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There’s great truth to the statement, “There’s strength in numbers.” Pet sitting can be lonely. And whether you are just starting your pet-sitting business or are a pet-care veteran, you have questions—and there’s no one better to help answer your questions and share in your daily challenges and joys than a fellow pet sitter. 

PSI members have a network of nearly 7,000 fellow PSI members and pet-sitting business owners, and PSI is always looking for ways to help our members connect with one another. From PSI’s annual conference to the private Facebook chat group, PSI is always seeking out new avenues to allow our members to find support, advice and new ideas from fellow pet sitters. 

PSI’s Pet Sitter Spotlight series has that same goal. Each month, we’ll feature a different PSI member and share his or her answers to our pet-sitting survey. The responses will help you get to “know” this pet sitter and provide you with some tips and advice for your own pet-sitting business. You can view past Pet Sitter Spotlights here.

PSI members, if you are interested in being considered for a PSI Pet Sitter Spotlight, complete this questionnaire.

Meet Tammi Brown, owner of Wag Wagon Pet Services in Kittery Point, Maine:

Your Name: Tammi Brown

Business Name: Wag Wagon Pet Services

Location: Kittery Point, Maine

Year you started your pet-sitting business: 2011

What was your previous job/profession? social worker

What is your current business structure? Sole proprietor

Number of current clients: 75

How many visits do you typically do per day? 15

Is your service area urban, suburban or rural? Suburban

Is your pet-sitting business insured? Yes.

Do you provide clients with proof of your clear criminal history (background check)? Yes.

How long did it take you to build up your clientele? 8 months.

Do you use staff sitters? No, but I use a network of sitters in my area and we work to help ensure we are all successful while maintaining a work life balance.

Do you offer any services besides basic in the client's home pet sitting and dog walking? (pet taxi, etc.) Pet Taxi, Hotel Sitting, Overnights, Pet Waste Removal

What educational opportunities have you taken advantage of since becoming a pet sitter?

• Pet CPR
• Pet First Aid
• Pet safety and Disaster awareness (FEMA)
• Pet massage courses

Which advertising methods worked best when you were a new business? 

• Bulletin board flyers
• Talk it up...tell everyone you meet about your new venture. One of my first clients was a man behind me in line at the market who had just moved to the area!
• Community service projects (sponsoring beach clean ups, etc.)
• Veterinary offices, grooming salons, small pet stores: I took the personal approach, "small business to small business." I would take not only my flyer but a box of chocolates or bagels and coffe and went and introduced myself.

Do you still use the same advertising methods? I have essentially stopped advertising and only take on word of mouth clients.

What's one mistake you've made as a professional pet sitter (when you were just starting out or at any time during your career)? What did you learn/what do you do differently now?

My service area was too large at first; I spent way too much time driving between client homes to have a manageable schedule. I have scaled it back to no more than six miles from my home.

What advice would you give to new pet sitters? 

Set a realistic service area. Talk to anybody that will even half listen to you about your love of animals and your new business. Never leave home without business cards...tell people "take two; they're small" LOL

Are there any must-have business tools your business could not do without?

• Martingale collars in various sizes
• Extra/dry socks
• Paper date book...I'm old school!

Do you schedule vacation time and/or days off? I take one week in the summer and the first two weeks of December off every year.

Are there any tips you would share for establishing a healthy work-life balance? Make time for yourself...JUST DO IT! If you don't take time for yourself you'll grow to react the business and burn out.