R2RB Podcast - Indie Artists and Entrepreneurs
Where Indie Artists and Entrepreneurs share their journeys.
We sit down with indie musicians from diverse genres, shedding light on their personal and professional experiences. From the euphoria of their first gigs to the challenges of carving a niche in the industry, R2RB Podcast is your backstage pass to these rising stars' raw and unfiltered narratives.
We also embark on a journey of Entrepreneurs and share their inspiration, amplifying the voices and stories of remarkable entrepreneurs. Join us as we delve into the worlds of visionary leaders, innovators, and trailblazers who are rewriting the rules and reshaping industries.
We look forward to sharing your journey!
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R2RB Podcast - Indie Artists and Entrepreneurs
Katherine Mitchell owner of Claws and Paws Petting Sitting and Medical Director at FSAC and SPAC
Our special guest, Katherine Mitchell, is the Medical Director at First State Animal Center and owner of Claws and Paws Pet Sitting, warmly invites us into her world. She sheds light on the heartwarming history of First State Animal Center, the indispensable services they provide, and how its thrift store impacts the lives of shelter animals. Katherine’s love for animal welfare and the ins and outs of the clinic, combined with her Pet Sitting business paints a vivid picture of a day in her life.
Moving forward, Katherine candidly shares the uphill climb of building her business and underscores the importance of an awesome team. She also provides an insightful glimpse into how she navigated the pandemic with the help of Dr. Ruthie Franczek and their mobile clinic. In addition to business, Katherine speaks on the significance of having a mentor and a supportive network and maintaining a positive outlook during hard times. Wrapping up, Katherine imparts wisdom on the importance of carving out family time and leaves a powerful message for fellow women entrepreneurs - to keep reaching for the stars. Get ready to be enlightened and inspired by this heartwarming conversation.
https://linktr.ee/deblamotta
Welcome to Women Entrepreneurs Spotlight Podcast Series, where we interview women entrepreneurs and share their story of their journey. Why did they choose to become an entrepreneur, what obstacles were there to work through, what kept them from giving up, and so much more. I'm Deb Lamotta. I'm your host for Women Entrepreneurs Spotlight. We'll talk about what the future looks like for these women and what advice they would give the next woman entrepreneur. So sit back, relax and enjoy a Women Entrepreneurs Spotlight Podcast Series. Hi and welcome to Women Entrepreneurs Spotlight. Today, i have with me Katherine Mitchell. Katie, medical Director at First Date Animal Center, an SPCA the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and owner of Clause and Paws Pet Sitting. Katie, thank you so much for taking time out of your very busy schedule to talk with me. How are you Doing?
Speaker 2:good and thank you for having me. This is a privilege.
Speaker 1:Oh, you are welcome. You're very welcome. So just a couple of questions. I'd like to ask to get us warmed up. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Speaker 2:I would love to live in the mountains of Tennessee, wow.
Speaker 1:Any particular reason.
Speaker 2:I just I went there for vacation and I absolutely loved it and I always wanted to live in a cabin, oh, wow. So that's just one of my I don't know bucket lists maybe.
Speaker 1:That works absolutely. And what's your favorite app on your phone and why?
Speaker 2:So this is a funny one. My favorite app is Walmart. because of my busy schedule, i like to use the grocery delivery. I like it, so I usually make at least two orders a week, believe it or not, and it's very convenient.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, absolutely. Anything that can help when your day to you know, to, in the end, make it a little bit easier for you. My gosh, absolutely. When did you start working at FCAC?
Speaker 2:I've been there for going on two years. July 5th Did you?
Speaker 1:start as the medical director, or where did your journey begin?
Speaker 2:with FSAC. I did start as the medical director. I was hired as Dr Franchek's liaison and medical director. Okay, Oh nice.
Speaker 1:And so tell us about FSAC and SPAC.
Speaker 2:So I can give you a little bit of a background. It actually began back in 1953, believe it or not as the Kent County SPCA in 1964. They signed with their first contract with Delaware Game and Fish Commission And at that time the city of Dover donated a property I don't know if you're familiar back on Horsepond Road There used to be an SPCA, but back there there's now. It's now Brandywine, but at the time it was not first state, it was Kent County SPCA at that time. And then since 1967, the SPCA has maintained a full and active board and has continued to grow.
