Is there any greeting quite as heartwarming as a wagging tail or the gentle weave against your legs? For most of us, that furry companion is more than just a pet - they are family.

Naturally, we entrust their well-being to professionals, relying on annual veterinary checkups to ensure they are happy and healthy. But there is a standard question every vet asks, one we often answer on autopilot without truly knowing the facts: “How are their bathroom habits?” 

This simple yet vital detail is essential to your pet’s diet, digestion, and internal wellness. Yet, the question remains: When you are out in the yard, are you truly examining what you scoop? Or, like many busy homeowners, do you let it dissolve into the ground, assuming "out of sight, out of mind"?

When your pet’s waste is left on the lawn, the bacteria and parasites it harbors don't just disappear into the soil. They attach to shoes, paws, and toys. They hide in the grass and are tracked back into your kitchen floor and living room. You need a backup for your pet’s health, your lawn’s appearance, and your home's hygiene. Her name is Sheristen McCullah – owner and operator of The Poo Squad.

Sheristen is highly knowledgeable about the importance of removing waste to create a happy, healthy sanctuary for all. Beyond her passion for health, Sheristen is a force of nature: a mother, a wife, and a soulful singer who appreciates the art of entrepreneurship. She’s successfully turned the unglamorous task of waste management into a high-end service rooted in hospitality and heart.

Sheristen grew up in Kansas City, naturally performing in the dramatic arts. Since she arrived in 2007 to attend MSU, she’s called Springfield her home. While she possesses a natural talent for the stage, majoring in acting and creative writing, she found the professional acting community to be transient. No longer wanting to work against her peers, she wanted to build a community with them.

Sheristen enjoys sitting on her back porch with her husband Thomas bird watching or singing into the evening air. She’s a strong supporter of her 11-year-old daughter Wrenly, a budding visual artist.

After exploring careers in civil service and hospitality, she found her true calling where service meets entrepreneurship. She discovered the Poo Squad franchise in 2017 and realized it offered the perfect vehicle to combine her love for the outdoors with her desire to serve families directly.

Sheristen is quick to point out that her business is not merely about picking up after dogs; it’s about a "hospitality service mentality." She aims to build relationships with clients and their pets beyond a transaction. New clients are welcomed with curated goodie bags containing tennis balls, treats, and portable water bowls. She memorizes pets' names and even tracks their birthdays.

This care extends to safety and communication. From the moment she walks onto your property, you are informed via text or app when your gates are opened and closed, ensuring your pet remains safe in the yard. But beyond the warmth, there is a serious, scientific approach to her work. She views her service as critical waste management that protects the entire home.

"Dog waste contains nitrates, bacteria, and parasites," Sheristen informs. "If you let it sit, it seeps into the soil and eventually leeches back into the groundwater — the same system that cleans our drinking water. Furthermore, removing it prevents those contaminants from being tracked back inside the house where your family eats and sleeps."

Her once-a-week standard service creates a barrier against this contamination. She uses a specific "zigzag" inspection pattern to overlap every inch of your yard. Unlike competitors who might spot-clean or dump waste into the homeowner's trash can, Sheristen offers a full "haul away" service.

Sheristen prioritizes communication with reminders sent the day of service and 30 minutes before arrival. She ensures your pet is safe for your peace of mind. Including photos of your closed gate, and veterinarian-grade sanitization before and after service.

One might assume a business based on outdoor maintenance would shut down when the Missouri winter sets in, but Sheristen’s operation is year-round, adapting with a level of care that protects both the pet and the property.

Operating in the cold requires a delicate touch regarding lawn health. Walking on frost-stiffened grass can snap the blades and kill the turf. Sheristen will wait for the sun to warm the grass, or reschedule if the lawn's long-term health is a concern under freezing temperatures. When conditions are right, Sheristen gears up in high-performance ski wear, utilizing merino wool socks and thermal layers that offer the flexibility to move and keep warm while scooping.

While snow can make the job difficult, the cold offers a surprising scientific advantage regarding pet health analysis by enhancing and preserving it. Locking the biological matter into the state it was in when it left the dog. This "fridge effect" means samples are pure since flies and decomposers aren't active. "Oil, grease, or mucus coatings usually freeze, giving the piles a glaze that makes photos much easier for veterinarians to interpret," she explains.

This focus on analysis is perhaps the most "upscale" aspect of her service. Sheristen provides a "Poop Health Report" via her app. Because she treats every client like family, she is trained to see the unusual.

"We look for anything concerning—if the dog ate plastic, rope, or has parasites," she says. If something looks off, she uploads a picture and sends a text immediately. "Most people think everything is normal, but because we see it every week, we notice the changes. It’s all about the love of the dog and the science we tend to take for granted."

Sheristen attributes her drive for service to her upbringing. Her mother instilled a sense of community in her by taking her to feed the homeless at a young age. "Seeing people who had so little be so joyful for a hot meal was a breaking point for me," she recalls. "It lit a fire in me to give back."

That fire burns brighter than ever. Sheristen is deeply embedded in Springfield's Mosaic Arts Collective, a non-profit that bridges the gap between poverty and the performing arts. The organization allows underprivileged children to access the lessons, instruments, and dance supplies they need but otherwise couldn't afford.

Sheristen is redefining what it means to be a service provider in Springfield. She isn't just cleaning up yards — she’s caring for families, protecting homes, and doing it all with a song in her heart.

Residents looking to protect their groundwater, keep their homes clean: give Sheristen a call.