Inspiring Conversations with Tracy Zipay of The Pawsitive Pets Sitter

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Zipay.

Hi Tracy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
Thank you for the opportunity to share our story. Death and a dare started my business. While I was at home during the pandemic, my companion dog of 15 years, my only “foster fail,” Cami, passed (this was in the summer of 2020). I was devastated and could not imagine getting another dog. But with an open home and heart, I was able to start fostering dogs and puppies again and eagerly began working with The Farm Rescue. I was in love with pet care again.

As the pandemic eased, I knew I’d have to go back to work again. A friend who noted the passion I was exhibiting through my foster work challenged me to find a way to make a living this way. Another friend had a pet-sitting business and needed help.

After working and training with her, she offered me the dog part of her business, as she was wanting to embrace retirement, and go “cats only.” Thus began The Pawsitive Pets Sitter LLC. I was extremely fortunate to have timing and friends on my side! I’ve been busy since the start, and thriving! My passion project is a growing enterprise, with three employees besides myself as we enter our third year in business.

I attribute our growth to recognizing and catering to the needs of a particular market – pet owners who want certified, professional care for their pets and homes. I invest in my business with professional training, certifications, and technology for myself and my team. This provides consistent, top-quality pet care and client communication. We work very hard to keep our stellar reputation!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has been relatively smooth, as I got off to a great start with great advice and help along the way. I had an excellent professional foundation with my business through my “mentor,” who trained me and the Small Business Administration. I recommend that anyone starting a business contact the SBA for help. Growth has been a challenge.

The business took off in ways I didn’t anticipate, and hiring people was daunting. My daughter was the first, and that has been an interesting journey for both of us. We have conflict and fun working together. We’re all a work in progress. I’ve taken additional courses and participated in business boot camps that have helped.

You have to keep an open mind, be willing to be uncomfortable and learn to move forward. I’ve been frustrated with technology, but I love learning about how pet care and pet/pet parent relationships have changed over the years. The pet care industry is not regulated at all, so educating the public about that and how we arrive at and maintain our standards has been important.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We are specialists in a field that many people think is just fun and fluff. Who wouldn’t love to “play” with cute dogs and cats all day, right? Well – it’s so much more than that, and educating our public is a big part of our job. As Professional Pet Sitters, we maintain a high standard of pet and home care that relies on a wide variety of experience, education, training, and certifications.

We are the only totally Fear Free Certified Pet Sitting business in Arizona – by that, I mean that all of the Pet Sitters in my employ are Fear Free Certified. What is Fear Free? It’s an educational program that trains us to consider and cater to the emotional needs of the pets in our care. It’s more prevalent in the Veterinary industry but is gaining ground in other areas of pet care. The certification process has improved our standard of care, and Continuing Education is extremely relevant to us.

We are also all Pet First Aid/CPR trained and updated appropriately. So many sitters go “one and done” on these trainings, and it’s actually required to re-certify every two years. I personally am also a Certified Professional Pet Sitter via Pet Sitters International, which is the leading professional pet sitter organization. We belong to professional organizations to learn and grow!

Our sitters also undergo training through FetchFind, the leading pet care training resource in the industry. Phew! A lot of professional credentials there! Underlying it all is a passion for pet care and love for the animals entrusted to us. We also provide exceptional experiences for our clients through the use of enrichment toys, games, and feeding methods.

It’s so rewarding when clients return home from their travels and ask us how to get the toys and games we used! We share our experiences with each other constantly so that we can all improve. When you love what you do, it’s easy! Our clients love that we give them tips and suggestions on building better relationships with their four-legged companions.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
There are a surprising number of pet-sitting groups and podcasts – my favorite is called Pet Sitter Confessional. Otherwise, I read about everything that comes my way. When my clients have questions, it’s a great opportunity to research new and different topics and learn. I’m a recreational reader, too. I seldom watch television, etc., but always have a stack of fiction handy. This keeps me relaxed!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yesspet.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepawsitivepetssitter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YessPet