Our Team
At Barktails, exceptional dog care starts with exceptional people. Our team shares a genuine love for dogs and a commitment to providing every guest with personalized, compassionate care in a safe, home-style environment
Michelle Rangel
Hi, I'm Michelle Rangel, founder of Barktails.
Dogs have been at the center of my life for well over a decade. While many pet sitters enter the industry because they love animals, my journey has been shaped by thousands of hours caring for dogs with every personality, age, medical condition, and behavioral challenge imaginable.
In 2012, I joined I.C.A.R.E. Dog Rescue, a nonprofit rescue organization dedicated to saving homeless dogs. What started as volunteering quickly became a calling. Since then, I've helped rescue more than 5,000 dogs, personally fostered hundreds, coordinated countless medical cases, and worked alongside veterinarians, trainers, and behavior specialists to give dogs a second chance at life.
Through rescue, I learned that exceptional pet care is about much more than feeding schedules and walks. It's about understanding body language, recognizing medical concerns, managing anxiety, administering medications, building trust, and treating every dog as an individual.
After spending 14 years in the corporate world, I followed my heart and launched Barktails in June 2023. My goal was simple: provide the kind of care I would want for my own dogs.
At Barktails, we believe pets deserve more than a quick visit or a crowded kennel. We provide personalized care tailored to each pet's unique needs, whether that's daily walks, drop-in visits, overnight care, medication administration, senior pet support, or puppy care.
As a lifelong rescue advocate and dog mom myself, I understand how difficult it can be to trust someone with your pets. That's why I treat every animal in my care as if they were my own—with patience, compassion, reliability, and plenty of love.
When you're away, you can have peace of mind knowing your pets are in experienced hands.
Because they're not just pets. They're family.
Joe Rangel
If you have spent any time around Barktails, you will have probably heard me mention — or met — my husband, Joe.
While Barktails may be my business, Joe has been my biggest supporter from day one. After working a full-time job all day, you'll often find him helping with dog walks, transportation, overnight care, rescue pickups, supply runs, and whatever else needs to be done. He may not be on the payroll, but he's definitely one of the hardest-working members of the team.
Joe and I have been together for nearly two decades, and throughout that time he's embraced my passion for animals as if it were his own. From fostering hundreds of rescue dogs to welcoming our permanent pack of misfits at home, he's been there through every adoption, every medical case, every heartbreak, and every happy ending.
Dogs seem to know immediately that Joe is one of the good ones. He has a calm, patient presence that helps nervous dogs feel comfortable and gives energetic dogs a reliable friend to play with. Whether he's tossing a ball in the backyard or helping with a late-night potty break, he does it all with a smile.
When Barktails clients trust us with their pets, they're not just getting Michelle — they're getting the support of a family that genuinely loves and cares about animals.
Joe plays a huge role in making that possible, and Barktails wouldn't be what it is today without him.
In short, he's the guy behind the scenes making sure tails keep wagging.
Deborah Stigall
Behind every successful business is someone who keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes, and for Barktails, that person is Deborah Stigall.
As Michelle's mother, Deborah has been a supporter of Barktails from the very beginning and officially joined the team to help manage the growing business. With a successful career spanning many years in the information technology industry, Deborah brings a wealth of knowledge, professionalism, and organizational expertise to her role. Throughout her corporate career, she held positions that required exceptional attention to detail, problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage complex systems and processes—experience that has proven invaluable as Barktails continues to grow.
Today, Deborah plays a critical role in the day-to-day operations of Barktails. She assists with website management, client profiles, scheduling and calendar coordination, bookkeeping, administrative support, and just about anything involving computers and technology. Her behind-the-scenes work helps ensure that every client receives a seamless experience and that the Barktails team can focus on providing exceptional care to the pets we serve.
Most importantly, Deborah shares the same values that Barktails was built upon: family, compassion, and dedication. As a family-owned business, having Deborah as part of the team feels like a natural fit. Her experience, reliability, and commitment to excellence help keep Barktails organized, efficient, and ready to serve our clients and their beloved pets every day.
Sarah Ralston
Sarah has been part of the Barktails family for over a year and has quickly become a trusted favorite among both our clients and their pets. Having been surrounded by animals her entire life, caring for dogs comes naturally to her. Her calm, patient demeanor helps pets feel comfortable and secure, whether she's providing overnight pet sitting, administering medications, going for walks, or simply offering companionship and cuddles.
Growing up in a family deeply involved in animal rescue, Sarah has helped foster and care for countless dogs alongside her sister Hannah and their family. Through years of hands-on experience, she has worked with dogs of all ages, breeds, temperaments, and medical needs. This background has given her a unique ability to understand canine behavior, build trust, and help animals feel safe in new environments.
Sarah is known for her reliability, attention to detail, and genuine love for every pet she cares for. She treats each animal as if they were her own and takes great pride in providing the highest level of care and comfort while their families are away.
Hannah Ralston
Hannah has been a valued member of the Barktails team for over a year, bringing a lifetime of animal experience, compassion, and dedication to every pet she meets. Her love for animals began at a young age and has grown into a lifelong commitment to animal welfare, rescue, and care.
In addition to her role with Barktails, Hannah serves as the Adoption Coordinator and a member of the Board of Directors for ICARE Dog Rescue. Alongside her family, she has helped foster hundreds of dogs over the past decade, giving her extensive experience with dogs of all ages, breeds, personalities, and special needs. Her rescue background has provided her with a deep understanding of canine behavior and an exceptional ability to help dogs feel comfortable, confident, and loved.
Whether she's caring for pets in their homes, providing enrichment and exercise, or helping rescue dogs find their forever families, Hannah approaches every animal with patience, kindness, and genuine dedication. Her experience, professionalism, and passion for animal welfare make her an invaluable part of the Barktails family and a trusted caregiver for the pets in our community.