After leaving a corporate career, she turned a part-time activity and her love of canines and the outdoors into a small business.
After nearly three decades working in the transportation industry and becoming a safety, management and training expert, Walnut Creek’s Michelle Heathman, above, walked away. She has since become “Michelle the Dog Lady,” with her own business walking dogs. “There’s no better job in spring and fall,” she says.
Shortly after Heathman left Pacific Maritime Association, her dog died. She had grown up in Santa Rosa and recalls always having a family dog. “I started getting referrals left and right. I realized I was never going to want to work indoors or around mean people again. I decided I’d just let this dog-walking thing continue and see what happened. Then COVID hit. I decided to keep walking dogs until I figured everything out.”
As her business grew, Heathman defined and established policies that recognizably reflect and align with her previous work practices. New client evaluation sessions gather essential information about a dog’s temperament, training and special needs. Current vaccinations, flea and tick prevention and identification tags are required.
Pet owners who let their dogs run up to or jump up on strangers often say, “My dog is just excited to see you” or “Don’t worry, my dog is friendly.” Heathman says those dogs and their owners could benefit from basic training, though. “I like a dog to come to me only when it’s called. I don’t want dogs jumping on me or running up to greet me. I might have 200 pounds of dogs on leashes on each arm. It’s not safe.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Heathman had 10 new puppy clients begin within the first 14 months. She is pleased to say none of those young dogs were returned or wound up in animal shelters or rescue operations that in are struggling now with record numbers of abandoned and never-adopted animals.
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