Today marks a very special day for us. After all, it’s our 10-year Anniversary!
Miami Pet Concierge is a true labor of love. Passion guides me daily and pushes me forward to do my best. My hope was and has become the mission of MPC: To teach people how to be the best pet parents they can be. Today marks the day that my team and I have been succeeding and accomplishing that goal for 10 years.
On May 1, 2007, I opened the doors as a sole pet sitter intending to provide the best pet care possible to Miami-Dade residents. I can remember when I told friends, family, and colleagues about my plans it shocked many of them!
Just some things I heard…
“How are you going to support yourself”?
“I give it 6 months before you’ll be looking for a real job”.
“You’re too smart for this”!
Former Career
In truth, I had a very lucrative career in the Entertainment Industry in Los Angeles. I had been a Development Executive for Aaron Spelling developing one-hour television series programs. Prior to that, I had worked for the William Morris Agency and Jerry Bruckheimer Television. I wanted to be a Writer.
Consequently, after spending countless hours volunteering at local shelters in Los Angeles during my downtime, I knew my love for pets was something I wanted to pursue and believed it would lead me into something new. I wasn’t sure exactly what.
Back In Miami
When I arrived back in Miami, I wanted to learn everything I could about pet care, our community, and the animal overpopulation problem in our county. Therefore I began working for the Humane Society of Greater Miami (HSGM) in Development, raising funds and planning their special events simultaneously helping open the Sofer Fine Adoption Center. During my three years at HSGM, I not only immersed myself regarding everything animals, in addition, I realized that there was a great need for pet care in our city. The numbers of animals who were being given up flabbergasted me because their parents could no longer provide the proper care for them. And so it began, I developed the concept of Miami Pet Concierge.
Within six months of opening the doors of MPC, I had my first employee. Today we are at 14 strong and growing every day.
I remember hearing if you were a small business owner and made it to the first year you were doing well. If you reached five years, you were doing great… So I guess at the 10-year mark, I can finally admit and say we are a true success.
Animals have always been a great love of mine. My mother would tell you that, as a child, I would rescue strays and pick up birds and even lizards off the street. Even to this day, I’m still that person who will pick up a snail and move them off a sidewalk in fear someone will step on them.
Running a small business is not always an easy task. Although rewarding, it comes with its stresses; but it’s something I felt I was meant to do and do well. My true calling.
What Small Business Ownership Means To Me
Small business ownership brings autonomy, certain freedoms and the ability to be your own boss. It has given me the ability to test personal boundaries, work on my patience and develop a thicker skin. It also comes with many rewards and lots of love, but unfortunately heartache too. What most people probably don’t realize is that every pet we care for becomes another one we feel is our own. When a client loses a family member, so do we. We mourn as if we were part of the family.
There are so many people I would like to thank for helping us become who we are and helping us get to where we are today, but there are too many to mention here.
I’d like to draw attention to my staff, both past, and present. For without them, Miami Pet Concierge would not be where we are today. With the hard work and help of my present and future staff members, I am confident I will soon write our 20 year anniversary announcement.
In closing, I wanted to share this note with you, as I am both thankful and humbled by your continued support and friendship. We feel honored and privileged to work as your pet care provider. We take great pride and providing the best care possible and only want the best for your four-legged, finned and feathered friends.
Here’s to another 10 years!
Nicole
Fun Facts – Miami Pet Concierge by the numbers as of today:
- 3650 consecutive days we have been providing pet care.
- Over 550 pets we’ve had the privilege of caring for.
- 140 lbs. – our largest client; 5 lbs. – our smallest client.
- Poop bags and litter boxes too many to count.
- 45 – the number of sneakers Nicole has worn out over the last 10 years.
- 67,200 + pet sitting jobs we’ve completed.
- 75+ miles per day cumulative that we drive providing pet care.
- 45,000 miles + we’ve walked with our client’s dogs.
- Over 6,000 park visits completed.
- Over 1,000,000,000 kisses and belly rubs give out!
