25/07/2025
I can totally relate to Cristinaโs words!
Please remember to cancel your appointment at least 48 hours in advance, so we get a chance to replace your dog by another client.
Thanks to all of you who do respect small businesses as ours. We really appreciate your support! ๐
โ ๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ...
I believe my extensive use of humor may have given the wrong impression.
๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐๐๐ฒ.
My hobbies? That would be my dogs, my cats, my husband, my family, my sports, my Lego sets, and my books.
Your pets? Theyโre my job.
A job with responsibilities, bills, and very real consequences when things fall through.
In the past 48 hours alone, Iโve had cancellations that amount to what I would have paid myself in September.
Yes, ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐. Independent workers donโt get salaries from someone else, we generate them. After we pay first:
- 25% to CNS
- Accountant
- Insurance
- Utilities
- Business tools and subscriptions
- The landlord
- The bank
- Our old friend: the VAT
- and the Administration des Contribution Directes
All of these still expect their money, whether you cancel on us or not.
Now Iโm left asking:
๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐?
Because guess what? We donโt get paid holidays, paid sick days, or paid time off. If weโre not working, weโre not earning.
And letโs talk about something else:
This year alone, Iโve lost count of how many clients Iโve lost to "friends", cousins, students, neighbors, and casual sitters who work under the table.
I get it, everyoneโs watching their budget.
But please understand: if you cancel on professionals like me too often, one day youโll call and we simply wonโt be here anymore.
How quickly can it happen?
Just remember how many dog boarding businesses (and big established ones!) closed after two months of lockdown.
Thatโs how close the margins are.
Maison Dog takes a huge amount of time, heart, and sacrifice to run. I havenโt spent Christmas with my family in 9 years.
I havenโt really travelled with my husband in just as long.
So Iโll say this:
๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ค.
I will shape this business until it will work for me and my family. And if it doesnโt? Iโve changed careers and paths four times already. Iโm not afraid to do it again. I am kind of reckless.
Believe me, I really hate to be like this. I truly do.
Itโs not personal, itโs professional.
Thank you to those who continue to support my small business (and others) with trust, respect, and reliability. You keep Maison Dog going. โค๏ธ
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I wish everyone a lovely summer and relaxing holidays, but please know: fundamental changes are coming.
Maison Dog will carry on, in this shape or another. Stronger or leaner, but never at the expense of my well-being or my family.
Best, Cristina
Photo credits to Lisbeth Ganer Photography