Plymouth Magazine, May 2008

Walking with Dogs

Around the block with a Plymouth pet sitter

by Kelly Westhoff

Jennifer Grossman cares for Plymouth pets. Everyday, she stops at area homes to feed, water and exercise local dogs (and cats) while their owners are away. Her business, The Pet Crew, has proved so popular that after eight years in the trade, she now employs five dog walkers. We managed to find her off-leash at her own Plymouth home.

Describe your typical day.

I start at 6 am and finish between 10 and 11 at night. I probably do 18 visits a day. My staff works on the weekends and holidays too. We go 365 days a year.

That’s a lot of walks around the block.

Yes, it is. I used to be sick quite a bit, but now that I’m outside seven days a week, I don’t get sick. And my mental health? How could it better? I get to hang out with my favorite kind of [companions] every single day.

You encounter lots of different dogs. What tricks do you use to get them all to like you?

I think I smell like dog. No, seriously, dogs know who is sincere in their affection and who is not. Cats, too. If you pay attention to them, it’s not hard to figure out what they are trying to say.

What do you love most about your job?

The dogs are so excited to see me. It’s a party every time I walk through a door. What other job could you have where your clients think you’re the best thing since sliced bread every time they see you?

Do you have dogs of your own?

Gladys is a 50-pound bull terrier. She looks like the Target dog. She’s stubborn, super smart and fiercely loyal. She a real rugged dog. My other dog is a Lab/pit bull/rottweiler mix named Victor. I got him from a rescue. … If I ever won the lottery, I’d adopt a bunch of dogs and start a pet sanctuary, a foundation for the dogs.

The remainder of this article can be found in the May 2008 issue of Plymouth Magazine.

To learn more about The Pet Crew, visit www.thepetcrew.com.

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