Meet Shelby Nessralla of On Call Pet Service

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Nessralla. Shelby’s story is one that truly inspired us – her strength, perseverance and positive outlook make us proud of our great city.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Shelby. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My mother is the kind of mom who raised her children to be two things: good people and animal-lovers. The kind of animal-lovers where we’d wake up most mornings to the sounds of our mom serenading the cats and dogs. If we rolled out of bed fast enough, we’d be lucky (or unlucky, some might say) to catch one of her little “dance numbers of love” every now and then. This kind of behavior was completely normal to all of us. When I was a baby my family got a yellow lab puppy and named him Buddy, which is exactly what he was to me: my buddy. The two of us were as thick as thieves. I told him all my secrets, gave him my snacks, shared my bed with him; what was mine was his too. When he passed away, we were both close to 13 years old. It was a tough lesson to learn for a little kid, but a good one nonetheless. The night before we put him to rest he tried coming up the stairs to my bedroom, but couldn’t make it past step two. I directed him to his favorite carpet with his favorite toy (a plastic pickle) and laid next to him the whole night. My mom was smart. She waited the appropriate amount of time and, when it felt right, she got the family another yellow lab. I had to learn then that our new dog, Pal, wasn’t meant to replace Buddy. He needed a friend to share secrets, snacks, and a bed with, too. After Pal came Blu and after Blu came Gus – each one my buddy.

At 24, my girlfriend and I had just moved to Boston from Oakland, California and I saw this move as an opportunity to start fresh. I first heard of On Call Pets from my roommate’s boyfriend. He and I got to talking about our love for dogs one night, and he just slipped it in to conversation: “Do you want me to ask my boss, Kelly, if there’s an opening for you?” There was zero hesitation – this was the opportunity I was looking for, so I grabbed it. After a couple weeks of training, I was on my own and loving it. Driving in Boston was the only scary thing about my job. I’ve been working for On Call Pets for 19 months now and I can say firmly that I fear no dog. I believe that to get to the heart of any dog you need to not only have warmth and love, but also confidence. While others might think that dominance is key, I think that confidence is what you makes you successful when working with animals. For example, if there is a client who owns a rescue dog that has aggressive tendencies, I’m not going into that home with the mindset that I’m going to take control of the situation. I enter as a guest, with the most humble mindset that I can muster. I treat my dogs the way I would want to be treated; I wouldn’t like it if someone just walked into my home, put a leash around my neck, and forced me outside. The dogs I walk all get treated with the utmost respect, and I always gain their respect in return.

I’ve learned so much about myself and about dogs while doing this job. So much, in fact, that I know what I’m supposed to do with my life. My destiny is to work with rescue dogs and train them to be model citizens. I have met so many different breeds of dogs from pitbulls to mini-schnauzers, great Danes to Chihuahuas, and all of the cross-breeds in-between. However, I can’t say I know it all, which is why I’m eager to continue learning everything I can in this field.

Has it been a smooth road?
My family and friends joke about how it would stink to do my job, having to pick up piles of #2, walking 7 dogs at once, or in the freezing cold, etc. Honestly, though, that’s a cake-walk compared to what is actually tough about this job. For me, abused dogs and client turn-over are the two most difficult things that I have had to deal with.

One day Kelly gave me my schedule and I saw a new name on my list. Attached was an address and time for meeting this dog and her adoptive mom. All we knew about the situation was that the dog was still getting to know her new mom, and that she had been rescued from a very bad living situation. I went to the dog’s address with all the confidence I could gather, walked into the apartment, and immediately made eye-contact with the dog. That was my first mistake. The dog urinated on the floor and started growling. Her hackles were up and she was ready to remove the intruder that just came into her new home. I stayed for a few more minutes to chat with her mom, and left in a state of uncertainty. Her mom and I were both unsure of how it would be the next day when I showed up to walk her alone, but I kept my confidence high and reassured her that everything would be okay. The next day I went in and the dog was hiding in her crate with hackles raised, baring teeth, and growling loudly. Immediately upon my crouching down, she urinated and started barking. I contacted the Mom asking if we could do another meeting, with her, me, and the dog, just so this frightened pup could see that I wasn’t a threat. For the following week, I spent 20 minutes of every day sitting on the floor of this dog’s apartment talking sweetly to her, hoping she would come out and approach me. I had patience and love for this dog I barely knew. The following Monday, I went into the apartment, grabbed the leash, and took my place on the floor. Only this time, she stepped out of her crate, smelled my foot, and sat down in front of me, staring me straight in the eyes. I figured this was my chance, so I slowly grabbed a treat and slid it over to her while saying “good girl” on repeat. I didn’t know if I should start laughing or crying. The next day she allowed me to put the leash on her and venture outside. The rest is history. She has become one of my best friends. It was heartbreaking to witness the lasting effects of whatever cruelties she had endured, but I didn’t give up and luckily neither did she.

