they're away from home.
Photo of Julia Duke with her own Privileged Pets,
rescues Tater Tot and Buzz Lightyear.
Photo by Renee Rome.
Nashville Paw Magazine Readers' Choice Award
Best Pet Sitter -- 5 consecutive years!
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011
Call us at (615) 354-5611
or send an e-mail to
Customer Comments | In the News
My Pet Rescue, Desperate House Cats
"As a pet owner myself with five cats and a rescued Great Pyrenees, I know how important it is to have the peace of mind that your pets are loved and cared for while you are away for the day ... or the week. My little clients are as happy to see me as I am to see them! From my comprehensive interview with their human families, I know the intricacies of each pet's schedule, needs and special treats.
As a business owner, I take all of my responsibilities very seriously, and my commitment to customer service and satisfaction is unparalleled. When you come home, you'll find your pets are happy and your home is just as you left it!"
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Shelter and rescued pets deserve a privileged life, too!
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. My Pet Rescue: Desperate House CatsFoster homes needed! Desperate House Cats Shelter Rescue, previously TPP Rescue, is a volunteer effort of The Privileged Pet that has successfully placed approximately 500 cats from Middle Tennessee shelters. We are a small rescue and focus only on saving animals from euthanasia at local shelters. 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
Links to animal shelters and pet rescues that I work with and recommend: Williamson County Animal Control [Our pick!] http://members.petfinder.org/~TN75/index.html Kimbers Kritters www.kimberskritters.petfinder.com Critter Cavalry http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN434.html Now I'm Home http://www.nowimhomeanimalrescue.org/ Cheatham County Shelter http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/TN353.html Rutherford County P.A.W.S. http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/TN170.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:
- Reed Trickett, Trickett Honda
"I can't tell you the peace of mind it gives me when Julia is with Boo, our golden retriever that Julia found for us; Tuggger, our new King Charles Spaniel; and Sassie and Samantha, our two Himalayans. We have depended on Julia for years to care for our home and our four-legged children."
"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, Universal Music Group Nashville
"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."
- 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! ."
Julia's loyalty and honesty are two of the things we love most about her. There have been many times when the weather made driving around town dangerous, but Julia has often put the well-being of her charges ahead of herself. It seems most people would rather find a shortcut or take the easy way out these days, but I have never known Julia to shirk her responsibilities. That kind of dependability is hard to find and is certainly to be commended!
If you are looking for someone who is dependable and trustworthy to care for your pet you need look no further than Julia Duke and The Privileged Pet."
- Debbie Hunt, Marketing Consultant The NewsChannel 5 Network
"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 and black labs may like Julia better than me. Could be the treats she always seems to have on hand...
"We meet the very best people because of our pets. We have known Julia Duke for more than 10 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."
"Julia has been pet-sitting for us for 10 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."
"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. Julia pet sits for us in both our Nashville and California homes, and 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!"
“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!"
Alan 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."
"I have the pleasure of being Julia's original client. Nineteen years ago, we moved to a new neighborhood with our aging dog, Molly. Julia cared for Molly and looked after our home. After Molly died, we brought home a young puppy named Lucy. Lucy was one feisty dog for all of her 13 1/2 years, and Julia loved and cared for her through every stage -- from the early puppy wildness to her last year of serious health issues, with an extensive pill regimen. Today, our former shelter dog, Henry, enjoys his visits with his Aunt Julia. She is a such an important and cherished member of our extended family!"
- Anita Bailey, Bailey Marketing Strategies
- Valerie Anderson, Caldwell Travel
In the News:
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Julia Duke hosts Desperate House Cats Rescue Party Volunteers with Julia Duke's Desperate House Cats Rescue were honored at their annual holiday party. Desperate House Cats takes in cats from shelters and fosters them in homes until they are adopted. The News. January 6, 2011. |
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Julia Duke hosts Desperate House Cats Rescue Party Julia Duke's cat rescue service, Desperate House Cats, celebrated a year of exceptional foster care and adoptions for numerous cats rescued from shelters. Foster and adoptive "parents" were honored at the holiday party, held at Outback Restaurant. The News. December 17, 2009. |
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The Privileged Pet named a Readers Choice winner by Nashville PAW Magazine The Privileged Pet won second place in Nashville Paw Magazine’s 2009 Readers Choice Awards for “Best Pet Sitter/Dog Walker” and “Best Pet Sitting / Dog Walking Company” categories! Look for the full list in the October 09 issue. |
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Homes for the Holidays Cat Adoption at The Lipman Group Sotheby's The News December 11, 2008
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Felines find new homes at group's adoption event The Tennessean August 1, 2008
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The News June 12 2008
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The Privileged Pet Cat Rescue Party, hosted by Linda Davis The News May 8, 2008
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Christmas adoption party finds homes for felines The News December 27, 2007
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Corporate Adoptions Prove Positive for Privileged Pets! December 18, 2007
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Davidson A.M. December 14, 2007
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The Privileged Pet Wins "Best Petsitter" & "Best Petsitting Service" Nashville Paw Magazine. Readers Choice Awards August-September, 2007
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HCA Pet Adoption Event Places Several Cats, Dogs The Tennessean August 3, 2007
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Furry Friends Find Loving Homes HCA Newsletter July, 2007 |
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Animal rescuers have hands full as Nashville enters 'kitten season' Green Hills News |
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To boost adoptions, HCA goes to the dogs...and cats Green Hills News June 28, 2007
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The News March 15, 2007
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Books help explain pet's unique personality The Tennessean November 10, 2006
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Green Hills News October 26, 2006
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Emotional Rescue: Julia Duke reaches out to pets who are not so privileged. Nashville Lifestyles May 2006
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Julia Duke hosts Animal Rescue Party Green Hills News April 20, 2006
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Julia Duke considers pet sitting a privilege Nashville Lifestyles
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Pet sitter trades 'ruff' job for one she loves The Tennessean
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Julia Duke: For the love of all things furry The City Paper Tuesday, December 17, 2002 |
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The Tennessean, Williamson A.M. Thursday, November 21, 2002
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The Tennessean, Williamson A.M. Thursday, March 28, 2002
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