Get 50% off for 6 months   Try for Free

Customer Spotlight: TLK Pet Care and Dog Walking

Apr 9, 2017   Kendrick


Name: Cheryl Wilson

CompanyTLK Pet Care and Dog Walking

Company Motto: We care for your pet like family

Location: Watertown, Massachusetts



What is your most popular service type (dog walks, overnights, etc.)?

Dog walks, Pet care for cats and small animals, medical needs pets


How many total visits do you usually have per day?

30-40


How did you get started in the pet care business?

I was passionate about animal health care, so I pursued an education right after High school for pre-veterinary classes at Suffolk University in Boston. after receiving my Bachelors degree I worked my way up to managing a small animal hospital in my home town. I saw the need for in home care and assistance for the pets who had medical needs. After a pet was diagnosed by their veterinarian, medical treatment for a pet can be overwhelming for a lot of families especially when they travel.

So 28 years ago I started TLK Pet Care.  In the early years I continued with my education by becoming a Pet first aid/CPR instructor certified thru the American red cross.  My business continued to grow over the years and now I have staff that help me pass on my mission for the best pet care with attention to pets health and exercise.


In a few sentences tell us what your company does and what makes it special.

We provide in home pet care for cats, small animals and medical needs ie. Insulin, sub cutaneous fluids, oral and topical medications.

We provide midday walks and playgroups for dogs. We provide basic training for new puppies/dogs so they have good leash manners and that way the owner and dog can have a more positive time on their walks.  An exercised dog is a happy dog.  

I think what makes TLK special is that my staff and I are truly passionate about a pets health and TLK has  28 years of experience.  We don't just care or exercise your pet, we watch health signs  to catch early signs of any health problems.  Also TLK is bonded, insured, and background checks their staff.  Besides personal recommendations we provide other sources to help clients know they are getting a service who is trusted and has a great reputation like BBB.  Angie's list and Pet Sitters International, background checks companies yearly. We have won Angie's List super service award many times.  


What are the rewards or pay-off you see to owning a pet care business?

I think the rewards are seeing the difference we make on a daily basis in these pets lives and for their families.  We get thanked regularly for catching something with a change in a pets health or just that extra support needed to help with a dogs exercise so they are not developing destructive behaviors thru boredom of being home alone.  Also the ability to educate families on pet health, behavior and what they can do to make that pet have a more enjoyable life.


What are the challenges you see to owning a pet care business?

I think one of the biggest challenges is burn out.  This type of profession is 7 days a week in all kinds of weather.  Another challenge that has surfaced in recent years is what our industry has named hobby pet sitters who start a pet care service and then a year or two later give it up because of the demands of the business.  This affects our industry and the trust for our profession.


What is the climate like where you are and how does that affect your business?

Being in New England the climate here is all over the place LoL.  We have very cold months to very hot months and everything in between.  Snow storms can cause a lot of cancellations and loss of income.  The driving from home to home in the winter can also become challenging.  An SUV is a life saver  Working outside with the dogs is very physically challenging with these types of weather fluctuations.


Why do your clients choose you over your competitors?

I think experience in pet health and behavior, professionalism, longevity and great customer service.  Many a time thru the years I have heard from a new client that they tried another service based on cheaper rates, only to realize, that it didn't equal great care for their pet or home.  


How do you market your business? Has that changed from when you first started?

When I started there were no such thing as web sites, email, cell phones or pet sitting companies period. Lol I am dating myself.   When I started it was word of mouth thru the animal hospital I worked at. Scheduling was strictly done by phone calls back then and you were really tied to your office. I think the biggest game changer was having a website for customers to really get an idea of what your company is all about.    Now everything is mobile.  I think having that written record of an email reservation was so great when it first started both for the client and the business.  There are so many ways now for customers to find your business.  I think the key still is having a really professional web site and scheduling software like Precise Pet.


What is the funniest thing that has happened while pet sitting?

Oh my goodness there are so many funny and endearing pet stories.

Probably the wild turkeys who gathered outside a clients slider door to their deck.  They would just stare inside until you fed them like they were waiting for their dinner reservation. There was about 8-10 of them it was a riot.  In reality we were hired to take care of their 3 indoor cats. Another funny story was this cat, who would drool when you patted him because he was so happy.  I had to put a towel underneath him when he sat on my lap.


What advice would you give a new pet care business owner?

Be prepared for a lot of hard work especially during the summer and holidays. 

Have a great website that represents what you do. 

Get a well rounded on all things for running a business. Get a good scheduling software like Precise Pet Care. You need to keep track of your business this way.  From scheduling to invoicing. It is of course important to be passionate about pet care but you also need to know about being bonded, insured, tax laws for your business, accounting, pro's and cons for employee's verse contractors.  Mass. considers anyone who works for you employee's.  Every state is different.

Belong to a professional pet care organization for networking and continuing education in our field.  I have benefitted so much from being a member of Pet Sitters international.


How does Precise Petcare complement the way you run your business?

Precise Petcare was one of the best decisions I made when I researched scheduling software for my business.  It had everything I was looking for and most importantly it made sense and was user friendly.  I looked at other software but felt like it would have made more work navigating thru their system to do simple tasks.  Keeping a really good record of your schedule for pet care, invoicing and what your business does each year has been so valuable.  I think I was impressed with the quality of the system and could tell this was going to grow with the changes in my business.   I could tell that the founders and creators of Precise Petcare really knew about pet care and what was important to the needs of our industry.




 

Satisfied Customers

Get 50% off for 6 months   Get Started Now