1 00:00:02,319 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: This is Pet Life Radio. Let's Talk Pets. 2 00:00:22,679 --> 00:00:25,039 Speaker 2: Welcome to Covered in Pet Hair, a boozy show for 3 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:29,079 pet lovers on Pet Life Radio. I'm your host Isabelle Alvazerana, 4 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,280 and today I have the pleasure of having a drink 5 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:35,320 in a chat with a nineteen plus year professional pet 6 00:00:35,399 --> 00:00:39,240 sitter who's gonna give us an insider's view to the 7 00:00:39,359 --> 00:00:41,840 life of a pet sitter and how you can find 8 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:45,280 the perfect pet sitter for you and your pets. 9 00:00:48,719 --> 00:00:52,600 Speaker 3: You know the expression cats have nine lives? Well, what 10 00:00:52,679 --> 00:00:55,200 if you can give them one more? The Give Them 11 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,439 Ten movement is on a mission to help give cats 12 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:03,079 an extra life. How with Spee and Neoter, Spain or 13 00:01:03,119 --> 00:01:07,079 nootering your cat helps them live a longer, healthier life 14 00:01:07,239 --> 00:01:11,760 and it helps control free rolling cat populations too. Learn 15 00:01:11,799 --> 00:01:15,719 more about the benefits of Spae and Nooter and meet Scooter, 16 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:20,120 the neutered cat at Give Them ten dot Org. That's 17 00:01:20,159 --> 00:01:23,040 give Them ten dot Org. 18 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:37,599 Speaker 4: Let's talk pets on Petlife Radio dot com. 19 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Covered in Pet Hair. I'm your host 20 00:01:39,879 --> 00:01:42,840 Isabelle Alberzerana, and today I have the pleasure of having 21 00:01:42,879 --> 00:01:45,799 a drink in a chat with a pet parent, a 22 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:50,079 professional dog walker, a professional pet sitter, and an entrepreneur. 23 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:53,840 He's an adventure seeker, a win snob, a coffee lover, 24 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,879 and a big time cruiser platinum on Carnival, if I 25 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:04,079 might add, He's originally from New Jersey now lives in Kingwood, Texas, 26 00:02:04,159 --> 00:02:07,760 near Houston. He husband to Hale. They have been together 27 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,840 for forty one years. He is dog dad to Bucky, 28 00:02:13,159 --> 00:02:16,960 Chatto and Lola, and he is founder of Personal Touch 29 00:02:17,039 --> 00:02:21,360 Pet Sitting. He is Scott Black. Welcome, Scott, my friend, 30 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:22,719 It's great to see you again. 31 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 5: Hello, Hello, Hello, I'm so glad to be here. 32 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 2: Well, I am thrilled that you're gonna give us an 33 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,879 insider to you into how to pick a professional petsitter, 34 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,560 what to look for, what to avoid, all the things. 35 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:36,919 But before we get into the nitty gritty, I want 36 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:40,240 to introduce our drinking game today. So anybody participating in 37 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,879 our drinking game at home, anytime you hear this word. 38 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:45,719 Speaker 1: The secret word is gale. 39 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,039 Speaker 2: Take a drink of whatever you're enjoying, but please be 40 00:02:49,199 --> 00:02:51,199 over twenty one in the US to partake in an 41 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,840 alcoholic beverage, Never drink and drive, and always drink responsibly. 42 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,400 So I have a sneaky suspicion that you might be 43 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,759 between pet sitting business. So I'm going to assume that 44 00:03:01,879 --> 00:03:04,360 you are not having an alcoholic beverage today. 45 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 5: I am not. I am actually enjoying an afternoon iced 46 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:13,319 tea out of my Texas Pet Sitters Association to. 47 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,599 Speaker 2: Doke up not, I love it a little shout out 48 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:20,639 to the Texas Pet Sitters Association. You were a founding 49 00:03:20,719 --> 00:03:23,439 member of the Texas Pet Sitters Association, Is that right? 50 00:03:23,759 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 5: Yes, ma'am. 51 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:27,199 Speaker 2: Well, I always introduced this show with a game, and 52 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:32,439 I'm actually having a margarita in inspiration for my cruise 53 00:03:32,479 --> 00:03:35,879 ship adventure that's coming. But before I drink all of 54 00:03:35,919 --> 00:03:37,840 this and get a little tipsy, I want to get 55 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:43,280 into what it is that pet sitters do for pet parents. 56 00:03:43,319 --> 00:03:46,120 And I've come up with a game. It's called Petsitter Checklist, 57 00:03:46,159 --> 00:03:47,919 because if you don't even about pet sitters, you know 58 00:03:47,919 --> 00:03:49,439 that there are a lot of checklists. We do a 59 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:52,199 lot of checklists in a pet sitting industry. So this 60 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,319 is gonna give you, while I drink my margarita, two 61 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,800 minutes on my handy dandy clock to tell me all 62 00:03:58,879 --> 00:04:03,159 the ways in which you have helped pet parents. Are 63 00:04:03,159 --> 00:04:03,840 you ready to play? 64 00:04:04,039 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 5: Didney? 65 00:04:04,439 --> 00:04:04,479 Speaker 1: So? 66 00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:06,039 Speaker 5: All right? 67 00:04:06,199 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: Sounds good to me. Let's get started. Here we go 68 00:04:10,439 --> 00:04:12,039 three two one joke. 69 00:04:12,759 --> 00:04:16,399 Speaker 5: Sitting isn't rocket science. The science is making it happen 70 00:04:16,439 --> 00:04:19,399 all day, every day. And I don't mean that lightly. 