Boulder City Pet Services - In this episode of The Best Dam Podcast, Jill sits down with Michelle Carroll, the founder of Critter Sitter LLC, to discuss the impressive growth of her professional pet care business. From starting as a solo entrepreneur to managing a team of four independent contractors, Michelle shares how her passion for animals has evolved into an essential service for Boulder City and Henderson.

Michelle explores the comprehensive nature of modern pet sitting, highlighting her transition from a 20-year corporate career to a "soul-singing" vocation dedicated to the well-being of "babies" with fur, scales, and fins. With a focus on professional standards, including being licensed, insured, and certified in Pet CPR, Michelle provides an insightful look at the dedication required to ensure community pets are safe, stimulated, and loved.

DISCUSSION

1. Entrepreneurial Expansion: Michelle has grown her business over the last year and a half and now manages four independent contractors serving Boulder City and Henderson.
2. The Ideal Sitter: Michelle seeks mature, reliable individuals, often retirees, who have a lifelong history with animals and the flexibility to perform overnight stays.
3. Unique Animal Care: Beyond dogs and cats, Michelle cares for a wide variety of "critters," including axolotls that must be separated during feeding and a large fish that requires hand-feeding.
4. Mental vs. Physical Stimulation: The discussion emphasizes that pets need more than just a backyard; they require mental engagement through scent games and sensory experiences during walks.
5. Critter Cab Services: Michelle provides transportation for pets to reach vet appointments, groomers, or the dog park, offering a vital resource for seniors and busy families.
6. Pet CPR and First Aid Training: Starting in May, Michelle will offer five-hour certification courses at the Senior Center to teach pet parents how to handle emergencies like seizures, poisoning, and heat stroke.
7. Wag Walks Tradition: Inspired by local Wine Walks, Michelle organizes community "Wag Walks" to encourage social exercise for dogs and their owners.
8. Professional Standards: Michelle differentiates her business by ensuring all sitters are certified in Pet CPR and First Aid, are fully insured and bonded, and are vetted.

LEARN MORE

• Boulder City Critter Sitter LLC: The primary professional pet service provider offering customized in-home care, check-ins, and medical administration. bouldercitycrittersitter.com. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bouldercitycrittersitter
• Pet CPR Certification: Information on upcoming classes at the Boulder City Senior Center, with special discounts available for Senior Center members.
• Wag Walkers & Animal Lovers Group: A Facebook community where residents can find updated times and locations for local group dog walks.

KEYWORDS



Michelle Carroll, Critter Sitter LLC, Pet CPR, Boulder City, Henderson, The Best Dam Podcast, Jill Lagan, Pet First Aid, Animal Welfare, Entrepreneurship, Critter Cab

#MichelleCarroll #CritterSitterLLC #PetCPR #TheBestDamPodcast #BoulderCity #PetCare #SmallBusiness #WagWalk

Podcast Transcript

Jill: We have some amazing information, pertinent information. Cannot wait to share this information from Ms. Michelle Carroll, who is not only one of the amazing volunteers at the Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, but I also am very grateful for, having learned from her. And I cannot wait for you guys to learn more about Critter Sitter, which is now Critter sitter, LLC.

Michelle: Yes. 

Jill: So welcome Ms. Michelle.

Michelle: Thank you. I'm very excited to be here.

Jill: And this is an updated episode because we have had a great conversation in the past, but it was a brand new conversation and it was just, you were just getting started.

And so this is, 2.0.

Michelle: Yes. We're now almost a year and a half in.

Jill: That is incredible. And so much has happened and. What a great you are, an entrepreneur's, dream and an economic development dream because you have really built into this and created a workforce that is, absolutely essential now to what Critter Sitter does.

Michelle: Yes. Grown a lot and I now have four independent contractors that, work for me as sitters.

Three here in Boulder City and one in Henderson. Because we're expanding out there as well. Very good. which is why I got the critter sitter. LLC.

Jill: Yes.

Michelle: So we could now do be besides Boulder city critter sitter, we can do Las Vegas critter sitter and Henderson critter sitter. 'Cause we're getting lots and lots of referrals.

So this year doing expansion out there. But the focus and the main. the main focus will always be Boulder City 'cause.

Jill: So let's talk about just one pillar, one aspect of all of this, and that is the individuals that work for you.

Michelle: Yes.