Speaker 2:In 2013, the Kent County SPCA was officially named First State Animal Center. It's actually been located in Camden since July of 2001. We have housing for canines, felines, separate isolation and quarantine rooms, a full medical suite and radiology as well, and housing for large farm animals. We have a farm, a barn there so we can take care of horses and pay. We actually have two pigs. At this time We don't have any horses or cows or lions, tigers and bears or anything, but at this point we do have pigs And we also just opened a full service vet clinic at the Camden location. We also have a full service clinic for the SPCA in Harrington as well, and a lot of the pro-roof seeds go to the shelter for animals.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness, here's no, so it's not a mobile clinic.
Speaker 2:Nope, This is a full service surgery included vet clinic that would do pretty much anything and everything that the animals need.
Speaker 1:Wow, so does somebody call into making an appointment? or do you have set days that you do it each month?
Speaker 2:So it's four days out of the week We do Monday, tuesday, wednesday and Thursday. Tuesday and Thursday are in Harrington. Monday and Wednesday we have a veterinarian, dr Browns, in Harrington and we have a veterinarian, dr Stern, who is there on Monday and Wednesday. Oh my, goodness.
Speaker 1:Well, i didn't realize how much went on FSAC, because all I think of is when I go by is cats, dogs and maybe a few other animals that come there Pretty amazing.
Speaker 2:We actually have boarding in our bed in the back of our property boarding and doggie daycare. And we also did just open a thrift store as well, and all the proceeds from the thrift store go to the shelter animals.
Speaker 1:That is great. I have been in that store and it has a little bit of everything. It is well laid out, it's very well organized, it is very well maintained. Your staff there are just. They're always friendly. Ask, you know, they say hello when you walk in, ask if you need any help. Great, yeah, absolutely So. Who?
Speaker 2:came up with that idea. That was our director, john Piranha. He's amazing Thrift store was just like a you know, maybe we could. He had talked about it a little bit and we were. You know, we were like, yeah, that's not a bad idea. That probably worked really well. And then all of a sudden we had a building and here's the thrift store.
Speaker 1:Yeah, And it is in a great spot over by Walmart and where the Aldi's is. that parking lot is always busy, It's always an overflow. If you go to Walmart, you got to go to the Dollar Tree Store and pick up, you know, your Chinese dinner and get your meals.
Speaker 1:It's all a one-stop shop, that's right, and you can head down to the thrift store. Oh my gosh, that is. That is awesome. So are the donations dropped where? In the back of the store? In the back of the store Are there set days times? I know some places only accept them on certain days.
Speaker 2:I believe that they're taking donations at least Monday through Saturday during the hours of open. You know that they're open.
Speaker 1:Oh nice, Oh, that's great. And all the proceeds going back to FSAC is awesome. That is so great. Let me ask you this question How do you balance all that you do your family life, getting married life, teenage life?
Speaker 2:So the biggest thing with that is a support system. I'm very fortunate to have an amazing fiancee that helps me in any way that he can, and my mom and dad are also right down the road and they help me a lot with my daughter and her busy life with softball and riding horses, so they help me with pick up and drop-offs. They're a major, major support system. When it comes to like the horse show days, they help trailer the horse for me. I'm just very blessed, to say the least. I know 13, my daughter's 13 is going to kill this mama, but my daughter is just like me and my mom says it's paybacks So I have to laugh about it. But I love her with my you know every ounce of my being.
Speaker 2:She's my life.
Speaker 1:So That is great. Yeah, 13 can be hard, but you know, being involved with the horses is just a whole another world.
Speaker 2:So it keeps her busy, it keeps her off the phone. I mean cell phones are the it's definitely going to be the death of me cell phones. I I try so hard to stay off of mine but it's, you know, it's inevitable. I'm going to be on my phone with all the businesses that I, that I'm, i partake in. So she sees me on my phone and I try to explain to her. It's because of business, but you know how that goes.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely, yeah, that is. That is a hard one these days. When did the love of animals slip into your heart and snag it, cause you've been involved for a while.
Speaker 2:Well, i've been an animal lover and a country girl since I was 10, probably a little bit earlier than that, but I started with 4-H and riding horses and pony camps And actually my first job was milking cows at the family farm at the age of 13. Wow, that's pretty much where I mean, and I've always loved cats and dogs. We've always had cats and dogs. My first cat was named Tom because of Tom and Jerry And he actually followed us home from a family walk And we I heard him meowing and he was in the bushes And I said you know, here, kitty, kitty, and that was it. He followed us home and he became our family pet and he was the best cat in the world.
