Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Skeens.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Lauren. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up we always had pets in and outside the house. My mom raised and rescued anything from baby chickens to geriatric terriers. I loved watching her nurture them and from an early age started caring for them myself. It’s no surprise I wanted to be a veterinarian. I did what most young people do when they are interested in a career path, I started volunteering wherever I was able to. Animal shelters and wildlife clinics to start and eventually started working in small private practices. I started on that path but along the way decided I wanted to be a nurse instead of a doctor.
Pre-veterinary studies in college, postgraduate classes as well as employment in the field continued to solidify that truth. The role nurses play in hospitals is fundamental to patient recovery and I wanted to be that essential caregiver for my animal patients. I worked in all facets of veterinary care including small private practices, specialty & referral hospitals, and veterinary medical teaching hospitals. I obtained licensure in 3 states and continued to pursue other avenues in the field including rehabilitation and hospice care.
While living in the Seattle area, I worked at a large referral hospital where I helped grow their exotic animal specialty department. This department dealt exclusively with the medical needs of parrots, small mammals and reptiles. I spent lots of time educating nurses, interns, veterinarians and pet owners about the specialized care needs for these unique pets. After working in this setting for some time, I recognized the need for qualified petsitters. Petsitters who were not only comfortable with husbandry and handling but were also able to recognize early signs of illness and act accordingly. I started a small exotic pets only petsitting business in 2003.
Over the years, I’ve moved around the country, grown into new positions and the business has evolved. For the last 8 years I’ve lived in Massachusetts and have been building my business to include home visits and boarding for all animals with a heavy focus on pets with chronic medical conditions. I’m committed to providing my clients with peace of mind when they travel. I’ve been in the field for more than 20 years and I hope to continue to evolve over the next 20 years.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It never is but that’s how you know it’s worth it. I got sick a few years back with cancer. Anyone who has gone through treatment and survived knows how you can never look at the world, and your life, the same way again. I wanted to take that risk because I knew then, and even more today, each day is a gift. I simply refuse to waste another moment. It was about a year after I finished active treatment that I left my full-time position to run my business full time. It was the best decision I have ever made.
Skeens Specialized Pet Care – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Skeens Specialized Pet Care is a mobile veterinary technician, pet sitting and boarding service in the Greater Boston area. We mostly care for pets who have chronic medical conditions when their families have to travel. We also help pet owners navigate the sometimes demanding care requirements after a pet has been discharged from the hospital. This includes things like fluid therapy on a pet recently diagnosed with kidney disease, feeding tube use and care in a cat recovering from hepatic lipidosis or helping with the challenging needs of a newly diabetic pet. We can help if a spouse needs to travel and you just need someone to help you administer treatments like subcutaneous fluids. With specialized training working with exotic pets, we can also care for a reptile that needs intramuscular injections, a parrot that needs oral medications or a rabbit that needs syringe feeding. I’m proud of our ability to provide compassionate, reliable and competent care such that my clients can rest easy while on vacation.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career so far was when I read through reviews my clientele had written on my business page and knew I was doing exactly what I set out to do. There is nothing that makes me more proud than feeling worthy of such praise. I hope I can continue to meet and exceed my clients’ expectations every day.
Contact Info:
- Email: LaurenSkeens2014@gmail.com
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