By Norine Longo
When Paul and Deborah Quinn were laid off from their jobs, the husband and wife were faced with a decision to re-enter the workforce in an unstable economy or become their own employers.
In the past, the Quinns have cared for pets for friends and neighbors for free and as a hobby. In February 2009, they chose to start a Fetch! Petcare franchise.
The Quinns flew to California for three days of training on programs and software specific to running the business and opened for business last April. They are now fully trained, bonded and insured pet-sitting professionals.
“Stories like ours are becoming more common these days with the economy,” Paul said. “Most people get laid off and think, ‘Now what?’ We’re lucky enough to have come up with our ‘now what?’”
In their time providing pet care to customers, they have taken care of pets of all kinds, including tadpoles in a house with cats. The Quinns are pet owners themselves of two 10-year-old dogs, Benny and Rocky.
“In the year we’ve operated, we haven’t missed one assignment and we hope to remain 100 percent mistake free,” said Paul.
Because of the business’ rapid growth to servicing the surrounding areas, Paul and Deborah continue to hire part-time help. Candidates are interviewed and their backgrounds are checked before they are hired. But the first requirement for the job is simple: they have to love pets.
Customers can expect that their pets will get the same one-on-one attention they get with their owners.
“We spoil them rotten,” said Deborah. The Quinns don’t like to define their services because they let the customers define them, usually starting with a free consultation. When it comes to overnight care or sitting, the Quinns invite clients over to their home to talk with them, address concerns and show them around.
The couple admits their overnight care is more expensive than some other options, but they find that people would rather pay a little extra to know that their pet will be treated well.
Deborah said if pet owners leave their pets in their hands, someone is with them 24/7. The pets are never left alone as they schedule their days around the schedules of their customers.
They are extremely careful to follow instructions, especially when it comes to administering medications to animals, said Deborah.
Fetch! Petcare of West Trenton/Newtown is located in the Mountain View section of West Trenton and serves Ewing, Trenton, Titusville and Pennington in New Jersey and Newtown, Washington’s Crossing, Langhorne, Penndel, Hulmeville, Morrisville and Yardley in Pennsylvania. Services include private dog walks, cat and small pet visits, fitness service, in-home pet sitting, overnight care, pet taxi, home care and administering medications. For more information, contact (609) 643-0843 or visit fetchpetcare.com.
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