Today we’d like to introduce you to Linda Liu.
Hi Linda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After working in the lab industry for 8 years, I needed a change in my professional career. I was experiencing burnout and had lost the drive to work in healthcare. Work-life balance was non-existent, and I couldn’t keep working 60-80 hour work weeks anymore. So I left my hospital lab job in December 2024 and decided to start pursuing passions I had previously set aside. One of those passions are pets. I have culminated 14+ years of raising and caring for dogs and cats by having my own fur babies, volunteering at the humane society and fostering pups from rescues. My love for pets runs deep and I figured that it was time to act on it. I started off pet sitting on Rover, which after four months, I decided to start my own personal pet sitting business to ensure that I can give the best, most affordable and safest care. Every day is an adventure and a blessing to be able to do what I do and to be surrounded by furry loved ones!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Pet sitting has its own challenges as a profession – reactive dogs, moody cats, uneducated and deceptive pet owners, unintended injuries from pets, unpaid services, and more. As a pet sitter, I have to face each challenge head-on and handle it in a unique way because each circumstance is specific to that pet/client. I always remind myself that pet owners AND pet sitters are people who love pets. It’s important to give each other grace and handle any challenge with transparency, respect and tact.
On a separate topic, deciding to become a pet sitter wasn’t easy either. As a child raised by Asian immigrant parents chasing the American dream and who wanted me to become a doctor, dentist or lawyer – it was difficult to break out of that mold and expectation that my parents had for me. Some of my friends and colleagues also weren’t the most supportive or understanding either. They didn’t get why I would give up my stable healthcare job to take care of people’s pets for a fraction of the income. I tell people that since I’ve become a pet sitter, my life has changed for the better. I have much more control now and the restored work-life balance has allowed me to enjoy life to its fullest, while being surrounded by the cutest, most loving furry friends!
We’ve been impressed with Lilian’s Pet Services, 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?
Pet care can be expensive and it’s difficult for pet parents (paw-rents) to determine who they can entrust their fur babies to, whether it’s during a long trip out of the country or for just a quick neighborhood walk. It shouldn’t have to be this way. Pet care should be affordable and pet sitters should be reliable, caring, responsive and transparent. That is the kind of premium care and pet service Lilian’s Pet Services is striving for. ‘Premium’ means that your pet’s safety and quality of care is the priority. With the current economy and political climate, it is more important now than ever for people to be able to find kind-hearted, well-intended, and responsible sitters who they can trust. When you leave your pet with Lilian’s Pet Services, you NEVER have to worry about whether they are getting enough potty breaks, playtime, or food and water. Those are essential needs that are ALWAYS met and if it’s not, Lilian’s Pet Services will do whatever it takes to make it right by you and your pet. It’s guaranteed that your pets will be treated like precious treasures, and they will receive nutritious treats, various types of play and toys and “velcro” level of companionship.
How do you think about luck?
I’m not so sure that luck had anything to do with it but I believe that God has a plan for me and each step of the way, He is guiding me down the path that he has laid out for me. I’m not sure where this pet sitting voyage will take me, how many more waves, trials or challenges await me, but I trust in Him. Pet sitting has brought so much joy to my life and I’m loving each second of it!
Pricing:
- Dog Walks starting at $25/walk
- Drop-in Visits starting at $25/session
- Doggy Daycare starting at $30/day
- Dog Boarding starting at $40/night
- House-sitting starting at $40/night
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.LiliansPetServices.com
- Instagram: @lindafosterspups
- Yelp: https://yelp.com/biz/lilians-pet-services-austin
- Other: https://share.google/0r3b0cWqzjcdHQQtc
Image Credits
All photos taken by me – Lilian’s Pet Services
