Heather Uptegrove had fulfilled her dream of becoming a police officer when, in 2003, she was involved in an on-the-job car crash that caused serious injury requiring a year of painful physical therapy and ultimately medical retirement.
“I had always had a love for animals,” says Heather, “but when I was in recovery and physical therapy, there were some days when I was in so much pain that the only constant that could make my day was my husband and the unconditional love I received from my pets.”
“I kept thinking there has got to be something I can do with pets. They were never judgmental because I didn't walk right and they never stared at me!”
The precipitating moment that sent Heather on her new career path came during a near-disaster when a niece was called upon to watch pets for another family member.
“I knew then that there’s a need for reliable pet sitters and started researching how to start a small business. A few other pet sitters in my area helped me a great deal with information about bonding, insurance and contracts, as well as putting me in touch with Pet Sitters International.”
After four months of planning and preparation, Affectionate Pet Nanny and Taxi was born in the fall of 2005. Heather dove into the business and joined networking groups and her local Chamber of Commerce to spread the word. She created a Web site and promoted it, then began the long hours of fulfilling her promise to her clients.
“Sometimes it takes longer hours than I expected, especially during the holiday season,” notes Heather, “but the payoff is tremendous in the satisfaction I receive from both pets and owners.”
Heather’s timing was good. America’s love affair with pets is at an all-time high. The pet industry has grown dramatically over the past decade and an increasing number of pet-loving entrepreneurs have entered the professional pet-sitting field to capitalize on this growing niche in the pet market.
The motivation for professional pet sitters, however, extends far beyond the lure of a growing industry. Behind every successful pet sitter is a story of a defining moment that prompted a pet lover to turn his or her passion for pets into a new career and Heather is no exception.
Patti Moran, president of the world’s largest association for professional pet sitters says, “We’re proud that so many of our 7,900 PSI members look at pet sitting as more than just a career. Their passion for their livelihood often comes shining through.”
PSI members are offered continuing education on subjects such as pet first aid, disaster planning and spotting potential dangers within a client’s home. When they are first engaged with a pet owner for sitting, they go over emergency information and procedures, and they gather information about vets in case of a medical emergency.
One of the most important things that Heather provides to her human clients is a report card of how their pets’ routines are followed while the owner is away. She notes eating habits and unusual behavior, which sometimes can be significant indicators of a larger problem.
“Routine is so important to animals, so I create a care plan after my initial interview with pet owners that includes all of the routines of feeding, exercise and play that a pet usually receives from its owner. I report back to them in a report card all that happened. It gives the owner great peace of mind.”
When Heather notices something unusual or potentially dangerous with a pet, she has all the information to take the animal to its vet or to make notes about it in her report card. She credits these notes with saving one dog’s life not long ago.
“He was just not eating well on his own and responding okay to hand-feeding. The owner was very surprised and took the animal to the vet immediately upon return and found out it had a stomach tumor that they were able to remove,” says Heather.
This trust that Heather gains from and instills in her clients reaches beyond care of their pets.
“There’s a great deal of trust you need to have to let someone in your home while you’re out. With my background in law enforcement, I take that responsibility very seriously.”
Heather is thankful for having had opportunities to pursue two lifelong dreams. While her passion for law enforcement was unfortunately cut short, her path to recovery opened the door for a new career that feeds her desire to work with pets.
“I’m happy for the ability to follow this passion of taking care of animals and paying back some of the unconditional love I received when I needed it the most.”
