149: Pet Advocacy with Jill Merjeski
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Summary:
Jill Merjeski, owner of Jill’s Next Door Dog Walking & Pet Services, is on a mission to perform at the highest standard and equip her clients to give the best care possible. She shares her passion for ethical pet care and why it’s important to understand canine emotion and cognition. We discuss what it means to be an advocate for pets and raising the bar on industry standards.
Topics on this episode:
Moving full time
Canine emotion and cognition
Pet adoption advocacy
Main takeaway: Get involved in your local pet rescues and start becoming a pet advocate!
About our guest:
Hailing from Philadelphia, Jill graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University and continued her education earning a master’s degree in Educational Psychology from West Chester University. For over 13 years, Jill was a Senior Academic Advisor in the higher education sector before turning her passion for animals into a full-time career. Jill now applies her educational psychology background to canine emotion, cognition, and basic behavior modification.
Jill graduated from dog*biz Dog Walking Academy in Colorado and has been trained in pet CPR and first aid thru PetTech and The Red Cross. In 2018, Jill earned her certification from K9 Lifeline’s 3D Workshop in Utah, Dealing with Difficult Dogs, learning safe handling, leash work, running safe socials and canine assessments. Jill has also trained under Kristin Morrison, owner of the Six-Figure Pet Sitter Academy, through rigorous one-on-one coaching sessions perfecting the pet business model. She also completed Pet Nanny Colleen Sedgwick’s Multiply Mastermind Program and then the elite Scholars Program for Pet Industry leaders, catapulting her business and professional acumen.
Most recently, Jill earned Pet Sitters International’s CPPS-Certified Professional Pet Sitter status through knowledge-based assessment of the pet sitting industry. In 2019, Jill became a certified Dog Care, Cat Care, and Disaster Planning Specialist. She is a current member of Pet Sitters International, National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, and the International Boarding and Pet Services. Jill’s Next Door also won Best of Palm Beach County 2019 for the category “Best Dog Walkers of Palm Beach County.”
In her free time, Jill opens her home to fosters cats and kittens, saving over 100 felines and counting! In late 2020, Jill became a certified Trap, Neutered, and Release Professional and Foster Home Certified through the Animal Rescue Professionals Association. She founded Jill’s Next Door Feline Alliance Program, an alliance organization for felines in need, working with local charities around Broward and Palm Beach Counties. She has founded a farm and cat sancturary, raising money and awareness for felines. She’s been an active volunteer with Florida’s Forgotten Felines, creating and designing their website, organized their business model, launched their stories all social media platforms, and created an amazing hiring systems for qualified cat feeders. Jill is on call for any fostering opportunities that may arise.
Jill enjoys participating in charitable running races around the United States. Jill is an adventure enthusiast who enjoys bungee jumping, skydiving, and is always planning her next road trip to explore a new destination.
Links:
Website: www.jillsnextdoor.com
Email: jill@jillsnextdoor.com
K9 Lifeline’s 3D Workshop, Dealing with Difficult Dogs
Jills Next Door Feline Alliance Program
Give us a call! (636) 364-8260
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A VERY ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE
Provided by otter.ai
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
sitters, pet, dog, cats, clients, pet sitters, kittens, important, people, business, feline, started, care, offer, visit, team, community, trainers, jill, florida
SPEAKERS
Collin, Jill, Doug
00:17
Hi, I'm Megan I'm Collin. And this is pet sitter
00:20
confessional and open and honest discussion about life as a pet
Collin 00:24
sitter brought to you by time to pet and pet sitters International. Jill modeski, owner of Jill's next door dog walking and pet sitting service is on a mission to perform at the highest standard and equip her clients to give the best care possible. Today, she shares her passion for ethical pet care and why it's so important to understand canine emotion and cognition. We also discuss what it means to be an advocate for pets, and how we can all raise the bar on industry standards. Let's get started.
Jill 00:55
Absolutely Collin, thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to jump on and to share my story and hopefully offer some insight into what we do. My name is Joe moravsky. I'm owner of Jill's next door dog walking and pet Services LLC in Boca Raton, Florida. We aren't just going to read my mission statement so I make sure I cover everything. We are a boutique company that aligns his goals with the highest of industry standards, providing knowledgeable ethical and attentive pet care, kills next door offers service excellence and peace of mind to pet owners and their loved ones. And our territory includes Delray Beach, Boca Raton and Highland beach with a team of insured bonded and trained pet sitters.
01:38
That's awesome. That's awesome. I love that mission statement. How did you come up with that,
Jill 01:42
you know, it took a lot of back and forth, I wanted to make sure that it was covering all the bases. And for me, it was important to, to really look at my core values and what what I wanted to establish with the business. And then with the core values, and the ethical business that I liked, that I wanted to portray, I really wanted to get that out there and say, Listen, you know, we are an ethical, heart centered, loving, animal loving team of professional pet sitters that are qualified and experienced and trained to take care of your pet. And with with the most customized, individual plan for each neat for each client's needs. So that's what I really wanted to portray. We're leading with heart, we're leading with passion. And we're also very professional.
Collin 02:31
I love that word, their ethical. How does that influence? Or why was that important for you to include that in your mission statement,
Jill 02:39
because I think it establishes trust, and that's who we are as, as individuals, it was really important for me to really get to know the client and establish those relationships, and really gain their trust and, you know, the like, the know, like and trust factor and getting to know my clients their needs, and bringing it back to our mission statement saying, Hey, we're in this, you know, we want to be here, we want to be doing this. And we do things correctly. And we do things morally, and we work from the heart. And that's that's really how it how it runs. And I portray that to my team. And I say, you know, this is who we are. And I make sure when I'm hiring. And I'm going through the applications that I'm getting to know, my sitters as onboarding them, that they come from the same core values and ethics and moral values that that Jill's next door represents. So that's the one thing that I look for, in developing my team. And to make sure that it's the fit, we we cover all the bases in that regard, that's the most important thing for me, is to make sure that everything's done correctly, and everyone's taken care of, and we do things 100% and we do it full circle as a team, with my oversight with, you know, everything that comes through with every dog visit or pet visit interaction, I'm overseeing everything to make sure that everything's running smoothly, and that we're all communicating in a positive, responsible way. And I you know, when you're caring for animals, a, they're their health and safety comes first. And so we want to make sure that we're portraying that so that's really where the mission statement came in. So you know, digging deep down in my heart and, and making sure that that's out there
Collin 04:26
that ethical that ethics comes in, and not just how you're interacting with the pet, but also with the client with its owner. It sounds like you're even furthering that into how you're interacting with your team and how your team is expected to interact with those around them to
Jill 04:41
absolutely, absolutely, that's really up there on my list, that, you know, I have to make sure that my sitters are trustworthy, going into client's homes and having access to their homes and their property. That is a big, big deal for me. So of course we do the background checks. everything like that, we have protocols in place so that for any sort of mishap, I have a protocol. And I make sure of that. And that gives me peace of mind, it gives my team peace of mind, and it gives my clients peace of mind. So anything that could possibly happen, you know, we have an emergency protocol. And I'm available 24 seven. And so I make sure, you know, I try to limit my dog walks, and just hand them over to the team so that I can be readily available should something happen I need to jump in. And that's also why I tried to tighten my territory at this time, so that I can be available to jump in Whatever may happen. And that goes back to seeing the oversight and all the transactions that go on between the client and the sitters. So I can make sure that there's nothing a mess, you know, anything can happen. Animals are unpredictable, people are unpredictable. So I just have to, I have to get in front of the ball and just make sure that everything's running smoothly. So my proactive attempt at that is to make sure that we have systems in place, standard operating procedures, and everything going as much as well as possible before anything happens.