I have had multiple scenarios happen just like this one, and it doesn’t get any easier. However, I can tell you with complete honesty, each one of those dogs and I have become great friends.

As for the turn-over aspect of this job, I love all of the dogs I work with wholeheartedly, which makes saying goodbye a real challenge. I treat all my dogs equally give all of them the same amount of attention, love, respect, and treats, and develop a unique relationship with each. That being said, sometimes their humans have to move away and, as much as I want to beg them to leave their pups behind with me, they always have to go too. It is always tough saying goodbye to a good friend.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
On Call Pets specializes in dog-walking, but also offers in-home pet care. We make home visits to cats and small caged animals (i.e. birds, lizards, fish, bunnies, etc.) and provide them whatever services they need. Some require food or medication, while others just need some friendly play time! Over the past few years, we’ve started specializing more in abused dogs. We have members of our team who are equipped to handle dogs who need more unique attention and love.

Her business, On Call Pets, is 10 years old so her experience and knowledge in this field is quite impressive! What makes her most proud of as a company, she said, “My loyal and dedicated employees. They put their all into it by going the extra mile with such great care for each dog. They’ll dedicate their time to making sure all of our dogs are happy and comfortable.”

What sets us apart from other companies, “It’s not about getting every cent – it has always been about the animals getting the best experience. I keep a low price so everyone in every income bracket can get the absolute best care for their animals. I personally understand that pets aren’t just pets, they’re family.”

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Boston is great city (Go Pats!) with a lot to offer. Pets need lovin’ in every city around the world – why not start in Boston? There are several great animal shelters, wonderful veterinarians, and some amazing dog parks. Most people in this city see me coming down the street with a herd of dogs and want to stop and say hello! Boston has really created a great community for animal-lovers.

One thing I would like to see Boston improve on is creating more enclosed dog parks. There are a lot of parks but not many that are completely fenced in all the way around. It’s important that city dogs have the chance to run full speed ahead without owners having to fear that they might accidentally end up on a busy street.

What else can you share with us about your story?
The reason why I came back from California was because in January 2015 I was in a mild car accident which (through many MRI’s, ultrasounds, and scans) revealed to the doctors a pretty sizable tumor. I had to abruptly abandon all the dreams I had of living in California and starting a new career. I came back to Massachusetts and spent that following summer getting my medical affairs in order, all the while being super distraught over my new path in life which I could already see having many bumps along the way. When I was presented the opportunity to be a dog walker, it wasn’t just a casual conversation on the couch amongst friends. It was a huge revelation that my life could have meaning again. That my future could be bright again and filled with the thing I love most- dogs! This job has saved my life- or if that’s too dramatic- my spirit. I’ve become a positive person again. I live for my dogs, which is how I became so wholeheartedly invested in this job. I can honestly say I’m the luckiest person in the world to be able to wake up and be excited to go to work. Even with cancer, my life feels perfect.

Pricing:

• 20 minute walk is only $13
• 30 minute walk is only $16
• An hour long playgroup in an enclosed park is $25
• Our “puppy package” ranges between $22-$25 and that includes two 20-30 minute walks per day and giving them lunch!
• Overnights (at our home or yours) is $50 per night

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oncallpetserviceboston.com
• Email: oncallpetsrv@gmail.com

Image Credit:
Shelby Nessralla

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