Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy & Jamie.
Hi Tracy & Jamie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Our story began in 2008 when we met and worked together at a dog daycare. We quickly discovered we shared the same passion, work ethic and high standard for building strong relationships with the families of our beloved dog clients. We then had the opportunity to build and operate our own ideal dog daycare from the ground up, taking with us a loyal following of dog parents who supported and recognized our level of care.
After years of joy running our multi-service dog care facility we had to pivot in a different direction, so we started a mobile pet care company. We realized we could offer something more personal that truly centered around the care for animals and their families. Currently, we are lucky enough to be in year 12 of operating, The Wag Staff, providing private dog walks, social pack walks, in-home visits for dogs, cats and small animals, and pet taxi services.
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?
Of course there can be a struggle from a financial standpoint, or maintaining the highest integrity from all angles of the business including staff expectations and our standard of customer service. But one of the biggest challenges was learning to create a healthy work-life balance and setting boundaries to maintain that balance. It can be difficult to say, ‘no,’ and not be there for everyone when they need us, however, you can’t take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.
The smoother road of our journey has to be our personal recognition of our love for animals and our natural and educated understanding of what they need, how they feel and how to keep them happy, safe and comfortable. We also appreciate our ability to understand what families may need when they just want to provide the best care and most love to their beloved pets. So much in life we are left wondering, but in our work we know this is what we love to do, it’s our passion and our purpose.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Wag Staff?
The Wag Staff is a mobile pet care service operating in West Linn, Oregon City, and Lake Oswego. We specialize in private dog walks, social pack walks, in-home daily visits for dogs, cats, and small animals, and also provide pet taxi services within our service areas. We are professionals who practice fear-free and positive reinforcement techniques, maintaining up to date health, behavior and safety education along with staying First-Aid and CPR certified.
What sets us apart is the level of personal attention and relationships we build with both our clients and their pets. We take the time to genuinely know each animal, their personality, routines, quirks, preferences, and we keep in close communication with their families to ensure the highest quality of care they each deserve. We’ve had the privilege of providing care for many of the same families through multiple generations of their pets. Those long term relationships are one of the things we are incredibly proud of.
Our brand has always been about trust, reliability, exceptional communication and above all, sincere care for the animals entrusted to us. We may not be the biggest company, but we take pride in being the company that people can count on and feel good about in their homes and with their families.
It brings us great joy to understand that our work in life is dedicated to the animals, to care for them and their people, and help enrich all of their lives.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Give yourself permission to evolve. Be willing to adapt, learn from mistakes, and recognize when something isn’t working.
Set boundaries and keep a healthy balance in life. When you’re passionate about what you do, it’s easy to pour every ounce of yourself into it. Protect your time and your personal life, because you can’t build a sustainable business and maintain your patience and compassion if you burn yourself out in the process.
Don’t underestimate the value of relationships. Our business has grown largely through trust, referrals, and the rapport we’ve built with clients over the years.
Provide great care, communicate well, treat people and their pets with genuine care, and your reputation will become one of your greatest assets.
This kind of work won’t make you millions and may break your heart at times, so do it because your heart wants to. Keep your patience and love, and no matter how big the company gets, keep your standard for quality of care high. They deserve it…the animals and the people who love them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thewagstaff.com
- Instagram: @the_wag_staff (Instagram)
- Facebook: @thewagstaffllc (Facebook)
- Twitter: thewagstaffllc@gmail.com
- Youtube: #971-303-wag1 (9241)
