Meet Sarah Jones | Professional Pet Sitter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting my own business began when I found myself struggling in my day to day occupation. I was working as a full time veterinary assistant, while providing pet care/sitting whenever I was available. It all became too much as I was trying to do all of this while dealing with a chronic illness. I was diagnosed with Chronic Lyme Disease in January 2020, meaning I deal with a series of chronic symptoms and pain on a daily basis. My position as a veterinary assistant was becoming too physical, stressful and time consuming for my illness and I began exhibiting more flare-ups. Coinciding with this decrease in health, I was seeing an increase in the need for my pet care services. This is when I realized that I could do pet care full time, providing my own schedule and income that didn’t cause my body further harm. Immediately, I set to work on building my business, Sarah’s Sitting Service LLC, and its brand after quitting my full time occupation. I have never regretted my decision and I continue to grow my business as my health grows along with it.

What should our readers know about your business?
My business model is specialized pet care in your home. I strive to provide an experience for my clients and their pets that is stress-free, and consistent with their daily schedule. For example, if the pet is used to having the owner around for most of the day the client may ask for the pet to not be left alone for more than three hours at a time, and I would accommodate that. Due to my experience working as a veterinary assistant for over four years, I can also accommodate any special needs the pet may have including physical, medical and/or behavioral. Lots of my clients who presented their pets as fear aggressive when we first met are among some of my closely bonded pets now. I strive to build long-term relationships with my clients so that their pets and I may bond, and the client feels no stress requesting a service from me. Getting to where my business is today wasn’t always the easiest task and I still experience growing pains with it. However, these challenges have provided me with knowledge I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. One of the most important lessons I have learned throughout my time has been to exercise saying “no”. If the client and pet are not a good fit, just say “no”. If the service request is too far away and would cost more than it’s worth in gas, just say “no”. When I am in a position to exercise the use of “no”, I remind myself that there is other business that will stress me out less so by refusing Client A it opens the door to Client B, who may be a better fit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I first moved to Denver, I started a guide to all of my favorite places around the city. I was becoming overwhelmed by how many options there were and forgetting the places I tried and loved, so I started writing them down in the guide. Over time it has grown to include all sorts of businesses and is my go-to reference for any friends or family that are visiting Denver and the surrounding areas. If I were to make an itinerary for a week-long trip in Spring from this guide, I would include options for outdoor activities, indoor activities, coffee and tea, breakfast and brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert and alcohol. My highlight for outdoor activities is the Denver Botanical Gardens. Since it is springtime, the flowers and foliage will be blooming and the temperatures will be more comfortable to leisurely walk around the gardens in. The beauty behind this activity is it has something for everyone, while staying within a budget and providing opportunities for photos. My highlight for indoor activities is The Beer Spa in Denver. This day spa is so Colorado having been made for craft beer enthusiasts; offering beer bath hydrotherapy, infrared sauna, zero-gravity massage, and a self-serve beer wall. Great experience for anyone wanting to dive into Colorado beer culture. My highlight for coffee and tea is Gypsy House Cafe on S Broadway in Denver. This eclectic, Bohemian style coffee house boasts a menu with creative lattes, vegan desserts, and juice to satisfy whatever your need. After grabbing a drink and pastry, you can walk along S Broadway and go antique & thrift shopping as well. My highlight for breakfast and brunch is Jelly Cafe in Denver’s University neighborhood. This hip, retro breakfast joint features traditional breakfast items with a modern twist. They are known for their homemade donut holes, which make a fantastic appetizer if you’re coming in hungry. My highlight for lunch is Hops & Pie off of Tennyson St in Denver. This hip pizzeria features unusual toppings on their pizza and many different styles of pie, including my favorite the Detroit style, along with a rotating list of craft beer. They also feature an adjoining shop, Berkeley Donuts, that sells Denver’s only potato-style donuts. My highlight for dinner is Fire on the Mountain at the Washington Park location in Denver. This restaurant and bar features the best beer, chicken and vegan wing & wing sauce selection in Denver at the best price. Their draft beer list features rare, local Colorado breweries such as Tommyknocker & Funkwerks at $5-7 a pint and there is an endless choice when it comes to sauce for your wings. I love the Washington Park location because there are a lot of great bars to visit afterwards within walking distance. My highlight for dessert is Gallo’s Italian Supper Club and Bakery in Englewood. This traditional Italian bakery features all your favorites; tiramisu, pistachio & traditional cannolis, and more. You just might have to try one of each because they are all homemade fresh each day. The dinner from this restaurant is equally as mouth watering, and the atmosphere feels like home. Lastly, my highlight for alcohol would need to be broken into three categories: beer, wine and cocktails. For beer, I would recommend Raices Brewery in Denver. This latinx owned & operated brewery and taproom features an atmosphere to compliment its well made cervezas. There is traditionally a food truck parked out front, and an event going on inside so a good time is always guaranteed. For wine, I would recommend Bigsby’s Folly Craft Winery & Restaurant. This winery features an industrial vibe with a fine dining menu and delicious cocktails & wine selections. If you’re aiming to impress, this is the place to do it. For cocktails, I would recommend Happy Camper in the Highlands neighborhood of Denver. It features a cool, hipster style outdoor/indoor bar and pizzeria that provides multiple photo opportunities. Definitely order the Big A$$ Lemonade if you’re feeling thirsty and the Tony pizza if you’ve had a little too much. I hope you enjoyed my itinerary and come to visit soon!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have always been a self-motivated individual, but your own mind and strength can only take you so far. Once I began building my business, I looked to other professional pet sitters and pet care businesses in my area to inspire me. I have always seen the pet care industry as a community rather than competition, especially for small businesses like myself. I was recommended by a client of mine to reach out to Furry Paws Care for some guidance in service structure, advertising, etc. I was so happy to meet with Amy, one of the co-owners of Furry Paws Care, and come to find I wasn’t alone in this journey. She provided all sorts of insight into how to continue to improve my business and gave me confidence that I too can build something special. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to not only Furry Paws Care, but all small business pet care companies that have shown me love and support throughout this process and who strive to establish something that they can call their own. Shop small businesses!

https://www.furrypawscare.com/

Website: https://sarahssittingservicellc.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahs_sitting_service_llc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahssittingservicellc/

Other: NextDoor: https://nextdoor.com/pages/sarahs-sitting-service-llc-denver-co/