71 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:22,360 You know, No, two days are the same for me, 72 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,879 because I'm a one man band. Today, my schedule is 73 00:04:25,879 --> 00:04:28,399 different than tomorrow, and tomorrow is going to be different 74 00:04:28,439 --> 00:04:31,160 than Friday, and so on and so on. And in 75 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,720 order to meet the needs of each pet in each home, 76 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:36,959 you need to make sure you have the bandwidth to 77 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,519 do that. And you know, going on to nineteen years 78 00:04:40,519 --> 00:04:44,560 from July, I would like to think the success of 79 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,319 my business has been you know, my passion of course 80 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,519 for this because you know, I mean, this is a 81 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,000 it's not a Monday through Friday nine to five job. 82 00:04:54,319 --> 00:04:58,720 It's weekenders, holidays. You know. Sadly we have dealt with 83 00:04:58,959 --> 00:05:01,879 the happy side of pet care and the not so 84 00:05:01,959 --> 00:05:05,279 happy side of pet care, and it goes with the territory. 85 00:05:05,560 --> 00:05:08,639 But I would like to think my big success is 86 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,000 my honesty and transparency. I kind of joke with potential 87 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:17,079 new clients and say call me mister self because I'm 88 00:05:17,120 --> 00:05:19,759 gonna put it out on the table and if I'm 89 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:22,759 comfortable doing it, great, But if I'm not comfortable doing it, 90 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,720 I'm gonna let you know as well and need to 91 00:05:25,800 --> 00:05:29,279 have that two way conversation because they may be something 92 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:32,560 that I might say that could raise a red flag too, 93 00:05:32,959 --> 00:05:35,160 you know. So again, the name of my business is 94 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,319 Personal Touch pet sitting. I take it to more of 95 00:05:38,360 --> 00:05:42,639 a personal level where my screening and onboarding is all 96 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,240 done through a phone call to make sure we're a 97 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:48,079 good fit before we take it to the next level, 98 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,199 because they may want me to do something. I just 99 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:52,600 actually literally got off the phone with someone that has 100 00:05:52,639 --> 00:05:55,560 a young puppy first time. They're leaving her and they're 101 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,279 looking for someone to spend the night. I don't offer 102 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,959 overnight service because of what I have going on in 103 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:05,000 my home. So, you know, I felt bad in saying, well, 104 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,839 I'm sorry, I can't help you, but I hope I 105 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,680 pointed them in the right direction to find someone that could. 106 00:06:11,079 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: Yeah, so, how did you get into the pet sitting 107 00:06:14,399 --> 00:06:18,040 industry nineteen years ago? Because it is more popular now 108 00:06:18,079 --> 00:06:20,920 that it was twenty years ago, it wasn't as common 109 00:06:20,959 --> 00:06:24,240 an industry to get into So tell me about that journey. 110 00:06:24,879 --> 00:06:27,439 Speaker 5: Prior to moving to Houston, Hall and I lived in 111 00:06:27,439 --> 00:06:30,560 New Jersey, That's where I'm from. I worked for City Bank. 112 00:06:30,639 --> 00:06:32,639 He worked for Bank in New York, but he was 113 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:34,600 in New York all the time. I worked in both 114 00:06:34,639 --> 00:06:37,000 New Jersey and New York, so we would have to 115 00:06:37,079 --> 00:06:41,480 commute into Manhattan on those days. And if you've ever 116 00:06:41,519 --> 00:06:44,240 been to New York or New Jersey, there's the Path 117 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:47,959 train that takes you from Hoboken into New York. Our 118 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,160 train stop was the World Trade Center. Okay, Well, in 119 00:06:51,199 --> 00:06:54,160 two thousand and one. We moved to Houston. In ninety eight, 120 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,160 two thousand and one, I was working for a mortgage 121 00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,560 company here, and when the towers went down, so did 122 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:04,000 the mortgage rates. Well, knowing now what I wish I 123 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:06,279 would have known then, the company I worked for was 124 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,759 pretty shady, and they wanted me to pretty much just 125 00:07:09,839 --> 00:07:13,000 get people that were in bad loans into worse loans 126 00:07:13,079 --> 00:07:15,839 and you know, profit from I couldn't do it. I 127 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:17,879 did it for a few months, and I was making 128 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,759 a ton of money, but I'm like, I can't profit 129 00:07:20,839 --> 00:07:24,199 off the back of less fortunate people. I mean, fortunately, 130 00:07:24,199 --> 00:07:27,000 that mortgage company is no longer in business. But I 131 00:07:27,079 --> 00:07:29,240 woke up one morning and had a panic attack and 132 00:07:29,319 --> 00:07:31,879 said I can't do this, and one sick day became 133 00:07:31,959 --> 00:07:35,879 too and anyway, I got the help I needed, and 134 00:07:36,319 --> 00:07:39,399 during my little sabbatical, as I'd like to call it, 135 00:07:39,959 --> 00:07:42,519 a dog came into my life. And it was a 136 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,319 neighbor's dog that they had found. They couldn't keep it, 137 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:47,680 and they asked me if I could come over and 138 00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:50,480 check on it while they were gone. My first pet 139 00:07:50,519 --> 00:07:52,439 sitting job, right, I mean, other than when I was 140 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,040 a kid and the neighbor's bunny, you know. And I 141 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:58,680 just I said, well, you know what, why don't we 142 00:07:58,759 --> 00:08:00,519 just bring it to our house because she won't be 143 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,920 let alone all the time. And it was a little 144 00:08:02,959 --> 00:08:06,920 Dalmation puppy, you know, about four months old, and this 145 00:08:07,160 --> 00:08:12,120 dog just stole my heart. And when they got back, 146 00:08:12,199 --> 00:08:14,439 I said, well, are you still going to try to 147 00:08:14,439 --> 00:08:17,959 find the owner? And they said, well, we've tried for weeks. 