With vacations, holidays and unexpected emergencies, there is always a need for pet-sitting, which is why Wayne State College student, Jasmine Snyder, has her own pet-sitting business. 

Her business started in the summer of 2021 when a family friend who pet sits noticed an overflow of clients. To resolve the issue, he began to train Snyder on how to care for all sorts of animals properly. Snyder said her family’s history of helping rescue animals is what made the family friend decide to contact her. 

In Aug. 2021, Snyder decided to create a Facebook page to promote her business in Wayne after noticing a lack of pet sitters in the area. Snyder has cared for all sorts of animals including dogs, cats, bearded dragons, snakes, chinchillas, geckos and various farm animals. 

Caring for other people’s pets can be a lot of responsibility.  

“You definitely have to be aware constantly of what’s going on, there is a reason they hired you,” Snyder said.  

Snyder said accepting clients while in school is a way to get a break from campus life sometimes. But being an entrepreneur can have its ups and downs due to things like inconsistent income, busy holidays and being unable to have a second job.  

“I can’t really get a second job,” Snyder said. “You could get hired on a random night and you don’t want to have that second job because you want to be able to help people.”  

There are periods when there is a lack of clients, but Snyder said that holidays are always a busy time of year for her business. 

In the summertime, business in Wayne can be a little more difficult to maintain due to Snyder living in another town, but they have driven back and forth to help care for people’s animals. Snyder’s services include check-ins, overnight stays and walks.  

“It is really nice to be able to take care of people’s pets and love them as my own,” Snyder said.