When the Unexpected Happens
When the Unexpected Happens: Why Every Pet Business Needs an Emergency Plan and a Financial Safety Net You built your business from the ground up. The early mornings, the difficult clients, the physical toll, the endless love for the animals in your care — all of it has been worth it. You are not just a groomer, a trainer, a sitter, or a walker. You are a business owner. And that means the responsibility of keeping this thing running — through the good times and the hard ones — rests squarely on your shoulders. What happens to your business if everything stops tomorrow? The Illusion of “It Won’t Happen to Me” We are a community of optimists. We have to be — this work requires it. But optimism without preparation is just wishful thinking. Disasters don’t announce themselves. Fires don’t check your schedule. Floods don’t care that you’re fully booked. A health crisis doesn’t wait until you’ve built up your savings. And it’s not just natural disasters. Consider what could derail your business on any given day: Any one of these could happen to any one of us. The question isn’t if — it’s when, and how ready will you be. Why Pet Business Owners Are Especially Vulnerable Most of us are solo operators or small teams. That means there is no corporate safety net beneath us. No HR department. No paid leave policy. No backup location. When we stop, the business stops, but the bills don’t. Many pet business owners also operate on thin margins. We invest in equipment, supplies, insurance, and continuing education, and what’s left often goes right back into the business or into our households. Building a financial cushion feels like a luxury when you’re in survival mode — but the absence of one is exactly what turns a manageable crisis into a devastating one. What an Emergency Plan Actually Looks Like An emergency plan doesn’t have to be a 40-page document. It just has to exist. Here’s what it should cover: Business Continuity Who covers your appointments if you are suddenly unable to work? Do you have a trusted colleague, a grooming friend, or a referral partner who can step in? Your clients need to know their pets will be cared for even if you can’t be the one doing it. Having those relationships in place before you need them is everything. Communication Protocol How will you notify clients quickly if you need to close; planned or unplanned? A simple email list, a pre-written social media message template, and a text alert system can save you hours of scrambling in the middle of an already stressful situation. Important Documents Keep digital copies of everything in a secure, cloud-based location: your business license, insurance policies, client records, vendor contacts, lease agreements, and equipment warranties. If your physical space is compromised, you need these accessible from anywhere. Insurance Review Do you actually know what your policy covers? Many pet business owners discover the gaps in their coverage only after they need to file a claim. Sit down with your insurance agent annually and ask specifically about business interruption coverage, property damage, and liability. If you don’t have a policy that addresses all three, that’s your starting point. The Emergency Fund: Your Business’s Life Raft Financial experts typically recommend three to six months of operating expenses as an emergency fund for small businesses. For pet business owners, that number should cover rent or lease payments, insurance premiums, equipment maintenance, supply costs, and enough to pay yourself a reduced but livable income. If that number feels impossible right now, start smaller. Open a dedicated savings account, separate from your personal account and separate from your operating account. Treat it like a non-negotiable bill. Even $25 or $50 a week compounds into real security over time. A few practical ways to build it faster: The Emotional Side Nobody Talks About There is a particular kind of panic that sets in when your business is in crisis and you have no plan and no cushion. It is not just financial stress, it affects your decision-making, your relationships, your sleep, and your ability to show up for your clients and your animals. Preparedness isn’t just a business strategy. It is a mental health strategy. Knowing that you have a plan and a safety net, even an imperfect one, changes everything about how you move through uncertainty. It gives you options when everything feels like it’s closing in. Start Today — Not Someday You don’t need to do all of this at once. Pick one thing from this list and do it this week: And if you’re not sure where to begin, the work has already been done for you. Recommended ResourcesEmergency and Disaster Planning for Pet Business OwnersA dedicated course through Spirited Dog Productions that walks you through building your plan step by step, no guesswork, no starting from a blank page. This is exactly the kind of practical, industry-specific education our community deserves.Emergency and Disaster Plan Template by Kate Klasen & Mary Oquendo is a physical workbook designed specifically for pet business owners. It takes the overwhelm out of planning by giving you a clear, fillable framework to work through, because a plan you can write in and refer to is a plan you’ll actually use. You have already done the hardest thing, you built something. Now protect it. Because the animals in your care are counting on you to still be here. And so are you. Have you thought about your emergency plan? What’s one step you’re going to take this week? Share it in the comments, this community is stronger when we build each other up.