Jill: I know you're looking to expand, so you would be looking for what, who are you looking for?

Michelle: So ideally my, the prime, candidate would be somebody who is preferably a little bit more older, a little bit more mature, who's been around animals. for most of their life, especially dogs and cats, they need to be flexible hours. Because we do overnights in clients' homes.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: So, usually people with small kids at home or pets at home, it doesn't really work well with their schedule.

The ones that have been the most successful have either been retired or close to retirement. And, because we do overnights, they're gonna do walks, they do, check-ins. all of my, sitters are, certified in PET CPR and first aid.

So they need to take that course, and that's pretty much it.

They need to be reliable because when somebody books us with their babies and it is their babies.

Jill: That's right. In their home.

Michelle: In their home. So they need to be, trustworthy, reliable. I am not just certified, but I'm also insured and bonded all of my sitters. Fall under that as well. So all clients are protected.

Jill: Great.

Michelle: Sitters are protected. Everybody is so also part of the chamber.

Jill: Yes, very much Yes. And so I love that you are looking for assistance. 'Cause that means you're growing and you're building and you're Successful.

Michelle: Absolutely.

Jill: But it also, it allows for people who maybe just need a little bit of extra income.

Michelle: Correct.

Jill: Especially those that might be retired. they also need a little bit of a love and attention. I would imagine that them getting to be around other people's pets is probably also a joyful moment for them.

Michelle: Absolutely. I know for me It makes my soul sing. 

Jill: Yeah, it just makes me happy.

Michelle: You've, it's really hard to have a bad day when you're surrounded by pups and kittens and animals and they're just loving and sweet. And I'm very blessed that all of my clients are amazing too. So, you know, I'm working with great people and,

Jill: Yeah,

Michelle: It's not a bad gig.

Jill: No,

Michelle: It's a lot of fun.

Jill: I bet.

Okay, so here's a crazy question. What is the most unique animal that you've had to work with so far?

Michelle: Well, Angie's,

Jill: You are Angie. Angie is a zookeeper.

Michelle: Angie, she was my first official client back even before I've, you know, and she's got the snakes.

Jill: Yes.

Michelle: And, I did not do her spiders, so she did put the spiders into, into the pet shop.

but all the snakes, and she's got ax, ax can never say 'em, but they axolots.

Jill: Axolotl

Michelle: Axolotl,

Jill: Axolotl

Michelle: Yep.

Jill: And who named that thing?

Michelle: I don't know. They're super cute though.

Jill: Cute.

Michelle: You have to take each one out of the tank and separate them so they wouldn't eat each other while they're trying to eat.

Jill: Really?

Michelle: Yeah.

And then I did not know that. Then you had to put them back put 'em in little cups and put 'em back in the water so they could acclimate to the temperature and just get back in there. Then I've got another client who has a injured fish, like a really big fish, that needs to be hand fed.

Jill: Really?

Michelle: Yeah. And he's a lovely gentleman and he's, he takes care of it and, but we have to hand feed it and then, you can actually pet the fish.

Jill: Yeah. I have, I've got, koi fish in a pond out in my front, and they come right to me. They know I'm gonna feed them and they let me touch their nose.

Michelle: Yep. And oh, and then Angie also has, bearded dragons and yeah, so possums and she's got all kinds and pups and ferrets and

Jill: Oh my golly.

Michelle: So we do all critters. but obviously 99% of it is dogs and cats.

Jill: Yeah, I don't know. I think I would draw the line on the snakes and spiders.

Michelle: I didn't feed them.

So they fed him before they left. They fed him after I left, but I took care of him in between.

Jill: Yeah. Interesting. Well, I'm glad some people find love in those kinds of critters because everybody deserves love, but

Michelle: Exactly.

Jill: They won't be at my house. I will love them from a distance.

Michelle: Even if they don't have fur, they still need love and care.

Jill: Absolutely.

Jill: That's true. And even fur, less cats.

Michelle: Yeah.

Jill: So I just love what it is that you do and the people that you are assisting, and so I am interested, we know that you obviously go to residence and you go to homes.

Michelle: Correct.

Jill: Have you ever been asked to go to a business, to, manage business? Like maybe, maybe security dogs or maybe the pet store or something?

Have you had that experience to, to deal with businesses yet?

Michelle: Not yet. Not out here. Back in California before I moved out here, I did, I managed the operations for one of the largest, dog training schools and boarding facilities. so that's kind of where I got my first taste of working with animals.