Collin 06:15
Yeah, and that's so hard to write, making, trying to think of all those possibilities. But part of that is just building a brain and a culture of communication and planning. So that even when unexpected things go wrong with or happen, which they do all the time, you're not totally caught off guard, you've already done some mental exercises and some preparedness. It's kind of like, you know, you're more prepared than you think for those kinds of events.
Jill 06:40
Exactly, exactly. And everything I like everything documented as well. So if there is a mishap, or if there's a sitter incident, we have a sitter incident report. And I really recommend pet sitters, if you don't have one, just, you know, type one up what happened, where, you know, the why, what and you know, how, and then just have the sitter sign it, and then possibly even the client sign it. So we're all on the same page. And for me, that really covers all the bases just in case it comes back later. And so documentation is really, really important. Now, not to mention what before I had a team of amazing sitters. I was a solo sitter. So I've experienced everything I think you can possibly think of, you know, getting locked out, the key breaking in the lock. You know that the aggressive dogs, I mean, anything that you can think of that went wrong, I probably experienced it. So you know, I just, I anticipate the worst. It's just what it is. And you know, I tried to prepare my sitters without scaring him saying, you know, things can happen, but we'll figure it out. It's not going to be the end of the world. You know, we'll figure it out. We're a team.
Collin 07:55
Yeah, well, that's that's key right is going this is not this discussion is not meant to scare you or frighten you or make you feel like it's the end of the world. What this is what we're talking about is meant to prepare you so that you already know, when you go into a situation, something bad could happen, or something could go wrong, when you're expecting that it's not nearly as a surprise, and you can think through it a little bit more clearly.
Jill 08:17
Yeah, and you know, I think that goes back to also people get into this industry, sometimes they can like, Oh, I walk dogs, it's more than that. There's, there's so much to consider. And you know, between getting to know the pet, getting to know their personality, the aggression part of it, if they have unwanted behaviors. There's, you know, how to deal with another dog that's walking down the street? Do we do dog parks? And the answer is absolutely not, you know, it's for us. Safety and wellness is is number one for us, you know, we've made sure that the client is not interacting with any other person walking down the street with a dog or even just a person at you know, just walking down the street by themselves. And that's not, of course, to be anti social, you know, we might do away, but then we walk the other direction, because safety comes first. With that being said, you know, our sitters also, if a dog is aggressive, we do not take on that client. And we do have some clients that have unwanted behaviors, but they do once the sitter gets to know them, and it's really, really fine. But as far as aggressive dogs, I refer them out because I believe that they need a higher level of care. And that's just for the safety of the dog. We are not trainers, I don't you know, I don't promote that we're trainers I don't expect my sitters to be trainers. And, you know, we just we just feel I feel that my sitters, you know their safety is number one, the clients safety's number one and we're not doing a very good service, if we're just kind of tiptoeing around this, this fearful dog. They really just need to be trained and I'll say it No, I have a strategic alliance with the local trainers. So I can refer out really, really good trainers. And then maybe we'll come back and revisit this. And I would go and fill out the situation and then determine Okay, you know, maybe we can work with this with this pet. But otherwise, it's we just we have to pull back from that it's just not fair for our sitters.
Collin 10:23
Right? Well, that's so important to know, limitations and where the line in the sand is for you, you know, and not just yourself, but your sitters as well. And keeping their safety in mind at all times like that is something pre think they're thinking ahead about those kind of things like What would I say no, to? What was what? How far out is that line? And then backtracking from there and maybe making it way in your comfort zone?
Jill 10:46
Exactly, exactly. And you know, I always I always say to my sitters, you know, your wellness. And happiness is also a big factor in addition to the safety so I check in with them we do four or five times a year, we do sitter check ins, and I have them fill out a jot form. And I ask them how they're doing, how long they feel like they're either going to be here with us. What which clients do, they feel that they're really excelling with which clients are you know, giving them problems that then we have this open conversation, I also really keep track of their schedules. And I just make them mindful of burnout. And I provide them with, you know, a sitter sort of private link to give them information on siddur, compassion, fatigue, sitter burnout, you know, taking care of yourself, self care, and all those different things that make them the best person that they can base. So I'm very, very mindful, I look at their schedules. And I say, this, you know, the sitter is really, really busy. So I'll say, Listen, if you need a break, you let me know. And I'll jump in, and we'll figure it out, you know, but their happiness and their wellness is very, very important for me, and I tell them right from the hiring, get go, I said, I want you to be happy, I want you to be successful, I want you to excel in this, you know, let's figure out a way for you to really take advantage of your position with us. So you can be the best pet sitter and have your dream job. And it's been terrific. Just having that open communication.
Collin 12:19
Wow. No, that is that is really, that is really interesting to hear that, you know, that level of oversight. And when you are managing somebody, it's not just managing how they are doing their job, it's also helping them manage their selves themselves. And they're exactly, and making sure that they're there. Okay. Was that was that something that you grew into? or Why? Why is why is that your management style?
