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Animal lover and brain-tumor survivor finds his calling

Matt Frazier opened a dog-walking and pet-sitting business after caring for animals rescued from a dog-fighting ring.

Survivor to Pet Sitter-PSI Member Profile

When Matt Frazier arrived at a warehouse for an undisclosed job assignment, he didn’t know what to expect. But what he found inside led him to his calling as the owner of a pet-sitting and dog-walking business.

Frazier, whose family had just moved to Kansas City for his wife’s job, was between jobs and had volunteered for Wayside Waifs, a local animal shelter. He accepted a temporary assignment, even though they couldn’t reveal to him details about the job.

Frazier says when he arrived at the warehouse, he discovered that he was there to help care for animals rescued in a federal dog-fighting case and that the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was assisting with the case. There were about 100 dogs, plus some chickens that had been intended for bait. It was just horrible, what those animals had been through, Frazier says.

He worked there for nearly four months and fell in love with helping animals.

Frazier, 43, did some stints with local animal shelters after that and, with the support of his wife, opened his own pet-sitting and dog-walking business in December 2013, Paws ‘n Motion KC Pet Care Services LLC.

“I truly believe that everything happens for a reason,” Frazier says. “This is what I was meant to do. This is my calling. I absolutely love working for myself. I love animals.”

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Frazier perseveres

Following his passion is not something that Frazier takes for granted. Frazier is a two-time brain tumor survivor.

“In a weird way, that’s helped me, because I realize that life is short,” Frazier says. “I just feel like doing something that you love is what you need to do—what a person is meant to do.”

He had a brain tumor in seventh grade and in his senior year of high school. The second one was bad, because it had grown into his brain stem. A local doctor said there was pretty much nothing they could do, but Frazier’s family found a doctor in New York who specialized in brain-stem surgery.

Now Frazier has been brain-tumor free for 25 years and has a three-year-old son.

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Before moving to Kansas City, Frazier worked for many years in corporate America as an account manager for life and health insurance. Frazier says for him, the corporate lifestyle was not all it was cracked up to be.

Frazier has a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Eastern Illinois University.

Frazier always loved animals, and now he gets to channel that passion into a successful business.

“We grew up with cats, dogs, ferrets, reptiles. I mean, you name it, we probably had it growing up,” Frazier says with a chuckle.

Why PSI?

When Frazier decided to open his own pet-sitting business, he took advantage of all the books, CD’s and podcasts that he could find to get familiar with his craft. He realized that pet care is a multi-billion dollar industry.

Frazier says he joined Pet Sitters International because he wanted to know about the industry and because it is a great source for education. He takes advantage of webinars and other free resources for PSI members, which he said are really helping him.

“I am always reading up on the latest trends,” he explains. “I’m always trying to better myself.”

Frazier says that is the difference between a professional pet sitter and your next door neighbor or hobbyist. He is also certified in pet CPR, and he is bonded and insured.

Paws ‘n Motion grows

Frazier says his business has more than doubled every year thanks to referrals, Facebook ads and a website optimized for search engines.

His service area is primarily suburban. He serves south Kansas City, as well as Leawood, Overland Park, and Prairie Village in Kansas and Martin City, Missouri.

His business offers pet sitting, dog walking, overnight visits, and for existing clients, pet-taxi services and dog baths.

With more than 100 clients, Frazier and five independent contractors carry the workload.

When you work for yourself, you have to wear many hats, Frazier says. You have to rely on yourself, and that is the biggest learning curve he has had.

But Frazier says he wishes he had started this business 20 years ago. He loves working hands-on with animals and getting to know their pet parents.

“It’s been great,” Frazier says. “This is what I’m going to be doing for the rest of my life.”

Learn more about Paws ‘n Motion KC Pet Care Services LLC.

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Read more pet-sitting success stories.

Photos provided by Matt Frazier, Paws ‘n Motion KC Pet Care Services LLC.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published in August 2016. Matt passed away in 2018, but his legacy of helping animals and people alike will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew him.

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Interested in learning more about becoming a pet sitter? This free Ebook from PSI will help you start your business the right way, with instructions on selecting your business structure, obtaining your business license and selecting your service area.

Download your free Ebook, Getting Started as a Pet Sitter.