Is It Burnout — Or Something More?
Is It Burnout — Or Something More? When did grooming start to feel like something you had to survive rather than something you loved? Maybe it was the client who blamed you for a seizure you couldn’t have predicted. Maybe it was the review that lit up your Facebook page on your day off. Maybe you just woke up one morning and couldn’t find the part of you that used to care so much. That’s not weakness. That’s not burnout. That has a name: Compassion Fatigue. To understand what Compassion Fatigue is requires the input of someone more knowledgeable than myself. Catherine Anne (Frend) Gillihan, Retired NCG, BS/ Behavioral Science/ Resilience Trainer, Certified Crisis Counselor and Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner offered up her expertise. How did you become involved in this type of work? Catherine: I am a retired groomer. When I retired, I started looking for my “second career.” I decided, as much as I loved helping animals and, at times, felt like my clients’ therapist, it was time for me to help people through understanding why we behave the way we do. I have seen so many cases of groomers “just losing it,” where the dog and sometimes employees end up paying the price. It was time to step up, take that lifetime of understanding the industry, couple that with becoming educated in mental health, and I became determined to get the word out. Compassion Fatigue and burnout are real and they will, if left untreated, create a volatile environment. What is the difference between Compassion Fatigue and burnout? Catherine: Compassion fatigue also is known as “Vicarious Traumatization” or “Secondary Traumatization.” It is the emotional strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events. It differs from burnout, but can co–exist. Compassion Fatigue occurs from exposure to one case or maybe the result of a series of traumas. Burnout is a cumulative process marked by emotional exhaustion and withdrawal associated with the increased workload and institutional stress, but is not trauma–related. These two conditions can co–exist simultaneously, or one can start before the other. What are the symptoms of Compassion Fatigue? Catherine: It can affect different areas of your wellbeing including some or all of the following: * Nervous system arousal (sleep disturbance) * Decreased cognitive ability * Impaired behavior and judgment * Feeling of isolation and loss of morale * Depression and PTSD * Loss of self–worth * Unable to modulate or control emotions * Impacts your view of the world and spirituality * Changes your psychological needs (increases or decreases your dependency upon safety, trust, esteem, intimacy, and self–control) * Loss of hope and meaning (may create an existential despair) * Unwarranted anger towards individuals, animals, or events. What are the real danger signs? Catherine: Finding yourself quick to anger with individuals and animals, and unable to understand why you cannot tolerate the usual stressors during the day. Normal day–to–day situations such as: dog barking, peeing or pooping in a kennel after a bath, a regular is having a bad day and cannot stand still may set you off. Ask yourself these questions: * Is my ability to function altered? * Am I regularly waking up tired in the morning and struggling to get to work? * Do I feel as if I am working harder but accomplishing less? * Am I becoming frustrated or irritated easily, almost with–out prompting? * Am I losing compassion for human clients and/or animals? * Am I experiencing frequent illness and migraines? What can a groomer do to prevent or deal with Compassion Fatigue? Catherine: Prevention can start with preventing burnout. Schedule regular time off, learn how to recognize your personal limits, STOP comparing yourself to others (which leads to poor self–esteem), recognize your busy times of the year and plan accordingly, develop boundaries within your business and personal life, and make a commitment to upholding them. Ask For HELP. It is never a bad decision to go and speak with a counselor; it is private and confidential. Join a group (again, confidential) to learn how to establish boundaries and release the stress and tension of daily client interactions. How can a groomer seek help? Catherine: Call your Primary Care Physician (I understand most in the grooming industry struggle with affordable healthcare.) If you use your insurance, generally you will need a referral. If you have insurance that does not require a referral for mental health, then you can go straight to finding someone in your area. All mental health visits are confidential, so don’t worry about using someone close by. Therapists cannot discuss your case with anyone. Mental Health professionals will not engage unless you engage, keeping your relationship 100 % confidential. Private Non–Profit Mental Health Clinics are popping up everywhere allowing for the noninsured or underinsured to obtain benefits upon a cash sliding scale (sometimes allowing for visits as low as $5 to $45). I am always available to reach out to; (keepthefaithfarm@gmail.com). I can enlist a wide range of colleagues to obtain the help that is needed. If you belong to a body of faith, most congregations have counselors on staff. I am proud to be part of such a supportive industry. I would like to reiterate: Ask For Help! If you recognize the symptoms and danger signs in another groomer, intervene. You may save the life of a pet or the groomer.
