Lompoc Record
April 2004
Best Buddy Pet Sitting: Comfort for your pet
By Tammy Cravit -- Record Correspondent
4/26/04
Looking around her living room, it's hard to miss Dawn Fewell's enthusiasm for animals.
Two aquariums burble softly along the wall, the hiss of their filters mixing with the musical tweeting of finches wafting in from the kitchen. In a large black cage nearby, an bright-tailed African Grey parrot watches the goings-on with interest. His attentive brown eyes seem to take in everything. Dogs bark happily in the back yard.
Fewell's love for animals provided the spark that launched her business, Best Buddy Pet Sitting, three years ago.
"I've always wanted to do something with animals, but I didn't know what to do," she says.
After a back injury forced her retirement from a 19-year career with FedEx, an off-hand comment from a friend persuaded her to take what she calls "a leap of faith" to start her business.
"It's been fabulous," she says, a broad grin lighting up her face.
Fewell started Best Buddy in 2001 with savings and money from a retirement account.
"It got me through the first year and a half," she says.
Now, Best Buddy is growing fast enough that she's considered hiring an assistant. She's wary about the idea, though. "It's awfully hard to think about trusting my babies with anyone else," she says.
Best Buddy is unique, according to Fewell, in that her business caters to all kinds of animals, not just dogs and cats. She counts tortoises, snakes, birds and even rats among her clientele.
She prefers to care for pets in their own homes. "I do make exceptions, but ... pets are usually more comfortable in their familiar environment," she says.
There's no doubt she works hard as a business owner.
Still, she says the time she invests is worth it. "Because I stay home on the holidays, five or six families get to spend the holidays together," she says. "That's a pretty good trade-off for me."
Fewell, a certified Animal Health Care Specialist with more than 20 years of experience, is also certified by the American Red Cross in animal first aid and CPR. This background enables her to properly care for her clients and to handle any emergencies that arise.
Her experience also gives her the confidence to take on special-needs pets, including a blind Macaw. Currently she is caring for two rats with breathing problems. "I have to give them daily nebulizer treatments," she says.
Best Buddy has recently expanded its services, and now provides pet-sitting and other services to pets whose owners commute for work and are gone during the day. "If they're gone during the day and need animals to go to the vet or groomer, I can do that." She prides herself on flexibility in the services she provides.
"If someone has a need, let me know and I'll try to work something out."
Fewell says the secret to her success is the trust she establishes with her clients. "People hire Best Buddy, but people are really hiring me."
There's no doubt that Fewell is doing exactly what she wants to be doing.
"If I won the lottery, I'd absolutely keep doing what I'm doing," she says in a voice that sparkles with exuberance. "It feels really good."
Best Buddy Pet Sitting can be reached at 736-7822.
