Trusting a pet pro with your pet is a responsibility we do not take lightly or expect right away, and that’s how it should be! All of our established team members have utilized pet care & dog training services for our personal pets—many of whom have sensitive behavioral needs—so we intimately understand what it is like to welcome a professional team into your home. We appreciate the efforts, consideration, and love that leads our clients to have high standards for their care. We encourage all prospective pet parents to take the time to see what Cloud 9 is all about before making the decision to book services!
Meet the Cloud 9 Canine Team
Our team of dedicated professionals have completed an intensive pet handling & dog behavior training program designed by our Certified Professional Dog Trainer, undergo an extensive background check, are Pet First Aid & CPR certified, and are committed to ongoing skill & knowledge training.
Meet the Leadership Team
Meet our Owner & Founder
Nicole Bowdish
I love all animals, though kitts have my heart! I have four cats: Xi, Nala, Kenai, and Aslan, and dozens of houseplants to keep me settled in after traveling all over the U.S. in my teen and young adult years following business mentorship opportunities for invaluable professional development.
I am currently pursuing certifications for canine AND feline behavior consulting. In my occasional free time, I train and walk my cats, tend to my plants, volunteer at local rabbit, cat, and dog rescues, and hammock outside.
Meet Co-Owner
Jordan Bowdish
I am genuinely thrilled for the present and future work I GET to be a part of in our community!!!! It’s an incredible feeling to love what you do and do what you love.
I’ve been in the pet care industry since June of 2014 with experience in a variety of settings. I am an MSU alum and originally started a career as a Doctor of Occupational Therapy. I eventually left healthcare and delved all in to my true calling to spend all my waking hours with animals!!! Outside of C9C, my life is ruled by an Australian Cattle Dog, Zuko, and a “tri-pawd” tortie kitty, Cinder.
Meet Caroline E.
Manager & Grooming Apprentice
I don’t believe there is anything better than getting to make a new friend—furry, feathered, scaly, or otherwise! As part of the Cloud 9 team, I have the everyday opportunity and privilege to meet all sorts of new animal friends, along with the caring pet owners that love them! I am so excited to assist in the journey of providing your pet with their best possible life. My lifelong love of animals has led me to a career in pet care, and my love for my own four-legged friend has led me to a proficiency in dog grooming! My hobbies outside of work include many hours of reading (fiction, nonfiction, any genre will do! 🤓), roadtripping, and spending time with my family.
Meet Madeline W.
Manager & Outreach Coordinator
Nature nerd in the house!!! I have always loved all things biology related. I went to Eastern New Mexico University and got my bachelor’s degree in Wildlife and Fisheries. I briefly lived in South Dakota where I worked for the Forest Service in the Black Hills then for the Michigan DNR.
I now have the absolute pleasure of working with this incredible company. It’s the perfect mix of all of my passions and values, and I strive to give the best possible care and attention to any living creature in my care. Outside of work, I crank up the nerd and I go rock hunting, hiking, and more rock hunting. 😂 I am lucky to have a job that gives me the opportunity to improve the quality of life for animals and their families; it’s a truly beautiful thing and I’m honored to be a part of it.
Meet the Pet Care Providers
This section of our website is currently under construction – please check back soon!
Cloud 9 Canine Pet Care & Dog Training
Our Mission Statement
Cloud 9 Canine’s Mission is to enhance quality of life through pets and their humans through long-term support and professional-quality service. We aim to exceed your wishes and go above and beyond to promote the holistic welfare of your pets. Our passion and enthusiasm for our work shines through our dedication to earning a genuine relationship with all species we work with (including the humans!) as well as our commitment to evidence-based and continually-evolving practices. When choosing us, we guarantee we will give our all to leave you and your pets on cloud 9!
C9C Values
Relationship: We strive to truly connect with the pets and the people we work with in order to meet you where you are and walk alongside you to where you want to be. We encourage frequent communication, are always available for questions, comments, and feedback, and are more than happy to make time to speak with you and do whatever you need to feel comfortable.
Fear-Free Pet Interaction: Our team members are trained to utilize fear-free handling techniques while providing care to companion animals of all species, breeds, sizes, ages, health conditions, temperaments, and behavioral needs.
Reliability: We are always ready to work, rain, snow, or shine! No matter what, we guarantee we will show up once booked, and we train our entire team in emergency procedures with routine refreshers at quarterly all-team trainings. Our team of manager are always on call and monitoring services and in communication with you directly. Sit back and relax: we have all the ‘what ifs’ handled!
Continuing Education: Our entire Cloud 9 team values approaching our work with a growth mindset, bettering our professional and personal pet interactions each and every day through our experience with your beloved family members! We consistently pursue the most reputable and scientifically-based education programs for all members of our team, including leadership.
The Story of Our Local Small Business
Hello! My name is Nicole, and I am the owner & founder of C9C.
My passion for pets was first cultivated when I was about four years old. My parents decided to move to a 50 acre property in a small rural town within the Kalamazoo area. The land was quickly transformed into into a hobby farm, which was an absolute dream.
I was extremely shy as a child and struggled to make friends. I often felt lonely and as though I had no real connections. This void was filled while growing up with pets that gave me a particular soft spot in my heart for animals. Cats, geckos, rabbits, birds, even frogs . . . it didn’t matter if they were the furry kind or the creepy-crawly kind, they all fascinated me just the same.