Stop Running on Empty
Stop Running on Empty: A Self-Care Guide for Pet Care Professionals Spring Edition You got into pet care because you love animals. But somewhere between the early morning drop-offs, the never-ending texts, the skunk emergencies at 10 p.m., and the sheer physical demands of the job — something got lost. You. Spring is supposed to be a season of renewal. Instead, for many of us in the pet care industry, it’s mud season — exhausting, relentless, and over before we ever got a chance to enjoy it. The flowers bloom, the days get longer, and yet we’re too burnt out to notice. But here’s what nobody tells you: burnout isn’t a badge of honor. It’s a warning sign. And the good news? You don’t have to choose between running a thriving business and actually living your life. The bridge between those two things is self-care — and it’s more practical than you think. What Is Self-Care, Really? Self-care isn’t bubble baths and scented candles (though hey, no judgment). At its core, self-care is any action that helps you avoid burning out while improving your overall wellbeing — physically and mentally. Both matter. Neglect one, and the other suffers. For pet care professionals especially, this isn’t optional. The animals in your care can literally smell stress hormones on you. When you’re overwhelmed, they feel it — and they react to it. Taking care of yourself is, in part, taking care of them. 10 Self-Care Habits That Actually Work 1. Set Hard Boundaries Around Your Time Decide when your workday ends — and mean it. Silence the business phone. Don’t check texts, emails, or your Facebook business page after hours. Even if a client is in a panic. Think about it this way: have you ever called a business after hours expecting someone to pick up? Of course not — because you understood they were closed. You deserve that same respect. A pet that just got skunked at 11 p.m. will still be skunky at 8 a.m. Set your hours, communicate them clearly, and hold the line. 2. Move Your Body Every Hour You don’t need a gym. Just two minutes of sustained movement every hour — a lap around the building, a quick walk down the block. The human body was designed to move, and when we get overwhelmed, our bodies flood with stress hormones. Movement helps flush them out. As a bonus: your animal clients will notice the difference. Calmer you = calmer pets. 3. Protect Your Sleep The right amount of sleep varies from person to person — what matters is getting yours. If you struggle to fall asleep and it’s not a medical issue, try these: 4. Don’t Weaponize Your Snooze Button Hitting snooze doesn’t give you more rest — it interrupts your sleep cycle (which runs 60–120 minutes) and leaves you groggier than if you’d just gotten up. Instead, give yourself 10 unhurried minutes to wake up. A slow morning cuddle — with a partner, a pet, or just your pillow — does more for your emotional wellbeing than another 9-minute alarm cycle ever will. 5. Eat Like You Mean It Eat breakfast. Stop skipping lunch. Breakfast kick-starts your metabolism and gets your brain moving. A real lunch break — away from work — raises your blood sugar and keeps you sharp through the afternoon. You wouldn’t skip feeding the animals in your care. Show yourself the same consideration. 6. Feed Your Mind Something Good Queue up a podcast that makes you laugh, teaches you something, or inspires you. Save the rage-inducing news and true-crime rabbit holes for after work. What you let into your head during your workday sets the emotional tone for everything that follows. 7. Know When to Step Away Recognize your emotional state in the moment. If you’re hitting a wall, put the animal in a safe space and give yourself a few minutes to reset. This isn’t weakness — it’s professionalism. A grounded handler is a safer handler. 8. Do Something Kind — for No Reason Research published in Psychology Today found that random acts of kindness are powerful mood boosters. When you do something nice for someone else, you feel more in control of your own life and better about yourself. It doesn’t have to be big — a kind word, a surprise coffee, holding a door. 9. Use Those Gift Cards Already You know the massage gift cards you got at the holidays and never used? Your body has been carrying the weight of this job all season. Cash them in. You’ve earned it. 10. Try Meditation (It’s Not What You Think) A 2013 Psychology Today article found that meditation improves health, happiness, productivity, social connection, brain function, and self-control. If sitting cross-legged in silence isn’t your thing, try one of these accessible alternatives: You Can’t Pour from an Empty Bowl Here’s the truth nobody in the pet care industry says out loud: you cannot give your best to the animals in your care — or to the clients who trust you with them — when you’re running on fumes. Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s the foundation everything else is built on. This spring, don’t just watch the season change from behind a pile of work. Take the walk. Eat the lunch. Book the massage. Go to bed on time. These aren’t luxuries — they’re the non-negotiables that keep you healthy, present, and doing the work you love for years to come. The roses will be there. Make sure you are too. References: Lyubomirsky, S. (2006). Psychology Today. | Ricard, M. (2013). Psychology Today.
