I’m thrilled to welcome Josh Schmieder to The Comfy Pets family as the first official Pet Care Specialist joining the team! Some of you had the privilege to start meeting him today and, with time, you will all enjoy his positive energy and care for animals. Below is more information about Josh so you can start getting to know him in and out of the pet care world.
Josh brings over a decade of experience in animal care, having worked at the Clifton Animal Shelter (Friends of the Shelter) for 10 years as a Trustee, Front Desk Attendant, and Volunteer. There, he played a key leadership role as the Manager-on-Duty, overseeing and training volunteer staff, handling animals (with a special focus on cats, including ferals), and managing adoptions, surrenders, and community outreach. His deep knowledge of animal care, from basic grooming and feeding to handling sensitive community situations, makes him a perfect fit for our growing team.
This month, Josh also became the proud Owner & Operator of a mobile pet grooming business, called Aussie Pet Mobile of Livingston and Westfield! He lives in Maplewood with his wife Laura, son Benjamin, and their two cats, Freya & Marvin (pictured above). Over the years, Josh and Laura have cared for and loved four wonderful cats—Pumpkin, Charlotte, Frankie, and Asia—who, after many happy years, all sadly passed due to natural causes.
Josh is also no stranger to dogs! During his tenure at the shelter, he naturally would step in to support dogs of all breeds and sizes when needed. Closer to home, his brother’s pup, Squid, is a 50-pound mixed breed (likely part pit, hound, and lab) that often stays with Josh and his family, keeping their household lively. The bond between Squid and his son is particularly special.
When he isn’t caring for animals, Josh loves cooking new chili and sauce recipes (always with his own spin), playing piano, and rewatching his favorite movies (particularly LotR, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and Harry Potter). A fun fact about him is that he is a pilot, and loves to fly just 15 minutes to get lunch at a nearby airport restaurant.
A message from Josh:
I’m excited to join The Comfy Pets family having learned through personal experience just how much their values align with mine. This was particularly important as Tanya herself cared for my sweet, though sometimes difficult-to-handle, diabetic cat Frankie. Given my own desire to provide the highest level of care to my cats, it was without question that I would want to join The Comfy Pets on that same mission. I can’t wait to meet your furry family members and I’ll be sure to treat them as my own!
Stay Comfy,
Tanya