Jill 12:44
I think it's just me, to be honest with you, I really, really do. I'm just, you know, my, my focus is on these relationships. And just making sure that people are happy. And you know, I think coming from experience, I was in a job for a very, very long time. And I wasn't I was burned out, I had compassion, fatigue, I was, you know, they don't, I don't think I don't think a lot of managers, you know, owners really focus on that. And I think we really need to be mindful to make sure that people are happy. And I've interviewed a lot of people that were stuck in their dead end job. And they were miserable, or their, their, their boss was treating them horribly. And they came to me and I said, let's just, let's make this better, I want to make you happy. And if this isn't a fit for you, I'll help you find something that is, you know, I'll be your support system, I'll be your reference. Because I care about that I want to provide jobs, for people that love what they do. And they wake up every day. And you know, they're just fulfilled in that way. And that that's really the cornerstone of creating the team is really who's a fit and who wants to do this, you know. So, it's important that my sitters are happy, happy sitters provide great service. And you know, I can understand that I can understand them wanting to be outside in Florida and wanting to be around dogs and taking care of them. And it's a great goal, we have that common goal and passion and so, you know, it's important to for their wellness at that they're taking care of themselves and they're happy and that's why I check in with them as well. You know, are you happy? Are you doing okay? What can I do? If you need anything? I'm here and I'll help you succeed.
Collin 14:36
You mentioned your your background there a little bit. I do want to touch on that because you made a shift from being in academia as an academic advisor and have a background in psychology. What what made the switch into pet sitting for you?
Jill 14:50
You know, I always wanted to be a dog walker and I actually I really have always wanted to work in pet care and raise cently as I was moving down to Florida in 2016, I was packing up my things. And I found notes from 20 years ago on how to start a pet care business. And this was, you know, early 2000s. And the internet wasn't there. So I would call local dog walkers and find out how they were doing it. And I save those notes. But at the time, I was in graduate school at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, pursuing educational psychology. So I was on the route to work in the higher education sector. So it just wasn't the time. And quite frankly, I was really, really fearful of just starting something so new, and what were my parents going to be young, you know, what were my parents gonna say, I'm pursuing this graduate degree. Now, I'm going to be a dog walker. You know, it just wasn't the time and I was too afraid. So I didn't do it. So you know, I was very comfortable and content in academia. I helped 1000s of students pursue their dreams and get them on track. And, you know, it was time at at a certain point, after 14 years of this, it was time to pursue my own dreams. So that's when I did some soul searching. I resigned. And simultaneously, my parents were moving down to Delray Beach, Florida. And I thought, Oh, my gosh, what am I still doing Philadelphia sold the apartment resigned from my job packed up. And then I moved to a neighboring town book over time. And when I tell you, I told my parents, I said, Listen, I started to apply an academic down here, because that was my skill set. That was my safety net. That was everything that I knew when I had a robust resume of experience. And I said, Well, you know, I guess I'm going to do this, I really, really, really wanted to start and in dog walking, so when I sat my parents down, and I said, Guys, I don't think I'm going to do academia. I said, I think I'm going to be a dog walker. I mean, they their mouth just dropped open. They're like, what do you think you're going to be a dog walker? I'm like, yeah, you know, I want to walk dogs. And they're like, Oh, my gosh, what you know, are you having like, a crisis is like, what? And I'm like, No, I want to do this. So for me, I think I said it wrong. You know, it's, it's, I wanted to have a pet care company, I have always wanted to provide jobs. I've always wanted to work in pet care. And now it's just grown. And it's been an amazing journey. But I'm so glad that I took that chance. And anyone that's rethinking their lives and and thinking their career path. If it's something that you want to do, you just begin, you just start.
Collin 17:44
There's that academic advisor coming out, I see that I see that now.
Jill 17:48
I know, I can't help but give my advice. I give my advice. It's like, you know, and I think that's part of the conditioning too. With my team. It's like, I'm so used to overseeing all these people pursuing their dreams and their jobs and helping them find careers that it's like, Okay, well, how can I help you? And it's just it's so it's not a bad thing, but it's definitely a thing I've noticed. I guess it's
Collin 18:13
just, you know, that care and detail that you give to your to your staff, right, you mentioned that happy, happy staff make more happy clients, and they give better care. And yes, you know, that that coming, that's something that's forced, that's something that just as you mentioned, like that's just who you are and how you manage them and you want to see them be successful and see them be happy and see them fulfilled and what they're doing.
Jill 18:35
Exactly, exactly, that's what I want to say. I love it.
Collin 18:40
Have you heard about time to pet dog from bad to the bone pet care has this to say time to pet
Doug 18:45
has made managing my team and clients so much easier. Our clients love the easy to use app and scheduling features. And our sitters love being able to have all of their information organized and easily accessible. My favorite feature is the instant messaging by keeping conversations on time to pet we're able to monitor our team and ensure nothing ever falls through the cracks.
Collin 19:04
If you're looking for new pet sitting software, give time to pet a try as a listener of pet sitter confessional, you'll get 50% off your first three months when you sign up at kinda pet.com forward slash confessional. When you made that jump, do you remember your first client that you got when you when you made that leap?
Jill 19:24
I'll never forget my first client because I had just moved to Florida. And I was trying to brainstorm how to how to get involved in this. And so I found rover comm which I think was bought out by way, but in 2016, I joined rover.com I had you know, no experience. I didn't I didn't have a dog. I didn't have a leash. I had zero experience. So I just hopped on. And I got my first client. I had just moved down here so I didn't have my car yet and this this woman lived about 30 minutes for me So I had to take a bus and what I took a bus, and then I got there, like 40 minutes, and the dog would not come out from underneath the bed and he was groundling. And I did not do a meet and greet. Beforehand, it was one of those, you know, hasty the keys here, you know, the dogs here, just take them out for a walk. I mean, that's a big No, no now, but at the time, I didn't know the process, I just sort of jumped into it, like a lot of us do, we're just, you know, we don't know what we don't know. So I arrived, I take this bus I get there is don't want to come out it's ground at night, I'm trying everything I'm throwing treats, I'm just I needed to get this dog out, I can't say I wasn't able to get your dog out for a potty break. I just couldn't do that. So I stayed for about an hour and a half. And then finally got the dog out, did my thing. And that was a big hurdle that was a big success. So just getting that dog least up uninjured and getting them out. So from there, I took the bus back. So the whole thing took about four hours. And I think it actually cost me money for a 15 minute visit. But I just just start, I just needed to get a sense. You know, before I started to I wanted to do my own business, I wanted to start my own business. So before I really need to know, like, do I want to actually do this? And you would think after that experience, I'd be like, you know what, no, but I did it. And I was like, Okay, my first client, she gave me five stars. And I was off to the races. And so I did that for about two years until I started children I still are
Collin 21:37
no that's you know that that story you're talking about? It's just the the number of lessons that come from that and how they impact your business for years down the road.
Jill 21:50
I'll never forget it, I you know, I'm surprised I didn't turn around and be like, you know what, I think I'll just you know, I'll start applying down here to colleges and universities. But it was worth it. I was so proud of myself. I mean, it took all day, but I got it done. And
Collin 22:05
that just shows you know, you've mentioned there of like, you just had to start you had to start somewhere. And that was how you started, right? It's like you could have waited another couple weeks and trying to get things in motion and get a logo and blah, blah, but you just needed you needed to just get in there and see what it was like. And, and exactly and stuck with it.