148 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,120 You know, she wasn't chip, she had a collar, but 149 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,759 no tad's it was springtime. I'm sure she was a 150 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,639 Christmas puppy. Got her eye. I said, well, she's not 151 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:30,079 known anywhere, so I named her Domino, which was a 152 00:08:30,079 --> 00:08:33,320 big mistake because you never name a dog with no 153 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:36,559 on the under their name because she never heard it. 154 00:08:36,879 --> 00:08:40,039 But that spotted paint in the butt was my inspiration 155 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:43,759 for starting my business. But she was the best medicine, 156 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:46,639 so to speak, for a time in my life where 157 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:49,320 things where I was just trying to figure stuff out, 158 00:08:49,399 --> 00:08:53,240 you know. And she led me to start volunteering with rescue, 159 00:08:53,799 --> 00:08:57,320 and I did some pet sitting for the rescue. Perfect 160 00:08:57,399 --> 00:09:00,320 case you adopt a dog from you know, of my 161 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,360 foster dogs, and then you want to go on vacation, 162 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,120 We'll say, well, can Scott take the dog back? Well, 163 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,480 Scott's on his ten foster dogs since you adopted your dog, 164 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,919 you know, no, he can't, right, And he just said, 165 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:14,440 you know what, what if there's these people are local 166 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:16,840 to Kingwood? What if I pets that for them and 167 00:09:16,879 --> 00:09:19,480 they make a donation to the rescue. Because I was 168 00:09:19,639 --> 00:09:23,919 getting some assistance on an SSDI type thing, and I said, 169 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,960 I don't want to mess that up, but I would 170 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,799 love the opportunity to help raise money for the rescue. 171 00:09:29,399 --> 00:09:33,080 So that's how that started, and they were getting such 172 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,960 positive feedback. She said, Scott, you need to start doing 173 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,720 this for yourself. And this was a woman who I 174 00:09:38,799 --> 00:09:41,480 used to pet sit for her crew and her foster 175 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,399 dogs when she would travel for her job. And she 176 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,159 just said, you just need to run with this and 177 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,159 start making money for yourself. And that's kind of how 178 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:54,120 it started. I mean, it's totally reinventing yourself. So that 179 00:09:54,279 --> 00:09:58,120 was two thousand and three, two thousand and four, and 180 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,960 I took it very slow. But July one, two thousand 181 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,120 and five, I was a legitimate company, you know, with 182 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,960 the State of Texas in short bonded. You know, I 183 00:10:09,120 --> 00:10:13,000 joined PSI back then, I at least I never know 184 00:10:13,039 --> 00:10:15,879 who PSI was that time. There wasn't like you were saying, 185 00:10:15,919 --> 00:10:19,399 this wasn't a lot of help back then. I'll give 186 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,759 Patty Moran's book a plug. You know, I read her 187 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:23,960 Pet Sitting for Profit book. You know, I think as 188 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,200 every pet sitter did. But I have been a member 189 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:31,840 in good standing since two thousand and five, and you know, 190 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:35,240 also proud to say I was a top five finalist 191 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,840 for Petsitter the Year in two thousand and seven, in 192 00:10:38,879 --> 00:10:42,639 two thousand and nine, and I finally became Petsitter of 193 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,519 the Year in twenty ten, So third time was the 194 00:10:45,600 --> 00:10:49,919 charm for me. But you know, I embrace organizations like 195 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:53,639 PSI in NAPS because you know, they're all about making 196 00:10:53,759 --> 00:10:57,279 us better at what we do. Names have changed, but 197 00:10:57,679 --> 00:11:01,480 I have got to see dogs, puppies and kittens through 198 00:11:01,519 --> 00:11:04,960 their life, you know. And I even think it's funny that, 199 00:11:05,039 --> 00:11:07,840 you know, I'll go to the grocery store and I'll 200 00:11:07,879 --> 00:11:10,679 run into a kid who's not a kid anymore, and 201 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,639 they say, hey, Uncle Scott. I became Uncle Scott. And 202 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,039 they'd say, you used to take care of Madison when 203 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,759 we would go on our summer vacations and blah blah blah. 204 00:11:18,799 --> 00:11:20,320 And I'm like looking at these kids and I'm like, 205 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:22,600 oh my god, you guys have grown up. I mean, 206 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:26,519 I've watched kids grow up and graduate college or get 207 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,679 married or you know, in all different stages of when 208 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,840 I became uncle Scott in their house. And you know, 209 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,320 I wasn't smart enough back in the beginning to call 210 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:40,200 myself Uncle Scott. It started with a fine that got puppies, 211 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,120 and they got the puppies and stayed home with them 212 00:11:43,159 --> 00:11:46,000 for a week, and then they had to go back 213 00:11:46,039 --> 00:11:48,279 to work, and they kept saying Uncle Scott's going to come. 214 00:11:48,639 --> 00:11:51,519 And I was visiting these puppies at ten weeks of age, 215 00:11:51,559 --> 00:11:53,559 you know, three times a day while they were at work. 216 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,159 And you know, I house trained these dogs and I 217 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:58,399 taught them how to walk for the leash, and these 218 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:01,799 folks are still clients like family to me. But I 219 00:12:01,840 --> 00:12:03,519 was just happy to do what I was doing. But 220 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,279 I wasn't smart enough to say, well, Uncle Scott, you know, 221 00:12:06,440 --> 00:12:09,519 and now I wear it with like a badge of honor. 