Once a long time ago, when I was a little girl, I imagined I would be a veterinarian. Then my hormones started raging, I got
a boyfriend and any thought of planning for the future seemed, well, LAME!! Not that I was some kind of wild child, quite the
contrary. I made good grades, helped my Mom around the house and even learned how to cook. Not bad for a 15 year old. On my
journey to becoming a professional pet sitter I traveled many roads. I went to college to study psychology and social work. I
worked hard and applied myself. I was a member of 5 honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa and graduated cum laude. I
really enjoyed college. It was my time to blossom. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I decided to continue my education and get
my Masters in Social Work. Sounds like a pretty altruistic path to venture down. I did receive my Masters in Social Work and
began working in the field as soon as I could land a job. Surprise of surprises... I wasn't really cut out for this kind of
work. You see, I wanted to "fix" everyone and I wanted to do that as quickly as I could. Not so good for those people who
needed to find their own way.
So I went back to what I had done for many, many years, waiting tables. It had always proved to be rewarding both financially
and personally. I could develop a relationship with a patron or patrons within a few minutes and it served me well. My
ability to care for people probably came from my training in the social sciences. My managers soon saw this as a huge asset,
one to be used to their benefit. Thus, I began a new journey in the arena of the Hospitality industry. I moved with ease into
management positions in boutique restaurants, large chain restaurants and finally private clubs. All the while being promoted
because of my aptitude with people. I could engage the surliest of club members or the most out-of-control bride and have
them working my program in no time. Funny thing was, I wasn't truly fulfilled. I didn't get up every morning and think, "Wow,
I get to plan a $50,000 anniversary party!!" I mean, it wasn't terrible, it just wasn't ME. How do we find our ME? What do we
have to go through to understand what ME needs?
Enter my Mom. My Mom had supported me financially and spiritually when I was going through graduate school. She knew that I
was just going through the motions with my career choices. She knew it was simply a means to an end. Then my Mom happened to
enlist the help of a pet sitter when she and my Dad went on a long vacation. She had traveled with her dog before, but this
was different. She couldn't bear the thought of boarding her dog. Taking her to some fancy, schmancy doggie resort where she
would be in a kennel all day long with only scheduled walks and timed interactions. She was also concerned about the health
of her dog and whether that would be jeopardized while in a kennel. Many dogs that spend time in a kennel are exposed to
diseases from other dogs. There is also evidence that many dogs experience stress while away from their homes. This stress
can lead to inappropriate behavior, such as aggression. So, she found someone who had made a career out of caring for
people's pets in their own homes. Where the dog was most comfortable, where the dog's daily routine would not be turned
upside down and where she could sleep in her own bed at night. My Mom was so taken with this woman's care that she saved
every note, every bit of information she could, even the cutsie placemat that was left behind under the water and food bowls
that said, "I was treated like royalty while you were gone." She made a file and saved it for my next visit home. When she
presented it to me she simply said, " I know this is what you should be doing." Moms, how do they do that? Reach right down
into your heart and know what is best for you? And you know what? She was right.
Of course, the new career didn't magically materialize overnight. It took a leap of faith, a really big leap of faith. And a
good bit of hard work. Anything worth having is worth working for, we all know that. My husband and I moved to my family's
hometown to help my sister care for my aging parents. That was a big step and a little scary. I started a business based on
the training I received from a generous woman who had her own pet sitting business. She learned the business the same way,
from a woman who was passing it along to her. That was pretty scary too. Knowing that I had started this business before my
Mom passed away gave me the strength to follow through on what she knew was best for me. It has been one roller coaster of a
ride, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love what I do and my clients love what I do. The ability to connect with these
people and learn what it is they want for their pets makes me successful.
My childhood dream of being a veterinarian isn't too far off from where I am right now. I care for many pets, mostly cats and
dogs. I do have a hamster, a bunny, a couple dozen doves and some chickens thrown in the mix. Diversity is a good thing!! I
am responsible for their well-being when they are with me. I have a diabetic Scottie that has a heart problem. One day when I
walked him out of his house, he started breathing hard. I knew that was not right. I called his Mom and she directed me to
call his vet. The vet saw him the next morning and we found that his sugar level was above 500. That's life threatening. He
could have lapsed into a coma if the problem had not been realized and treated quickly. I have a Weimaraner I care for and
while walking him, I noticed a large lump on his rear leg. I notified his Dad and he went to see the vet soon afterwards. I
was recently caring for three American Eskimo dogs, one of which is elderly and has some health issues. One day he decided
not to eat his breakfast. Fine, I thought. I'll just pick it up and give it to him for dinner tonight. But at dinner time, he
turned his nose up again. I can tolerate missing one meal, but in an elder dog, two meals can be significant. Looking in the
fridge, I saw some beef broth and knew this would up the ante on the kibble in the bowl. Sure enough, he ate heartily. I got
a text from his Mom thanking me for being creative in getting Buddy to eat. What some pet owners don't know is that as our
dog or cat ages, the sharpness of the senses diminishes. This not only means they lose hearing and sight, but their sense of
smell can become compromised. Dogs, like people, eats with their senses, if it doesn't smell good, why eat it? Adding a
little flavor enhancement may be all it takes to be sure your dog is getting a healthy, balanced meal. I look for any unusual
behavior in my clients that is out of the ordinary so I can notify the owners. It is also important to do the necessary
research on any disease or disability that one of your clients may have in order to understand his needs. In my efforts to
learn what is best for each breed of dog or cat, I have happened upon a lot of knowledge. and felt it best to find a way to
get that knowledge to my clients as well as other pet owners. My Mom was right, pet sitting is what I should be doing. And in
doing it right, I have found that I can be a catalyst to pet owners in being proactive with their best friends care.
I trust you will find my website a source for helpful hints on pet care and recent findings in pet health management. My
affiliates offer many of the products and resources that I find will make caring for your pet less confusing and probably
save you some money.This article is about my personal journey in starting my own pet sitting business. These are my actual
experiences and true stories of some of the pets I care for on a regular basis. My website is
http://www.mypetscareandhealth.com
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