Founder & President
Janie Budnick, CPACO

I founded 4-Legged Kids, Inc in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1997 after nearly a decade of animal education including pursuing my Bachelor’s in Animal Science at Mizzou and veterinary technician training.
4-Legged Kids provides dog walking and pet sitting services as St. Louis’ largest staffed in-home pet care service. We exist to maintain and support the connection between pets and people because Life With Pets is Life Well Lived ™. Our mission combines our love for the amazing pets and families of St Louis with the social responsibility necessary to provide for those homeless animals not as fortunate. I designed my company around a One-for One business model that provides a meal to a local homeless pet for every service provided. Our current sponsored rescues are Second Chance Ranch and Tenth Life Cat Rescue.
I have spent the last two decades working directly with local rescue, from personally pulling dogs and puppies from death row and preparing them for fosters, to previously serving on the governing board of Open Door Animal Sanctuary, one of the largest no-kill shelters in the State of Missouri.
Education is the core of my being. I am the first in-home pet care provider to achieve the Certified Professional Animal Care Operator level with the Professional Animal Care Certification Council and have chosen to be on their governing board to improve the industry. I was the first in-home pet care provider to be Fear Free certified in the state of Missouri. I am a Certified Professional Pet Sitter through Pet Sitters International (where I was a top 5 finalist in the International Pet Sitter of the Year award) and also a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.
– Janie
Janie’s expertise in business and the pet care industry has led her to develop online education and strategic planning courses for other dog walkers and pet sitters. She provides education through the PetBiz podcast and PetBizMBA membership and courses. She has also developed PetBizCRM for the pet industry – the only relationship management software created FOR pet business owners BY pet business owners.
*CPACO – Certified Professional Animal Care Operator
The Mission of the Professional Animal Care Certification Council (PACCC) is to bring independent testing and certification to the pet care services industry. Independent certification is an important step for a rapidly growing, easy-to-enter industry frequently damaged by news reports of serious pet accidents and deaths.
Janie is on the international board for PACCC and contributes her time to the important task of standardizing care for pets across the industry.
**CPPS – Certified Professional Pet Sitter
PSI’s CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter Exam provides candidates with the only knowledge-based assessment designed specifically for professional pet sitters. PSI’s exam requires that candidates demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed and prosper as professional pet sitters.
***Fear Free Certified Professional
Fear Free provides online and in-person education to veterinary professionals, the pet professional community, and pet owners. Courses are developed and written by the most respected veterinary and pet experts in the world, including boarded veterinary behaviorists, boarded veterinary anesthesiologists, pain experts, boarded veterinary internists, veterinary technicians (behavior), experts in shelter medicine, animal training, grooming, boarding, and more.
Top Five Finalist - Pet Sitter of the Year
Janie Budnick, Director of Greatness (D.O.G.) of 4-Legged Kids was named a top five finalist of the 2021 Pet Sitter of the Year Industry award.
“First awarded by PSI in 1995, the Pet Sitter of the Year designation recognizes true excellence in the professional pet-sitting field. PSI evaluates nominees on stringent criteria including client and professional references, commitment to quality care and professionalism, contributions to clients and the industry-at-large, and commitment to continuing education.”
Who is next to our Team?
Check out our current available positions!