Speaker 1:So Oh, my gosh, oh, i like that so much. So, being the medical director at FSAC, what does that entail for you?
Speaker 2:As the medical director I you know it's basically what I do is I work up protocols with the veterinarians so that we follow. we have protocols that we have to follow as far as like the medical side to keep the shelter babies healthy and happy. That's my major focus as the medical director is to just make sure that these animals get the proper medical care that they need And so, being the medical director, at what point did you decide to be to start your own business?
Speaker 2:So I had my own business before, way before I became the medical director. So I started my business during my time as a full-time vet tech. I was working long hours and not able to spend a lot of time with my daughter, So I decided to start working full-time with my business after she asked me one time at bedtime when I was gonna be able to start spending more time with her. So that hit me hard. At that time I said you know, it's time to really start networking more, going to events. I joined the chamber and really I can only thank the Lord for my success. My name got out there and I was busy enough to have nine employees now, and not just employees amazing employees. They carry claws and paws for me for the most part, So claws and paws pet sitting.
Speaker 1:You wanna tell everybody where you're located or how to get in touch with you.
Speaker 2:Sure, so we're located basically based out of Dover. I do boarding at my home, and that's where most of it all started. I live right behind Dover Downs, off of Route 9. We do, when we do do the boarding, we do boarding out of our homes, so we don't have cages or runs or anything like that, ana, where we can start training more. I call it our bark and breakfast, because that's basically what it is.
Speaker 2:I like that, i like that They come in and they you know it's like they're part of the family. That's just a little bit about the boarding budget. If you you know to get in contact with us, they can always call my business line, which is 302-632-7366. Our Facebook is called and Paul's Pat's sitting right now. Our website isn't working. He said it's having some kind of I don't know there's like a glitch in it. So we're working on that right now. But as far as our email, it's clawsandpaulesservicesdegmailcom. Okay.
Speaker 1:And can. Can they make the appointment right from Facebook, or was that something that will be available on the website? Or do you always make a phone contact first before booking anything?
Speaker 2:Phone contact is the best way for us either call, leave a message Always. You can always feel free to text message. My assistant, julie, handles all of that for me And she will get back to them within that day that they leave a message, or a text message.
Speaker 1:And do you do any pet sitting at your client's home, or is it always done at your home or one of your employees?
Speaker 2:So we do drop in visits, So we do drop in at the client's homes, We do boarding. Like I said at our bark and breakfast, I have three two other employees that do boarding, as well as myself. We do overnight stays in the client's home. I have employees that will stay the night at the with the animals and we do daily walks as well as nail trim.
Speaker 1:Did you have hurdles that you had to work through when you were first beginning and thinking about starting your business?
Speaker 2:Well, i always say everyone has growing pains. I definitely did have some of those with me. It was learning to say no. I wanted to be able to be there for everyone at all times. I still struggle with that, but my assistant as I was speaking of Julie and my employees helped me with that big time. Now I still don't say no And it's probably I like to think that's the reason why I'm so successful, because people know that I care.
Speaker 1:And that is a big thing. When you're taking care of somebody's, you know, and they're not just animals, they're, they're family, they're kids, they're kids A lot of the time They're kids, Absolutely. So you know, good for you And good that you have your, your awesome employees to tell you you need to say no, Julie's the main one.
Speaker 2:She keeps me intact, so.
Speaker 1:We definitely need that sometimes. Oh my gosh, Yes we do. What do you enjoy the most with all the hats you wear? Is there one particular part of either your medical director or closet, closet pause that you like?
Speaker 2:I think I say it works for both And that's just being the voice for the animals, whether it's taking care of them and loving them while their family is away on vacation or just keeping our shelter babies happy and healthy. It's so rewarding to have the fur babies happy, you know, when they, when they go home after pet sitting, or when you know the shelter animals get better after being sick, like with heartworm, and then actually getting adopted to their forever family. It's just, it's just so rewarding. I'm a softy, but You and me both Yeah, I'm bad like that also.
Speaker 1:Don't feel bad Over to the FSA volunteers. If somebody wants to get involved and help out, do they make a phone call? Do they go to the website?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they can just give a call. We have a volunteer coordinator, her name's Ramona. She's wonderful And, if you, if they just call the first state animal center and speak to the girls or the gentleman up front, they can get them in touch with Ramona, okay.
