After shadowing Ashley Pearl, owner of pet sitting/dog walking service Paws & Relax, I felt like I’d just been on a glorious vacation. The “animal whisperer,” as some clients call her, was kind enough to let me tag along on a couple pet visits which, for an animal lover like myself, felt as decompressing as a really good therapy session.
Love What You Do
Donning a baseball cap and a long, dark ponytail, Pearl first met me at the home of three-month-old Sargeant, an adorably clumsy “St. Ber-Doodle,” whom she visits twice daily for walks, feeding and playtime. Ashley loves what she does and it shows. Animals clearly adore her, and her soft-yet-steady hand is just right.
Sarge is just one of hundreds of fur babies that the five-member team sees on a regular basis. After six years in business, the entrepreneur has grown Paws & Relax into quite the thriving enterprise. Ashley has acquired every certification, license, and insurance that exist in the biz. With every team member passing a background check, and being Pet First-Aid and CPR-certified, owners can be sure their fuzzy family members will be in very good hands.
Follow That Girl!
I’m not at all surprised to find that many local vets recommend her services, and she has a plethora of stellar reviews across media platforms. One peek at Paws & Relax social media shows a business on top of its game, with plenty of followers enjoying the antics and the awws that come with the territory. Seriously, you should start following immediately!
After a half-hour with Sarge, we headed out to visit another furry friend, a cat by the name of Beans. Most pet appointments last a half-hour, but hour and even overnight visits are available. I could have played with Sarge all darn day, but I was curious to see how her dynamic would differ with a fuzzy of the feline variety.
The team at Paws & Relax mostly sees cats and dogs, but has also worked with birds, horses, even a hedgehog. Any animals they won’t see? Tarantulas. Gotta draw the line somewhere, right?
Bring Out The Best
This was only Ashley’s second time calling on Beans the cat, but you’d never know it. At her initial consultation, she was warned that the kitty is shy and rarely comes out when strangers are present, but the sweet, playful Beans immediately warmed up to her. The Beans I saw was all nuzzles and fun! I suppose Ashley just brings out the best in our lil’ companions.
She snapped a photo of the happy gray cat leaping for a toy while making the silliest pigeon-like trills. Ashley takes pictures of her beloved animals with every visit, and shares them with their owners. It’s a sweet, special, and personal touch I have deemed “Snap-cats.”
Photo by John Weatherby Photography
It’s Personal
“What makes us unique is that we are not only professional, but personal. We are extremely passionate about pets and their care, and treat the client’s pets as our own. Also, ever since I was young I’ve had a way with animals, a unique ability to understand them and their needs. Some little girls want dolls or pretty clothes. I wanted to be surrounded by nature and caring for animals. An animal whisperer… Dr. Dolittle…or ‘Dr. Pearl,’ in this case.” Sounds like a TV show in the making, no?
Ashley’s schooling at Eckerd College in Psychology may have something to do with her magic with animals, but how did she turn pet sitting, something she’s done since childhood, into a thriving business?
“Persistence is key,” she says. “Find what you are passionate about, and throw yourself into it with everything you have. Determination, integrity, and an enduring love of animals keeps me at the top of my field.” Hard ambition meets squishy love of animals. This gal is doing it right!
Hey Ashley…could we do this again next week? Pretty please?
Ready to give your pet the Pearl treatment? Learn all about the services offered by Paws & Relax, read testimonials, and book your complimentary consultation at pawsandrelax.pet. Remember to follow ‘em on social media @pawsandrelaxstpete.
