We are very excited for our next Client Spotlight! Meet Anna Strayer and the amazing team at Anna's Animals! Anna's Animals has a simple mission - to create long lasting connections with pet owners and their pets by providing exceptional, personalized pet care and peace of mind. The pets and pet parents in Toledo, Ohio and the surrounding areas are all thrilled that Anna and her team take this approach. They offer an array of services that include daily drop in visits, overnight stays at the pet's home, and overnight stays at Anna's home.
As with most amazing pet care businesses, Anna's Animals started based on Anna's passion for pets. What was originally a side hustle, Anna's Animals was so popular with the pet parents in greater Toledo that eventually, it became a full-time business (now with multiple staff members). If you are looking for an awesome pet care experience in Toledo, be sure to give Anna a call. You can learn more on their website and be sure to give them a follow on Facebook too!
What caused you to get into pet sitting/dog walking?
Like many others, I started pet sitting for family friends and my mom's coworkers. After college, unsure of my career path, I began pet sitting alongside a serving job for fun. I quickly realized the demand for these services in my community, and my mom encouraged me to start my own business. She even suggested the name, and I ran with it! I'll never forget my manager at my restaurant asking me what I wanted to do with my life. When I said, "I'm going to run a pet sitting business!" he replied, "So you're going to let people's dogs out all day?" I confidently answered, "That's exactly what I'm going to do!" Known for my love of animals, especially dogs, and with my marketing background, I felt sure I could turn this passion into an income. Five years later, the business has grown more than I ever imagined. I still see untapped potential and am now determined to expand and create opportunities for a solid team.
What is the most fulfilling part of owning a pet sitting/dog walking business?
The most fulfilling part is what our services allow our clients to do and the connections we develop with them over time. I love hearing the reasons they need a pet sitter - from traveling to bucket list destinations to announcing pregnancies to loved ones. I'm always honored to be a part of their getaways. It's rewarding to hear, "We've always wanted to do this but didn't know what to do with our pets!" I don't take my trusted position lightly. I love when clients follow up to share the fun they're having while away. The generous nature of our clients and their personal touches, like gift cards, handwritten notes, and homemade baked goods, make us feel very appreciated.
What is the most challenging?
The most challenging aspect is hiring team members who understand the nature of this role and the level of responsibility it entails. It's more than just checking on pets; it involves critical thinking, problem-solving, and excellent time management. People often don't realize the full scope of being a pet sitter. We want the right people who represent our standard of care and respect the role, so we are very selective. It's not a lack of demand that holds us back but rather my unwillingness to take on more demand with limited help. Burnout can easily occur, so maintaining a manageable load while expanding the team thoughtfully is crucial.
Where do you see your business in 5 years?
In five years, I see my business as a small but mighty team of quality pet sitters, being the leading choice for pet care in our community. I want to continue growing while maintaining our values and quality of care. Therefore, the rate of growth is less important than intentional growth. We've followed a slow and steady strategy to ensure quality isn't sacrificed. I'd love to see our Wedding Pet Attendant service become a more significant part of the business. It's a niche need but a growing service that's so much fun to execute on such a special day for couples!
What has Time To Pet changed the most about how you run your business?
Time To Pet elevated my business from a hobbyist level to a professional one overnight! It streamlined our operations and provided the framework we didn't know we were missing but definitely needed. It saves us so much backend admin time, allowing us to focus more on the pets and service execution. Every time you schedule a service for a client, an invoice is automatically created, saving so much manual work and inaccuracy when handling invoices and billing. Another key aspect of TTP is the way you can efficiently communicate with your staff and clients all in one place. Having clients and team members communicate directly in the client's chatbox has greatly improved the layered communication process and allowed us to reply promptly as we all can view it in real-time. This adds to our accountability and efficiency as a team! Lastly, the pup reports being delivered through app notifications or email has served as a more appropriate way to check in and store information/photos vs the old way of sending direct text messages, which can blow up a client's phone as well as drown a pet sitter in business matters on their personal phone. The separation from the two has allowed us to show up better as service providers!
