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During my summer vacation in 1971, I began caring for the pets in my
neighborhood, giving them walks and baths and entertaining them when
their owners were away on vacation. It wasn’t long before I realized
I could broaden my client base by learning to give medications to
pets as well. Thereafter, each summer, I had returning clients and
an income that was fairly substantial for someone in grade school.
Years later when I was ready for college, I knew I had a unique
love for animals but wasn’t sure how to apply that to any major
field of study since Veterinary school didn’t appeal to me. My
parents just wanted to make sure I earned a degree that would allow
me to have a career. I bounced from being a journalism major to a
music major. I sang opera and performed in musicals in Atlanta, but
nothing seemed to “take.” I finally found a match when I enrolled at
Oglethorpe and started taking business courses. I found a great
professor in Dean Tucker, who made learning about marketing and
management interesting and enjoyable.
My final course at Oglethorpe was a marketing project. I had to
design a company, formulate a business plan and marketing approach.
I drew from my childhood years of pet care and designed a pet
sitting company. It was a fun project since I was writing about a
subject that I loved. I passed his course with an A and graduated in
1990.
The next few years, I worked in Corporate America gaining
invaluable business experience. Because of my degree, a job
opportunity presented itself to manage a Veterinary Hospital. The
next five years of my life were spent running that hospital. During
that time, I obtained certifications in animal care and nutrition in
addition to learning a great deal about pet health and wellness.
Then, in the fall of 1993, everything fell into place - I decided
to form a pet sitting company offering more than the usual
walking-and-watering service provided by others. With the support of
my husband and mother,
Pawsitively
Pets, Inc. was born.
It was very difficult to leave a salaried position and go it
alone but I felt certain about where I was headed. I turned back to
those ideas presented in the final project for Dean Tucker, and
updated them with everything I’d learned at the Veterinary Hospital.
My first desk came from a garage sale. I used all of my savings to
purchase advertising and I felt like a true entrepreneur. Everything
was in place and I was in business!
Next year marks our tenth year. Today, my mother and my husband
remain an integral part of Pawsitively Pets, Inc. Their continued
support and hard work have helped to make us successful. We
currently offer pet sitting services throughout Metro Atlanta to
thousands of satisfied clients.
Last year, I was invited to a luncheon with Dr. Large to
discuss the formation of a entrepreneurial network at Oglethorpe.
Several alumni have come together to form O.N.E. I am proud to be a
founding member of the Oglethorpe Network of Entrepreneurs. This
network is open to all alumni who own a business of their own or
aspire to be their own boss. It is a great way to talk business and
get to know your fellow alums. Come and check us out!
Donna Hook McPherson, ‘90
Pawsitively Pets, Inc.
We care for pets seven days a week, all year through. We offer
visits from 7 am until 11 pm every day.
This business has a unique niche because we come to the
clients' house to care for their pets. We offer a free consultation
to meet each client and their pets. At that time, we gather all the
information necessary to care for their pets and home. The rest is
our responsibility. Some pets need numerous visits during the day
and others only one. For those medically needy pets, we offer
trained technicians to provide medical care. Always, we provide a
loving environment so their pets stay happy and healthy while the
owners are away. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of puppies
succeed with housebreaking by offering visits during the middle of
the day. We take pets to the vet and the groomer, too. We have built
a loyal clientele by offering quality pet care with peace of mind.
You can view all the services we offer at
www.petduty.com.
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