Since childhood, I have been keenly interested in all living things, and my family has cared for pets since before I was born. When I was very small, I helped my parents and siblings and neighbors take care of many kinds of pets, from salamanders and snakes, to guinea pigs and dogs. When I was eight, I took my first dog-walking job, and my career was born. At that time, I also became one of the caretakers for the family pets, putting myself in charge of walks and grooming. My love and care for animals remained constant throughout my youth, encouraged by my mother's example. Later, in college, I worked with Dr. Don Hemerson as a veterinary assistant at the All-Pet Animal Clinic in Evans, Colorado. I was responsible for the care of sick and injured animals. My experience there included administering blood tests, vaccinations, and medications. I also assisted the veterinarians during surgery and x-rays. On the weekends, I was the sole employee on site at Dr. Hemerson's All-Pet Boarding Kennel, taking care of up to twenty animals at one time. During my time in Colorado, I continued to help friends and neighbors take care of their pets, and, of course, I fostered a few cats of my own. When I moved to Seattle in 2000, I continued pet-sitting for friends and accquaintances in exchange for goods or services. Using the name "KatKo" (a nickname some friends of mine had come up with years ago), I made the formal leap to offering professional services in 2005 and the company is now a licensed, bonded, and insured member of several pet-sitting organizations, including the National Association of Pet-Sitters , Pet Sitters International, and Professional United Pet-Sitters. I am also Red Cross certified in Pet First Aid and CPR, and I have taken online courses in animal behavior from the Humane Society of the United States. Early in 2007, KatKo's hired our first employee, my mother, Ruth Koleto. Soon we hired another sitter, Mari, and our office assistant, Gary, who began pet sitting for us before the year's end. In January of 2008, we were very lucky to have Anna and Amanda join the team. Business was thriving, and I was spending many, many hours a day not only serving clients but also working behind the scenes to make it all happen. I was eating, sleeping, and breathing pet sitting. Which was great, except that I was also trying to wear many other hats simultaneously. During the first quarter of 2008, KatKo's made the difficult decision to scale back its services. We currently serve only a limited number of clients, and our employees are no longer with us. This means that the pets once again enjoy individualized loving attention from Katrina, who no longer spends her day running around town. Instead, I am back to "camping in" with my furry friends and spending as much time as possible with them during the day, when I am not pursuing my other interests, inlcuding Nia. I currently teach 2 Nia classes per week, at The Dance Space in Greenwood, and I take classes with many other teachers around the city. I also enjoy volunteering at PAWS, especially for outreach events, like the recent Veg Fest. I often help out during catering functions at Seattle's only waterfront hotel. I volunteer once a month in the bookstore at the Center for Spiritual Living. And, most enjoyable of all, I also make time for community with family and friends. I have much gratitude for the wonderful clients and their pets that have enriched my life since this business began, and for the incredible team of employees who helped make this endeavor a success. Thanks to everyone who has supported all of us at KatKo's in reaching for our dreams. |
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HISTORY OF KATKO'S ALL PET SERVICES |
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