o Each week, The Columbian offers a brief snapshot of an interesting Clark County business. Send ideas to Mary Ricks: mary.ricks@columbian.com; fax 360-735-4598; phone 360-735-4550.
Business name: Sit and Stay Pet and House Sitting Services.
Owner: Colleen Coy.
Address: Office in Coy’s Vancouver home.
What the business does: Colleen Coy said her business takes care of people’s pets in their own home. Visits are tailored to what the pet owner wants in order to keep their pets comfortable and happy while keeping the pet owner’s home secure. Coy’s company offers vacation visits (one to three visits a day), dog walks, and overnight stays, and her contractors will administer medicine. The business also provides care for farm animals.
Steps to build the business as the economy recovers: Coy is using social media, especially Facebook, to build her business contacts. She is also partnering with other service providers who are working together to help each business grow.
Greatest challenge: Coy said Sit and Stay used to do daily dog walks for people who worked in Portland and couldn’t get home to give their dog a potty break. Because more people are unemployed and money is tight, more of those pet owners are hiring a neighbor kid, which has cut into her regular services. Coy said customers may learn that a professional pet sitter who is insured, bonded and will show up every time as scheduled is a much better bet.