Jill 22:25
Exactly, exactly. So
Collin 22:26
here we are. You also have that background in, in psychology. And one of the things that I know you you kind of we work in a little bit here is the field of canine emotion and cognition. Could you tell us about that?
Jill 22:41
Well, I think that, you know, as pet care providers, it's important to know how dogs think, feel and feel about us, and how we can use this knowledge to strengthen our relationship with the for clients to dissipate their needs. You know, I think just getting to know the dog, and you know, finding out what makes them tick or what makes them excited, or, you know, just their overall body language, you know, what are they trying to portray? What are they saying? and really getting to know the client to make it to make our visits the best visit? You know, how can I make this the best visit ever? According to what makes him happy? What makes him fearful? What to avoid? Where to go? What's the best walking route? What's the best this? You know? Does he like to be pet on his belly? Does he is he sensitive around the ears? Is he you know, fearful when someone walks in? Does he have a history of abuse or neglect, you know, all of those different things help define the dog and the dog's personality. So I really, really think it's important to apply the psychology, you know, to make sure that, that we're taking care of the dog and the dog is happy. Or the pet in general.
Collin 23:56
Yeah. And you mentioned there it's it's just it's it's part of is just recognizing some basic behavior and really just observing that pet. Because not every dog not every cats going to exhibit the same emotions in the same way. So really taking the time to, to get to know that one and observe maybe take notes while you're visiting or during the meet and greet is really going to help you whenever a problem comes up or when when you're needing to do some, you know, modify behavior modifications or some corrections later.
Jill 24:25
Exactly. And I really have the meet and greet we we discussed with the client, we say, you know, what, what are his fears, you know, when they might be thunderstorms. So I might say if the clients away and it begins to thunderstorm as it does down here quite often. Hey, I know that your dog's afraid of thunderstorms. Do you want me to tack on another visit? Do you want me to go check on him? And so things like that, and also, you know, as professionals that really separates us from the hobby sitters to say, Hey, we we recognize this Your dog. And we want to create that positive experience for for end human clients and for us, you know, so to to separate ourselves from the hobby sitters and to talk to our clients, like what have you been doing with your your dog to eliminate unwanted behaviors, let me see your style, and it will try to mimic that. So we're enforcing those positive behaviors to continue that learning process for the pups. So that's part of it too, just having that open dialogue to make sure that we're both the client and the sitters are on the same path of, of creating a successful route for this, this pup and and practicing the same things.
Collin 25:44
Yeah, that is huge. I know, for Megan and I, when we started, we would ask the questions like, what are they afraid of? You know, do they like, are they afraid of thunderstorms? But we wouldn't ask that follow up question of, Okay, what do you do when there's a thunderstorm? Right? We wouldn't right? Ask that it took us a couple years to start asking that question. Because we realize like, why are we trying to reinvent the wheel and figure out what's going to work for this dog when the owner knows exactly what they do? Exactly,
26:13
exactly.
Collin 26:14
It saves you so much time as the sitter, and I love how you said it helps reinforce that while this while the owner is away, and so that it continues to help the dog and you're not trying to throw new things at them and then already kind of stressful situation in their life.
Jill 26:31
Exactly. It's a piggyback off of that. It's it's about, you know, with dogs that are fearful and tacking on those extra visits and being pet advocates, and speaking for the dog in a sense if we see something and this is what I really try to instill in my sitters as well, if we see something that doesn't seem right, say, for example, a dog is in a very, very small room, a large dog, and they're created, their crate is too small. We advocate for the pets. And we very gently say to the client in some way that we can say, you know, we love this dog, we love you guys, as a client, we did notice that the crates getting a little, you know, the dog is outgrowing the crate, the area or the area where the dog is staying is a little tight. Is there a way that we can make this better? How can we make this better, and just bring that information to the forefront and having that conversation? You know, some people don't want the unsolicited advice, but I haven't had a situation yet. Where they're, you know, they're saying, Oh my gosh, you're you're completely out of line because we got to advocate for what we say. And we are pet advocates. And we do care about the well being, of course, that's why we're here. So some clients just don't even realize that their dogs growing, they're outgrowing their crate. And that's just an example. You know, there's been several examples of things that I've seen that just were not ethical, they weren't, you know, it was, you know, cats in 100, and some degree weather outside in a cage. I mean, things that are just really, really painful to say. So we advocate and, you know, sometimes we turned down clients that we don't feel is that they're, they're treating dogs or cats a certain way, we're just, you know, this doesn't feel right for us. Or we refer them out, you know, if they only booked one visit, we might say, listen, they need at least two or three. And if it's if it's you know, we can refer you out to someone that's more economical, as long as they're being taken care of, and I'll turn away that business. And I hate to do that to my sitters, but I also believe in my heart that these dogs need more care. And if we're not providing more visits, than we're not providing the best pet care, we're lowering our standards, we're lowering the bar, and that's not hell, Joel's next door operates
Collin 28:56
No, that speaks back to that your mission statement there have a running in there it is right there it is that ethical being in it first, when you think about that it's okay, how are you interacting with others, but it's really assessing like, what are my own ethics? What do I view a pet sitter and dog walker should stand for and should be an advocate for and exactly mentioned several great ones. There are several great ones about the number of visits if you think it is ethically wrong, to only visit a dog one time a day, you cannot take that booking or you can encourage them and speak up and out against that to get to try and have the more and know that it's not not just to get more money you know, it's it's to give the best care possible. And so that is take some time I love I love hearing that that connection there of going. This is what I believe a pet sitter a dog walker should do ethically and morally and I'm going to stand up for that and be an advocate for the pets. When that time comes.
Jill 29:52
Yeah, it's just something that it feels wrong to continue down that path and a lot of clients just don't know. They might not know what dog needs. Or they might say, Oh, he's okay. And but you know, we see something different, you know, we we see, we see things that maybe the clients don't don't, doesn't see. So I just like to open up that conversation and just be open and ended with Listen, we're just looking out for the best interest of your pet. And that's all we care about. Again, I'm happy to refer you out. So I'm not chasing the money necessarily, but I am saying I will help you find someone more economical that, you know, even though I think our pricing is very, very fair, I've done a local and national search. And that's just a disclaimer, I do think our prices are fair. But, you know, with that being said, if there's someone that can just come more often, that's within your budgetary needs, then I'm happy to find that person for you and get this started. You know, I will even, you know, print out my notes. And you know, hand that over, because I just believe that a dog deserves or a pet deserves the best care possible, I know that we can provide it but not if we have those limitations.