Other, I've always watched it like my entire life, anytime anybody's gone outta town, I've taken care of their animals.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: But that was the first time when I was working day to day with animals and wa and learning about training and dog behaviors and, just really getting my teeth and, you know, just kind of getting my hands dirty and really getting to understand that industry, understand it.

So when I came out here to Boulder and I wanted to start a business of my own, it just kind of, I looked back and went, okay, the only ti 'cause I worked corporate, I worked, I was a project technical project manager for about 20 years.

Jill: Oh geez.

Michelle: Doing corporate stuff, but I was never really happy with it and I was never really satisfied my heart or my soul.

I was good at it, I just didn't. Really particularly enjoyed it. And then just thought back, the only time I really loved what I did was when I was working with the animals, with the dogs and the cats.

Jill: That's awesome.

Michelle: And then it was just, okay, let's figure out how to make that work here. And there seemed to be a need for it.

Jill: Yes.

Michelle: People were always looking for somebody to take care of their animals, and there are a few people out here, who do it, but nobody was doing it like a real business,

Jill: Right?

Michelle: Nobody got, there wasn't anybody who was licensed, insured, bonded, certified, and gone through via fish. So my goal was to turn this into a legitimate professional.

Pet service business. Where I could be, slowly all encompassing in, in all types of pet services to help everybody.

Jill: So do you assist any of the seniors in our community that they aren't leaving, they're not going outta town, but they just need somebody to come walk their dog or I

Michelle: Absolutely.

So we help with walking dogs. I also have, my car is a critter cab.

Jill: Yes, 

Michelle: I've seen that they do critter cab services, so for seniors or for anybody if they need assistance, getting their dogs, or cats over to the vet or to groomers or to daycare or to, you know, I take dogs to park.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: And pick up a dog and take him over to the dog park or to the regular park and run 'em and play with 'em.

And

Jill: I love that.

Michelle: I have one client that I go over and I spend. 30 minutes every once a week playing Frisbee.

Jill: Oh, that's awesome.

Michelle: And that's a blast I love. like, that's one of my favorite times. That's great. She needs some exercise and. So we'll just play Frisbee and she catches it, brings it back, play it, and

Jill: That's awesome.

Michelle: It's so much fun.

Jill: Well, and I would imagine what Allison does at Damn dog house. my youngest daughter, she worked at a doggy daycare. I never really fully understood the need, but when she would have to be there till midnight sometimes, because you have to have somebody on site 

Michelle: Yes. 

Jill: When you've got these boarded dogs.

Michelle: Yes.

Jill: And such a resource and such a tool that we have in this community. So necessary and so needed, so very grateful that you and so many others have decided to make this a profession.

Michelle: Absolutely. And we've got phenomenal groomers in this town. So we're starting to get some really amazing, pet businesses and pet vendors and, and Allison and I love Allison, but, and we do.

Kind of the same but opposite, so she does boarding in the facility and then she'll also do daycare with, for groups of animals. So dogs that love to play with other dogs, they have a great time. And it's a blast to watch. There's so much fun.

Jill: Well, and she's regulated too, because if you work five days a week, you need to be able to drop your dog off five days a week.

And that may not fit into your schedule to go sit at someone's house five days a week for eight hours a day.

Michelle: Exactly.

Jill: It's a perfect resource. Perfect tool.

Michelle: Exactly. And so what I, and then, so I offer the, kind of the opposite of we customize it for what,the dog the pets are the clients.

I always call the, they're my clients. And then I've got the parents of the clients. But it's what works best for the animals, like, you know, so some animals eat at six in the morning, some eat at eight, some need special medication, some need shots. Some need diapers.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: Some need, pills or this or that at certain times a day.

So we customize. To what they need. If they have doggy doors, great. If they don't, then we'll do extra check-ins during the day and let them out and play with them, when it's really hot outside.

Jill: Yes.

Michelle: Do super early morning walks. Do, we can do late night walks. We can also, come in and instead of doing physical exercise, we can do mental exercise games with them and do mental stimulation.

Jill: Yeah,

Michelle: Because, most of it. Yes. So even if they have a backyard, and a lot of people don't realize that just letting the your dog outside. Backyard, they can run around. They're still not getting mental stimulation. If you've got a dog like a German Shepherd, that is a working dog and

needs and has this desire to do something or work 

Jill: right.

