About Us
Our Mission
Piccola Pet Support gives small dogs specialized, gentle, and rehabilitative care while rescuing others in need and supporting the people who love them.
Our Vision
A world where every small dog is safe, understood, and loved, and where those who care for them have the support they need to keep loving them.
Why focus on small dogs?
The data speaks for itself.
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Shelter Animals Count's 2025 Annual Data Report, released in February 2026, found that:
36% of dogs entering shelters in 2025 were small dogs (25 lbs or less)
38% were medium dogs
26% were large dogs
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In 2025, small dogs represented:
35% of dogs entering government shelters
38% entering private shelters
45% entering rescues
Large dogs represented only 17% of rescue intakes.
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Shelter Animals Count estimates that 2.8 million dogs entered shelters and rescues in 2. About 320,000 dogs experienced non-live outcomes in 2025.
The ASPCA's 2025 figures match these stats, with shelters continuing to face capacity, staffing, and veterinary-resource challenges.
Anemone S. (they/them/all)
Care Provider and Founder of Piccola Pet Support
It all began with letters to Santa, pleading for a dog…
Anemone (Nemo) has built their life around animals since age 16, when they became the sole staff member at a tiny rescue, pulling dogs from high-kill shelters, managing adoptions, and running outreach. They also worked at a doggy daycare a positive reinforcement training facility where they apprenticed leading the puppy classes.
In 2010, they started a pet sitting and dog walking business, and gradually completed a canine behavior apprenticeship, earned an Animal Reiki certification, and became a full-time, fear-free groomer by the age of 22. Their company, Doggy Downtime, became known for its gentle touch and impeccable service.
Nemo later opened a low-waste, eco-friendly dog grooming shop and, at 33, trained as an Animal Companion Death Doula, all while continuing to foster and rescue animals, especially small dogs.
Piccola Pet Support brings together Nemo’s many years of experience in pet care, exceptional client service, specialized training, and specialty certifications. Through calm, attentive care and rescue efforts for small dogs, as well as peace of mind, grief support, and education for the people who love them, Piccola supports both people and pets!
Why “Piccola”?
Piccola is Italian for the feminine version of the word "little," a nod to our founder's southern Italian roots and to Little, their first soul dog, found ownerless and running the streets.
Little was sassy, calm, and tender. At the grooming salon, she'd sit by the kennels and whine until other dogs were let out. She mothered every baby she met: puppies, kittens, chicks, even human babies. She loved other dogs but hated the chaos of big dog energy!
Her memory is imbedded into our mission. We offer gentle, low-stress care exclusively for small dogs in Golden, Colorado, including senior grooming, puppy socialization opportunities, and preparations for rescue dogs to transition successfully into their forever homes. We bring 15+ years of hands-on animal experience, trainings, and certifications into everything we do. We also take on select rescue cases for small dogs in need and offer stigma-free pet-related grief and rehoming support.
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Piccola Pet Support is a for-profit LLC. We're not a nonprofit, and purchases or payments for our services, merch, and support are not tax-deductible. We care deeply about people and pets- we've simply chosen to weave a mission and vision into the services we provide.
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When you pay for a service or shop with us, you're making a purchase and are choosing to pay for the value of what we offer: pet safety planning, grief support, merch, and pet matchmaking services that reflect the care, vetting, and preparation that goes into every aspect of our work.
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As a for-profit business, our work is powered by payments for valuable services, unique merch, and quality pet care- not competitive grants or donations. Steady income rather than dependence on outside funding gives us the freedom to make decisions quickly, without needing approval from a governing board.
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Our Advisory Group gives community a voice in our work. Members share their feedback, expertise, and connections to help us better support people and pets. Piccola makes its own decisions and runs its own operations, guided by input from those who understand the impact of our services.