For pet owners who are going out of town or working long days, it can be nerve-wracking to ensure that your dog, cat or other animal is cared for while you are unable to do so. My Pet Sitter is a local company that helps people ensure their four-legged family members get the attention they need when their people arenโt at home.
Glen Hatchell and his wife Kelly are co-owners of My Pet Sitter, as well as My Dog Trainer.
โWeโve been in the pet-sitting business in New Tampa since 2009,โ says Glen. โWe used to do pet sitting and dog training as part of a franchise, but now we do the same thing as an independent small business. We changed the name of the company, but โfrom a client perspective โ nothing else has changed.โ
The Hatchells made the transition one year ago and will celebrate My Pet Sitterโs first anniversary on July 1.
Glen says the business can be summed up in one succinct phrase: โWe do what our pet owners want us to do.โ
Whether thatโs stopping by every day while a petโs Mom and Dad are at work, or visiting three or four times a day while the family is on vacation, My Pet Sitter is flexible to meet your needs.
For dogs, a typical visit starts with a walk. โWith some dogs, we may be out on a walk for the entire visit,โ Glen says. โIn other cases, the dog canโt handle a 30-minute walk, so we hang out in the backyard, or they walk for 15 minutes and then we play with their toys (with them).โ
While families are on vacation, some dogs get a long walk every day, while others get walked at every visit, multiple times a day. Glen says that depends upon the age and temperament of the dog, and what the owner feels is best for the animal.
Glen says the company does a lot of cat sitting as well, because cats often donโt do well in boarding situations. My Pet Sitter will come in to feed your cat, change the water and scoop the litter.
He says many client cats are very playful, so they play with them. โOther cats hide under the bed,โ he says.
Whatever your petโs needs, My Pet Sitterโs staff of seven employees can accommodate them. Every employee is certified in animal first aid and pet CPR, background checked and fully trained.
Glen explains that many pets they care for have special needs, including needing medications. He says they have had animals who have needed insulin shots and have even administered IV fluids to cats that needed them. He says My Pet Sitterโs staff can handle these and other challenges because of the staffโs extensive experience with the serviceโs many clients.
โOne time we had a dog going into diabetic shock, and Kelly had to rush it to the vet,โ Glen says. โThe vet said if not for her quick action, the dog might not have made it.”
He says they understand things like this can happen, and they are prepared for it.
โI like to say that itโs not brain surgery, but you have to pay the same attention to detail,โ Glen explains. โYouโre in someoneโs house taking care of one of their most valuable possessions. (Some would say theyโre more like members of their family.). Itโs a lot of responsibility, and we love taking on that responsibility.โ
Happy Pets, Happy Owners
โOne thing thatโs so cool about being a pet sitter is that thereโs nothing more exciting than walking into a house and seeing a dog thatโs the happiest thing in the world,โ Glen says. โIt really is a feeling thatโs so amazingly wonderful!โ
He says My Pet Sitter sends updates with pictures after each visit, so clients get to see their furry best friends during the day, as theyโre working or traveling.
A client named Juliana, who lives in Pebble Creek, has been using Glen and Kellyโs pet-sitting services since 2010, when she had a serious illness in her family that required her to be away from home for several months.
Juliana says that, thanks to My Pet Sitter, she had absolute peace of mind.
โThey completely rescued me and my dog at that time,โ she says. โI donโt know what I would have done without them. It was such a difficult time, but I would come home to a perfect dog and a perfect house.โ
She adds that, no matter what she needs and when she needs it, she doesnโt hesitate to ask. โThe answer is always yes with them,โ she says. โThey always say โokay.โโ
Sit! Sit! Please?
In addition to My Pet Sitter, Glen and Kelly also own My Dog Training, offering training and behavioral consulting for all breeds of dogs.
Glen says that starting out as a franchise owner provided him with a lot of training, so that he would be properly educated and equipped to help clients as both a pet sitter and a dog trainer.
Although Glen says it is not required, he is certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers as a Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA). He says he also is the only trainer in Hillsborough County to earn the CPDT-KSA (Knowledge & Skills Assessed) certification.
He says he has more than 4,000 hours of training experience and has worked with more than 3,000 dogs.
Glen also is the dog trainer (photo above) for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay on N. Armenia Ave. in south Tampa, and holds obedience classes at the shelter. He started there as a volunteer in 2010. Now, eight years later, he still volunteers, but he also is part of the paid staff, where his main responsibility is running a play group program.
โEvery morning, I go through and get dogs out in the play yard so they can interact,โ he says. โI get them excited about being at the shelter. Weโve had feral dogs come in and Iโve worked with them to get them socialized before they get adopted.โ
He says the playgroup has had an impact on increased adoptions at the Humane Society. And, Glenโs time at the shelter has given him lots of experience to help his private clients, too, whether they are introducing new animals to each other or need help with basic obedience and behavioral issues.
In fact, he says, sometimes pet sitting can actually be a solution to some behavioral issues. โSometimes itโs energy-related and the recommendation is that the dog needs more outlets for (his or her) energy,โ he says, โso I suggest having a dog walker during the day.โ
He also offers training and behavioral consulting for cats with issues in the home, such as litter box problems.
For more information about My Pet Sitter & My Dog Training, call (813) 935-7387, visit MyHomePetSitter.com, or see the ad on page 44 of this issue.