Meet Kathleen Taleithea O’Reilly of Taleithea’s Tails

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathleen Taleithea O’Reilly.

Kathleen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Ah…my story, Well, after bouncing around for several years trying to find my way back into the business world, with many years behind me caring for my sick, aging parents, it seemed a lifetime had passed for me. Computers and softwares advanced far beyond what I was utilizing at my home managing our three family home.

Hence, I decided to reinvent myself and utilize my knowledge with animal training and balancing, animal behavior, a local Veterinarian trained me to be his assistance with visits, giving short, wound care, physical and massage therapy for post surgical animals. I so wanted to be a Vet but did not have the stomach for surgical procedures, anything broken or bleeding, dirty and flea-covered fine.

Other advantages, my mother family hailed from Maynard, Hudson, Action, into Western MA, so I grew up around farm animals. Summers were spent working on farms with caretakers, learning about the animal world, including horses and riding since age 7, these years of experience gave me such joy and inner peace I felt this was the way to go in my adult life and share my knowledge of domestic animals with others.

After some research, I sat down and started to create my own website, then off to a local printer to have some pamphlets and business cards made getting ready to started helping people with their pet issues. Registered my newly created company in the city of Malden where I leave to set up office and my home base, as well with the State of MA following all the proper procedures, getting the insurance required and making my company’s name mine by Registered Trademark.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Some of my biggest challenges and obstacles encountered over the years;

First, unsavory competition and territorial attitudes, very unprofessional. Sadly I have encountered other dog-walkers with clients dogs letting them off-leash in areas where Reservoir waters exist, letting dogs in the drinking water, those out in Conservation lands where it is plainly marked all dogs must be leashed and ones with created “packs” from Boston Proper taking clients dogs out to the country. Malden, Medford, Stoneham and Winchester are not the country. The Fellsway are conservation lands there for us all to enjoy. As well, they do not pick up after the animals leaving waste behind. Country setting or not, pick up after your dogs, clients as well as your own.

Lost dogs that have no recall to come back to their walkers, I see more signs of lost or run-a-way dogs from walkers while out hiking/walking. My clients’ dogs and my lead dog, Chara are on leash all the time. These loving dogs are my responsibility while in my care and it is my business to care for them,

Off-leash dogs cause problems; we have to be aware and respectful of the other people out there, walking, hiking and biking around the areas we share. Some people fear dogs in general and some dogs have become aggressive due to the “pack mentality” created by handlers who don’t have control of these packs created with client’s pets. This gives us all a bad name with the general public, law enforcement, DCR officials as well as our clients that have, lost their dog or their dog has bitten someone or another dog. Sadly, clients in general have no clue what their walkers are allowing while exercising their dogs.

Then there are walkers that are unregistered, non-business people, uninsured out there to make easy money, this is frustrating for people working and paying for a legal business.

Second: Today is an age where pets are like designer clothes, people going to the “web” to find the exact pet we want, a certain breed, color, age. Truly, we should be looking at our lifestyle, living environment, area lived in and then going to a local shelter to find the “right” or “matching” pet for us. Getting the pet you want is not always the pet you need or one that will fit your lifestyle. Most pets are treated like children, not just the family pet anymore.

This is where I like to come in, at the beginning. Sincerely, this is my true love and passion. There is nothing like working with animals and helping their family to understand the animal they newly adopted and have welcomed into their family and home.

Another reason I started my company, the sad case of overflowing shelters, a great number of animals, cats, dogs, birds, are being returned back to the shelters or just abandoned from lack of knowledge or care to learn. Hearing, “this is not what I expected”, or “this dog is out of control” breaks my heart. I wish more people would stop, do their research with finding the right pet to fit their lives, I have one dog and two cats, with many past pets that have shared our lives and home, in our home, we are Alpha and our pets are our pets.

Taleithea’s Tails and others like myself are here to assist people with newly adopted pet, training, re-balancing out of control animals, teaching you how to be Alpha and learn the truth about our wonderful pets. This knowledge, commitment to this living being and just a few steps will keep pets in a forever home with happy pet owners.

Taleithea’s Tails – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Taleithea’s Tails – Serving Pets and Their People Too! Created to help animals with their people and people with their animals. Walking and hiking with dogs, home-care for pets in need of special care after surgery, aging pets that need TLC or medical care such as special feeding, medicines, PT, MT or just keeping them company due to separation anxiety.

As stated previously, our pets are treated like children, this is so wrong. We talk to them like children almost expecting them to first, know what we are saying, and even answer us. I’m not talking about repeating commands, these are learned by our very intelligent animals, this we know. When hired to walk a dog or care for an animal, I spend time evaluating their pet(s) and let the family know if there is something they need to be aware of and work on. Then give them direction and offer to work with them together.

