05/16/2024
Good afternoon, everyone!
After many questions and some confusion regarding the name of my business, I figured I’d better introduce myself!
Hello!! My name is Emily, I’m 20 years old, and I started this business roughly a month ago after working with, owning, learning about and LOVING animals for the last 20 years. As a child I was obsessed with anything and everything animals. I much preferred to read ”The Dog Breeds Book” as opposed to your classic bedtime stories and was always eager to learn about all the critters we call pets! As I got older that passion never faded, and it went from dogs and cats to horses, reptiles, small pets, fish, you name it! I’ve drowned myself in knowledge about just about any critter you can think of, and I love them all! I personally have had many pets over the years, including some super fun ones like rats and a chameleon. Once I moved out on my own I was quick to fill my home with fur and mayhem, leading me to now have 2 dogs (Lou and Vivienne), 2 cats (Evangeline and Leonard), a fish and a snail (Jesko and Jeffery). Many say that’s a lot, and don’t get me wrong, it is, but I quite enjoy never having any personal space and constantly lint rolling every surface of my house. I couldn’t imagine life without them. Due to this, when asked what my hobbies are, I always respond with “animals”. They’re my entire life! Even my other hobbies, art, I’m making animal art! I recently took up sewing, and what did I find myself making? Dog collars! I bake a bit as well! what do I bake, you might ask? Well, dog treats of course! Every single aspect of my existence has something to do with 4 legged creatures and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Now, why did I decide at the age of 20 to start my own business? To put it shortly, people don’t care enough. I turned 18 and jumped right into the professional world of animals, eager to learn even more and spend my days caring for peoples beloved fur babies. After a very short time I found myself completely gutted by finding all of the poor practices, low standards of care, and a simple lack of love in the industry. I hopped around to a few places, and ultimately, seeing the way the majority of corporations mistreat the animals who the community trusts them to care for left me with a broken heart. I decided the animal world wasn’t for me. It was too much pain for me to handle seeing animals be neglected and mistreated all for the sake of money. After exploring a few other career paths, still pet sitting on the side, I discovered my life felt empty going to work and not coming home covered in fur. I realized I was left with one option if I wanted to spend my life working with animals. To start my own business! With my own standards of care, that of course are MUCH higher than most, my own rules and regulations, and no money hungry crap! So, here we are!
And of course, I know you have one more big question. Who the heck is Lou!? Lou (aka Lou Bear, Boo Bear, Poo Bear, Stinker Butt, Baby Boo, and many more) is my 2 year old golden retriever, pictured below, who I love more than anything on the planet. My dad and his family brought Lou home as just a teeny little ball of fluff, with hopes to make him a hunting dog! They soon found out that Mr. Lou struggled with some pretty gnarly anxiety, and was the exact opposite of a hunting dog. But of course, loved him regardless! I personally was obsessed with him from the moment I saw him. Just a sweet little bundle of sunshine with so much love to give. Every time I visited my dad I found myself on the floor with the dog rather than the couch with my family. About 8 months ago I went through one of the hardest phases of my life I’ve ever been through. Ended a long term relationship, had to rehome my previous dog due to a spontaneous agression towards my cats, lost my job, everything. I was completely lost in the world, unsure of where to turn next. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a living, and I was so very alone. My dad, seeing this, offered to let Lou stay with me for a while, just to get me out of the dumps. Needless to say, it was more than just a stay! Lou thrived having someone with the time and energy to dote on him, and I thrived having a dog who loved me as much as I loved him. We made some amazing progress on his anxiety and were both as happy as can be! On top of it, my dads family found their other dog really started to come out of his shell without 75 lbs of do**us trampling over him, and embraced the life of being an only dog! It was a perfect match, and so he stayed! That big goofy, golden ball of love single handedly brought my light back, and I thought it incredibly fitting to name my business after him. And so became, Lou’s Critter Care.
The bottom line is that this, caring for animals, is absolutely, 110% my passion. I couldn’t imagine a better day than it being spent getting to know, caring for, and loving your pets. I truly believe every single animal deserves the absolute best and that no less should ever be satisfactory. My time in the corporate world gave me skills such as administering medication, being able to read a pets body language like a book, having the ability to safely handle even the most feisty of critters, and above all, a drive to do better. Now, I can utilize all the skills and experience I’ve gathered from working with, owning, and learning about animals to ensure that your pets get the gold standard of care. Booking a service with Lou’s Critter Care is more than just hiring someone to throw food in a bowl while you’re on vacation or give your dog a quick walk or bath. It’s knowing your pet deserves the best, and hiring someone who will gladly sit on the floor and spoon feed your dog if that’s what they need. Someone whose full attention will be on your pet for the entire time they’re in my care. Someone who takes the time to get to know your pets, and makes sure the route we walk passes a pond so they can look at their favorite birds, and giggles when they cover me in fur and water while shaking off after a bath.
So, what are you waiting for!? Cancel that stay at that nasty boarding facility where they’ll be stuck in a cage 22 hours a day, and book a house sitting! Stop feeling guilty for not having time for a walk, and book a few! I promise you won’t be disappointed ❤️
