Business Watch:
Help for pet owners

Local man pet sits and helps with pet meds

Owner: Michael Dean Russell, R.V.T.

Name of business: Mike's Pet Care

How many years in this business: In the pet business for 10 years, opened own mobile business in January.

Address: 211 W. Marquita Ave. No. 19 in San Clemente, but this is a mobile service.

Hours: Varies, call

Telephone: 949-246-3835

Web site: - www.mikespetcare.com

Type of business: In-home medical pet care and pet sitting with a personal touch.

Describe your business: It's a new approach to pet sitting and assisting residents with their pet's medical needs. I am bonded and insured and I am licensed with the city of San Clemente. I also use my technical skills to help out at the San Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter on a part-time basis.

Why did you choose this type of business? Because I have a passion for animals and medicine and it is what I have studied for the last 8 years.

Any special training for this business? Yes, 7 1/2 years of hands-on training as a veterinary technician, including emergencies. Also, I finished at the top of my class at professional veterinary assistant school and I am licensed and registered with the California Veterinary Medical Board as a Registered Vet Tech.

What were you doing before you started this business? Working at a veterinary hospital as the lead technician.

Where did the idea come from? I was not fulfilled at my job. I saw a niche that allowed me to be my own boss and had more range to share my knowledge and experience, while enjoying what I love to do.

Was there a large investment to get it off the ground? Large for me but not large in the grand scheme of an entrepreneur. Overhead consists of creating and maintaining a Web site, business cards, flyers, a trade show, different licenses, insurance, materials, etc. The cost adds up quickly.

Advice to others interested in doing something similar? Do your homework diligently and try and do it part-time before you start it as your full time job.

Who are you trying to reach in terms of clients? In general anyone with pets who needs assistance. Demographically, any person who finds it difficult to administer medications or any person that needs pet sitting or overnight stays so that they can vacation with peace of mind.

Future goals? Grow slowly, add a healthy product line to the Web site and build a solid reputation as a local professional with integrity.

Sklar is a local journalist. Her Business Spotlight column appears every other Friday in the Sun Post News. E-mail her at Debbiesklar@cox.net.