You don’t have to choose between being a good pet owner and life obligations. Not anymore, at least, thanks to East Side Dog Walkers, founded this summer by Bree Purcell.
Bree Purcell of East Side Dog Walkers. Photo: Rebecca L. Bennett.
East Side Dog Walkers offers dog waking services, house sitting and dog park visits to dog owners in east Austin and in surrounding areas (north of Riverside and south of Rundberg). Dog walks are for 30 minutes, costing $15. Regular visits, which include playtime, walks, supervised feedings and medication administration, start at 25 minutes and cost $15. Overnight stays, which ensure proper feeding, walking and care as needed, cost $48 for an eight-hour night. Hourly care, for last minute care or support, costs $24.00 for the first hour and $22.00 for each additional hour. And pick up and drop off services, for those last minute appointments to and from vets and groomers, cost $24 an hour and $22 for additional hours.
Even better: The company donates $1 of each walk to Austin Pets Alive! (“there’s really no better place to give back to,” Purcell says) and uses 100 percent biodegradable doggie bags.
“This is a response to the great need for these services in east Austin that I was seeing,” Purcell says.
Purcell has had dogs her entire life and has always loved dogs. A jack-of-all-trades, who has worked in everything from film production to retail management, Purcell comes to the business with diverse skills. As she’s worked these various jobs, she’s been offering dog walks and pet sitting pro bono to friends and family for a decade, also volunteering at The Human Society in Austin and Los Angeles and participating in pet walks and pet charities. So she decided to put more time and energy into it. She got CPR-trained, first aid certified and hired a staff that consists of a veterinary technician and someone who owned a previous dog walking business. This unstoppable trio now has several clients, with plans to expand.
And is there really a better place to expand a pet service than Austin, a city where people take their pets to bars? Purcell doesn’t think so.
“I was doing research and there are pet magazines, pet boutiques and pet hotels in Austin,” Purcell says. “I figured I could definitely make a niche for myself in this market. Austin loves its animals.”
We sure do! To take advantage of East Side Dog Walkers’ many services, go to eastsidedogwalkers.com. You, and especially your dog, will be glad you did.
Purcell walks one of her clients’ dogs. Photo: Rebecca L. Bennett.
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Featured photo: Purcell pets one of her clients’ dogs. Rebecca L. Bennett.
