Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Hill.
Alexis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a graduate of Smith College and Georgetown University Law Center, which surprises people. I spent eight years as a public interest attorney and community organizer (bringing my dogs with me to the office when possible). At the end of 2008, I decided I just didn’t want to spend the rest of my life behind a desk indoors.
I am lifelong animal buff. More than once I have planned a vacation specifically around getting to work with animals. For example, in 2007, I went to the island of Bequia in the Grenadines because that is where a very cool turtle sanctuary and nursery was located. (Sidebar: we ended up also bringing a homeless dog home to the States, who we named Bequia.) Another example was in 2009, when I completed a mahout training course at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang, Thailand.
I launched the Emerald Neckleash in 2009. From the beginning, Bequia the dog from the Carribean was an integral member of the Emerald Neckleash team. Bequia helped socialize puppies and provided playdates. She provided companionship to dogs staying in my home for boarding and daycare. (We no longer provide daycare. My wife used to work from home which made that possible. She was of course another integral member of the team.)
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has been a smooth road. There haven’t been struggles per se. I just grew the business organically, little by little. I have had to change the business model and the services we provide in the following ways:
Once my son was born, I had to reduce our service area, which meant having to drop amazing clients in Brookline;
Bequia is now about 15, so she is not available for playdates anymore, but she still provides amazing more mellow companionship to some of our clients;
Since becoming a mother and also because of an injury that has taken almost three years to repair, the amount of time I have had to spend walking dogs has fluctuated. I definitely don’t spend all day every day walking dogs anymore, and of course I miss that. I have had to suspend Arboretum hikes temporarily because that injury–hopefully they can resume in the fall.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We provide 15-minute and 25-minute one-on-one walks. No big packs.
We bring our own biodegradable bags for litter and poop-pickups.
We have a small service area in which the majority of our walkers travel between clients by foot or bike. We do have a couple of walkers who travel by car as we do need to have that especially in the winter. Another reason is that we have a long-term client who moved further into West Roxbury than we were able to serve by bike or foot. We couldn’t stop having a relationship with that family.
We have caregivers/walkers who have been with us for more than five years–that means we provide unparalleled individualized care to cats, dogs and bunnies.
We have the best clients, hands down. We have strong relationships with the dogs’ and cats’ humans: I have clients who have been with me since the beginning–that means 8 years. I just received an invitation to a barbecue from one of my clients. The humans send us photos long after they have moved away, bake cookies for our walkers and do sweet things like leave us tea when the winter weather is at its worse.
We may not be the cheapest bunny sitter, cat sitter or dog walker out there, but we are the most conscientious. As a result, we have the best, most conscientious clients.
We have t-shirts designed by JP artist Connie Barbour. (She is the artist behind the unique t-shirts for annual JP’s Walk Up the Earth festival.)
What were you like growing up?
There was a time when my mother and I lived in a suburb (not rural!) during which we had pets numbering into the teens. (We even had a pet chicken because my second grade class had a project involving watching chicks hatch and then the chicks needed homes.)
I moved around a lot before college. By my first year in grad school, one year after college, I just had to be a foster mom for dogs, and then I adopted one of my fosters. Probably not the brightest move for a grad student for a variety of reasons, but once I had my own home, I couldn’t not have a dog.
I was a rugby player after college: one rookie season with Boston Women’s Rugby Football Club, then multiple seasons as a B-side hooker with the Washington Women’s Rugby Football Club, the Furies.
Pricing:
- Neighborhood One-on-One Walks $17 (25 minutes) Walks are in the Arboretum, around Jamaica Pond, along the Muddy River and Leverett Pond, or in Olmstead and Franklin Parks whenever possible. Rates include checking water and treats (if allowed). An $8 fee is added for a second dog in the family. A $5 fee is added for a third dog in the family.
- Arboretum Hikes $20 without transportation/$25 with transportation (30 minutes) For dogs with a lot of energy who may need more stimulation, there are strenuous strolls up Peter’s Hill or Hemlock Hill. Dogs who live farther than a five minute walk from the Arboretum can be driven to and from Olmstead’s masterpiece for their hikes for an additional $5. Rates include checking water and treats (if allowed). An $8 fee is added for a second dog in the family. A $5 fee is added for a third dog in the family.
- Pooch Pooling $15/dog (2 or 3 dogs (maximum) for 30 minutes) Have a friend that also needs a walker? When booked together, walks with two or three dogs can save you money while still providing special attention to your furry friend. Pooch pooling is limited to dogs who live on the same block or in close proximity to one another. Ideal for apartment dogs.
- Just Gotta Pee Walk $12 (15 minutes) For dogs who just need to freshen up or powder their noses, a walk around the block will often suffice. Rates include checking water and treats (if allowed). An $8 fee is added for a second dog in the family. A $5 fee is added for a third dog in the family.
- Puppy Love $33 (3 Just Gotta Pee Walks – same day) For younger dogs or newly adopted dogs who are learning to be crated or just getting used to holding it in for longer periods, three visits with walks around the block, water checks and treats (if allowed).
- Boarding Starting at $75/day For the dog who likes to explore new horizons, make new friends, & enjoy new experiences. Boarding is in a private home on a street bordering the Arnold Arboretum. Click here for more details.
- Kitty Care $18/visit (1 or 2 cats) Visits include feeding, fresh water, litter cleaning and, of course, attention. Also included is mail and newspaper collection; lights turned on or off. Visits are up to 25 minutes depending upon the needs of the cat(s).
- CARE Fins, Fur, Feathers, & Scales Starting at $15/Day Rates for birds, small mammals, fish and reptiles vary, but include feeding, fresh water, fresh newspaper if applicable, other basic care functions such as turning on music or removing eggs for birds. Mail and newspaper collection, and turning the lights on or off are included.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.EmeraldNeckleash.com
- Phone: 617-894-3028
- Email: Alexis@EmeraldNeckleash.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Emerald-Neckleash/517259408443518
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-emerald-neckleash-roslindale
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