222 00:12:09,879 --> 00:12:14,039 Speaker 2: Absolutely well, I want to actually get to dig into 223 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:18,840 how some pet parents have reservations, but in home pet sitting, 224 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,519 I know some people have stranger danger. I know some 225 00:12:22,679 --> 00:12:28,159 people have these preconceived notions where they can't imagine meeting 226 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,440 a stranger and then they become Uncle Scott to the 227 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,879 whole family. So before we do that, we do need 228 00:12:34,919 --> 00:12:36,919 to take a break. We'll listen to our sponsors, and 229 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,039 when we come back, let's talk about that. Let's talk 230 00:12:39,039 --> 00:12:43,000 about how you go from a complete stranger and eventually 231 00:12:43,039 --> 00:12:46,919 become Uncle Scott and such a huge resource a part 232 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:49,200 of the pet care team for this family. There's so 233 00:12:49,279 --> 00:12:51,360 much going on, so don't go anywhere. I will be 234 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:52,840 right back with Scott Black. 235 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,879 Speaker 5: Begging to hear more of your favorite show. 236 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:00,720 Speaker 6: All full episodes of on our shows are avaisible on demand. 237 00:13:00,919 --> 00:13:03,759 Go to Petlife Radio dot com to fed our entire 238 00:13:03,840 --> 00:13:07,279 lineup of possum pet podcasts. Also dig us up in 239 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:20,600 iheartradiodan iTunes, Let's Talk Pets Lived only from pet Life Radio. 240 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:21,639 Speaker 7: Let's Talk Past, Let's Done pet Life Radio, Headline Radio, 241 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:33,440 petlve Radio dot Com. 242 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,840 Speaker 2: Welcome back to Covered in pet Hair. I'm your host 243 00:13:35,919 --> 00:13:39,559 Isabelle Alberzerata, and today I am speaking to my personal 244 00:13:39,639 --> 00:13:43,519 friend and professional petsitter, Scott Black, who is based out 245 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:46,960 of the Houston area, Kingwood specifically, and he is a 246 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,960 solo pet sitter that provides outstanding PetCare for people in 247 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:53,679 his community. He has been in the industry as a 248 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:56,360 professional petsitter for nineteen years, so I know this guy 249 00:13:56,440 --> 00:13:59,360 knows a thing or two about professional pet sitters and 250 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:04,279 how my audience pet parents can find the perfect pet 251 00:14:04,279 --> 00:14:07,480 sitter no matter where you're located. I'm a huge pet 252 00:14:07,519 --> 00:14:10,320 sitting industry advocate. I was a professional pet sitter for 253 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:13,320 twelve plus years. I ran a professional pet sitting business 254 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:16,200 and I don't think that it is being leveraged by 255 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,519 pet parents as much as it should be, because in 256 00:14:18,559 --> 00:14:21,360 home peck Care is the best pet care there is. 257 00:14:21,519 --> 00:14:23,399 I will say it and I will stand by it. 258 00:14:23,679 --> 00:14:25,720 Your pet doesn't want to go to a boarding facility. 259 00:14:25,759 --> 00:14:27,480 Your pet doesn't want to go to daycare. Your pet 260 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,519 loves their home, wants to stay there, and wants a 261 00:14:29,639 --> 00:14:33,200 super capable, trustworthy person to come keep up with their 262 00:14:33,240 --> 00:14:35,519 routine when you can't do it. So I'm speaking to 263 00:14:35,559 --> 00:14:38,240 the pet parents here. Listen to what I'm telling you. 264 00:14:38,279 --> 00:14:40,639 In home pet care is where it's at, so Scott, 265 00:14:40,759 --> 00:14:43,279 because I know for a fact there are a lot 266 00:14:43,279 --> 00:14:45,159 of people who just heard me say that and are like, 267 00:14:45,399 --> 00:14:48,240 but I don't want a stranger in my home. We're 268 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,240 going to play a second game and it's called Stranger Djroit. 269 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:53,000 So I'm gonna ask you a few questions and you're 270 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:57,840 gonna tell me how you approach these hang ups that 271 00:14:58,039 --> 00:15:03,080 people may have, How you finesse this relationship so that 272 00:15:03,159 --> 00:15:06,279 you go from a stranger to a truly reliable pet 273 00:15:06,279 --> 00:15:09,879 care professional. That really saves the day sometimes when people 274 00:15:09,919 --> 00:15:12,399 get sick, when people are injured, when people are traveling, 275 00:15:12,559 --> 00:15:15,840 when people are overwhelmed. Here comes your pet sitter to 276 00:15:15,879 --> 00:15:18,440 save the day. But at some point everybody starts as 277 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:24,919 a stranger, right, all right, here we go. The first 278 00:15:25,039 --> 00:15:27,200 question that I have for you for this game is 279 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,480 how do pet parents get more comfortable with the idea 280 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:35,000 of having a stranger in the hall in general? How 281 00:15:35,039 --> 00:15:39,440 do you persuade them to open their mind to this possibility. 282 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:43,679 Speaker 5: Part of my initial screening. Let's say I don't use 283 00:15:43,799 --> 00:15:47,799 pet sitting software to screen my clients. I'm very old 284 00:15:47,879 --> 00:15:50,600 school where I pick up the phone and talk to 285 00:15:50,639 --> 00:15:53,519 them and one of my first questions is, hey, how 286 00:15:53,519 --> 00:15:56,759 did you get my name? Because you sit for my 287 00:15:56,799 --> 00:16:00,320 neighbor or I'm so and So's sister in law, or 288 00:16:00,759 --> 00:16:04,679 pet ranch who's a local independent retailler. They do grooming 289 00:16:04,759 --> 00:16:08,039 and pet supply and food and stuff. They gave me 290 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,960 your name. Well, ipet sit for the owners of this company. 