Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Chermak.
Wendy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My doggy daycare actually started organically without any business plan on my part. I grew up in a house full of dogs. My family and I are very much animal lovers. I was working from home doing freelance photography, graphic design and social media and I have my own dog. I felt bad only being able to rush my dog to the park for about an hour each week to socialize. Just as we need friends I do not think it is healthy for dogs to be isolated from other dogs. I put an ad on social media and on a couple different neighborhood apps offering to watch people’s dogs for the sake of giving my dog a playmate.
A few responded and before I knew it word got out. I was soon booked solid Monday through Friday with a great group of regulars. The money I made I then invested in revamping my backyard into a dog-friendly playground with artificial turf, pet beds, large water bowls, ample shade and more. Since I do this from my home I cater to puppies and small breed dogs and I also keep the number of dogs minimal. I want them to have an intimate experience. I went to college for photography and love to take photos of my guests throughout the day and post them for the owners.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have found a few struggles operating this business all on my own as I have committed to watching these dogs about 12 hours a day Monday – Friday and sometimes weekends if they are boarding while their owners are out of town. I have very little time to run my own errands and make appointments for myself. This is where Amazon Prime has become very important… lol
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Fetch San Diego – what should we know?
My dog daycare is different from others because it is a home environment. A lot of the owners feel good about leaving their dog to socialize with a smaller group. They can run and play but also aren’t overwhelmed. I love watching friendships build between other dogs. I often hear stories of my regular clients going out to local dog beaches and parks and running into their friends with dogs who they recognize from photos updates I share throughout the day. Success is not what you accumulate, it is getting to do what you love.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Both of my parents are business owners. I have always had an entrepreneurial outlook and have been eager to do things on my own but without their guidance and support, I am not sure that I would have been able to go this far with my business. They both definitely play a huge role in my business endeavors.
Pricing:
- Half day (4 hours) $15
- Full day (between 6:30am – 6pm) $30
Contact Info:
- Website: fetchsandiego.com
- Phone: 619-410-3327
- Email: info@fetchsandiego.com
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/sd.doggydaycare/
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
