FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
The prices that are posted on my Facebook page are in the median for this profession. I offer discounts for the elderly, veterans, policemen/women, fire fighters, paramedics, nurses, doctors, and owners of adopted or rescued pets. I also am currently offering new clients 10% off if they pay monthly for walking or visiting services.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
When dealing with a new customer I usually begin with emailing them all the paper work that needs to be filled in before our meet and greet. That way the customer doesn't feel overwhelmed with paper work and we can focus more on getting to know each other. I like to listen to the pet owners needs and concerns about the care of their pet. It lets me know just how committed they are to their pets. Then after we talk about their needs and concerns I meet with the pet. I always have the owner present when I meet the pet so they can see if the chemistry is there or not. If the pet will be a walking client then I request the owner let me take the dog out for a short 15 minute walk alone first. I do this because sometimes dogs act differently when their owners are around and tend to focus on their owner and not me. Then I will ask the owner to go out with us for another short walk and have them walk the dog just so the dog understands that I am allowed to walk with them and I am allowed to walk them. When I am meeting a new pet sitting / house sitting client I do the same with the paperwork and if I am hired I take a walk through of the home with the owner. This walk through is video recorded and specifies what the owner wants in the video i.e; what rooms are off limits (usually request those doors to be locked), to record the belongs in the house and their placement. This is done for their insurance purposes and my insurance purposes. At the closure of either of these meetings the paperwork is gone over and payments are discussed.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My education concerning animals is mostly self taught. My grandparents owned a farm and I was raised around a variety of animals. My grandfather felt I always had a special connection with animals because even the meanest of horses would let me near them without harming me. I have had and trained dogs since I was very young and have had strangers comment on how well behaved my dogs are in public. I decided to enter a trade school to become a veterinary technologist but during my last semester I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and was in the hospital for two weeks. This happened right before finals. I wasn't allowed to make up the final and was told I would have to take the whole semester over again.I didn't have the money so I couldn't complete the course. I had a total of four internships with local vet hospitals and received outstanding reviews from all of them. I was also the team leader in two of my lab practicals and my team finished first both times. I have extensive training in emergency care and CPR for animals. I am able to administer oral, topical, and injections for medication administration.