Today we’d like to introduce you to Joelyn Joaquin.
Joelyn, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
All my life I’ve been an animal lover. But it wasn’t until 2003 when a shy, scared Terrier mix from the SPCA chose us to be her forever family that we became crazy dog fanatics. Dad named her Ohana, from the Disney movie Lilo & Stitch, because “Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind…or forgotten.” Having been abused and abandoned, it took a while for Ohana to warm up to us. Eventually, she became the sweetest, most affectionate, most loving and playful little girl…the princess of the family.
Later, during the Great Recession of 2008, the company for which I was working started to do some major layoffs. Since I was on the chopping block, I decided to take the plunge and start my own business and to start working for myself. Ohana & Friends Pet Sitting was born. Well, at least in my head. The first thing I did was call a pet sitter (Ohana’s pet sitter, actually) and wail, “What do I do now?” He suggested getting a book called “Pet Sitting for Profit,” which I immediately did and devoured. To start, I created a website, ordered some marketing materials, and started plastering business cards and flyers all over town. Slowly, one client became two. And two became three. And here we are, nine years later, and I’ve been tremendously blessed to have cared for hundreds of wet noses and wagging tails.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Owning my own business — especially one that deals with animals — has been very rewarding and extremely gratifying. I am my own boss. I get to make (or break) my own rules. It’s not without its challenges though. It’s a 365-day a year job, with early mornings and late nights. (Weekends? Holidays? What are those?) Luckily my family and friends have been very understanding and supportive! Also, for me, it’s often been feast or famine. Some days are busy, some are not. Gone are the days of a steady paycheck, employer-paid health benefits, and paid time off. Even more challenging is trying to find and hire reliable help to take over for me on the rare occasion that I do go out of town. And working with pets is not all fun and games. It can get dirty. It can get messy. It can get tough. It’s caring for an ailing dog who has cancer and is losing use of her legs. It’s trying to give a cat her medicine when all she wants to do is shred you to a bloody pulp. But one of the hardest parts of this job is when a pet crosses the rainbow bridge. These dogs and cats become family to me, and when one passes on, I’m heartbroken. But I feel very fortunate to work with pets. My “office” is the great outdoors. I am greeted with sweet purrs and sloppy kisses. Most importantly, I’m able to spend precious time every day with my 4-year-old son and my 6-year-old Yorkie instead of being tied up in a fluorescent-lit building behind someone else’s computer screen. It is invaluable to me, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Please tell us about Ohana & Friends Pet Sitting.
Ohana & Friends is an in-home pet-sitting service, serving Burbank and the surrounding areas. “In-home” means in the client’s home, because I believe pets are most comfortable in their own home. People go out of town or sometimes spend long hours at work. That’s where I come in. I make visits to the client’s home and provide dog walks, cat care, small animal care (birds, rabbits, fish, guinea pigs, etc.), medication administration (pills, liquids, creams, insulin shots, subcutaneous fluids), meals, playtime, treats, and an abundance of TLC to ensure the pets are happy and cared for. In addition, I take measures to give clients’ homes a lived-in look, such as retrieving mail and newspapers, watering plants, alternating lights, rotating blinds, and taking trash cans to the curb. I also offer overnight stays in clients’ homes to further keep pets company, and someday I hope to add “training walking” to my list of services to help pet parents who have dogs who are leash pullers, barkers, or reactive to other dogs.
I am most proud of creating a reputable company that people trust and depend on. I take pride in being able to help folks out when they need it, being there for their pets when they can’t, giving people peace of mind that their pets and homes are in the best hands. I completely understand that to these pet parents, their pets are their children, and to be granted access to their homes and entrusted to care for their babies is a tremendous honor that I take very seriously.
As I hope and expect all of my fellow professional pet sitters to be, I am a mature, trustworthy, responsible animal lover. I respond to inquiries promptly, I go above and beyond for my clients, I provide the best customer service that I can, and I put my heart and soul into this business. I am also insured, bonded, and certified in Pet First-Aid and CPCR (yes, there are now two Cs), which sets me apart from the hobbyist pet sitter.
With Ohana & Friends, nobody gets forgotten.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to do it all over again, I honestly can’t say I would have done anything differently. Of course, many mistakes were made and many lessons were learned. But I needed these things to happen or my business wouldn’t be what it is today. And I’m still learning. I’m still growing. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Pricing:
- $22 – Dog Visit/Walk
- $20 – Cat Visit
- $85 – Overnight Stay
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ohanaandfriends.com
- Phone: 818-688-1010
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohanaandfriendspetsitting/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ohanaandfriendspetsitting/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ohanaandfriends
Image Credit:
Personal photo: Mark Gantt Photography
Pet photos: Joelyn Joaquin
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