Collin 31:04
I did want to touch back on the canine emotion, cognition and some of the some of those things. And if if somebody wanted to know more about that, get more resources and learn more, did you have any recommended resources for people or listeners?
Jill 31:20
I do. When I first started this too, I actually took courses, and I went out to Colorado to do this. But there's a dog walking Academy, it's through dog beds, and I highly, highly, highly recommend this program. And I'm not a spokesperson, but this is just my experience. Because they give you a three day intensive dog walking course. They cover you know, walk management, basic training, first aid, emergency planning, how dogs think and learn canine body language, aggression, you know, all the things that we touched on. And then they also get into business development. And the thing that I love about them as well is that they offer a hands on training, lease training, and it's a field trip where they take local shelter dogs, and they teach you how to walk the dog and how to prepare the dog and, and all the things that I had mentioned before. So having that three day course really just solidified, you know how I was doing what I was doing wrong? And what you don't know you don't know. So I remember being there. I'm like, I can't believe I went into this blind, there's so much to know. And especially getting back to canine body language and cognition and behavior and how that all ties in, and what you need to learn from that. And the signs, you need to look out for that. And I learned the hard way step by a few times, actually. And I just, you know, I got a case, I call it the case of intermediate where I thought I was doing good. And I was on a roll and I had five star reviews and I was going after it. And I was like, Oh, I got this I can you know, I'm the dog whisperer. Well, you know, you get a little, you get a little confidence. And I made some wrong decisions. I went for the dogs that were aggressive. And I, I had some some injuries, you know, urgent care visits. It was a learning experience. And I will never ever, ever put my sitters in that situation. But it was it was a great foundation for what this business is about. And it was intensive. And I do believe that there the dog, the dog walking Academy, dog bears is offering online classes. Now if you can't do something like that, I recommend in addition to going backwards actually is getting your certification which will cover the jemals as well. And and getting your pet sitters certification you can go through I recommend pet sitters International, or National Association of Professional pet sitters. And while you're doing that, then you become also a member you get a discount on that. And then you take these classes, I've taken so many webinar classes through psi through net apps through the international boarding pet service Association, and a multitude of other other online classes that will teach you all of this, and it's part of the membership. So to just have that knowledge in your back pocket is a huge, huge advantage to pet sitters that are just starting out or want to continue their education. If you want to take it to another level. I actually got certified in difficult dogs and behaviors through lifelines 3d workshop in Utah, it's dealing with difficult dogs, where Heather Beck runs it and it's amazing. It's like a four day event and you go wow, and it's a lot of actual dog trainers. But I got a sense as to watching them train these dogs and they We're aggressive dogs with these unwanted behaviors, problematic behaviors, and I've got to see how they manage that. So I was just kind of on the outside looking in. But what I recommend, if you create these, if pet sitters create the strategic alliance with their local trainers, and have them, ask them, if they can observe them, training a pet, or in their puppy classes, and watch how the dogs react to them, and watch their body language, that's a really, really good idea to strengthen those relationships with the trainers for a referral program. But also really just get to see firsthand from from, you know, an eye in the sky and how it reading body language, dog's body language, and then applying what they're applying. Now I go off of positive reinforcement, I don't believe in punishing dogs, you know, I think it can be effective, I think that dogs can, you know, heed their, their unwanted behavior or aggression by being fearful and stopping that behavior. But I don't think it's in the best interest of the pets. And I don't think it's necessarily safe, I believe in positive reinforcement, where they're not careful. And that, you know, they, they learn on their own terms. But, you know, that's just another thing that you can think of doing is just making those connections with trainers and just having a conversation about that.
Collin 36:26
Yeah, that's a huge step. And I love that you added that because maybe we'll go, Ah, you know, these certifications, these trainings are going to travel or do online. It's just as simple if you want to know more about canine emotion, cognition training, talk to a local trainer. And because, you know, they've probably taken those certifications and trainings. And if you want to know if that's right for you, or something you should or can add, talk to them about it, go watch them during a training session, ask questions, and you said it does two things, it helps educate yourself. And it builds that connection and builds that close community of people who you can refer to both to them, and they'll send referrals your way too. So it's a it's a win win all over.
Jill 37:08
It really is, you know, you can take them up for coffee, or, you know, create that back and forth where it's like, you know, I get so many clients that, hey, I just got a new puppy. And for me to go into my back pocket and say, Here's and be resourceful and say, here's a trainer, that is fantastic. I knew this and this and this about him. And then you know, contact a trainer, say, Hey, I'm giving you a heads up, I'm setting a client over to you. I mean, it's a terrific sort of networking, web. And it just it comes back to you, you know, the more you're out there, the better it is, you know, you really get rooted in your community. And it's really essential for business owners, or a pet sitter that's trying to build their client base to establish these connections.
Collin 37:50
2020 was a big year for a lot of people. So what, how was 2020 for you?
Jill 37:57
2020 was amazing. For us. It was a really, really good year, we had our challenges, of course, we really, really did in that regard. You know, as far as the pandemic, and everything like that, but we really had to, I had to sit back and reevaluate how we were going to be structured in this, you know, a lot of people are home from work, a lot of people are home from school. So understandably, you know, the pet sitting visits had had been limited. But I pulled the team together. And I said, how what do you guys want to do? You know? Because again, your safety and wellness is is paramount. So do you want us to offer concierge service? And they said yes. So, you know, we offer picking up, you know, food, food delivery, you know, running to the pharmacy, anything that they needed help with. That was something that we offered and we pushed kind of to the forefront. We offer gift certificates in advance. So we had those credit, we reached out to our clients to check on their well being how they were doing, you know what's going on and we offer incentives and we had a very tight again, going back to the protocol COVID protocols, safety precautions, we sitters coming in if if the client was telling and they were working from home, we ask that they would be in a separate room and have the leash and everything readily available by the door. We would wear gloves or end masks and have everything sanitized. But we did follow those. And I wanted to make sure that the sitters were okay without with being in a pandemic. They, some of them were like okay, yeah, and it was it's no problem. And other sitters were like yeah, it is a problem. You know, I visit my elderly mom regularly and I'm really concerned about this pandemic. And I said no problem. Okay, let's think something Something else. So in her case, I was able to give her a bunch of reports that I that I was that I had that I did reviewed. So I paid her for her time where she could work from home. And it was really essential that she visit these reports. And also, we have email campaigns, I want her to visit to review those for typos. So I, I put her to work where she was safe at home. And then the other sitters would jump at the opportunity to do the concierge services. So I tried to get creative with that. So we're getting there, but it is picking up too. We had three new clients, you know, this week. So it's we're getting back out there. It's just, you know, in that regard, we're getting through it, we're getting through it the best we can,
Collin 40:48
it is a learning process for most of us for all of us. But you know, it's it's good to hear that it was a team effort, and you were still able to to provide for your team and work together to solve problems from clients as they were coming up.