291 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:14,519 If you're getting a referral. And nineteen years in, I mean, 292 00:16:14,639 --> 00:16:17,000 I'm going to say the majority of my business is 293 00:16:17,039 --> 00:16:20,480 word of mouth. Now I don't have to market per se. 294 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:23,879 I educate about professional pet sitting now on I'm out 295 00:16:23,919 --> 00:16:26,679 of public versus you know, trying to get de clients. 296 00:16:27,039 --> 00:16:30,639 Years ago, I had some helpers, and I decided it 297 00:16:30,759 --> 00:16:34,159 wasn't for me, and I went back to a solo model, 298 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:37,440 and you know what, I sleep better at night. That's 299 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:41,799 another layer of putting people at ease. You know. Of 300 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,840 course businesses with staff. You had a business with staff. 301 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,600 The nice thing that a solo sitter can do is 302 00:16:49,679 --> 00:16:54,879 give them that consistency where it's the same person coming two, three, 303 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,559 four times a day. Where there's some dogs that wouldn't 304 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:01,360 care who walked through the door, but the other dogs 305 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:05,519 are cats that may not. So that is another layer 306 00:17:05,720 --> 00:17:07,279 of well, you know what, it's going to be me, 307 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:10,119 and you know, I understand that your cat may not 308 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:12,960 come out right away and just say leave your card 309 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,319 off hall you when I'm ready, but I don't take 310 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:18,599 it personally, and I don't cut visits short. I will 311 00:17:18,599 --> 00:17:21,440 not sit on their couch once my duties are done 312 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,079 and put on like a YouTube video of like cats 313 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,200 me oweing or this or that, and before you know, 314 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,839 you know, little head folks around the corner. You know, 315 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:32,319 but I'm going to make a liar out of that 316 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,319 of these people and say you'll never see my cat, 317 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,839 you know. So there's just something about talking to people 318 00:17:38,039 --> 00:17:40,400 and then they say, well, do you have pets shave 319 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:41,920 of your own? Well, yeah, let me tell you about 320 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:43,880 my blind deaf guy and you know this and that, 321 00:17:44,079 --> 00:17:48,079 and I think just having that conversation of just circle 322 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:50,920 back to the first question you asked about, what is 323 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,839 a professional pet sitter? Credentials are very important to me, 324 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,039 even as a consumer. If I was going to hire 325 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,759 a contractor to do work in my home, are you 326 00:18:00,799 --> 00:18:03,920 a short and bonded? Is the electrician and the plumber 327 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:08,519 you're gonna send here? Are they licensed? Background check, insured, 328 00:18:08,599 --> 00:18:10,799 bond I mean, I don't need to be bonded, but 329 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:15,039 I am bonded because I think it gives peace of mind. 330 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,359 I mean, again, to any potential clients out there, I'm 331 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,759 not gonna steal from you. I have my own flat 332 00:18:20,759 --> 00:18:22,960 screen TV. I mean, you may come home and find 333 00:18:22,960 --> 00:18:24,839 a ransom note because I fell in love with your 334 00:18:24,839 --> 00:18:28,240 dog or cat. But I joked, I joked, I joke. 335 00:18:28,519 --> 00:18:32,160 I as part of my service offer taking in the mail, 336 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,400 picking up newspapers that are tossed on the drive. But yeah, 337 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,240 putting out trash or pulling in your trash can, alternating 338 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:42,359 lights and blinds or drapes to give your home that 339 00:18:42,519 --> 00:18:45,559 lived in luck. Like, you know, I just show up 340 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:49,680 like I'm supposed to be there. And again, I do 341 00:18:49,759 --> 00:18:53,079 not advertise on my car, and I do not wear 342 00:18:53,200 --> 00:18:56,240 branded clothing when I'm working, because I just want to 343 00:18:56,279 --> 00:18:58,960 show up and like I'm supposed to be there and 344 00:18:59,039 --> 00:19:01,799 not raise attention to the fact that Maggie out of town. 345 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:04,720 You know, there's a whole debate about that. You could 346 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:07,039 put ted pet sitters in her, and I will say 347 00:19:07,079 --> 00:19:09,279 do it, and five will say don't. And you know what, 348 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:10,599 there's no right or wrong. 349 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:14,559 Speaker 2: It's the right is whatever the client was exactly. 350 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:17,680 Speaker 5: And you know it's funny. I had a long time client, 351 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:22,079 another client from years ago who has since passed. She 352 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,480 got very sick right at the start of COVID and 353 00:19:24,519 --> 00:19:27,319 it wasn't COVID related. She always said to me, Scott, 354 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:30,240 if I don't come home, promised me if you can't 355 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,119 keep She always called her cats the babies. If you 356 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:36,319 can't take de babies yourself, promise me you'll find a 357 00:19:36,319 --> 00:19:39,200 good home for them. Right. Well, when she got sick 358 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:42,880 in March of twenty twenty, she passed May of twenty twenty. 