Michelle: Just by doing simple scent games or different mental stimulation games, can, you know, help them sleep and just kinda wear them out. Interesting. But it also brings out their instincts. The smelling instincts and lets them track. And there's lots of cool stuff that we can do that just keeps them busy and gives them something to do and kind of keeps 'em outta trouble so they're not tearing up your couch or your shoes.

Jill: Yeah. Never thought about the mental stimulation. That's awesome.

Michelle: Well, for dogs, walking is like therapy for them. it is, it's both mental and physical stimulation. All the smells and the scents and,

Jill: Oh yeah.

Michelle: It's. One of the greatest things that you can do for dogs because they, but not every dog can go out.

Some of them are reactive towards other dogs. And then we've got the heat factor. So there are alternatives that we can do, for dogs that can't go out, but any dog that can and is able go walk absolutes. What's literally one of the best things that you can do for a dog?

Jill: Do you think? They get endorphin dumps like we do.

When we go out and walk and exercise.

Michelle: Oh gosh, yes.

Jill: I would bet

Michelle: They have such a, they love it. They have such a great time. And, I and I have so many dogs that I walk and, I've got big bloodhounds and little teeny tiny dogs and everything in between. And they just, I mean, and you can just tell in their body language, right?

Because they just, they smell everything. And their noses are a million times more sensitive than ours. And, they, and to them it's like everything they smell, they know, okay, this, they recognize different dogs. And that's how they identify. 

Jill: Right. 

Michelle: Everything out there. So it's so great for, them's amazing and it's, again, it's mental stimulation. 'Cause they're looking around, they're smelling everything. They're experiencing the world. so yeah, they're,

Jill: Do you want cats?

Michelle: I have not had the opportunity to walk a cat. 

Jill: I'm just wondering.

Michelle: No one's hired me to walk their cat, but that would be funny. Oh, but speaking of walks, we do have our wag walks.

Jill: Oh yeah. Yeah.

Michelle: As well. so we have a Facebook group page called Boulder City Wag Walkers and Animal Lovers. that's the best place 'cause we, modify the times. So right now it was at five 30 every week. But now that it's getting hotter, we're bumping it down to seven o'clock. sometimes we'll do Saturday mornings as well. We're gonna keep going until it just gets too hot.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: Then we're gonna take a break for the summer and then I model it after wine walk.

Jill: Yeah, absolutely.

Michelle: Which is how I got the name. Yeah. Like, okay. Humans have wine walk, so we, the dogs have the wag walk.

Jill: I love it.

Michelle: And so when it gets too hot for wine walk.

Then we stop as well. And then when wine walk picks back up, then we will have, we will too. So kind

Jill: At some point we need to merge those two.

Michelle: That would be a,

Jill: Wouldn't that be a fun wag wagon? Wine. Wine and wag.

Michelle: Yeah.

Jill: Something. Yeah. So we could come up with something clever. That would be fun.

Michelle: It worked, it worked great for the Christmas parade.

That's true. That was my Christmas parade wag walk, and that worked out really well. 

Jill: Everybody loved it. And So that is an addition since the last time we talked. 

Michelle: Yes, 

Jill: You've added that, which is fabulous, but you have added something that I find is so necessary and I didn't know it till you said it.

And even as we were just talking when you came in today, I need to take this class even though I have, don't have any pets right now. so can you share a little bit more about this new program that you're doing?

Michelle: Sure. So, beginning in May, I am. Super, super excited. we're gonna start offering, PET CPR and first aid classes for pet parents.

So when I first launched this business, I signed up for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. I didn't even know at the time there was such a thing. 

Jill: I didn't either, but I

Michelle: But there is

Jill: Glad to know it.

Michelle: And so they offered, online PET CPR and first aid, and I took an, and I've been around animals my entire life and there were so many things that I learned that I had no clue.

And it was fascinating. one of the main things was, is just even as far as pet CPR for dogs and cats, completely different. From humans, the heart's in a different location. you're not breathing in the mouth, you're breathing in the nose. The heart, the palpitations rates are completely different.

So it's a, but then even learning about bloat and how to prevent, especially for dogs with big chests, how to prevent them, to have their stomachs flip over and die. 