Working with out of control dogs that are not socialized, pulling and tugging while walking, continuous barking in house or out on walks, aggressive dogs that are confused about their place in their home pack. It’s the same with cats, birds and other small exotics we bring into our homes that are not being cared for as pets, animals or part-wild animals and cross breeds. We need to know what we have and treat/care for them properly

I specialize in re-balancing pets and training people. When we have a balanced, well behaved and properly trained pet, be it a cat, dog, bird, horse, pot-belly pig, or exotics, we need to study, learn and apply this knowledge with consistency just like with our human children.

What I am most Proud of as a company that sets me aside from others is my knowledge and respect of the animal kingdom. My ability to work with both human and animals and teach and train each. I have been working with and learning, studying, researching all kinds of animals my entire life, as well, share this knowledge with clients that reach out for assistance. I am still learning and at age 57, I’m hoping to continually learn more and share this knowledge with clients old and new including the general public when the need arises.

Being out on walks and coming upon someone struggle with an out of control, un-socialized dog, barking at anything that moves, pulling and tugging their owner(s), watching the owners try to hide away from glaring public. Makes me realize I am right where I need to be at that time and they need help now!

I have no problem stopping, asking if I can help, then showing them just what they need to do, physically showing progress in just a few minutes. The best part of that is seeing a smile on their face as they walk away. Even better is when they call me for more help because they realize they need more training so they can help their dog.

Hearing my clients thanks and praise for the assistance I give, the knowledge shared make my heart over-flow with joy. Being humbled with the respect and faith my clients put in me caring for those special needs pets.

One of my favorite memories of a dog that took control of me and my heart is my pal Gus. A 175 lb St. Bernard that had many health issues, needed special care with eating, getting him outside. The extra visits and time shared with this dog while his family was away from home on vacation tested me at time, but Gus taught me and gave me a very special love. I learned about his family’s care and his needs over the few years I shared with him.

Let me share a short story about Gus, St. Bernard that took my heart. Over the years, a strong bond was created between us and he, the only dog ever, played me like a fine tuned fiddle. I brought other dogs to visit him for enrichment and socializing, I felt he was unaware he was a dog. We played inside and outside, brushed him, fed him when he wouldn’t eat, coaxed him to go out by calling his cat friend to come play. My best life experience with a dog ever.

During a home visit just days after bone repair surgery, Gus, I tried everything to get him up and outside, due to problems from the anesthesia, Gus was failing fast. I was giving him water from my water-bottle just to hydrate him, he just could not move. Knowing the worst was coming, I called the family, my husband to assist, and was Blessed to say my last good-bye as they took him to the Vet for the last time. Gus passed on the way.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is knowing I can help save both humans and animals from giving up, feeling there is no hope and showing them the way. Seeing all those happy pet faces when I come to visit, birds squawking and flapping their wings, cats coming out to rub as I enter their homes, dogs wagging their butts off knowing we are going hiking, clients thanking me for showing their dog he’s really a dog, helping people find their way to Happy and Healthy pet ownership. Making a Bonded Family Pack.

It has never been about the money, this is only a survival tool to me. We experience many changes in this career.
Sometimes clients move on, pets leave us, for some pets, it’s only vacations visits several times a years. What makes me happy and feeling successful is knowing I make a difference in animal lives and human lives, making strong unbreakable bonds with animals, giving my all when caring for each and every one of them. Sharing my knowledge and taking it up just one more notch to show a human how life can be and should be in our pet ownership. There is truly nothing like showing someone how to become an Alpha pack leader with their dog at home and outside walking, hiking, interacting with other dogs and humans.

Pricing:

• Walking and Hiking with your (1) dog is $20.00 per 45 minute, each additional dog is half price up to 5 dogs.
• Home visits for dogs, including 30 minute walk, feeding and play time $25.00 per visit with same applied discount as above
• Home visits for cat, bird and small caged animal $18.00 per visit w/each additional at half price up to five small pets
• Balancing and Training your dog is $50.00 per hour with required follow-up visits at same cost.
• Working with cats and other exotics for Balancing is $35.00 per hour with required follow-up visits at same cost.
• Balancing Energy and Spirit for your Horse is $75.00 per hour with required follow-up visits at same costs.

Contact Info:

• Address: Home office
  126 Franklin street
  Malden, MA 02148-5719
• Website: www.TaleitheasTails.com
• Phone: 781-605-9171
• Email: Taleitheas.Tails.Petservices@gmail.com

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