359 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,799 She was a twenty twenty or twenty twenty one. COVID 360 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:48,680 was twenty twenty mm hmm, okay, so it was May. 361 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:53,079 She actually and these cats were older now, all senior 362 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,480 kidney cats. She cut her son out of the will 363 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,720 and made provisions to these cats and bed Town and 364 00:19:59,759 --> 00:20:03,200 I to take them. She's like, I've made provisions like, well, 365 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,160 no one's going to adopt senior kiddies with kidney issues. 366 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:09,119 And so we took the three of them in and 367 00:20:09,599 --> 00:20:13,680 sadly they've all since went home to meet Bamba. But 368 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:18,400 it was a very interesting experience. I bet you know. 369 00:20:18,599 --> 00:20:21,079 I'm not in a position to do that for every client. 370 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,319 But the stranger danger goes from stranger danger to peace 371 00:20:25,359 --> 00:20:25,920 of mind. 372 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 2: You've made it really like, obviously anybody watching this who's 373 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,440 a human is like on board, Like, obviously this person cares, 374 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,160 Obviously this person has experienced, Obviously this person is reliable. 375 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,440 Obviously you've covered all the bases. But what about for 376 00:20:40,480 --> 00:20:43,000 the people who say, like, what, my pet's not going 377 00:20:43,039 --> 00:20:45,319 to be comfortable with a stranger coming in the door. 378 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,000 What do you say about them? How do you win 379 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,240 over the pet while the human's gone? 380 00:20:49,519 --> 00:20:53,519 Speaker 5: Okay, so of course I don't take on anybody without 381 00:20:53,759 --> 00:20:56,759 a meet Reek. First, we are going to see how 382 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:01,759 Beethoven or Gujo response to me coming in when I 383 00:21:01,839 --> 00:21:04,559 come and meet the family, and where I live, nobody 384 00:21:04,599 --> 00:21:07,960 uses their front door. Everybody uses a side door. They 385 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:11,000 come and go through their garage. Front door is stranger danger, 386 00:21:12,039 --> 00:21:14,559 you know what. So in a lot of cases, let 387 00:21:14,559 --> 00:21:16,920 me come in the door that they're used to you 388 00:21:17,039 --> 00:21:19,400 coming and going from. And you know, if it means 389 00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,920 you meet me outside and I walk in with you, 390 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:24,519 they're going to be like, well, okay, he might be okay, 391 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:27,240 you know, he's cool, you know. But I've also been 392 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,839 in situations where the dog will get between me and 393 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:33,480 their pet parents and they're just protecting them. Treats work well. 394 00:21:33,559 --> 00:21:36,319 I always tell people, please have treats readily available. I'm 395 00:21:36,319 --> 00:21:38,079 not going to bring anything because I don't know what 396 00:21:38,119 --> 00:21:41,400 allergies your dogs may have. Just please have some available 397 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:42,599 because we need them. Well. 398 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:45,160 Speaker 2: Dietary restrictions oh yeah. 399 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:49,079 Speaker 5: Yeah, yeah yeah. As a male part of my screening process, again, 400 00:21:49,519 --> 00:21:51,160 I know I'm kind of all over the place, but 401 00:21:51,519 --> 00:21:55,160 this question triggers back to when someone first reaches out 402 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,359 to me, how did you get my name? Where do 403 00:21:57,440 --> 00:21:59,599 you live? Let's make sure, you're in my service area. 404 00:22:00,079 --> 00:22:02,920 I'm a one man band. How does your dog do 405 00:22:03,039 --> 00:22:07,079 with men? Yes, because if they're not good with men, 406 00:22:07,279 --> 00:22:09,039 I'm in the community where a lot of people do 407 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,839 rescue box. A lot of dogs get dumped in Kingoin 408 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,640 and people end up keeping them, or they adopt from 409 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:18,000 local rescues, which I love. I'm a rescue guy. All 410 00:22:18,039 --> 00:22:20,839 of my pets have been rescues, you know. So I 411 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,079 have a soft heart for rescue dogs. But you know, 412 00:22:24,240 --> 00:22:28,200 if they're not good with men, I'm just gonna say, Look, 413 00:22:28,599 --> 00:22:31,319 I am part of a professional pet sitting networks. Here. 414 00:22:31,480 --> 00:22:35,200 I said, here's the name of three females. That one 415 00:22:35,519 --> 00:22:38,559 is a large breed dog gal. She loves the big guys. 416 00:22:38,759 --> 00:22:41,119 She likes big mutts, and you know I would give 417 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,480 her a call first, you know. Or so again, it's 418 00:22:44,599 --> 00:22:48,480 part of offering a service, even though I can't help them. 419 00:22:48,559 --> 00:22:52,160 It's no but you know, and I don't take it personally, 420 00:22:52,279 --> 00:22:55,240 you know. Again, as a guy in this industry, I 421 00:22:55,240 --> 00:22:57,839 don't want to say we have obstacles in our way. 422 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:02,319 I think the obstacles we have are dear because of 423 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,759 being a guy. Yeah, and the strange I don't it's 424 00:23:04,799 --> 00:23:07,440 a strange man in mine. Now, well, okay, but do 425 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,319 you want a strange woman in your house or you 426 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:12,680 just don't want a stranger in your house? Right, I mean, 427 00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:14,839 I'll go there, yeah, yeah, no. 428 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,079 Speaker 2: And it's interesting because a lot of times people think 429 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:21,039 that the dog is or cat is not comfortable with 430 00:23:21,079 --> 00:23:24,640 a man. But who's really not comfortable with the idea 431 00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,799 of a male petsitter is the human. And I've actually 432 00:23:27,839 --> 00:23:30,680 written for one of my clients. I wrote about how 433 00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:34,440 she gets a lot of pushback because obviously she's an employer. 