Pretty quickly after eating. And that's a scary thing. and it was just real . It was a fascinating course and I loved it. And then when I started, finally hiring people to work for me, I made sure that they all got certified. They had to go pay for the class and do it themselves and pass it. And then now that. I'm getting busier and hiring more people, just kind of hit me. It was like, okay, well it's great that we know it, but pet parents should also know this as well.

So I am in the process of getting certified to become a certified instructor.

And so what the class will cover is everything from diabetes, how to recognize seizures and what to do when your animal has a seizure. What to do in case of poisoning. If they get bit by a snake or, a scorpion if they fall into the pool, you know?

Jill: Yeah. Yeah.

Michelle: After, I've been doing this now for almost a year and a half, and I've probably been to about 200 houses in this town, and I've probably seen five gates around the pool. 

Jill: Oh, man.

Michelle: everybody thinks their dog can swim. That's not necessarily true. Many dogs fall in and then just go straight to the bottom.

We also have a lake right here. Right. That can get pretty cold. Right. So, we're gonna talk about hypothermia, we're gonna talk about heat stroke.

Jill: Perfect.

Michelle: What to do, right? How to, the. Take care of the baby's paws. Pause. Yeah, that's deal. Because it's gonna get really hot out here.

What if they cut themselves? you know what if, you know how even just ba simple stuff like, their poop, what to look for. I know it sounds weird, right? But when is it something you have to look out for, right? And what is it an emergency? When, so just basic. How to take, how to possibly save

Jill: Your dog or cat's life and save money to not,

Michelle: And save money. I mean, it could be a midnight trip to the er.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: at a thousand or more.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: And it might be something that you can just easily take care of at home, or at the very least,

Jill: Recognize,

Michelle: Recognize it that this is something that could be a danger, or when is it something that.

There were so many things when I was taking the classwork. This is something I need to look out for and just monitor.

Versus drop everything and go to the vet now.

Jill: Perfect. Yeah. That's a good,

Michelle: Right. I think that alone

Jill: Yes.

Michelle: Makes it, such a, such an important thing because you just never know.

And I know every single one of my clients, the first thing they tell me when I do a meet and greet is this dog, or this cat is my baby.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: This is my treasure, this is my family. This is, I don't trust anybody with my animal, this is my baby.

Jill: I totally can understand that.

Michelle: And then wouldn't you wanna learn how to, I mean, I highly tell anybody.

I recommend anybody that has kids, make sure you take CPR for children.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: Or, for humans.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: Just as I think everybody needs to know human and baby CPR and child CPR. I think it's just as important if you have a dog or a cat, or if you're around animals. 'cause even if you see an animal on the street,

Jill: Yes, you're right.

Michelle: An injured animal, how do, how to be able, how do how do you put on, how do you wrap the wound? What are you supposed to do? What works? And, I'm going to also, be selling, I'll have first aid kits

Jill: Oh, perfect.

Michelle: At courses. so I'm gonna, so you'll either be able to, you'll be able to walk away knowing how to do your own first aid kit, or if you just wanna be able to buy one there, you can.

I'm gonna have,

Jill: You need to have those at Spring Jam.

Michelle: Yeah. Yeah.

Jill: I think you should have those at Spring Jam because I would absolutely purchase one even though I don't have a pet right now. I've got neighbors and I invite their puppies into my garage every day when they're out on their walk and I give them their snack.

And so I am around a lot of, pets and when my daughter comes home, or either daughter, they have got dogs too. So I can see just having that on at home, like a regular first aid kit.

Michelle: Just a regular first aid kit for pets. yeah, absolutely. For sure. And then, we'll also gonna have a handbook.

So people and, I'll be issuing certificates so everybody that takes the class will get a little certificate that they completed and they passed it. Yeah. So I'll have handouts and it'll be a fun class. It's not, but oh, I'm gonna have the dummies, I'm gonna have the dog dummies.

So people will actually be able to practice

Jill: Very good

Michelle: CPR on the dog and

Jill: No proper placement, the depth, all of that. And which you can't do online.

Michelle: Yeah. So that's. Really, the cool thing about it is, I learned online, which was again, I learned a lot.

But be able, being able to do this live in person.

Be able to ask questions.

And then be able to actually practice the CPRI think is gonna be, tremendous.

Jill: And to hear other people's questions because sometimes you didn't even think of that was your question until somebody else says it. So it brings a whole nother layer of things that you can learn.

Michelle: Exactly. And it's gonna be at, I'm very excited it's gonna be at the senior center.

