My Story, My logo, My Tag line: A History of PPS

I started my pet care work back in the early nineties after I had put a pause on teaching (😱not for me😬) and was in between creating businesses and working odd jobs. (Me the multitasker🙄)  My “Big City” aunt had started walking dogs in Boston and was being paid for it. She called it “Pet Care”. I had never heard of such a thing. It sounded AWESOME. I love the independence of self employment and to think that there was an actual paying job that existed where a person would reap the rewards of unconditional love by caring for another persons loving being while they were away existed…..Who knew! I thought I’d give it a whirl.  I had my uncle make me up some business cards with my land line phone, also rented me a beeper(remember those?) and started dispersing them to everyone I knew. Pet Care was not so well known back then and not as valued. Especially on isolated Cape Cod. Most dogs roamed the streets by day and came home for dinner just like the kids 😬. I was earning eight dollars a visit. That was not enough to sustain my lifestyle 😉. I had to find other work to augment, so I decided to open a produce and natural food store, then after that a day spa and then I tried my hand at carpentry full time with my youngest brother Paulie Boy! As my life paths journey and aspirations took its many winding hairpin turns I kept going back to “Pet Care” part time as a filler. I loved the work and it kept reeling me back in. 

One morning I saw myself staring at me in the mirror. Right then and there I decided it’s time! Life has a funny way of coming full circle. Produce, carpentry and the stresses of life had taken its toll. I went back to doing full-time Pet Care in 2017. My brother always says “God hates a coward” and my Grammy Alves always said “better days are coming” so I took A Leap of Faith. I have tried many skills, opened many businesses. Hopefully this time my Pet Care will sustain me. Some people say hope implies fear and doubt. I say garbage! My intuitive self says Go For It so here goes……It is the most wonderful work in the world and I enjoy every day of it.

My Inspiration

The History behind Logo and tag line-

My daughter was a born artist, a creator. She is my inspiration. From the time she was able to handgrip she was crafting art. It always stunned me. For what she lacked in verbal or physical response she made up for in images of artistic personal privilege. I cherish the multitude of notebook pages, paintings, wall hangings and sweet cards I have squirreled away in my footlocker throughout the 15 years as she was growing up and she would share. One day we were sitting around the table and I asked her to put together a logo for me that I could also use as a tattoo. She was the closest person to me. Those beautiful little eyes and ears throughout her years always watching and listening as I was identifying, tagging myself as a vegan, a humanitarian, an empath and preaching “diversity, equity and inclusion”. I wanted her to incorporate, encapsulate my life. She nailed it.  I give her all the credit for “Love is Practical” she blew me away. How simple and true. This launched my passion. This filled my heart. 

I’m an old dog learning new tricks.  Over the past month I’ve been working on my website with my cousin Joe, my confidant and the developer of the site. He has been helping me navigate this social media nightmare learning curve as well as introducing me to marketing material strategies to get myself out there. I don’t want to let him down. Thank you Cousin! I love you. I have been scrolling through pictures and videos on my phone. What a beautiful, wonderful, thoughtful process. I have found myself reveling in reverie. I so love all my pet families and am so grateful for all their support, trust and love in me through these many years. 

This will not be a blog about facts and solutions about your animals. Information coming from vets and “animal professionals”.  

This blog will be coming from a place of personal experience and heartfelt intuitive happenings, stories and reflections, in my opinion only, without attachment to criticism and negativity. It might upset or aggravate, maybe rub you the wrong way.  

Isn’t that OK? Embrace what feels uncomfortable. Isn’t that why we’re here to learn and grow from each other through interactions and experiences? Through forgiveness and Love? Take it or leave it. Take what you want and leave the rest. So be it. 

Thank you!

❤️ CHEERS ❤️

Shera@practicalpetservices.com

#becauseloveispractical #practicalpetservices #loveispractical #lovemyCapeCoddogwalks #lovememyjobs