Jill 41:04
Right, right, exactly.
Collin 41:09
Are you a member of pet sitters International, psi is the largest Educational Association for professional pet sitters and dog walkers with a mission to promote petsitting excellence through education. After the tumultuous past year, having the support of a strong community and direct access to educational resources and business tools is more important than ever before. As we rebuild our businesses in 2021. psi is here to help with a free monthly member toolkit, monthly bonus resources, online trainings, private member group and much more. Combined with group rates on insurance and background checks. psi is your one stop shop for everything you need for your pet sitting or dog walking business. As an Educational Association, psi believes that if you know better, you'll do better, and invites you to join 1000s of other like minded professionals who are committed to offering the best possible pet care services and elevating our industry. If that sounds like you visit pets att.com to learn more. our listeners can save $15 off their first year of membership by using the promo code PSC 15 at checkout. 2020 is also a big year for you because you won a couple awards. And I want you to talk tell us about those
Jill 42:22
well, recently, and I am so honored about this. I was named pet sitter internationals pet adoption advocate of the year 2020. and international boarding and pet services Association's pet Attarian of the year 2020. I am so honored with this. Because in my free time I do a lot of pet advocacy. And it really took off this year. So it's been a phenomenal year with getting involved in these rescues. And I'll tell you why. Because the rescues have been closed and they we were inundated with cats down here in South Florida. I've never seen anything like it before. So my focus really is on feline feline advocacy and and bringing that to the forefront. So what I did when I first got down here, I didn't realize the cat population was so out of control. I just you know, we didn't have this in Philly. So it started by me being when I first moved out here I had some roommates and I noticed some community cats hanging around. So I made the mistake or maybe it was a mistake, but I fed them all on day. Well, sure enough, they must have told their friends. Because you know, my roommates, you know, they wake up and they're not really animal people, they they wake up and they look out the window and they're like, God, your friends are here. And I look out the window and there's like 10 cats lined up on my door at my front door. And I'm like, Oh my god, what did I start? I was you know, so they get in there. And they showed up at the same time every day, twice a day. And I'm like, oh my god. So once you start you can't stop, you know. So So it started with this community cat feeding. And then once I moved down on my own and I had my own home, I was able to start the fostering process and that's when it really kicked off because I'll tell you that kittens are the gateway drug to animal rescue. Once you have one case and it's like oh my gosh, I there's so many more that need help. There's so many cats and you know we need to do more. And that was sort of my mindset. And I took on a lot I took on you know, a pregnant cat that gave birth that night in my bathroom and that was a beautiful experience but it was you know from there getting them adopted. And then it just sort of it snowballs where over the past three Yours i think i fostered about 200 kittens and cats. I've reunited cat lost cats with owners. And so as I'm getting this, you know, all of these cats, I said to myself, I need help like this is I need to do more. And I think that is a big, it's a big realization, like, I'm only one core person, I have limitations I have. I don't have the resources. I don't have, you know, I get phone calls about a cat that left her kittens under a bush and they were dying. So that's when I thought, you know, I need to do more. I got to do more hair. So I need a team. I on boarded a bunch of volunteers, an animal a pet, or cat Trapper named Tony Saikal, who actually we found a farm that he hits a residence farm, so he lives on this property. But during that time that I on boarded him for a trap, neuter and release TNR to trap these cats with that I was getting phone calls about that, if given birth, or the kittens or a stray kitten here, he would then trap them, bring them over. And then from there, I created a home nursery. So I've designated room in my the front of my house for a kitten nursery, and that has the heat lamps, the scales, the, you know, the toys, the play pens, I mean, this this thing, it looks like I have like 10 children, because there's toys everywhere. I had a little rocker I had, you know, the whole thing. I had a pack and play like it was, it's a little crazy, but they love it. So I established this nursery got the track. And then I hired or onboard, rather a volunteer a great girl named Mandy playdough. And she would then come in and socialize with the kids. So they would get used to being handled used to being around different faces, and then giving them the best opportunity for adoption. Now, adoption is one of the most difficult things is because you really got to get that out there. And there's a window where they're small enough, and a lot of people want kittens, where they have to be vaccinated and get fixed and all these different things and socialized before they can get adopted. So I had to bring in a liaison named brandy every 10, who works with all these different rescues. So she came in, and she helps me with the adoption process because she touched bases with all the different rescues. And we're a part of all these social media groups that are, you know, kittens looking for homes, you know, and we just get the word out there and we've been very, very successful. So now that I had a team behind me, I said I have to make this a thing. So that's when I created the feline Jill's next door feline Alliance program. And what that is is a self funded advocacy and feline adoption program created as an alliance with local pet rescues around Broward and Palm Beach counties. So we've worked with Florida's forgotten felines I heart animals, Kitty karma del Rey, Animal Rescue force, and we align our goals with with their feline saving and adoption endeavors. So we're just sort of the middleman where we get phone calls from people, hey, I'm looking for a kitten. Okay, well, let me see what we have. Let me see who I have under my roof. And let's get that going. So I really wanted to create this alliance, so that it was a thing. And we have a team. And this is a system, we have procedures in place we have. I like procedures, I like systems. And I needed help, you know. And the reason why I had applied for these awards is because, you know, when you're up at four o'clock in the morning with the kitty emergency or you know, when they're newborns, they're soiling things all the time and doing wash at four o'clock in the morning and bottle feeding every three hours that you know, you get to a point where it's like, you know what I'm applying for this award because I think I deserve it. I'm tired. And I so I just actually laid out the things that we've done as a team. And I couldn't do any of it without my team. And I once I put it all together and wrote everything down. I said, Wow, we really, really did a lot. Let's get this out there and see if anyone bites and they did and I was so shocked and so honored. And I still still am. I mean, it's it really it. It's a representation of our passion for these animals and why we got started before making it a business. This is why we do it. You know, it costs money. It costs a ton of time. It's a 24 hour job and we're all doing it out of the kindness of our hearts. And that's really what it represents. So I'm really, really thrilled about those two awards. I just I keep them right in my bedroom. So as soon as I wake up, I see them. And I'm like, Okay, okay, we got this, you know. So it's been a really exciting, exciting time. What I know that I'm talking a lot, I just I'm sorry, I'm talking so fast, I get really excited. But you know, between feeding the cat colonies, fostering setting up the nursery setting up the team, the feline Alliance program, I wanted to take it a step further, of course. So I was working closely, and I still am working closely with Florida's forgotten sea