Speaker 1:So does the center have a wish list or items that they need on?
Speaker 2:Amazon, they do. They do have a wish list on Amazon and usually generally what a lot of the time, what they ask for, they'll post it on their Facebook or on well, we do on our Facebook page or the items that are Indeed at that time, but we always ask for paper towels and cleaning supplies, sheets and blankets. you know things on laundry detergent? That's always a necessity, right, and you?
Speaker 1:know, bleach and stuff like that, and it only takes, you know, one or two things off that list that will help in the long run. Or the blankets, or do you accept To gently use blankets and towels absolutely, and an hour goes a long way. In volunteering once a week, oh gosh, we love our volunteers. That's such a big help and people you know I one of the things I talk about a lot are rescues and it's it. I always say it's one hour, one item Once a week, twice a week. Whatever you can possibly squeeze out of your, your schedule, everybody will appreciate it as the truth. Yeah, i agree. Do you just pet sit cats and dogs or have you pet sit for other animals?
Speaker 2:as well. We pet sit pretty much any animal done horses, sheeps, chickens, dog pigs done a Lizard gecko, so pretty much everything. I think I'd have to draw the line at spiders, though.
Speaker 1:I'm not with you on that one. I mean I don't mind spiders, but pet sitting a spider I think I'd just be nervous like it would get.
Speaker 2:I would do, I would do, and then, if it got out, i would have to just run. I would. I don't know what I would do. That's just scary.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely. Oh, my gosh, and people you know you have to think about these things. So, yeah, you got to draw the line somewhere.
Speaker 2:Yeah, i like rats. I think rats are awesome. Yeah, they're interesting, they are they're very loving.
Speaker 1:That's what I've heard. I've heard they're very intelligent, very loving. Yeah, you know I have. My kids are all grown out, but you know they had the hamsters and gerbils and What have you, but we never had a rat. I don't know, i don't know if I would go the rat route, but I've heard that they're very good. Yeah, so was there a lot involved when you were setting up your, your pet sitting service? Do you? is there? I mean, i'm goes without saying, insurance for everything but all the all the other paperwork, a business plan. I don't know what else would be involved.
Speaker 2:I, you know, i started my business at a pretty young age, so I didn't have a business plan at the time. I would recommend definitely having one now if you're an entrepreneur starting a business. I, you know, i have lots of people that, as I said, with my support system that I talked to and and And helped along the way. I mean we had to get licensed and insured. I have an LLC. I also got a hybrid car to help with mileage and gas, because a lot of traveling is involved with pet sitting. Oh yeah, and basically that's. I mean, that's all I can say at this point because I did. I was thinking about starting a doggy daycare and Before I started with the SPCA and we definitely had a business plan for that. So it's important to have a business plan.
Speaker 1:The other woman that I've spoken with, if they Didn't start with a business plan, they, they did start a business plan, like you know, not too soon after they started. You know they all said it's always good for so many different reasons. Especially if you're going for a business loan, that's the first thing you want to be absolutely.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Yeah at this point it's not necessary, because I I haven't. I will in the future for sure, because I'm thinking about opening a facility on my property, possibly. So, a business plan will definitely have to be done at that point if a loan is necessary. So I can understand that 100%. Right, Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1:What has been the highlight of starting your own business?
Speaker 2:I think the highlight is watching my business continue, continue to grow and be successful after all these years. I love helping community with their pet sitting needs and medical needs, so it's it's just. I think that's probably the biggest highlight Really, because, you know, i started from the bottom and I did it all on my own, which is absolutely, which is amazing you know I have.
Speaker 2:I've mentioned my support system many times and I've had lots of help. But as far as running the business until recently with my assistant and my employees You know it was it was built from the ground up and you were working this business through COVID correct. I started the vaccine clinic with Dr Fran check during COVID. My business, i, it was I. It was working, i was doing really good with it.
Speaker 2:And then COVID hit and if you think about it, their pet sitting basically is not needed when people aren't traveling or working or needing their dogs walked and everybody was working from home. So I was like what in the world am I going to do to keep the food on my daughter's table? And I went and talked to Dr Franchak and she said what we've been talking about doing, this mobile vaccine clinic, why don't we just get it up and running? And sure enough, that's what we did and that's what kept the food on my daughter's table, because we were so busy during COVID. We were at the height of COVID, vaccinating animals, keeping animals up to date with their vaccines, especially rabies, and we were helping the elderly because obviously they couldn't get out. We were helping people with multiple pets that couldn't get appointments. It was another very rewarding situation that we were able to help the community but also help keep food on my daughter's table.
