ArkanPaws Pet Sitting : Taking care of busines
Gay Crosby knew she wanted to run her own company, be her own boss, make her own way when she left the world of manufacturing for good. She looked at franchise opportunities and stumbled over the required investments. Then she decided to launch her own business taking care of pets.
“I love animals so much that I naturally gravitate toward them and they gravitate toward me,” says Crosby, who started ArkanPaws Pet Sitting almost four years ago. Crosby networks with humans at BNI in Bentonville, but it’s the testimonials from her pet clients that tell the story of her success.
“When Gay first came to visit with us three and a half years ago, we had an older German shepherd that wasn't very trusting or friendly,” says Camille Wilcox, who owns Northwest Medical Transfer with husband, Rick. “He was, however, an excellent judge of character. ‘Buck’ immediately gave Gay his ‘paw of approval’. That was enough for us.”
ArkanPaws has its hands full at the Wilcox household. “I have five dogs, four house cats, three office cats, 19 horses, seven goats and three barn cats,” she says. “Gay has taken care of all of them. I can leave town and not worry one bit.”
Crosby even has a few clients who hire her to stay over night because they don’t want their pet to be alone. It’s a pet slumber party with Aunt Gay, she quips. “Money is not as much the issue as the comfort of the pets.”
Crosby has all the credentials that give clients the peace of mind they need: insured, bonded, Red Cross Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR, a member of Pet Sitters Associates (PSA) and Professional United Pet Sitters (PUP). Clients add trust, compassion and joy to that list.
Her services include any species of pet. Since she charges by the visit, she’s willing to add incidental services to the trip at no extra charge. Cleaning litter boxes, watering plants, collecting mail and newspapers, rotating lights and blinds are ways she “sits the home” as well.
“Whatever they need, that’s what I’ll do.”
“When she looks after the dogs, she looks after the house,” says Susie Hoeller, an attorney in Bentonville. She and her husband, Ted, have been clients for over a year.
“I have three small dogs and they were all rescued. They have separation anxiety, so I don’t want to put them in a kennel,” Hoeller shares. “They like staying at home.”