lions. And Florida's forgotten field lines is a it's a nonprofit. And the owner is Susan Carmichael. And she goes out about seven hours a day to feed these cat communities. And she's been doing it for decades. And she's a true true pet advocate. And she's just such a fantastic woman. And so, you know, working with her for these years, I looked at her website, and the website wasn't doing her really any good. It looks like something just was thrown together maybe 20 years ago. And so I said, Susan, you know, you really need to, I think you need to update this website. Let's make it really, you know, she's like, I you know, I don't have the I don't want to spend the money to do that if, you know, I said, Look, I'll do it pro bono. So I got my amazing webmaster named Brian McGarry who I give all the credit to, he helped me set up a new website for Florida's forgotten felines and I just learned on the on on the way I you know, I, I built this website, I never built a website before I watch YouTube videos, he helped me a little bit but I just worked on it day in day out for a month. And now we have this beautiful website for Florida's forgotten felines. And it, you know, I went up to the where she feeds and I took these professional like pictures of the cats, and it's really a beautiful website. And then from there, I said, Susan, you know, cuz she's getting a little bit older, and she would like to move on from this, but have someone come in and take her position. And I am not able to do that, unfortunately. But I did say let's get your business model under under wraps so that we can present it to the qualified person that comes in to take over. And she's handing me like posted said notes and digging through all this stuff to find her business. And I'm like, Oh my god, Susan, we got to organize this. So I pulled everything together. And I made an Excel worksheet on how her whole system runs, in addition to the new website, and got that all organized for her reached out to you know, her, her, her you know, the people that are giving money to her and you know, just got everything organized. And and, you know, that felt great to do especially in a pandemic where you can't really do too much everything's sort of virtual. So I'm like, Let's get her online presence on point. I created social media for her and really hurt her. There was a huge uptick in the amount of money she was getting from donors. So it was it really has worked out well. And it's a gift that keeps on giving because that websites live so we did a lot for that. In addition to that, you know, normally Joe's next door we we sponsor, you know, different adoption events or you know, things that are going on along community. So we haven't been able to do that obviously everything was canceled. So we thought you know, how can we how can we still make a difference. So when Tony our feline Trapper got this farm, I said Listen, you know you have all this acreage, I'm really concerned about your your cats that pee also fosters and does that whole thing. So I said I'm concerned about your elderly or on adoptable cats that are out in the elements meaning you know, with predators and all of that. And so I said we should really build a catio which is a patio meant for cat so it's screened in and he said Joe you know why really don't have the resources for that right and I said let's start a fundraiser. So we started fundraiser and we we earned over $2,000 to build this cat patio and we're having our ribbon cutting in a week from Saturday. So it's completed. It is beautiful. I'm so excited to show this to the world and to show it to our our supporters and our our donors and it's just an amazing thing. And it's also an amazing thing when we have when we find cats that are just they need a place to go but they're not adoptable meaning They're just too feral, or other other, they're just sick or elderly, like I said, or injured or, you know, they need more care, we put them in the catio and on the farm. So we're in the process of really building this up and having that that property so that any cats that we do see we have a place. And then the cats that we do bring in that are on the farm that Tony traps along the way, Brandi and I and my liaison, we go up there take pictures, and then we tried to adopt them. So feline Alliance program is going to have a website right now we don't but I'm working on that. So it's there's more to come. In addition to that, we want to start a children's program that is going to help socialize the baby cats and introduce them to the rescuing process. And that's that's going to be down the line as well, we have to get our ducks in a row, but really just opening their eyes to what this is about. And everyone loves playing with baby kittens. So there's there's a lot in store. So we really wanted to get the community involved, get the children involved, raise that awareness, have a property for the cats, have them safe, and have this team continue on and you know, grow. We're all doing our part. It's been very successful. And with the award recognition, it was just icing on the cake because it's so much worth it. It was a really long answer to your question. But I got so excited that I just kept rambling.
Collin 56:31
Yeah, well, I'm really excited for you because it sounds like you know, with all the hard work all of the passion, all the hours blood, sweat and tears being poured into this. I love hearing about that I really do. It's it's really uplifting and really encouraging. And I know, you know, myself included, I'm sitting here going okay, I don't have a cat farm. I didn't even know a catio was a thing before you just set it. Haha, how can I get involved? What are some things that I can do and be a better advocate for for cats and felines?
Jill 57:01
Well, what you can do is, I mean, just being a pet advocate, in general is considered rescue when your next pet, you can certainly volunteer at animal shelters, or if you have a particular skill set, you know, for anyone say, you know, your skill sets in photography or graphic design, you know, join these animal shelters and offer your services because they could really, really benefit from it. Especially now that everyone's confined at home, you know, if you can offer any sort of digital help, like website design, or, you know, these rescues, and I've been all over the rescue websites down in South Florida, and they're really, really sad. They're just, you know, they got the flashing lights, you know, I don't even know what's going on, it looks like a MySpace page, you know, it's like, you know, it's like, it's so outdated. So I'm trying to hold back because I want to redo all their their website. But it's just so time consuming. And that's not my repertoire. So but you know, if you do have a skill set, or if you have pet toys, or beds or blankets or supplies, you can drop those off in an animal shelter. If you go online, on social media, you can, if someone is looking forward to, you know, or looking for a foster if you can foster or if someone's looking for their last pet on next door, you can share that like just connecting the community. Keep an eye out for animal welfare, if you see someone doing something wrong, or abusing an animal, say something go to the authorities, you know, all of those things and just being aware. Teach your loved ones about animal rescue and what's going on and what's out there. become knowledgeable. teach your kids about the animal rescue and why it's important, why it's important to trap neuter, and release to control the pet population. You know, I sound like Bob Barker. But yeah, I mean, it's really important to, to maintain that these cats don't reproduce like crazy, you know, so it's important to keep an eye out for that. So just even little things, just being aware of just you know, sharing your knowledge is a great start.
Collin 59:11
Yeah, you know, I like that. It's from big things from building a cameo and running a farm all the way to just talking to somebody, especially a client who maybe has cats around their house asking them questions, are they spayed and neutered? Do you know who they belong to? Or just going down to I love that idea of going down to the local rescue and going hey, you know, I built are I've done work on my website. Can I help you with yours? And yeah, offering some of those like, you might not think you don't have to be an expert offer help and advice in these kinds of things.
