Home Page

Itís a dogís life ...
Local business helps animals stay stress free at home

By Barbara Brown
After 20 years of teaching, Stacy resident Carol Lee decided she wanted a change of pace.
After retirement, Lee looked around for the type of new career that would best suit her personality and what she wanted in her new phase of life.
Having grown up on a farm, and owning three dogs, a cat and four rabbits now, Lee looked to animals and found the answers to her questions.
Lee started a pet sitting business called Happier at Home.
Her focus would be to help pets and their owners feel more comfortable about being separated for work or vacation reasons.
In May 2002, Lee joined the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and opened her licensed, incorporated and bonded business.
By word of mouth and through her relationship with the South Shore Veterinary Assoc. in Forest Lake, Lee began building her client base, now up to 40.
She spends time with the animals and their owners before taking on a job so everyone involved knows what is expected and so she can she how the animals react to her and how she gets along with them.
For each client, Lee completes a service contract and a second form that includes information like favorite toys, habits, personality characteristics and veterinary information.
According to a recent poll, 60 percent of American homes have a pet, Lee said. She said those pets should not have to go to kennels when the owners go off for long days at work or for vacations.
Although there are many good kennels in the market, Lee said the stress to an animal while it is away from home can be detrimental.
ìI think pets are a lot more comfortable in their own surroundings and around familiar smells,î she said.
Lee said she visits at least 45 minutes to an hour at each of her eight daily client stops. She takes time to check the pets physically, play with them, feed them and let them get some exercise.
Each day, Lee encounters a menagerie of animals including macaw parrots who talk to her, colorful fish, dogs, cats, pigs, lizards and horses.
Lee said she does not quote a flat rate fee for her services, but assesses each clientís location before pricing.
She said she does not charge extra for animals that need medical attention or other special care.
She said she will even fill up outdoor bird feeders and water plants for vacationing clients.
Not only does Lees presence give the pets human contact during the day and give them supervision if they go outside, the human clients also are comforted knowing someone checks on their home each day.
ìIt the added benefit to the customer,î Lee said. ìI can bring in the mail or the paper or when they are on vacation I can turn lights on and off.î
For information, call Lee at (651) 336-7912.

Top of Page

©ECM Post Review

6448 Main Street
North Branch, MN 55056
Telephone: 651-674-7025
Fax: 651-674-7026
E-mail: editor.postreview@ecm-inc.com