Jill: Okay.

Michelle: And 'cause I also work for them too. Okay. and I love everybody there. so the first class. that's official is May 23rd. It's gonna be 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM So it's a five hour course. It's gonna be, lots of information's gonna be covered, but I'm not gonna make it fun too.

And the class court, price is $75. However, if you're a senior center member, it's only $45.

Jill: That's awesome.

Michelle: And so it, if, I think, senior center membership is 20 bucks.

So it's more than pay for itself.

Jill: And how do you have to pay for a membership?

Michelle: 50.

Jill: Yeah. Is it 50?

Michelle: Yeah, it's 50 on up. So it's and

I mean, gosh, the senior center has so many awesome things that they offer. you know, we took, they have classes and the lunches are incredible. Shannon does such a great job with the She does with the food.

Jill: I need to have Victoria, come on. 

Michelle: There's bingo. Yes, absolutely.

Jill: I need to have her come on so we can kind of talk about that.

And I would imagine, there are probably a lot of that would just be a friend of the senior center. I'd be happy to join the senior center just to make sure that they've got my contribution. Whether I'm there every day or not, I still believe that they're a valuable resource to this community.

Michelle: Just in the fact that they serve, I believe she said 250 lunches a day.

Jill: Wow.

Michelle: And that's inside the center, but also

Jill: Meals on Wheels.

Michelle: The Meals on Wheels is amazing. And the prices, it's if you are. 60 and over. It's, they're, the suggested donation is only $4.

Jill: Oh my gosh.

Michelle: And then if you're under 60, they're charging, $6.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: And even then, and it's the food quality's amazing.

It's like restaurant food.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: So just, you know, so it helps that, because especially now, all the prices of everything have gone up.

Jill: Yeah.

Michelle: So this, if I can, you know, it's an extra benefit for senior center members, or I'm hoping it'll incentivize people.

Jill: Right. Introduce them to the senior center.

Michelle: Introduce them to the senior center, join, come on down, visit, meet people.

And then you get an extra discount on top of it as well.

Jill: So now will that certification count towards the certification that you require for one of your employees?

Michelle: Absolutely. So that's the other benefit for them? I don't have to send them away.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: To, not only that, but I was making them take it online.

And so now they're gonna be able to learn in person hands and do hands-on. And, so it's a extra benefit. and I'm not gonna make them pay. So that's a benefit for the sitter. So they're gonna get it for free get the education and the hands-on experience. And, so it's better for my clients.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: It's better for them. And it's just better for everybody. But that, you know, I was really thinking, well, okay, it's great that my sitters know what to do and that I know what to do, but I think everybody should. I agree. I have to recognize all of this.

Jill: I agree as well.

Michelle: And I have. Starting next week on the Boulder City Critter sitter.com page, website as well as the Facebook page.

I'm, there's a booking website that I'm using so people be able to go in, and I'll, so I'll have a link for senior center members and then one for regular, and then they can just go and book and make reservations or they can call me. they can just go to the website. So just contact me any normal way and then I can register.

Jill: So we'll have all that information on the, in the show notes so people can find it, but maybe share with us what that is. So in case they're just listening, what's your website?

Michelle: So website is boulder city critter sitter.com.

Jill: Okay. And what? Facebook.

Michelle: And then the Facebook group is the same. it's, you just search Boulder City Critter sitter.

Jill: Okay.

Michelle: If you're interested in the Wag walk, then that's Boulder City Wag Walkers, and Animal Lovers. And, 7 0 2 6 2 5 4 4 4 8 is the number. Email is Michelle at boulder city critter sitter.com.

Jill: That is awesome.

Michelle: So trying to keep it as easy and consistent as possible.

Jill: And so I'd always like to know a little bit more about the person behind the business.

So what was your very first job? I know we talked about this, the first show, but just in case

Michelle: Job in general.

Jill: Job in general. What was your first job?

Michelle: So I really wanted a car. Yes, at 16. So I got

Jill: Highly motivated.

Michelle: Highly motivated . So I got at 15 and a half, I got my permit. And so at 16. And my parents said, you can, but you gotta pay for it,

So I got a job, believe it or not, the day I turned 16 doing telemarketing.

Jill: Really?

Michelle: And I was selling, vitamins.

Jill: Makes sense.