Jill 59:40
Exactly. Exactly. And you know, it can be a little time consuming but you know, you can pick and choose how much you want to give that point. And you know, getting back to what you had said, you know, one of our clients had cats right outside of their home and The female just had baby kittens. So I sent Tony over. And he tracked them, I fostered them, and then we got them all adopted. So it ties into making those relationships with the clients even stronger, because I took care of a big problem for her, you know, it didn't cost her anything. And it's like, oh my gosh, you know, because there was about, there were six cats, you know, the female, the mom and the, the babies. So, you know, and she just would have kept having babies and babies and babies. So we were able to relieve her of that. And that helps everyone. And, you know, there's nothing better than adopting out of kitten, and seeing that I'm keeping in touch with their adoptive family, and seeing them grow and seeing how excited these families are to have their, their their little pets because I have my own pets, and I love them to death. And so I have a lot of adoptive parents that have their kittens have their own Tick Tock or their own Instagram, and it's just crazy, you know, cuz I, I, I would get phone calls a baby kittens under bushes that their moms didn't come home, and I would get my car and go all the way out there. And, you know, bottle feed these kittens, and they would just eat you know what we would suffer loss and you know, there's a lot of disease out there. So it's it's, that's probably the hardest part about this process is is losing kittens and cats, Japan, Luke, or other other diseases kt kitten syndrome. But to see the success stories of adaptive pets that are really, really loving their pets, and their pets are thriving, it's just an amazing feeling for it to come full circle.
Collin 1:01:39
Yeah, it's really great to see the fruits of that labor start to pay off and start to see those connections and start to hear those success stories. And in recognizing yet you, you are going to have to go through some really tough times, and you are going to have to experience loss and setbacks, but with your eye towards the future, and you're the stories of of the successes that you have coming in from the clients like that really helps, helps you stay engaged and involved and know, like, yeah, that's why that's why we're doing this. That's why we're working through this. And that's why we're going through these hard times.
Jill 1:02:11
Right, right. And I do have to give my team a lot of pep talks, because, you know, we've had to set up makeshift medical stations while the rescues were closed, and it's, you know, spending, I had brandy my liaison, stay over and help me give medicate the kittens. And, you know, we're both crying. And it's really, really, it can be really, really tough. But she said, You know, I don't know how much longer I can do this, this is just so taxing. I'm like, we have to keep going, you know, I understand that we're burned out. But we have to think about all the success stories and, you know, the the kittens that need help and need homes, and, you know, this is part of it, this is part of the experience, we're not going to save them all. And that's the understanding that you need when you get into this sort of thing.
Collin 1:02:55
It is it is keep being realistic and and understanding like what you can and what you do and what you don't have control over. And then just leaning into that and keep pushing forward.
1:03:05
Exactly.
Collin 1:03:06
I know you've listed some other resources about canine behavior in recognition. But what are some other resources that you'd like for pet sitters to to know and be using day to day?
Jill 1:03:18
I would say, you know, like I mentioned before, join the Association of professional associations, that's really, really huge. And that separates you from Hobby sitters, I would say, you know, definitely invest in a good, good website. I think it's really, really important because a lot of us don't have a storefront. So that is your branding. That is your recognition that is your go to that's how people get to know you. And you know, we go back to the relationships, the know like and trust factor. Speaking of which, if you can hire a business coach, and I use Colleen Sedgwick. I know she was interviewed with you guys a few weeks ago. And she if I said anything with insight today, it's probably an echo of hers, because she is amazing. So I'm very, very loyal to her. She has turned my life around. And I'm so grateful for this woman, her name is Colleen Sedgwick, with the pet nanny. She's fantastic. You know, so those sort of resources and like I said, if you do a dog walking Academy or take those online courses to get that basic knowledge, learn about canine cognition, psychology, behavior, and body language, you know, and aggression, that first safety purpose is, that's really important. You know, I'm very systematic, so setting up your standard operating procedures and having a very fine tuned, machine running so that you're then running the systems again, that's a communism, running the systems. I run the systems and they run the business. So getting all of that organized, I use time to pet I got Give them a shout out. It's a great software system that time tracks, the visit reports that is GPS tracked. It keeps everything in one spot and organized scheduling, scheduling and invoicing. So that's fantastic. So I would check out time to pet. You know, another big thing you know, once you leverage your your pet care business through an awesome team of sitters, you can then join networking groups when you have the time, and really root yourself in the community so that you're you're rubbing elbows with the right people, I have just joined the Chamber of Commerce is down here, and things like that. So you're really getting embedded in your community and your, your brand and your faces out there. That's really, really important. And basically, just, you know, market brand, social media is huge, especially today, maybe make some videos get go viral, you know that for good reason. You know, go viral. And get your face out there. And just do the best that you can in these challenging times.
Collin 1:06:12
I love that those are great resources, Jill, and I'll make sure and include links to that. And some other things that we've discussed in the show notes, people can click right to that. I have really
1:06:22
fantastic.
Collin 1:06:23
I really, really enjoyed this conversation and learning about all the hard work that you're doing for to take care of the cats down in Florida. And for the dedication that you have for the ethics and morals of being a pet sitter to your clients and staying true to yourself. I know that there's a lot more to cover. And there's so much more to talk about for both of those topics. So how can people get in touch and follow along with everything that you've got going on?
Jill 1:06:49
Well, you can visit Jill's nextdoor.com both, you know, of course, the pecker informations on there and also feline Alliance program at this time, and we're all over social media, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google My Business. You can find us under Jill's nextdoor, dog walking and pet services. And you can reach out to me at Jill at Jill's nextdoor.com.
Collin 1:07:11
Wonderful, thank you so much for coming on today. Jill, it's been a real real pleasure.
Jill 1:07:16
Collin, thank you so much for listening. I, you know, it's it's, I think we touched on everything that I can think of. So thank you again, it has been such an honor to be a part of your podcast, and congratulations on its success.
Collin 1:07:31
When we think about what it means to be an ethical, pet sitter, dog walker house sitter. I love how Jill frames that and not just how we ethically care for the pets, but also how we ethically care and communicate to the clients and our staff if we have them, how we have to set our own values as individuals who run our businesses, and then we get to stick to those and we get to live by those. We get to say yes to who wants to say yes to we get to say no, we want to say no to who don't align with our ethics. And the real key component to that, as Jill discussed as well is that when we have our ethics lined out for how we run our business, we can be better pet advocates, we can advocate more effectively and efficiently for the pets and animals in our care because we are coming from a position where we know we understand, we can do that research, we can do that background work, and we can help communicate that to our clients and our community at large. How do you define ethical pet care and dog walking and in this service industry? Let us know send us an email at feedback at pet sitter confessional.com. We want to thank our sponsors time to pet and pet sitters International, check out the show notes or head on over to pet sitter confessional.com forward slash episodes forward slash 149 to find information about those. Thank you so much for listening, and we'll be back again soon.