434 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:37,920 She needs to be a fair equitable employer, so she 435 00:23:38,039 --> 00:23:42,079 employs males and females, and whenever she says, like the 436 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:45,279 name of the guy, she'll be like Todd Kyle, you 437 00:23:45,319 --> 00:23:48,240 know Mark, They're gonna come over for the meet and greet. 438 00:23:48,799 --> 00:23:53,000 She gets pushed back. As employers, we can't say like, 439 00:23:53,119 --> 00:23:56,240 I can't hire you because you're male. That's the first 440 00:23:56,240 --> 00:23:59,480 issue for me as a professional petsitting business owner. I 441 00:23:59,519 --> 00:24:02,039 had to like explain to these to people. I hire 442 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:06,759 everybody who meets the requirements of my hiring and so 443 00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:10,599 a lot of times it's not the pet, it's that person. 444 00:24:10,759 --> 00:24:13,799 And maybe it's a female who has a you know, 445 00:24:13,880 --> 00:24:15,319 a complex history with men. 446 00:24:15,839 --> 00:24:18,759 Speaker 5: I understand that I don't take it personally. 447 00:24:18,519 --> 00:24:21,720 Speaker 2: And sometimes it's the man, right, Like, not all men 448 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,400 are going to make your dog uncomfortable. There could be 449 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,279 something about the man. Maybe he was wearing a cap, 450 00:24:28,759 --> 00:24:31,519 Maybe he was wearing a cap and sunglasses. Maybe he's 451 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:34,599 a really large man and they're not used to it. 452 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,160 But it doesn't mean that they can't become friends. It 453 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,319 doesn't mean that your pet is completely anti man. 454 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:46,359 Speaker 5: Hell and I fostered a dog years ago that supposedly, 455 00:24:46,759 --> 00:24:49,079 you know, was not good with men. Of course we 456 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,960 foster failed and she stayed with us and best thing 457 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:55,920 ever happened to her. But you know, she she was like, yeah, 458 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:58,960 you guys are okay, you know yeah. Part of being 459 00:24:59,119 --> 00:25:03,240 professional in this industry is to not take things personally. 460 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:07,440 Yeah okay, So when I ask that question, I want 461 00:25:07,519 --> 00:25:10,599 someone to be honest with me. And the nice thing 462 00:25:10,599 --> 00:25:14,880 about having that dialogue versus filling something out on a 463 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,759 pet information sheet in software, not that there's anything wrong 464 00:25:18,799 --> 00:25:21,680 with that, but when I ask the question and there's 465 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,559 a little bit of a hesitation, the light bulb goes 466 00:25:24,599 --> 00:25:27,920 on and go, huh, are they not being honest with 467 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:31,640 me or you know it. You can go both ways. 468 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,039 And again I don't take it personally. It's just not 469 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:37,680 worth it. It's just no, of course we're not it. 470 00:25:38,039 --> 00:25:40,759 Speaker 2: There is a client for everybody, there's a pet sitter 471 00:25:40,799 --> 00:25:43,839 for everybody. And that's really an important message here for 472 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,680 me is that there's always If you are looking for 473 00:25:47,720 --> 00:25:50,680 a pet sitter, you need to start two months before 474 00:25:50,720 --> 00:25:53,799 you're leaving minimum because you might need to interview a 475 00:25:53,839 --> 00:25:54,799 few people. 476 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 5: Or you know they'll be like, well, you know, we're 477 00:25:57,519 --> 00:26:00,720 not just quite sure how he's going to do. We're gone, 478 00:26:01,039 --> 00:26:04,240 Well we've got two months. I said, I don't want 479 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:07,599 to leave you hang in, but is it possible we 480 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,279 can schedule a couple of visits for me to just 481 00:26:10,359 --> 00:26:13,519 pop in when you're not home and see if he'll 482 00:26:13,599 --> 00:26:16,440 let me as the door and you know, can I 483 00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,279 get them on a leash and can we go for 484 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:20,079 a walk, or can we go out in the yard 485 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,599 and I can get them back in, or said, you 486 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:24,400 don't have to be gone for hours. 487 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,400 Speaker 2: But you know, when it comes to the human, you 488 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,720 can't convince the human who doesn't want to be convinced. 489 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:32,200 So like if you're watching all this, you've besten to 490 00:26:32,279 --> 00:26:34,799 this whole episode, and you're like, I still am not 491 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,480 comfortable with a pet sitter after everything Scott's told you, 492 00:26:37,559 --> 00:26:44,079 after the experience, after the certifications, the insurance, the you know, safeguards, 493 00:26:44,119 --> 00:26:46,640 the backup plans that you have, and all those things. 494 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,279 And this is pretty standard in our industry. To have 495 00:26:49,319 --> 00:26:52,319 all these things from a professional pet sitter is pretty 496 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,079 standard in our industry. If you're finding somebody who doesn't 497 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:58,119 have a backup plan, who doesn't have, you know, some 498 00:26:58,279 --> 00:27:03,519 kind of coverage of insurance, licensing, certification, membership to an 499 00:27:03,559 --> 00:27:06,720 association like PSI or and APPS, then they're probably not 500 00:27:06,799 --> 00:27:10,599 a professional pet sitter. So that's a whole other conversation. 