Michelle: And I was doing really, really well. I was calling people all over the country and selling them these big cans of vitamins and they'd win a trip to someplace or a suitcase

or, and. and I got, I think my first car I paid $950 for. 

Jill: Wow. 

Michelle: It was a Ford Pinto 75 powder blue. did not blow up.

Jill: You were so proud.

Michelle: I was so proud of it. And then as soon as I paid for it and I had enough for insurance, I felt so guilty because I felt like I was ripping off these little seniors.

Jill: Oh,

Michelle: Across the country.

Jill: Oh.

Michelle: Because I think it was about $200 or $250 for Vitamins and I just, I couldn't do it. My conscience got the better of me. And I was, I actually got to the point where I was telling people, just don't buy it. Please don't buy it. Please don't buy it. And then before I got fired, I quit. But I just, I love senior, I love seniors as much as I love, animals and I.

Jill: I just couldn't do it. Well,

Michelle: I couldn't do it, but I did get my first car off of it,

Jill: So, all right. Well you know what? You were industrious and you found a way, and once that goal was met, you didn't need to use that tool anymore.

Michelle: Yeah. Then I wanted to find a little bit more, morally, positive satis, morally satisfying stuff.

Jill: Yeah. That is awesome. Okay, so, is there something that your mom or dad or maybe somebody in your past has taught you that you still carry today?

Michelle: I was raised by Hungarian parents. Interesting. So Europeans, so very strict.

So very much in that, you know, treat people the way you want. you want them to treat you and

Jill: Right.

Michelle: Obviously respect your elders. which is why I probably still love the senior center so much. 

Jill: That's probably true. Right?

Michelle: Yeah. and just kind of that, Just the good, just the, you know, treat people with respect and kindness and, and love. And hope, then just try and spit. I'm very positive, so I try, I am very much a Pollyanna glass half full.

Jill: Gotcha.

Michelle: And so I try and just kind go through life with that and spread that and, but I got a lot of that from them.

Jill: That is great. And you've done very, very well. So obviously they taught you well and they were good people to teach it to you.

Michelle: Thank you.

Jill: That is amazing. Well, thank you. Is there anything else that we didn't cover that we should, make sure that we share?

I am finding this fascinating. So necessary, and it is amazing to me for a second interview to see how much you've grown in this. So congratulations.

Michelle: Thank you so much. I'll see, hopefully we'll do this again next year, and it'll be this little,

Jill: Little army.

Michelle: Little army across town. Well definitely, if people know anybody in Henderson or in Vegas that are looking either to be sitters or for help to let me know because again, I, now I'm starting to get resources out there.

Jill: That's awesome.

Michelle: Boulder City will always be my main focus, but definitely wanna be able to reach out there and at some point I'll be offering these classes in Henderson and Vegas too

I just need to find locations out there.

Jill: Right.

Michelle: And,

Jill: Time in your day.

Michelle: Right. And just to keep it, pay attention to, the Facebook page. 'Cause that's where I'll be announcing future dates. I'm still working on, I know I'm gonna have at least one for May. For the class, but then I'm trying to get one more and then it'll be a nice way in summer when it's hot, you can come into the senior center where it's nice and air conditioned and hang out for a few hours.

Jill: That's right.

Michelle: And learn how to save your baby's life.

Jill: And they don't bring their pets to that meeting.

Michelle: Nope. Not gonna bring your pets. Don't need to bring anything. We'll take care of it and then just come in and learn how to save a life. And in the meantime, summer is very busy for us. 'Cause every last year, July was, everybody went away.

Jill: Everybody's gone.

Michelle: Everybody's gone. So if you are leaving, for the summer, please reach out and book early.

So I make sure I have, we do have availability still. Because I do have, extra sitters.

Jill: Perfect.

Michelle: And, but it's gonna get booked pretty soon. So if you need help with dog walks, with check-ins, with, just playing and giving him some mental stimulation.

Just some love. Like I said, we can administer medications, we can do all of that. Or if you need help or if you have a senior that needs help getting your baby, to the groomer or the vet, just or

Jill: Critter cab.

Michelle: Critter Cab is here to

Jill: I love it.

Michelle: To serve

Jill: Well, you are lovely. Thank you so very much.

I'm really proud of you and honored that you are a Boulder City business, so thank you.

Michelle: Thank you. And thank you for all the help that the Chamber does, and we love you guys.

Jill: You are more than welcome.