Burnout Almost Broke My Business
Burnout Almost Broke My Business Two years into my mobile grooming business, I was grooming eight pets a day, five days a week. On paper, I was crushing it. In reality, I was exhausted, achy, short-tempered, and quietly unraveling. The money was fantastic. But I had no time for myself, no time for relationships, and no energy left at the end of the day. I wasn’t building a dream, I was building a cage. And I was approaching burnout faster than I wanted to admit. At some point, every high-achieving pet professional faces the same question: Do I keep grinding or do I start taking care of myself? What Burnout Actually Looks Like Burnout isn’t just “being tired.” It’s chronic stress that rewires how you function. It shows up as: 👉 Physical and emotional exhaustion.You’re tired all the time. Your muscles and joints never fully relax. You’re quick to anger. Meals become whatever is fastest and easiest, usually high sugar, high fat, and low nourishment. 👉 Cynicism and detachment.You lose clarity. You misinterpret comments. You react instead of respond. Clients who once felt manageable now feel unbearable. 👉 Feeling ineffective.You start questioning your career choice. The work you once loved becomes something you dread. 👉 Sleep disruption.You hit snooze repeatedly, never completing a full sleep cycle. You wake up just as exhausted as when you went to bed. That was me. The Wake-Up Call Around that time, I came across a long-term Harvard study that tracked 724 men over 79 years. The researchers wanted to know what led to happiness and success. The answer wasn’t money. It was relationships. The men who fostered close personal and professional relationships were the healthiest, happiest, and most successful. That hit me hard. Because I was sacrificing relationships for revenue. And that math wasn’t sustainable. I Didn’t Overhaul Everything Overnight I knew drastic, overnight changes would fail. So I adjusted slowly—intentionally. ✅ I Got My Schedule Under Control I had two options:Hire help.Or reduce workload. Hiring would have increased my stress at that stage of life. So I reduced. I released problematic clients.I raised my prices to offset reduced volume.I created my first Terms of Service.I enforced weight limits.I required frequency commitments.I implemented no-show penalties.And most importantly—I enforced them. Not everyone stayed. That was okay. Within a year, I was grooming six pets a day, four days a week. And my body—and mind—finally exhaled. ✅ I Treated Self-Care as Non-Negotiable Healthy breakfast.Prepared lunch.Scheduled lunch break. If I didn’t prep food the night before, I’d default to gas station survival mode. So I removed the excuse. Massage stopped being a luxury and became maintenance.Orthopedic mats and supportive footwear became mandatory.Meditation before bed replaced mental spiraling. Burnout doesn’t happen in a day. Recovery doesn’t either. ✅ I Repaired My Relationships All work and no play damages more than your joints. I blocked one full day a week for fun.Vacations became true vacations—no phone, no laptop.I walked with a friend twice a week.I extended trade shows by a day just to enjoy the city.I volunteered monthly with my dog. I remembered who I was outside of grooming. Your version of fun may look different:😎 Organized sports😎 Book clubs😎 Farmers markets😎 Spa days😎 Sailing, hiking, bowling, movies The activity doesn’t matter. Connection does. The Ripple Effect When I carved out space for myself, everything improved. My patience.My relationships.My creativity.My leadership.My joy in grooming. My business didn’t collapse. It stabilized. Here’s the hard truth: If your business requires you to destroy yourself to keep it running, it is not a successful business. It is an unsustainable one. You cannot pour from an empty cup.You cannot build longevity on exhaustion.And you cannot lead others while neglecting yourself. Burnout doesn’t just cost energy. It costs relationships.It costs clarity.It costs health.And eventually—it costs careers. But you can pivot before that happens. Slowly.Intentionally.Powerfully. Because the goal isn’t just making money. It’s building a life worth living. And that life includes you.