Love Of Animals Brings Career Change

BUSINESS PROVIDES CAGE-FREE BOARDING

By Lynn Kutter

Thursday, January 28, 2010

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FARMINGTON — As a youngster, Shari Jensen said she used to bring home every stray animal in the neighborhood.

A Farmington resident, Jensen has turned her love of animals into a new career by caring for animals at her home or at the pet owner’s house.

Her business called Pet Fetch Care of Northwest Arkansas is a national franchise that is locally owned and operated.

Jensen owns the only franchise in Arkansas and serves northwest Arkansas.

Jensen had worked in the legal business for about 15 years and said she was ready for a career change when a friend asked if she was interested in buying the pet franchise.

The decision was not a hard one, Jensen said.

“I love animals, every single kind.”

At first, she continued in the legal business, along with operating Pet Fetch Care, but now she is in the pet care business full-time and has three employees.

The business provides a variety of services. Jensen provides cage-free boarding at her home and has a large fenced-in yard.

She lives near Creekside Park and uses the park to walk her boarded animals.

Jensen and her workers also go to the pet owner’s home to feed and water animals, walk dogs and just give attention to the pets.

She provides this in-home service for many clients who cannot come home during the work day to care for their animals.

“This really is an alternative to kenneling your dog or other animals,” Jensen said. “People can leave their pets in their own environment and we will come and sit with the pet.”

A big part of her business, she said, is emergency situations. People will call because they have to work overtime and need someone to feed their animals and let them outside for a short while.

Jensen’s work is different every week, she said.

Over the holidays, she boarded 11 dogs at her home and provided in-home care for 15 other animals. Since the holidays, business has slowed down and she has three dogs at her house.

Jensen said she believes her business provides a need for people who are concerned about their pets.

“When we travel there always is a concern aboutwhat to do with our pets,” she said. “We’ll lean on a friend or family member but a lot of times, they get busy and forget.”

She said Pet Fetch Care is insured and bonded and is in the business of taking care of animals.

Jensen said she especially enjoys her new career because she knows that petowners appreciate the care and love she gives their animals.

“I enjoy it when I see the look on their faces when they bring animals and pick them up,” she added.

For more information, contact Jensen at HYPERLINK “mailto:nwa@fetchcare.com” nwa@fetchcare.com.

Living, Pages 6 on 01/27/2010

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