Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Schmaltz.
Hi Lisa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
For me, animal care started long before Sit.Fetch.Stay was born. As a kid, my parents were avid fosters for the Humane Society of Dallas County and there was always a full menagerie of animals around the house. My first work-study was working with livestock for my school’s Agricultural Department. So, from a very young age taking care of animals was just a normal part of my life. I never thought about making it a career until I was in Grad School in San Francisco working on my MFA. One day, I stumbled across a job opportunity as a dog walker and thought” …well that will pay for some Art supplies”, and as soon as I started a switch just flipped, working with a pack of dogs felt like something in my mind and body just finally fell into place… I had no idea I would fall so deeply in love with working with animals professionally and helping people find the right pet care for their homes and lifestyles. After taking extensive classes and training in Animal Care and Handling, I started Sit.Fetch.Stay in 2008 so I could spend my days with people’s pets and making Art, and we’ve just grown from there.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Anytime you start a new venture or micro-business without funding, the first obstacle is just making it happen. I started Sit.Fetch.Stay from my studio apartment in the Tenderloin area of San Francisco before there were dog sitting apps and websites connecting pet owners with service providers – so I really had to just put in the time and do the leg work. Every client I booked was a win (my first booking actually had me sleeping on the top bunk in a Frat-house with a bulldog named Midge who had to be carried up and down the ladder) and being able to slowly build that into a self-sustainable business was a big achievement in my life.
In 2013, I returned to Texas – this time in Austin – and the only people I knew here were my older brother and his growing family. So, I had to start all over again. I would wander farmer’s markets with doggy jerky in my pockets, visit dog parks and hiking trails, pet stores and vets. I’d bring muffins to the front desks of apartment buildings and pet-friendly hotels. I was taking pretty much any and every opportunity offered to cultivate relationships with owners and their pets. The $2.50 spring rolls from Pho Saigon kept me alive in those days. It was worth it though, and over the years, our focus on really connecting with the people who trust us with their homes and pets has allowed us to grow into a business and a “pack” I am deeply proud of.
Then of course…COVID happened. The thing with pet care is; people have to leave their homes to really need it and suddenly, no one was. I remember sitting at the Whip Inn on the Sunday afternoon before everything shut down for quarantine, watching our calendar go from full with a waitlist to completely empty – it was a punch in the gut for sure. So like many businesses, we had to see how we could adapt to the new landscape and provide care in a way people weren’t looking for before. That’s when I started offering taxied doggy daycare; for the days owners needed some quiet time for Zoom calls or for people who were part of the surge of “quarantine adoptions” and wanted their pets to get socialization and stimulation in a non-contact way. I think Sit.Fetch.Stay’s success has always been due to looking for how we can really meet someone’s needs rather than finding clients who will fit into a prescribed “one-size-fits-all” style of pet care.
We’ve been impressed with Sit.Fetch.Stay, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a Boutique Pet Care Service. Our services range from in-home boarding, pet sitting in the client’s home, dog walks, daycare, taxi service, and welfare visits – basically, if you call it a pet and need it cared for, we will try to tailor a way to do that for you. Our brand is different from others because unlike large-scale brick-and-mortar establishments that have to accommodate 75+ dogs at a time or scheduling apps that allow anyone to provide care regardless of experience/training, we really focus on how to provide the best possible experience for each guest and their human. Not every pet or furry family member needs the same thing, so we specialize in creating long-term personal relationships with the people who trust their homes and families with us. We create a home environment of care for your pets that is unique to them. For myself and any associates of Sit.Fetch.Stay we do this because we find great joy and take great pride in connecting with our guests, it’s not just a side hustle, a 9-5, or a gig – it is a way of life. There are few moments of pride quite like those moments where you see an animal have a breakthrough because you were able to see and meet their unique needs.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I think having a mentor (or at least a community) is paramount in starting a new venture – especially when you are working with living beings. The woman who owned the dog walking service that I was a part of in San Francisco already had over 18 years of experience in pet care. Being able to avoid pitfalls and jump straight to tried-and-true methods under a professional’s guidance was a true gift and a huge boon in starting my own business. Also, the mentoring process never really stops. Having people around who can educate you or facilitate education in your field is what allows you to stay current and viable in whatever you’re doing. If you are starting a business or pursuing a passion, I would look straight to the people who are already doing what you hope to achieve in your area. Learn from them, ask them questions, and see if you can shadow or work with them. Give yourself that educated safety net of someone else’s experience – more often than not people who are passionate about what they are doing are happy and willing to help those who share that desire.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sitfetchstay.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sit.fetch.stay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SitFetchStay
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sit-fetch-stay-austin
Image Credits
All images were taken by Sit.Fetch.Stay
