Animals lovers & trained professionals dedicated to improving your relationship
with your pets
Support for busy pet owners
Maybe you work long hours and need to know your pet is in good hands while you’re away, or you’re looking for help with your dog’s aggression or obedience. Whatever it is that you need, when it comes to pet care, we’re here for you.
We started Claws and Effect to support people just like you with reliable dog training, dog walking, and in-house pet care anywhere in and around Buffalo.
So if you need a pet-sitter while you’re on a work trip, a taxi to take your cat to the vet, or flexible dog walking for your crazy schedule, we offer exactly what you’re looking for.
Our Story
Hi, we’re Alana and Katherine, founders of Claws and Effect and best friends of 18 years!
Someone once said that “the greatest gift in life is friendship,” and as friends who’ve maintained a strong bond over all these years, we can attest to this. Together we’ve learned, we’ve laughed, we’ve loved. We’ve cried, we’ve struggled, and laughed some more. We have experienced so much as a partnership, and continue to learn and grow and laugh as much as humanly possible.
After some serious conversations and a few shots of whiskey, we decided to take a leap of faith. By combining our shared passions for animal care, we created the company you see here today – established in 2018 – and we haven’t looked back since.
Nothing brings us more joy than caring for your faithful companions.
Our Mission
After facing all the challenges life has thrown our way, we’ve found that nothing has helped our friendship succeed more than open conversations and a lot of laughter.
In fact, that’s why we founded our company on these principles – good communication and humor. We’ll communicate with you throughout the process to make sure you’re comfortable and at ease, knowing that your pet is handled with care and compassion.
We want you to feel a sense of trust, comfort, and peace of mind leaving your pets with us.
Not only that, but our aim is to improve the relationship you have with your pet because you’ve worked with us.
We believe that every pet parent deserves to have a great relationship with their companion, and that’s what we offer to you. When you just don’t have the time or energy, let us help with the tedious and challenging tasks. From nail trims, dog walking, yard clean-up, and dog training, we can help free up your time and resources so that when you are with your pet, you can be your most relaxed and loving self. This lets you truly enjoy the time you spend with them.
Having the right support for your pets is nothing short of transformative.
Enjoy peace of mind knowing your pet is in the company of friends. Whether they have four legs, wings, fins, or claws, always remember the effect communication has on the way you live life with your pet.
co-founder & president
Alana Petruso, Pet Care Provider
After accumulating over eight years of experience in the pet care industry, I decided to pursue this passion full-time. So even though I graduated with a double Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology, it was time to put those studies aside and bring my part-time career to life. That’s when Katherine and I co-founded Claws and Effect. And I haven’t looked back since.
Since childhood, I’ve been caring for animals – both real and stuffed. I’ve owned fish, hamsters, lizards, birds, cats, and dogs, and I haven’t met a pet that I don’t love.
Working as a pet sitter and dog walker was the highlight of my college years, and I’ve since gone on to study training techniques, animal behavior, and business management. When you entrust your companion to us (and believe me, I understand how hard that is), you’ll be partnering with someone who is not only dedicated to giving your pets the care they deserve, you’ll also get someone who never stops learning exactly what that means.
co-founder
Katherine Galbo, Dog Trainer
Providing great care to dogs has long been my passion. From a young age, I volunteered to walk dogs with a local rescue organization. Here, I was introduced to balanced training and started to uncover my passion for learning about dog behavior.
I’ve since trained with one of the world’s canine experts, learning how to properly introduce and apply training tools, handle aggressive dogs, and socialize dogs, and most importantly how to communicate with people like you in order to get your dogs to behave in a safe and sound manner.
My real gift is in helping you feel comfortable, confident, and secure. I make sure you and your dog are at ease when we work together. There’s no greater joy than seeing you and your dog live better after applying my training methods.
I’m also:
a member of IACP, International Association of Canine Professionals
partners with Buffalo CARES Animal Rescue
a dog control officer for the Town of Lancaster
a certified dealer for e-collar technologies
Frequently Asked Questions
What pets do you care for?
Whether furry, scaled, winged, or clawed, we can provide great care to your pet.
What are the areas you serve?
Buffalo, Tonawanda, Amherst, Williamsville, Lancaster, Depew, North Tonawanda, Cheektowaga, Grand Island, Niagara Falls, Lockport, Clarence, West Seneca, East Aurora, Elma
What are the services you offer?
In-home pet sitting
Dog training
Dog walking
Nail trims or grinds, pad fur cleanup, and ear cleaning
Offsite baths
Pet taxi
Yard cleanup
What are your values and how do I know I can trust you?
Our values are communication, trust, competence, humor. We pride ourselves on providing great communication with you and great care and compassion for your pets.