I’m Zion, and I’m originally from good ol’ Houston, TX! I came here to the Big Apple to pursue my studies, and am currently a student at Columbia studying electrical engineering (with huge hopes of staying in the city after graduation). I was originally drawn to New York City for all of the opportunities the city provides; not just academically, but also in the city itself: the music scene, the parks, and the historic architecture. Outside of school and studying, I love hanging out with friends at Riverside or Central Park, reading comics and manga, listening to as much music as possible, and doing the NYT mini-crossword puzzles!

As a kid in Texas, I grew up with dogs my entire life, starting with a Dachshund named Mick Jagger (after the singer, of course ;)). As our family continued to grow by four (or 8, or 16…) furry legs, I continued to walk all of the dogs my family has had over the years, ranging from small breeds like my Chihuahua, to larger ones like my Labrador/German Shepherd mix. I’ve also walked my friends’ dogs, sometimes alongside my own, which has helped me get comfortable managing multiple dogs at once. When I walk dogs, I focus on balancing their curiosity + need to explore with keeping a steady pace. For example, my Chihuahua loves to sniff everything and people-watch, so I make sure to give her time for that. My Labrador mix, on the other hand, loves to run, so I incorporate light jogging into our walks whenever she’s feeling energetic 🙂 Walking them together is always a fun challenge and has taught me how to adapt to different energy levels and personalities. I have also cat-sat for my friend before, and over this summer will also be watching her cat for around a month (so if you have any kitties who need to be loved, I’m your guy!).

Although I love New York very much, this is the first summer I’m spending away from my dogs back home, and it’s been tough being away from the dogs I grew up with and learned to care for. That’s why I’m so happy to be part of the Ruff City team — I get to reconnect, build connections with, and help care for the beloved pups (and cats! ;)) that bring us all so much joy!