501 00:27:10,759 --> 00:27:13,440 It's really easy to get into the petsity industry, it's 502 00:27:13,440 --> 00:27:16,759 not really easy to be a professional pet sitter. So, 503 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,359 you know, like entering the industry and thriving in the 504 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,680 industry to very different things. So as a professional pet 505 00:27:22,759 --> 00:27:26,160 sitter former professional petsitter, I will caution pet parents from 506 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:28,519 assuming that every pet sitter is the same, so that 507 00:27:28,559 --> 00:27:32,119 they have all these credentials that really make them professionals 508 00:27:32,119 --> 00:27:36,119 in our industry. And finally, just know that professional pet 509 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:39,319 sitters also have deal breakers, just like the pet parents. 510 00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:42,720 So I want to finish this episode off Scott with 511 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:45,599 your deal breakers. Can you come up with like top 512 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,119 three deal breakers when you're interviewing clients and what you're like, Now, 513 00:27:49,279 --> 00:27:52,079 this is not gonna work. I'm putting you on the spot. 514 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:56,319 Speaker 5: You are you are, and I need to think this through. Well, 515 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,799 of course every other daycab visits are a deal breaker. 516 00:28:00,039 --> 00:28:03,079 I won't do it. Or you know for cage pets, cats, 517 00:28:03,400 --> 00:28:05,920 can you know, pocket pets and that kind of stuff. 518 00:28:06,200 --> 00:28:09,200 Anything to do with your pet or dog off leash 519 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:11,440 not going to happen. Okay, we get up in the 520 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:14,200 morning and Max goes out and helps me get the 521 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:16,519 newspaper in the morning, and then he does his business 522 00:28:16,559 --> 00:28:19,240 and we go back in. I'm like, well, I'm not 523 00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:22,839 comfortable letting Max out off leash. Well, he won't go 524 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,039 to the bathroom. I said, well, we'll figure it out. 525 00:28:25,319 --> 00:28:27,200 You know. I mean, a deal breaker to me would 526 00:28:27,240 --> 00:28:29,680 be anything that someone asked me to do that could 527 00:28:29,720 --> 00:28:32,319 put their pet and arms way got it? Leash? Noch 528 00:28:32,759 --> 00:28:35,240 and I guess lack of respect. 529 00:28:35,839 --> 00:28:38,000 Speaker 2: I was hoping you would say that. 530 00:28:37,519 --> 00:28:40,160 Speaker 5: There are some people. Again, I mean, and this is 531 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,720 something that you know, I can pick up during that 532 00:28:42,799 --> 00:28:45,720 phone conversation before having to go to meet them and 533 00:28:45,799 --> 00:28:47,759 have it blow up at the table, so to speak. 534 00:28:47,839 --> 00:28:50,559 You know, I am a business owner. Yes, I am 535 00:28:50,599 --> 00:28:54,880 a pet sitting business owner. I care for pets when 536 00:28:54,960 --> 00:28:58,599 families go away, but I do have a business acumen 537 00:28:59,079 --> 00:29:02,720 and the policy that I put into place protect the client, 538 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:07,640 the pet, their home, and myself. And sometimes, like I 539 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,720 said earlier, you know, pet sitting is not rocket science. 540 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:13,440 The science is making it happen all day, every day. 541 00:29:13,759 --> 00:29:18,000 But when you're dealing with old pets, young pets, sick pets, 542 00:29:18,359 --> 00:29:21,160 it's so hard not to cross the line with a 543 00:29:21,559 --> 00:29:24,400 human client. And I still don't like the word client 544 00:29:24,519 --> 00:29:28,400 or customer because they become part of my family. Unble Scott, 545 00:29:28,599 --> 00:29:31,519 you know what I mean, when they have something going on. 546 00:29:31,680 --> 00:29:35,079 I've dealt with clients that have had cancer diagnosis, and 547 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,640 it's hard not to cross that line, but you do 548 00:29:37,720 --> 00:29:40,039 what can I do to help. It's hard not to 549 00:29:40,079 --> 00:29:43,519 think with your part sometimes, but we do need to 550 00:29:43,519 --> 00:29:46,839 think with our head regarding the business, and I think 551 00:29:46,880 --> 00:29:50,000 sometimes people also forget that we have a life outside 552 00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:53,480 of what we do. We don't work up Monday through Friday, 553 00:29:53,559 --> 00:29:56,640 nine to five job. And you know part of that 554 00:29:56,759 --> 00:30:01,000 respect is don't text me at night thirty or ten 555 00:30:01,039 --> 00:30:04,680 o'clock at night or midnight and expect me to reply 556 00:30:04,759 --> 00:30:08,119 to your text. Right. I need to get sleep. And 557 00:30:08,200 --> 00:30:10,759 you know I don't run my business for my cell phone. 558 00:30:10,920 --> 00:30:14,279 I am very old school, as you know. I have 559 00:30:14,359 --> 00:30:17,559 a separate business line that even if you are an 560 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:21,559 established client that has my cell number, I'm going to say, Isabelle, 561 00:30:21,559 --> 00:30:23,880 if you're going to refer me to a neighbor or friend, 562 00:30:24,039 --> 00:30:27,480 please give them my business line. Yeah, because that's how 563 00:30:27,519 --> 00:30:30,319 I start screening my clients, because I want to see 564 00:30:30,319 --> 00:30:33,440 if we're a good fit. Leave your name, address, phone number, 565 00:30:33,440 --> 00:30:36,440 and dates or service needed one. I know where you 566 00:30:36,519 --> 00:30:38,880 live or you don't live, whether you're in my service 567 00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:41,680 area or not. I could check the dates to see 568 00:30:41,720 --> 00:30:45,119 if I'm available. You know two strikes, you live in 569 00:30:45,160 --> 00:30:47,559 my service area, but I'm not available, call se and 570 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:50,400 so you're out of my service area, call so and so. 571 00:30:50,559 --> 00:30:53,279 I can still offer that customer service. But I start 572 00:30:53,359 --> 00:30:56,480 screening my clients just for my outgoing message. 573 00:30:56,640 --> 00:30:58,680 Speaker 2: Because Scott and I have so much to stay on 574 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,359 the topic of professional pet sitting. This is a two 575 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:05,000 part episode, and so stay tuned for next week's drop 576 00:31:05,359 --> 00:31:05,960 of heart 577 00:31:06,240 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 4: T Let's Talk Pets every week on demand only on 578 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:30,079 petlife Radio dot com.