Speaker 1:That's right. No, it kept you going. Yes, it did, it really did. I had done an interview with the owner of West Side Restaurant Medulla in Milford And one of the things that she had said during COVID when the first everything shut down and she said what really, like, yuta said what helped her get through COVID was to help herself and not wait for somebody else to come rescue her when she had to shut down Absolutely Right. And when she had to shut that front door, she started making pancakes for everybody, exactly Right. So for you to then turn around and say, okay, what can I do? I need to do something to keep yourself going. So kudos to you.
Speaker 2:Well, as an entrepreneur, i think everybody can attest to the fact that you have to have that mentality of what do I start now? What do I do now? Where can I go from here? You just have to keep that positive attitude. And I'm very blessed to have Dr Francheck in my life And she said, absolutely, she's retired. She's a retired large animal vet. She didn't have to do that, but she wanted to help the community with me and help me as well, and it was just still to this day doing the mobile vaccine clinics. It's awesome.
Speaker 1:That is just great. Did you have a mentor in the beginning with everything? Do you still have a mentor?
Speaker 2:Dr Francheck, I have to meet her. Yes, you do. She's amazing. It's her name's Ruthie and She's always been there for me. I started working with her two years before I graduated from college. I graduated from college in 2003 And I was her large animal vet tech for probably close to 10 years, Wow. And then I hurt my back. I had to stop. You know wrestling cows and rolling cows for abdominal surgeries and Wrestling fractious horses. So then that's when I got in the small animal and again, it's just, it evolves every time.
Speaker 1:You've turned around And some things try to keep you down. You've turned it around and you've evolved it into something else. Absolutely, i've been blessed, for sure, and that's part of the entrepreneurship, that is that mentality. It's like what's next? What can I, you know, turn around and do something with you know, something that's tried to keep me down. What has been one of the most valuable lessons you have learned from running your own business?
Speaker 2:That family time is very important. You always have to remember to make time for your family.
Speaker 1:And what advice would you give to another woman entrepreneur just starting their own business?
Speaker 2:Never to look back. Keep reaching for the stars There. I mean there's always lots of bumps in the road, but stay humble and hustle hard. And I like to live by the quote live like most people won't, so that you can spend the rest of Your life like most people can't.
Speaker 1:I like that one. I don't think I've heard that one before. I really really like that, and one of my my goals of doing the woman entrepreneurs Podcast is to put together a network of all the women that I have spoken with and done interviews with, and I would love to add Your name to that list. Oh, i'd appreciate that. Thank you, absolutely. All right, so one more time, let everybody know where and how they can reach you and find you you can reach me at 302-632-7366 That's our claws and paws pet sitting line and or Facebook.
Speaker 2:Our Facebook is claws and paws pet sitting. You can always send messages there and Our email is claws and paws services de Dot gmailcom.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much I also want to thank Elaine for for reaching out to me. I had done it, did an interview with Elaine and Donna with Mavis, the FIP warrior.
Speaker 2:Oh, yes, i, i've heard many stories about the amazing Mavis.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, i enjoyed that so much and she had given me your name and I'm so glad that she did. Is there anything else that I didn't touch on that you'd like to let everybody know? Is there anything special coming up?
Speaker 2:Yeah, actually we have a low-cost vaccine clinic night at our Harrington location for the First State Animal Center. It's this Thursday night from four to seven. That is the.
Speaker 1:That's the most recent event that's coming up, and again so they can find when the Clinics are going to be on Facebook on Facebook, on our yep, our Facebook page.
Speaker 2:Okay, great.
Speaker 1:All right. Well, katie, thank you so much. I appreciate you spending the time this evening and getting to know you and claws and paws and first state animal center. Thank you so much. Thank you I appreciate it.
Speaker 2:You're welcome. Have a great night. You also Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the women entrepreneurs spotlight podcast series. You can listen to the podcast on wwwwoman entrepreneurs spotlight bus, sprout, comm or wherever you listen to your podcast. You can find us on Facebook at woman entrepreneurs spotlight and you can email us at woman entrepreneurs spotlight at gmailcom. Until next time, keep being awesome.
