BLUFFTON — Mariah Hill grew up surrounded by animals of all kinds, and that early passion naturally turned into a career. For nearly a decade, Hill has worked as a veterinary assistant and is currently employed at
All Creatures Vet Clinic in Perham
. In June 2025, she expanded on that lifelong love for animals by launching Rah’s Paws, an in-home pet-sitting business.
Based in Bluffton, Rah’s Paws provides pet-sitting services for dogs, cats and large farm animals including horses, chickens, cows, goats, rabbits and even turkeys in the Wadena, Perham, Bluffton and surrounding areas. Hill said the name Rah’s Paws is a nod to her childhood nickname, “Rah.”
She said the idea to establish an in-home pet-sitting business grew out of her passion for animals and her work as a veterinary assistant. Through her work, Hill said, she recognized many pet owners struggled to find reliable care for their pets while traveling.
“I thought this was a perfect opportunity to let pets stay in their homes, where they’re most comfortable, without changing their daily routines, while making sure they — and their homes — are well taken care of,” Hill said.
Contributed photo /Mariah Hill
Hill, who has four dogs with her fiancé, said, “As a pet owner myself, I know how difficult it can be to find someone you can trust to pet-sit.”
Working closely with clients, Hill provides a range of services, from staying in clients’ homes to care for their pets to filling bird feeders and watering plants. From daily check-ins to overnight care, the goal, Hill said, is to give pet owners peace of mind.
“People are so thankful to be able to have somebody to take care of their animals in their home,” Hill said, adding that for some of her clients, the convenience Rah’s Paws offers allows pet owners to take a vacation without boarding their pets at a facility. “They can leave them at home and know and trust that I will be there to take care of them until they come home.”
Contributed photo / Mariah Hill
Originally from the Princeton area, Hill said her family moved to Stanchfield when she was in the fifth grade. “It’s just a little farm town, and that is where I was able to keep my first horse at my house,” shared Hill, adding she was also involved in 4-H, showing her horse at the county fair and participating in competitions.
After graduating high school, Hill began working at a local vet clinic in Grand Rapids as a kennel attendant where she cared for dogs and cats through the clinic’s boarding services.
“As I grew within the clinic, I became interested in becoming an assistant,” Hill said. “They trained me as a veterinary assistant, and I learned everything hands-on.”
That experience also led Hill to earn a Fear Free certification. “It’s a course that teaches how to help pets with anxiety or those that are shy or nervous and how to make their experience more positive,” she said.
Hill said those skills translate naturally into her work with clients in their homes. “I’m pretty personable, so communicating when I come into someone’s home comes easily,” Hill said. “Animals pick up on that — they can sense if you’re nervous or bringing a lot of energy, and they feed off it. I treat them as if they were my own and make it a positive experience for them.”
From her early days in 4-H to nearly a decade in veterinary care, Hill said her path has always centered on animals. For her, Rah’s Paws is about more than pet sitting — it’s about trust, comfort and treating every animal as if it were her own.
To learn more about
Rah’s Paws
pet-sitting services email
rahspawspetsitting@gmail.com
.
Nicole Stracek is an award-winning journalist known for her insightful and impactful storytelling across the region. As the community editor for the Wadena Pioneer Journal, she covers everything from local government to breaking news to human-interest features that highlight the heartbeat of Wadena. Nicole can be reached at 218-631-2561 or nstracek@wadenapj.com.
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