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About Us
Wow, time really does fly...
After over 40 years of marriage, we've not only survived but made it to retirement too. And we're thrilled about it all! We've got a bunch of shared interests that keep life exciting—pickleball, kayaking, camping, and going to college football games and blues festivals.
Marilyn's green thumb keeps our garden blooming, and we both love getting lost in a good book or trying out new activities.
So, what makes us click? Marilyn is smart and sensible, and that balances out the impulsive and little bit goofball Steve element. So far, it has been a winning combination!
Our start in the pet sitting business
We have always had pets. Almost all of our pets were pound puppies, cats that adopted us, or animals we rescued. Abby, our beagle, is shown here, but she has since crossed the rainbow bridge. When Abby got older, she found it uncomfortable to be kenneled at the vet. We believed that an in-home sitter would have been ideal for her. She served as the inspiration for our pet-sitting business. So, thank you, Abby. I hope you are finding some rabbits to chase.
A little bit more about the Hunters
Marilyn is McCook Critter Sitters' top dog and head sitter. Prior to that, she was a Postmaster with the United States Postal Service, retiring in 2015. Her years of service made her eligible for early retirement. That was a smart move!
Marilyn had just graduated from high school in Kansas when she moved north to Nebraska. She is four years younger than Steve.
Steve (yours truly) is from McCook, Nebraska, and I retired from a career in sales in 2016. I assist Marilyn as a backup sitter. In addition, I sell a product on Amazon and also worked part-time for several years after retiring.
We are two lucky people who met and have been happily married ever since. It was not in the cards to have kids. However, we have had our fair share of pets over the years. Dogs: Lady, Shane, Sunny, and Abby who all lived into their teens. Cats named Mayo, Checkerberry, OC, Hannah, Emma, and Rudy. For the first time in our lives, we are without a dog, and Rudy is running the show.
When we first started our pet sitting business, we had a few simple goals: 1) To offer pet owners a choice. Professional in-home loving care for their pets rather than having to board them at a kennel or the vet's. 2) A way to supplement our retirement income in a business with low overhead, no inventory, and basic bookkeeping. Mission accomplished on all counts! We have also had the opportunity to meet new people and care for some amazing animals. Win, win, and win.
What we've learned doing the job
Pet sitting is enjoyable and profitable. But always remember: An in home visit to take care of a customer's pets is serious business. The welfare of the animal(s) is the top priority. Respecting the client's home, property, and privacy is equally important. So, always use common sense and be diligent.
Having a Service Agreement (contract) and a Customer Details form on file ensures that you are diligent and have covered all bases. Check out our 'Tips & Tools' page to see an example of what we use for paperwork. Being prepared is one of the main keys to having a good business!
