May 15, 2017

Meet Sarah Paulk of Pampered Pet Care of Atlanta

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Paulk.

Sarah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
At the ripe old age of five, I began walking dogs and caring for cats for my neighbors. My very first client was a chocolate Labrador named Bess that lived just next door to our home. I, along with my Dad, went to take Bess out on her first walk, and as soon as I opened the fence and attached the leash, she pulled me down the grass hill and I was sure to be done walking dogs right then and there. I threw a pity party for myself but my Dad made me get up, brush off and finish her walk.

I began professionally pet sitting as soon as I got my driver’s license, and continued throughout college when I would come home for school breaks. During my last semester of college, the former owner of the company let me know that she was planning to sell her business, which I then acquired January 2007. At the time, we offered in-home visits for pets but began receiving more and more requests for personalized boarding at our home. In 2010, my husband Charles and I began searching for the perfect place to offer boarding in addition to continuing our in-home visits and we were lucky enough to stumble across a small farm that would allow us to offer more of the boarding services.

We recently celebrated our ten-year business anniversary and couldn’t be more excited about the direction our business is headed!

Has it been a smooth road?
We have been in business for ten years and we have definitely experienced our share of growing pains. While you can take as many business courses in college, nothing prepares you for the act of actually running the business as much as jumping in head first.

I’ve been lucky to have my family to refer to for many of my business administration questions. My Dad helped me when we had our first non-paying client and my Mom has always been my biggest cheerleader. My Aunt helped us secure financing to begin construction and renovations on our boarding facility after we had purchased it.

Our biggest challenge has been, and most likely always will be, finding the perfect staff members. The majority of our in-home pet sitters have been with us for years and years, but with our client base ever-increasing, we are constantly on the search for exceptional sitters who can grow with us and have the same love for animals that all of our staff members share. The staff members at our boarding facility (on the farm) tend to be college students that often take on full time positions once they have graduated, so while we have a wonderful family-like environment here at the farm, we are constantly on the hunt for staff members that can help us out seasonally during holidays and school breaks.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Pampered Pet Care of Atlanta – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
One of the most fulfilling parts of working with pets is being able to provide the one-on-one care that they are used to receiving at home. At our boarding facility, we pride ourselves on offering care for dogs that may need more specialized care or aren’t your typical boarding candidate. We often have older dogs that need additional assistance, or dogs that cannot be left home unsupervised.

By pairing our special needs boarding while also offering in-home care, we are able to also care for cats (who tend to do better in their home environment) among other pets.

We have built some amazing relationships with our clients and consider many of them to be family. I love keeping in touch with clients, even after they have moved or their pets have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Atlanta and its suburbs offer such a wide range of people and communities. I love how so many people are embracing their neighborhoods and bringing back life to areas that are no longer in their prime. In Atlanta, we have so many things that can bring us together-from sports, to bridge collapses, to crazy weather and extreme pollen. This busy city and its residents can unite over some bizarre happenings, that’s for sure.

I’m proud to be a resident here. I love our Fall and Winter weather. I love the beautiful flowers and trees that surround our city. There are endless opportunities to explore Atlanta’s neighborhoods and everything they have to offer. Visitors might be in for a reality check however, as Atlanta’s roads are only getting busier. I can say without hesitation, the reason we live so far North of the city is because of traffic and congestion. Not only is the city of Atlanta growing, but the suburbs are expanding at a rapid pace. The traffic is something everyone in Atlanta must constantly plan around.

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