About Us!
When Paige Hillegass moved from Virginia to the Bay Area with her soul dog, Buck, she found herself in a familiar situation for busy dog parents—long days at the office and not enough time to take Buck on the walks that he deserved. So, she hired a walker she thought she could trust. But when she later discovered that Buck hadn’t been treated well, it broke her heart—and changed her path.
Paige started the dog walking company she wished she’d had for Buck. What began as a few neighborhood walks soon grew by word of mouth, and in 2015, Bucky Dog was officially launched.
More than a decade later, Paige has turned her one-woman side hustle into a thriving, community-rooted business with a loyal pack of pups (and humans) across Marin.
From the start, Bucky Dog has stayed intentionally small and local. Instead of a stranger from an app, our walkers and sitters are people from your own community—parents, students, teachers, and friends. Many are even the kids of longtime clients. Every team member is personally vetted, professionally insured, and trained by Paige herself.
At its heart, Bucky Dog was built out of love for one dog—and that love continues to shape everything we do today.
The Dog That Started It All
Every great dog story starts with a truly great dog—and for Paige, that dog was Buck.
Adopted just after her freshman year of college, Buck (or “Bucky,” as everyone called him) was Paige’s shadow for sixteen years. He went to class with her, swam in the Maury River, rode shotgun in her jeep, and even walked her down the aisle.
Buck and Paige had that rare, intuitive connection—the kind of dog who just understands you on a deeper level. When Buck passed away shortly after she became pregnant with her first child, it felt like he’d held on just long enough to see her through to her next chapter.
So when it came time to name her new business—a company built on love, trust, and loyalty—there was never a question. It had to be Bucky Dog.
Buck’s spirit lives on in our name, our logo, and every pup that joins our pack!
Meet the Bucky Dog Team
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Paige Hillegass
OWNER & FOUNDER
Paige grew up in Alexandria, VA, and spent 17 years in corporate marketing at Verizon Wireless before trading her cubicle for leashes.
Building Bucky Dog has allowed her to combine two lifelong passions—dogs and digital marketing—into a business that’s as personal as it is professional.
Today, Paige lives in Mill Valley with her daughter, her son, and their two pups, Boomer and Louis.
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Shannon
OPPERATIONS MANAGER & WALKER
The heart, soul, and backbone of Bucky Dog, Shannon is an integral part of our team! She can most often be found hitting the trails with a pack of pups in tow.
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Maddy Warner
MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA
Maddy is the voice and vision behind Bucky Dog’s social and marketing. She met Paige back in 2017 when they worked together and stayed in touch over the years. When Paige went full-time with Bucky Dog, Maddy immediately signed up to accompany her on this wild ride!
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Aimee
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Aimee graduated from the University of Redlands, is an administrative assistant at the College of Marin in Kentfield. She is an avid dog lover and overall lovely person!
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Alethea D
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Alethea has over 9 years of experience as a pet sitter in Marin. Her calm and nurturing presence makes people and pets feel at ease around her. We are consistently impressed by the level of attention and care she brings to her dog sitting gigs—always ensuring pups follow their regular routines and giving them plenty of high-quality attention. It’s safe to say that Alethea cares for each pup as if it were her own!
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Carolyn S
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Originally from England, Carolyn is a proud mom of twins (both fully launched into the world). Before Bucky Dog, she spent years managing a beloved clothing boutique in Sausalito where she developed a keen eye for style.
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Carri H
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Carri is a Mill Valley mom and dog mom. Her son is a freshman at the University of Utah and her daughter goes to UCSC (and joins her mom on school breaks as a Bucky Dog walker too). Carri is passionate about animal welfare and has been advocating for the cause and fostering dogs of all shapes and sizes for many many years.
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Cassidy F
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Cassidy is a Marin local who grew up in the area. She attended Redwood Highschool in Larkspur and recently graduated from UCSB. She’s an avid hiker, surfer, outdoor enthusiast, and (or course) dog lover!
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Charlie K
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Charlie is from San Francisco and has grown up with dogs. He loves hitting the trails with his Bucky Dog pals! He went to University of Wisconsin, where he was a rower and is now our unofficial merch model.
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Dave M
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Dave is one of Paige’s oldest friends. He knew and cared for the original Buck, is the godfather to her kids, and even attended Paige’s wedding (where Buck walked her down the aisle)! He grew up in Connecticut, went to Union College where he was a hockey star, and now plays regularly in a local men’s league. Dave is as wonderful with dogs as he is with people—one of the best people Paige knows, and that’s saying a lot!
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Emily K
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Emily is a devoted runner, yoga practitioner, and artist. She grew up North of Boston and has been a runner for 10+ years. When it comes to dogs, she enjoys taking them for hikes around Marin.
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Emma W
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Emma is one of our most dynamic walkers! She has a deep love of dance, with experience in ballet, contemporary, and heels, and she also competes in and coaches color guard—a major passion she dedicates much of her time to. When she’s not working with dogs, Emma stays on the move as a fitness instructor at Orange Theory in Mill Valley and also works as an Uber Eats driver! We’re impressed by how she balances so many things and always stays on the move!
