Out of a lost opportunity comes pet sitting service

Feathers and Tails Hideaway Reliable Pet Sitting is a mouthful of a business name, but it doesn’t begin to describe what Katie O’Neal is all about.

It doesn’t hint at her grit, her courage or her determination.

Those are just a few of the qualities that helped her recently win recognition as a finalist for Manatee Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year honors in the category for less than $250,000 in annual revenue.

O’Neal has been in sales since she was 8 years old, some 52 years ago, selling ears of corn from a pickup truck.

She started Feathers and Tails in 2013 after she was laid off from her corporate job and lost her car and house. After an extended – but ultimately unsuccessful – job search, a headhunter finally told her he couldn’t place her because she was over 50 and too old.

“I made my own list of possible new jobs. Working with animals ranked high. They don’t complain and they offer unconditional love. I did the whole right-hand, left-hand thing, and decided that this was something that was immediate,” she said.

She settled on starting a mobile pet-sitting service, where she would stay overnight in the pet owner’s house, water the plants, clean the premises as well as feed, walk, and provide medication to the pet.

She launched her business by joining the Manatee Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Pet Sitters, had business cards printed and started visiting old business associates that she knew had pets. If they didn’t need a sitter, perhaps they would refer her to a friend who did. She also promoted her business on Twitter and Facebook, and printed and distributed brochures.

It took her a year to get the business on its feet.

“I am very pleased and honored that someone thought enough of me to nominate me for the small business award,” O’Neal said.

One of her pet sitting customers, Joe Dovzynski, got to know O’Neal and learned she had a background in radio sales and invited her to join the Radio Ear Network, a start-up internet company.

Her “The Pet Lady” program airs at 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and 10 p.m. on Thursdays.

“She is very much a people person. She can fit into any situation out there and make a person feel very much like they are a part of the conversation. She has very good communication skills,” Dovzynski said.

Twenty-four hour pet sitting rates start at $75 for the first animal. O’Neal offers half-day, full-day and extended care for dogs, cats and birds. Chamber of Commerce members and veterans receive a 10 percent discount.

For more information, call 941-677-8753, or visit feathersandtailshideaway.com.

This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 3:45 PM with the headline "Out of a lost opportunity comes pet sitting service."