Would You Lease A Pet?

If you’re thinking about getting a pet but aren’t sure you can handle the responsibility, you still have a few options.  Consider volunteering for a shelter, pet-sitting for a friend, or fostering a pet; there are even some short-term fostering situations.  If none of these appeal to you, or if you have a little extra money to spend on your pet, you now have another option: lease a pet.  MSN has the details. A company called Hannah’s Pet Society has started a new business: leasing pets.  Here’s how it works: interested parties go to one of the company’s two stores … Continue reading

Calling All Animal Lovers

Do you love animals? If you do, then you may be able to share your love with other people’s pets by starting a home-based pet care business. There are many different pet care services that you could provide, depending upon what skills you have. The most basic pet care services are dog walking and pet-sitting. Many dog owners work all day and do not live close enough to home to go home at lunch and take their dogs for a walk. Dogs need to go outside a few times each day, and some dog owners are more than happy to … Continue reading

Chatting with Marlene Richardson, Former Pet Care Professional – Part Two

Southern Duchess Pet Care Service Logo, created by Megan Belanger and provided by Marlene Richardson, former owner of Southern Duchess In Part One I introduced you to my neighbor Marly Richardson, a former pet care professional. She shared how she got into the biz, but in this part she talks about the biz from a different perspective: things those who are interested in getting into it should take into consideration. Courtney Mroch: What kind of advice would you recommend to anyone thinking of starting their own pet care business? Marly Richardson: Pet sitting is so much more than playing with … Continue reading

Starting A Shelter: Getting the Community Involved

Unless you have limitless financial resources and can do all the work yourself (trust me, you can’t!) your shelter is going to need community support. So how do you do it? Publicity is key. If no one knows about your shelter, no one can help you. Start a mailing list. Include your animal-loving friends and family. Ask your volunteers, workers, and board of directors for names and addresses, too! Keep a sign-up sheet available at your shelter and at all events to keep that mailing list growing. Keep your website current. A website that is never updated isn’t going to … Continue reading