Exploring Life & Business with Jenny McIntyre of Pet Care Companion

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny McIntyre. 

Jenny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from Port Huron, Michigan. Ten years ago, I moved to Canton (MI) for a relationship, which ended up being a disaster, but the relocation got me out of a rut; I’d been a hotel housekeeper for seven years and had felt stuck there. After 15 months of short-lived jobs and unemployment, I snagged a medical delivery job based in Livonia, and I was content with that for most of the next almost eight years. Meanwhile, I moved around to different cities in the area until applying and getting approved for a mortgage in 2018. I hastily bought a house in Ypsilanti, where I lived for three years. It was a trying time. I wasn’t happy there, while conditions at my job were leading to a growing unhappiness there too. And on March 16, 2020, I lost a sister to suicide. My mental health suffered severely in the following months, but within a year, the support of my family, friends, and now-partner had carried me through. In June of 2021, I moved to Detroit, southeast side, and immediately felt at home. A couple months later, the sale of my house in Ypsi was finalized. That event gave me a new level of financial security and freedom and was the catalyst I needed to leave my long-held job without hesitation after having been pet sitting for only a month. On a whim, I had put up a profile on a website that connects pet care providers with pet parents, and I was soon receiving booking requests on the regular and glowing reviews from clients. It had previously seemed like a pipe dream to be able to make a living at something I love, let alone do so as a small business owner, but six months into professionally pet sitting, a conversation with a sister was all it took for me to start making a business plan and putting it into motion. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For the most part, it’s been smooth sailing. This isn’t my first try at entrepreneurship, but it’s already the most successful, and I feel confident it will only become more so with time and perseverance. I’d say my biggest hurdle up to this point was with establishing reasonable limits on my schedule. For a time, I was overworking myself by squeezing appointments into already busy days, plus not ensuring that I got regular days off, which of course is not a sustainable long-term scenario. I’ve brought two other sitters on board so far to help with the expanding demand, but more are needed, so hiring is the top priority right now.

Also, I’m an introvert with a history of fairly intense social anxiety, so getting comfortable with the meet-and-greet process took some time. I don’t get nervous about it anymore. Thank God, since it’s a frequent part of the job! 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Pet Care Companion?
It’s an honor and privilege we don’t take for granted to be chosen by pet parents as secondary caregivers for their babies. Whether we’re dropping in for sitting or dog walking services, staying overnight, or boarding pets in our own homes, we provide nothing less than stellar, responsible, loving care and always keep our clients updated with photos and report cards. 

I put together my own Pet Sitter CPR, First Aid and Safety training course to ensure that my staff are not only prepared for handling emergencies but knowledgeable in preventing the preventable.

Going above and beyond is my standard for myself and the business as a whole. It shows even in the photos I send to clients. Not every time of course, but when feasible, I try for the extra high-quality shots. I’m often complimented on this, and one client suggested I become a pet photographer on the side, which had crossed my mind before, but I’m letting that idea simmer.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
To allow for continued growth of our client base, I’m looking to bring additional sitters onto the team! There’s a link on the website to apply. 

Pricing:

• 20-minute Drop-in: dog $18 + $8/add’l, cat $16 + $4/add’l
• 30-minute Drop-in: dog $20 + $8/add’l, cat $18 + $4/add’l
• Dog Walking: 20 minutes $20, 30 minutes $24, 1 hour $35
• Overnight: dog $70/night + $15 add’l, cat $55/night + $7 add’l
• Boarding: dog $50/night + $25/add’l, cat $35/night + $17/add’l

Contact Info:

• Website: https://petcarecompanion.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petcarecompanion
• Facebook: https://fb.me/petcarecompanion

Image Credits
Rachel Mulwee