Meet Jessika DuBay-Dang of Thoughtful Paws Pet Care

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessika DuBay-Dang.

Jessika, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started Thoughtful Paws Pet Care in 2012. I’ve always had a passion for cats and pet care and was known as “the cat lady” amongst my friends. I was very unhappy in my corporate career and thought a lot about pursuing something that would inspire me. Something I was passionate about and believed in. Pet care and pet welfare was what inspired me the most. So, in 2012 I decided to start my own professional pet sitting business.

I started part time while I still worked my corporate job. My business took off quickly and I was laid off from my job. I decided then and there to commit to my business. I worked for a bit part time, but within a year and a half was working for my business full time. I service cats and small animals only, which had a huge need in Somerville and Cambridge. I hired my first employee 6 months in to keep up with demand. I now have 4 employees.

I do more than just watch over people’s cats when they travel. Very often we administer medication. My clients look to me to help them identify any possible health or behavioral issues. I give people peace of mind that their pets are happy and taken care of. That connection with pets and their guardians is what drives me every day!

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?
Getting my business up and running to where I could support myself took some time. It’s also variable. I only get paid when I have jobs and there can be slow times during the year. When I started in 2012 there weren’t as many cat sitting businesses in the Cambridge area, but over the past couple of years a lot more have opened up. While there are plenty of clients to go around, it did require me to adjust a little.

Another struggle would be educating people on why hiring a professional cat sitter is important. Many people will enlist their friends or neighbors to take care of their pets, not knowing that there are professional cat sitters out there. Sometimes my profession is not taken seriously. But, many times I have identified health problems in my kitty clients that have saved their life. A professional is also reliable and understands the needs and behaviors of cats/small animals. So, the education piece has definitely been a bit of a struggle.

Please tell us about Thoughtful Paws Pet Care.
Thoughtful Paws Pet Care is a Professional Cat/Small Animal Pet Sitting business. I specialize in cat care and small pets like rabbits and guinea pigs. I am very experienced in administering medications including insulin to cats. I am known for being able to handle the medical needs of my clients.

I am most proud that I am a small business owner and able to support myself doing something I am passionate about. I am proud that I grew my business in a very short period of time. I am proud to serve the area I love (Somerville, Cambridge, Arlington, Belmont). I think what sets me apart is my commitment to my human and pet clients. I am also very active on Social Media (Instagram) and love to connect with other local businesses and residents through there.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I grew up in rural Maine and was surrounded by animals at all times. I grew up with dogs, my neighbor had llamas, a good friend had horses etc… So just always being connected to animals and nature was huge in shaping my passion for animals.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thoughtfulpawspetcare.com
• Phone: (617) 684-5470
• Email: jess@thoughtfulpawspetcare.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtfulpaws/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThoughtfulPawsPetCare/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thoughtful_paws
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/thoughtful-paws-pet-care-somerville-9

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