California Gurl

Way ahead of schedule, I am now moving to San Diego at the end of the week. Unfortunate familial issues have mandated that I pack my car up with any belongings I can fit, as well as two cats (Selphie and Tweak), two mice (Biscuit and Bellatrix), 20 gallon aquarium complete with assorted fish(all with names, but so many to type), and my betta Fernando. My Dad has come through for me yet again and, at a week's notice, is flying out to make the forty hour drive with me and help keep the animals in line.

I'm deciding to let go of the bad and embrace the good. I will be opening my pet-sitting business preferably by the end of the month. I have a partial business plan, a custom logo courtesy of LogoSnap.com, a business name, and small loan already in place. I am transferring to a California location with my dog training job, ensuring I have at least a small income.

I leave behind family I don't mind getting away from, and family and friends I'll miss and call frequently. My two boys, cats I hand-raised since they were three days old, are staying in Ohio as well. That is one particular pain that will take a while to heal. Veronica had her twins right as I announced the move, and though she will be having some difficulties she was supportive. Altogether, it is a bittersweet but much needed change in my life.

In order to travel with so many pets, it took some innovation and restraint on my part. I devised a system to move my tropical fish, which consists of trash bags, spring water, a Marina battery-powered air pump, styrofoam cooler, and API Stress Coat. My betta will ride along in the cup holder, in his original plastic cup, while his 3.5 gallon tank gets packed in the back. Cutting down my library and wardrobe, I've made room for a little runway for the cats complete with a large comfy bed. Their litter pan will be behind a seat, their carrier behind the opposite one if they need to hide. They both will get Rescue Remedy for anxiety in their water, pheromone stress-relief collars, and little harnesses with leashes secured to d-rings to give them freedom to move while doubling as seat belts. Collapsible water bowls and jars of chicken baby food round up their cozy travel prep. Cat-friendly hotels were relatively easy to find.

I will update along the trip, since I'm sure I'll have stories to tell. Not only will it be interesting traveling with so many animals in one car, but my Dad and I will most likely encounter some strange people and places.

Misgivings

I was thrilled to receive a quick response to my email request for employment applications. Just quitting my second job as a delivery driver for a pizzeria had been both good and bad. Good, because the new owner was very close to putting someone in the hospital with all his health code violations and I wanted no part in it. Bad, because I needed the income even if it was thinning out over time what with bad tippers and rising gas prices.

     The owner of the pet-sitting business I’d emailed sent me a response within days. We met at a great 1950’s pin-up girl themed coffee shop the day after. The interview went well and I was hired. I happily attended a barrage of unpaid consults, meeting new clients and current ones. The clients were great and the business owner (let’s call her Veronica) is amazing.

     After about a week and a $50 tank of gas however, things were looking a little bleaker. Since all the back and forth consulting was a free service, my bank account was starting to suffer. It didn't help that I had just received another late notice from one of my student loans. I also had been given a tentative April schedule of pet sits, and I wasn’t even going to crack $100 for the month. In combination with my other job as a dog trainer, that meant I was barely teasing a $500 monthly income.

     I spent a very stressful afternoon debating with a friend (she’ll be dubbed Charlotte) about the merits of the pet sitting job. I told her about Veronica’s expecting twins, and the great chance at learning the job since I eventually want to run my own pet sitting business, and how horrible I would feel leaving Veronica to fend for herself when she’d clearly expressed her need and appreciation for my help. Charlotte stressed that I needed to think about me first, intonating that promising to work on that meant I actually had to practice it. I felt torn: I needed a more substantial income from a second job, but Veronica needed me and I loved working for her. It didn’t help that her Rottweiler had become my new best friend and was competing for boyfriend status with an elderly Golden Retriever.

     I shadowed Veronica later that day, at said Golden Retriever’s house. After going for a walk and working out a pay schedule, we sat on the floor with my senior almost-boyfriend. While he ran around humping the furniture, Veronica pulled out a revised April schedule and I jotted down names, times and addresses into my pocket planner. Magically, several more times had been added, and there were a few more clients waiting to schedule their times with Veronica and me. I was so relieved I didn’t even mind smelling the chair cushion the dog had recently dismounted to check for pee.

     I’m hoping this forward momentum keeps up, though Veronica has already told me that this is the busiest month she’s had yet. I want to discuss some advertising options with her to see if we can bring in more clients, as well as driving around leaving business cards at vet offices and pet stores. I’m trying to stay positive because this job, and the dog training, are two halves of what I want to do with my life. Eventually I expect to run my own pet sitting and pet taxi business in California, and in the long run open a small animal rescue. I already dream about chic little farmhouses and earthy pastures, a heated stall in the stables for barn cats and climate-controlled garage kennel for dogs waiting for forever homes, a cat room resplendent with ceiling-level cat walks and towering kitty condos.