Karen Michelle Bayard
Heart 2 Heart Pet Services
Salt Lake City, UT
Years as a Professional Pet Sitter: Three
PSI Member Since 2005
Likes: The beach, board games, dancing, yoga, cooking, foreign languages and traveling
Dislikes: Choke chains on dogs, any brand of kitty litter that “poofs up” dust while scooping and people leaving their dog's poop behind
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Food: Ethnic & spicy vegetarian dishes
Favorite Movie: Usual Suspects, The Sound of Music and Lean On Me
Favorite Song: Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield
“Tricks of the Trade:” If you don’t have e-contracts, use carbon paper. And ALWAYS carry your business cards
Favorite Dog Name: Milo for a male and Zephyr for a female
Favorite Cat Name: Java for a male and Phoenix for a female
Favorite “Alternative” Pets: Horses & rats
Favorite “Downtime” Activity: Reading in the park or by a stream
Best Pet-Sitting Experience: Seeing a dog that used to be “reactive” play in a pack
What accomplishment are you most proud of? Helping to rehabilitate a 9-year-old golden retriever after an accident and multiple surgeries - she's now 11 and doing well
What kind of car would you drive if money was not an object? I would bike...but to pick up dogs up for hikes, I would drive a vintage marigold Mercedes station wagon or a VW bus. (Both would be converted to use alternative fuel.)
What is your “Dream Vacation?” Three months off with an “around the world” airplane ticket! My favorite stops would be Senegal, New Zealand, Italy, Bali, Vancouver and Haiti.
What does your PSI Membership mean to you? Credibility and community.
When speaking with potential clients, it puts them at ease knowing that they are speaking to someone who truly cares about their pets as well as furthering their professional skills. Being a member gives me the opportunity to meet people with similar interests.
Finish this sentence: “If I hadn't become a pet sitter, I never would have…
designed workshops for the general public on preparing homemade pet food or started a local group for Utah pet professionals.”