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Giulia C
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Giulia is originally from Italy and is currently living and working in the US full-time as a nanny. She, of course, loves kids and also loves dogs and puppies—you’ll often find her on a puppy playdate.
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Jackie P
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Jackie is a proud Mill Valley mom to son Cooper and pup JoJo. Before joining Bucky Dog, Jackie spent 30+ years as a brand marketer. She loves spending time outdoors with dogs—such a nice change from corporate desk life! Fun fact: Jackie and Paige’s kids went to preschool together and that’s how they met and have been friends for over 15 years!
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Jane C
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Jane has been a part of Bucky Dog for six years and is a beloved member of the team. A Tiburon mom and proud dog mom, she brings warmth, reliability, and genuine care to every pup she looks after. At home, her husband Chris is just as involved—he especially loves hosting Ollie, the giant Bernedoodle, who they count as a member of their extended family.
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Justin M
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Justin is a true dog lover who has been with Bucky Dog for over 5 years! Clients love him and call him the “dog whisperer” due to his gift with animals.
“Justin is among Marin County’s best-kept secrets. His unhinged love for animals paired with a deep respect for people make him a dog owner’s dream.” – Molly H, Bucky Dog client!
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Karina H
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Karina grew up in New York and now calls Tiburon home, where she’s both a dedicated mom and dog mom. She has built a career as an attorney specializing in corporate finance and investments, bringing focus and expertise to everything she does. No matter how busy life gets, her love for dogs has always been a constant—and a true passion.
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Laura M
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Laura is also originally from Colombia and has been walking and sitting with Bucky Dog since we started in 2015! Aside from her love of dogs, she is passionate about traveling, hiking and cooking. On the weekends, you’ll likely find her at a local museum or at the beach!
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Lily C
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Dog lover Lily grew up in Marin, She attended Redwood Highschool in Larkspur and recently graduated from UCSB. When she’s not walking dogs, she’s focused on her career in women’s health and hepatology research. Go Lily!
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Maddalena E
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Maddalena is originally from Italy and brings a warm, nurturing spirit to everything she does. As a nanny, she has a natural love for caring for others—and that extends just as easily to dogs. She’s a big animal lover and is especially close with fellow walker Giulia.
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Monica
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Monica is originally from Colombia and a major player at Bucky Dog. She is an extremely nurturing soul, so it’s no surprise that she was a nanny for many years before joining Bucky Dog. Currently, she is a part-time student at the College of Marin. She is incredibly hard working and absolutely LOVES dogs—we’d say she has a natural gift with them.
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Phyllis L
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Phyllis was born and raised on the East Coast in New Jersey, but made the move to California almost 30 years ago and hasn’t looked back!
She loves being around dogs, so much so that in addition to the many dogs she’s rescued, she also has fostered and volunteered at shelters throughout her adult life.
“I just adore being around dogs. I love to hike them, run them, take them to the beach and watch them experience so much joy.”
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Suzy
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Suzy is a longtime friend of Paige’s and brings a lifetime of energy, dedication, and warmth to everything she does. Originally from Cincinnati, she was a standout athlete on the Eastern Michigan Swimming & Diving team, earning a full-ride scholarship all four years. She comes from a big, lively family—one of five sisters—and is now a proud mom to Bodie, a senior at Redwood High. Suzy has been dog-sitting for over a decade and is truly one of those people everyone is happy to know.
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Tula C
BUCKY DOG WALKER
Tula is a local through and through—she grew up in Marin and graduated from Redwood High School in Larkspur before heading to the University of Wisconsin, where she earned a degree in Animal Sciences with a pre-vet focus.
We Love Our College Walkers!
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Carter H
SEASONAL WALKER
Paige’s daughter, Carter has truly grown up in the “Paw Palace,” surrounded by dogs at all times—so it’s no surprise she’s a natural with them. Raised in Mill Valley, she attended St. Ignatius in San Francisco and is now a freshman at W&L in Virginia, following in both her parents’ footsteps. Carter has always loved dogs, with a special soft spot for Frenchies—especially Louis and Dash.
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Ciara M
SEASONAL WALKER
Ciara is a dog lover whose very own golden retriever, Finn, is a member of the Bucky Dog pack! Currently a sophomore at San Diego State University, Ciara grew up in Marin and loves spending time outdoors with furry friends!
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Kathryn G
SEASONAL WALKER
Kathryn’s connection to Bucky Dog comes full circle—her mom, Susan, is one of Paige’s oldest college friends from their days at W&L, and now Kathryn is a freshman there alongside Paige’s daughter, Carter. Raised locally and a graduate of Marin Catholic, Kathryn is an avid dog lover who brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a natural ease with animals to every walk.
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Mary G
SEASONAL WALKER
Mary is a dog lover and owner of a sweet doodle! She grew up in Marin and loves spending time outdoors...especially with dogs! Mary is currently studying at CU Boulder.
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Nora L
SEASONAL WALKER
Nora is a dog lover and enjoys taking Bucky Dogs on our awesome Marin trails! Nora is a sophomore at San Diego State University.