Growing up, I spent the majority of my time outside in nature. My sisters and I would wait rather impatiently by the upstairs window, on the lookout for our babysitter to arrive. The moment her car rumbled up the driveway, we raced downstairs, threw open the basement doors, and charged out into the farmyard, eager to feed our rabbits, snuggle our kittens, let our goats out to graze, and search for salamanders in the swamp. When the sun set and we had to come inside, I remember what would become known as “binge-watching” Animal Planet and doing extensive research on dog breeds, behavior, care, and training as I dreamt of having a dog of my own.
In 2009, I was blessed to become the owner of my first dog, Morgan, a mixed breed dog. She was the face of Cloud 9 Canine throughout the early years until she made her journey across the rainbow bridge in December 2022.
As I got older, I began volunteering for the SPCA of Southwest Michigan and providing pet sitting and dog walking services for fun while attending Western Michigan University. There, I studied business, where I found I discovered another passion of mine. I believe business is about giving—finding a need, figuring out how to fulfill it, and going above and beyond to give back and truly serve the community in order to meet that need.
Soon, the stars aligned and a lightbulb went off, and suddenly I realized I was able to pursue both of my passions for both pets and connection! And as the story goes, Cloud 9 Canine was born in 2020. In our first year alone, we served over 200 families and their pets! We, as a team, are all very grateful for this opportunity and eager for all that will unfold over the coming years! It is a privilege for us to serve our community, both the people and their furry, feathered, and scaly companions alike.
Don’t just take our word for it – read what others have to say.
Our Professional Qualifications & Standard
We are certified, insured, and bonded to give you peace of mind that we have plans in place for any “what if?” situations.
We utilize standardized service protocols, meaning no matter who provides care, they all will perform duties in the same manner no matter which team member provides service for the security of your home, your peace of mind, and promotion of well-being in reducing stress of all pets in our care. Team Members are all Pet First Aid & CPR Certified and trained in LIFE (Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective) pet handling per the Humane Hierarchy.
We prioritize pursuit of continuing education opportunities for all of our team—including Cloud 9 leadership—to invest in our team and constantly expand our knowledge, improve our skills, and evolve our processes to keep up with the latest progressive developments in the pet industry.
We are united under a shared mission to provide the best pet care possible to improve the lives of pets and their humans in our community, guided by our Code of Ethics fostering inclusivity, accessibility, transparency, honoring professional scope limitations, and willingness to learn from each other.
Why Choose Us?
Our services are designed by industry professionals with the well-being of your pets as our top priority.
Basic Needs: Nutrition, hydration, shelter, and bathroom breaks are basis necessities for pet care. We offer a range of service windows to accommodate your pet’s routine based on the importance of attentive, quality care.
Fulfillment: Beyond meeting basic needs, pets thrive with regular biological fulfillment that keeps their bodies active and their minds sharp. Each pet has unique preferences for engaging their natural instincts, whether through a romp in the park, a loop around the block, play with people, enrichment puzzles, sniffing through nature, socializing with other pets, naps in the sun, or showing off their tricks to our team members! Clients are encouraged to tell us about what activities their pets love so we can provide outlets for these innate behaviors during our services.
Companionship: Pets form bonds with their people and many desire intentional human contact. Our team is full of genuine pet lovers who are happy to stop for belly rubs during a walk, snuggle up on the couch, or allow an affectionate pet to curl up on their lap. We ensure your pet receives plenty of love while you are out and about based on their preferences for attention.
We understand that leaving your pets is stressful. We take this responsibility seriously and are here to give you peace of mind while you are away.
Service Reports: It is our duty to be considerate of the nerves that pet parent feel when leaving a family member in someone else’s care. Throughout your pets’ care, we maintain frequent and detailed communication via report cards to make it feel as though you’re right there with them. We value earning the trust of our clients through open conversation that keeps you updated on how your pet is doing while you are away. Each report card includes a journal of the service, check in and check out times, a GPS map of the team member’s location throughout the service, and pictures of your pet.
Team–Based Services: We employ a team of pet care professionals so our clients never have to rely on the availability of a single individual. By teaching our team to safely and mindfully care for pets with an array of personalities and needs, creating highly detailed step-by-step care instructions in all pet profiles, and implementing secure yet accessible home access protocols, we eliminate the risk of our clients ending up in a panic searching for last-minute alternative arrangements. No need to scramble for back-up plans when you book with Cloud 9: our team will work together to take care of everything when you can’t be there!
Unsure about our “team-based” service model/having multiple care providers? This is a common initial concern for many pet parents; we want to honor your advocacy of knowing what is best for your pet, but if you are curious about how to make this work, we are more than happy to discuss how to set your pet up for a successful experience—contact us to make arrangements or click here to learn more!
Service Area
The blue shaded area is our primary service area—residences in this area are eligible for any services in their home.
The gray shaded area is our extended service area, which we can serve at an extended (2 hour) minimum.
The yellow landmark is our office and training space.
If your home is just outside of a boundary, please give us a call: we’d love to discuss how we may serve you!
“Cloud 9 Canine was so wonderful!! This was our first experience with a professional sitter and we were so pleased. They came by to make sure our pup was comfortable ahead of time and asked alllll the right questions. And the best part was the after visit updates sent each time they went to the house. (Nicole should side as a pet photographer because the pics we received were frame worthy!) We will absolutely be using them again!”
– Nickie W.