West Plains Pet Sitting has in-home TLC for pets at a reasonable rate
By CARA LORELLO
Staff Reporter
As someone who likes animals, and a person with extra time on his hands, thanks to retirement, local resident Charles Carver came up with the idea to combine both into a business. West Plains Pet Sitting is an in-home pet care service with affordable rates available to area residents seeking an alternative to kennel boarding their dog or cat while on vacation.
The 12-year Medical Lake resident said he'd done some research, and found a handful of pet sitters are currently listed in the phone book, but they're mostly concentrated in Spokane. Carver saw a need for pet sitting services in the area, covering the cities of Cheney, Airway Heights, Medical Lake, Espanola, Fairchild Air Force Base, and Liberty Lake.
“I've used sitters for my pets for many years,” Carver said, who's current companion is a chocolate lab named Jake. Prior to Jake, he raised two dotsons.
“No one else in the area was really doing anything like this, and since I have the time, having retired about a year ago, this seemed a good way to occupy the time,” Carver said.
Armed with a new business license and the standard insurance package, Carver has placed word about West Plains Pet Sitting with vet clinics in both Medical Lake and Cheney, which now stock his business cards.
To start, Carver said he would offer sitting service for both dogs and cats (no large animals, please) seven days a week at residences in any of the aforementioned communities. He'll charge one of two rates, depending on if a job is nearby (within five to 10 miles), or further away. For nearby sitting jobs, clients can have their pets looked after for $15 for one visit, or $25 for two visits. Longer distance jobs will have an extra $3 tacked on to each rate.
“I won't go as far into Spokane, there are about 11 pet sitters I saw in the phonebook there,” Carver added.
Upon getting a client call, Carver said he'd do an intake meeting at the place of residence to see and get acquainted with the animal in their natural environment prior to accepting the job.
“I'll also survey the home and generally spend half hour with the animal. We'll take a walk or try things they like to do,” Carver said of his meet-and-greet routine with animals.
Hiring a stranger to take care of one's pet Carver said he understands, “is not something that's for everyone.” Rates to board animals at local kenneling facilities, while they may be cheaper compared to his sitting rates, have their drawbacks.
“One thing people should consider is that animals, particularly some dogs, can go through separation anxiety, and become prone to health problems. Some come down with what's called ‘kennel cough,'” Carver said, who alluded to one of his own pets who's stay at a kennel put her under such stress that she lost weight and had trouble drinking after being picked up.
“Some animals, not all, just don't do well in this type of environment, being in a cage in the company of other animals and people,” he said, but it's a choice left up to the owner.
West Plains Pet Sitting is available seven days a week, and those interested in setting up a consultation with Carver, preferably during daylight hours, may reach him at (509) 299-3581.
Cara Lorello can be reached at [email protected]
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