In the Beginning....

After the first interview and a job accomplished with the Lab, along came my first business "Holiday". At this point in 1986, I really did not know if this was something  that would earn me a living. There were only 2 Pet Sitters,  one south of Dallas, And one in Plano, north of Dallas. I put an ad in the only small local paper that was close to me- Park Cities News. I started getting a couple of calls, and the next client, for Thanksgiving week, taught me how to model my business. It was an attorney, in Highland Park, an exclusive neighborhood, who called me to help with the family dog. His wife and child had left for Colorado and he would join them as soon as his 'case' ended. He wanted to know-could I take care of their dog because he was leaving home early and returning late. In a few days he would join his family and I would take over care of the dog for the vacation. OK - Sure! At first he was gone before I got there, and home after I left in the evening. A few days later, I ran into him and was confused. Did he still want me to take care of the dog even though he was 'around'? Yes! he assured me that he would pay me for the contracted time, 10 days. The trial had ended but he could not leave town and he would appreciate me continuing with the dog. Someone was going to pay me to feed the dog even though they were home. He taught me that my clients would be honorable people, who loved their pets, wanted to pay for the convenience of having them at home, and perhaps had a variety of lifestyles that I could work around. The client asked me several times if I wanted to be paid, but I said he could pay me when the job was completed. At the end when the family returned, he thanked me, and paid my bill including a generous 'tip'! I could not believe it, and yet, I knew that if this is what it would be like, I had found my calling with this 'pet sitter' gig!