Fetch and Research combines my long-standing interests in animal care and scientific research.

🧬 How Fetch and Research Began

From 2017 to 2024, I completed a PhD in Zoology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, where I specialized in the study of gut microbiomes — the vast communities of microorganisms living in the digestive systems of mammals like humans, rats, and wild gorillas. My work focused on understanding how these microbes influence health, immunity, and disease.

During those intense and often stressful research years, I found a surprising source of peace and balance: dogs.

Vancouver is a city where dogs are truly part of the community — in parks, cafés, even offices. I often walked and cared for friends' dogs, eventually turning it into a paid side activity. Over time, I realized I didn’t want to give up either of my passions — scientific research and caring for dogs — so I began to merge the two.

That’s how Fetch and Research was born.

💩 Why Dog Poop Matters

In microbiome research, everything starts with poop. Fecal samples allow us to extract DNA and identify the full range of microorganisms living in the gut — bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, protists, and more. These microbial communities, known as the gut microbiome, are crucial to understanding health.

As a dog walker and boarder, I’m in a unique position to collect high-quality, fresh samples over time. This opens the door to questions that are rarely addressed in science because the data is so hard to obtain.

With consent from owners, I can gather long-term information — tracking how factors like diet, surgery, medication, social behavior, or life changes affect a dog’s gut microbiome across days, weeks, months, or even years.

🐶 Science That Helps Dogs

By combining personalized care with microbiome research, we can better understand the invisible systems that support a dog’s well-being. These insights may one day help develop new diets, treatments, or early warning signs for disease.

Fetch and Research is more than a dog-walking business — it’s a living, growing research platform dedicated to both animal care and scientific discovery.

🧪 Science That Also Helps Owners

At Fetch and Research, microbiome research isn’t just about advancing science — it’s also about helping you better care for your dog.

By collecting and analyzing fecal samples, I can provide dog owners with valuable insights into their pet’s gut health. These microbiome reports can be shared directly with your veterinarian, supporting them in diagnosing or managing health conditions more precisely.

For example:

If we detect the presence of pathogenic bacteria, your vet may recommend treatment such as antibiotics.
On the other hand, if no harmful microbes are found, your vet might consider a non-antibiotic approach, avoiding unnecessary medication.

This type of information can help guide decisions related to:

Digestive issues
Behavioral changes
Chronic inflammation
Recovery after surgery or medication
Dietary adjustments

Your dog’s poop can offer a wealth of information — and when combined with veterinary care, it becomes a powerful tool for preventive and personalized health strategies.

🌍 The Road Ahead

Fetch and Research is just the beginning.

My vision is to build something much bigger than myself — a community-powered scientific project that grows alongside the city, the dogs, and the people who care for them.

As I expand, I aim to train and collaborate with other dog walkers, particularly graduate students — Master's or PhD candidates — who are passionate about microbiome science. For them, walking dogs wouldn't just be a side job. It would be a way to generate real, publishable data for their own theses while earning an income.

This approach would:

Multiply the amount and diversity of data collected
Support young scientists in applying their research skills outside of academic silos
Begin to address the inequities in science, where many talented students are underpaid.

Over time, I hope to build a collaborative, decentralized network of researchers, with Vancouver as the starting point — and eventually, a long-term biobank of dog microbiome data that could revolutionize how we understand health, diet, disease, and behaviour.

Imagine what we could discover, together, in 10, 20, or even 50 years.