I am lucky enough to have grown up in a home where animals were always at the forefront. From dogs, cats, small animals and farm animals. El Paso, Texas is a border town where there is a lot of influx of different cultures. Also abundant in El Paso and New Mexico are areas of farmland and ranches. I started working on ranches when I was a young 14 years old and from there I kept working in industries that included animals. While in college I found myself drawn to the animal world working at a doggie daycare and boarding facility in New Mexico. My passion for animals always found a way to shine through in my life, both personally and professionally. I truly thrive in the opportunity to work with dogs and earn a living doing so.
A good 13 years ago I moved to San Francisco and was working in a doggie daycare in the SOMA district. After working at this facility for about 6 months, the owner decided to close its doors. The owner offered his managers and employees the opportunity to take the client base and offer services to them. Myself and two of the managers decided to offer dog walking services. We worked together for several months and then branched off into our own businesses. While it seemed like a very scary and risky thing to do, I was excited. Each and every weekday I picked up 3-4 dogs from their homes and transported them in a Honda Civic to the beach (Fort Funston). Soon enough, the Honda Civic changed into a Dodge Van and the pack kept growing.
I am lucky enough to have clients who care for their dogs as if they were human children. Making sure they get enough daily exercise and stimulation while they are away at work all day. I have been referred to as a “surrogate mother” or their “doggie Nanny.” This opportunity has made my business thrive.
In 2008, I attended the world renowned dog training academy at the San Francisco SPCA. In a course that lasted 6 weeks, I received a certificate in Training and Counseling. This is another facet and service that I now add to my business. I take pride in offering only reward based, force free dog training and dog walking.
I strive to continue offering a premier dog walking and training service here in San Francisco. My own private ranch will help me achieve this in a more personable way.
I need to prep 12 acres of open land by mowing and treating it for pests. The estimated cost of this is around: $2,000. I will also need to purchase enough fencing and entrance gates to go all the way around the lot and hire laborers to help install it. I expect the cost of that to be around $3,000. When this space is ready to use I will be able to take on more clients and grow my business.