Happy Fourth of July! In celebration of the holiday, and the fact that our staff is working EXTRA hard to care for pets this holiday weekend, I introduce: our next staff highlight!
As a neighborhood pet care company, Alexandria Pet Care is dedicated to hiring professionals who have extensive experience working with animals. Several of our staff members have worked in veterinary hospitals, animal shelters, training facilities, and daycares, just to name a few. One of our longest standing staff members is Elle G.! She is a pet care professional as well as one of our Team Facilitators, meaning she leads one half of our pet-care team and assists with communications between the office and staff for maximum efficiency. We caught up with her to ask her a few questions, and here’s what we learned:
Q: How long have you been with APC, and why did you decide to work with a pet care agency?
A: I have been with Alexandria Pet Care for about 6 years. I used to work as a Vet Assistant, and while I loved it, I wanted to phase out of the animal hospital field and try something new. I wanted to continue working with animals, and thought I’d give dog walking and pet sitting a try. I liked it so much, I never left!
Q: What is your favorite part about dog walking/pet sitting?
A: My favorite part is definitely spending time with the animals! However, it is also very rewarding knowing that we are helping to put pet parents’ minds at ease while they are away from their pets. As a pet owner myself, I absolutely appreciate how important that is.
Q: Do you have any pets of your own? If so, what kind, and what is their “gotcha” story?
A: I have two pets, a little dog named Greta (she’s just little in size, not personality!), and a wonderful cat named Irvin. I was working at a vet clinic when I met Greta. She was a puppy who came into the clinic as an abuse case, and was very badly injured. I took her in just as a foster, and I couldn’t let her go. She stole my heart, and I decided to adopt her! I recently adopted Irvin after I lost my late cat of 17 years. I basically grew up with my late cat, Mr. Kitty, and losing him was really difficult. I spent some time after his passing, but finally realized I needed another cat in my life. I found sweet Irvin at a local pet shop, and it was love at first sight! He’s so well adjusted and has fit right into mine and Greta’s life seamlessly. It’s wonderful being able to rescue an animal – both he and Greta show so much love and gratitude (albeit, in different ways), I couldn’t imagine my life without them!
Q: What do you like about being a team facilitator, and what do you feel is the most important part of your job?
A: Overall I really just enjoy helping people. As a team facilitator, I can field inquiries or concerns and ensure that they are heard and addressed. This can be a really busy and stressful job, and there are a lot of small, moving parts. I act as a go-between for the office and the rest of the staff so that nothing gets lost in the shuffle. I like that helping with these parts of the company allows all parties to be able to successfully do their jobs and more importantly, enjoy what they do!
Q: Can you say a little bit about your background working with animals, and some animal care jobs you’ve held in the past?
A: I have always loved animals and grew up with pets in the home. I actually started working in the animal field about 10 years ago at the SPCA in Annapolis. It was very rewarding work – some of the hardest work I have ever done, but so so worth it. I helped with the overall care of the animals and the entire adoption process. After that, I moved here and worked for VCA Alexandria Animal Hospital for three years, which is where I learned the most about the medical side of animal care. I helped with everything from preventative care and every day visits, to critical care. The skills I acquired at both of those jobs have really contributed to my work with Alexandria Pet Care, and I’m glad I had that knowledge base to work off of in the private animal care field.
Q: What is a fun, non animal related, fact about yourself?
A: My main passion outside of pet care is ceramics. I actually have a home studio and I volunteer at the Art League School in Old Town as well as participate in local events and markets. I am always learning new techniques to add to my repertoire and it’s a great way to unwind and let my artistic side out!
So there ya have it! We hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about one of our wonderfully amazing pet care professionals… stay tuned for our next Staff Highlight!
