Inspiring Conversations with Jackie Kilgore of Paw City Pet Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Kilgore.  

Hi Jackie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have always been a pet lover and caretaker. I vividly remember my fifth birthday; my parents decided to add a dog to our family and I decided they gifted me a puppy. Naturally, like any five-year-old, I wanted to name him Happy Birthday. My Dad offered many alternative names, none of which topped the name I chose. I am sure my dad said “so be it” and eventually we settled on Happy Birthday and would call him Hap for short. Hap was my dog and best friend; we did everything together. I fed him, played with him, brushed him, and loved him for many years. He would walk me to the bus stop every morning and wait there for my return every afternoon. He was the best boy and taught me a lot at a very young age about the reward of earning a pet’s trust and love by providing loving care. 

As an adult, I found myself working at a wonderful doggie daycare. It was during this time I realized, that some dogs who were aging, anxious, don’t like car rides, aren’t dog friendly, etc., may be better served by another option; at-home care. So, I casually started offering at-home pet sitting services and soon found there are many pets, in addition to dogs, and parents who would appreciate at-home service. I care for cats, birds, reptiles, chickens, fish, guinea pigs, and ferrets, and am willing to add more to my list! 

In 2019, through a mutual acquaintance, I met the founder of Paw City Pet Care. She was graduating from college and starting her nursing career. As a pet sitter, you grow very fond of your pets and pet parents, as such, she wanted to find someone to carry on her pet care legacy, business, and standard of quality care. We were so happy to have met and only wished we had met years earlier. We both had the same passion, work ethic, and standards. We decided on an agreement to transfer ownership of the business and to work together for a slow transition so we could best serve all pets and parents. 

In the midst of a worldwide pandemic, it became official and my casual pet sitting now had a name, Paw City Pet Care. The business was slow, nearly non-existent, but I knew this would be the perfect time to get everything organized, do all of the paperwork and slowly meet pet parents. We did a lot of video conference meet and greets and I met a lot of skeptical pets while wearing a mask, keeping my distance, and avoiding touch. It was an interesting time for all of us, pets included. 

In time, pet parents started working and traveling and pets needed visits again. Things slowly got back to normal and our services began to grow because of client referrals. Gradually as things picked up, I started to build a team of pet care providers. My Mom was my first team member. It was really hard to take that first leap and trust someone to care for all of our pets; my mom brought me comfort. Today, we are proud to provide top-notch, quality, and reliable care to pets and pet parents with our team of twelve pet sitters and a certified groomer. 

I have always dreamt of having lots and lots of pets, and with Paw City Pet Care, that dream has come true. Every pet we care for is part of my family. I know each of them and love each of them. Every day, I look forward to playing with my furry, scaly, and feathery friends and meeting more! 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are always obstacles and challenges with anything. Our schedule is always changing with adding or canceling visits last minute. We understand things come up and life happens, so we are very flexible and accommodating when this happens. To help keep everyone on the same page, we have an app that is used by pet parents and pet sitters to communicate and schedule. Without this software, we would be lost. 

We’ve been impressed with Paw City Pet Care, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Paw City Pet Care is a professional pet care company currently serving the Greater Lansing area. We are fully insured, bonded, background cleared and pet first aid certified. We offer trustworthy, dependable, reliable, and loving care to pets and their parents. Services include dog walks, cat sitting, bird care, reptile care, drop-in visits, and in-your-home nail trims. 

Pricing:

• Cat Sitting – starting at $20
• Dog Walking – starting at $20
• Drop-In Visits – starting at $20
• Nail Trims – $25

Contact Info:

• Website: www.pawcitypetcare.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/pawcitypetcare
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/pawcitypetcare