Our History
Professional Pet Sitting Etc.
Established 1990
Animal Care Center of NH
Established 2020
Professional Pet Sitting Etc. (PPSE) was started as a part time business in 1990. The business was established when pet sitting was not known to the public. In home pet care was a need that was voiced by clients at the animal hospital where the owner, Dorinne Whynott, worked. Ms. Whynott started to educate the public about her service by word of mouth and advertising in her local newspaper.
It took more than six years before the business could support the owner as a full time business.
It took a lot of work to get the word out to enough people to grow the clientele.
Here’s a look at our history through the years.
1990 – 1995:
Professional Pet Sitting Etc. became a registered business in the state of New Hampshire. Bonding and Liability insurance were purchased. PPSE continued to grow and expand rapidly as the public became aware of this unique, professional and reliable business. We serviced two cities, Nashua and Hudson. Ms. Whynott was the sole employee.
1996:
Our logo, the heart with the paw print inside, was now our registered trademark. Revenues doubled from 1995 and the clientele grew to over 300 strong. Professional Pet Sitting Etc. joined in the technology age and became a member on the World Wide Web subscribing to America Online and developing their own website in 1996. We co-founded and became a charter member of the New Hampshire Pet Sitters’ Association. We serviced 7 cities, Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Hollis, Amherst, Merrimack and Milford. Again, Ms. Whynott was the sole employee.
1997:
Mastercard and Visa were now accepted as payment along with cash and checks. Because of the continued and fast growth, Ms. Whynott found it necessary to hire additional pet sitters to service expanded areas. Eight pet sitters were hired for the eight serviced cities (Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Hollis, Amherst, Merrimack, Milford and Bedford). We obtained workman’s compensation insurance and non-owned automobile insurance. A 40 page Policy & Procedure Handbook was written to help guide and train employees to provide continued quality pet care. An emergency back up system was created to ensure continued uninterrupted pet care in the event of an employee emergency. The yellow pages recognized pet sitting and gave a heading in the yellow page section. We have over 300 clients.
Awarded NH Pet Sitting Business of the year!!
1998:
We started to advertise in every newspaper in the 8 cities we serviced. We were so busy that we hired 6 more pet sitters (total of 14 pet sitters). We purchased a Pet Care Technician course for additional training for our employees.
Awarded NH Pet Sitting Business of the year again!!!
1999:
We expanded to 9 cities (now servicing: Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Hollis, Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, Bedford and Brookline) and hired four more pet sitters (total of 18 pet sitters). Business was going well until the end of the year when everyone was worried about Y2k. The result was that few people traveled the last quarter of the year and the first quarter of 2000, before people felt okay with the future. We obtained small benefits for employees.
2000:
We expanded to 21 cities (now servicing: Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Hollis, Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, Bedford, Brookline Manchester, New Boston, Pelham, Derry, Londonderry, Mason, Goffstown, Wilton, Mont Vernon, Windham, Lyndeborough, and Greenfield), hired 6 more petsitters (total of 24 pet sitters) and increased our advertising to the new cities.
2001:
We expanded into one more city, 22 total, (now servicing: Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Hollis, Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, Bedford, Brookline Manchester, New Boston, Pelham, Derry, Londonderry, Mason, Goffstown, Wilton, Mont Vernon, Windham, Lyndeborough, Greenfield and Salem), hired 9 more pet sitters (total 33 petsitters). We suffered a lot this year due to 9-11 attacks. No one was traveling for pleasure or business. We still did okay for the first 3 quarters of the year.
2002:
We did not grow as fast this year due to the slowing of the economy, slow travel due to 9-11 and quite a few businesses laying off workers. We started to sponsor the Nashua Humane Society’s Walk-a-thon and the Salem Animal Rescue League‘s Dog fest.
2003:
We redesigned our web site. People still do not feel comfortable traveling for pleasure or business (due to 9-11). This was our slowest growing year in revenue, with only a 5% increase from last year. We have added the Manchester Animal Shelter to our annual sponsorships for their walk-a-thon.
2004:
We added a receptionist to answer the phone during our business hours (clients can always leave messages 24/7). We expanded into 16 more cities, 38 total, (now servicing: Nashua, Hudson, Litchfield, Hollis, Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, Bedford, Brookline, Salem, Manchester, New Boston, Pelham, Derry, Londonderry, Mason, Goffstown, Wilton, Mont Vernon, Windham, Lyndeborough, Greenville, Atkinson, Auburn, Bow, Chester, Concord, Dunbarton, Francestown, Greenfield, Sharon, Hampstead, Hooksett, New Ipswich, Temple, Peterborough, Sandown and Weare) and hired 5 more pet sitters (total 38 pet sitters). We increased the advertising into these new areas. We now have over 2000 pet clients. We added Animal Rescue League of NH (in Bedford), Manchester Animal Shelter walk-a-thon and Derry Humane Society to our annual sponsorships.
2005:
In the past 15 years of business, Professional Pet Sitting Etc. has continually grown. In the past ten years, the average growth is an impressive 38%. In the great times we grew over 100% and in the worst of times we still grew by 5 – 13%. The Concord SPCA walk-a-thon was added to our list of annual sponsorships.
2006:
Ms. Whynott completed an extensive business plan for the expansion of PPSE to open the Animal Center. We have acquired a great investor, looking at properties, etc. We are still growing rapidly and average over 60 phone calls per day.
Awarded NH Pet Sitting Business of the Year!
2007:
After our great investor had to decline due to a serious family emergency, and with much work done, research in other opportunities and lots of money spent, the Animal Center was permanently placed on hold with much regret. The main focus now was to continue to grow PPSE. As with every year, 2007 did better then the previous year. We are now gaining anywhere from 10 – 20 new clients per month and over 3000 strong.
2008:
Professional Pet Sitting Etc. will continue to grow and provide the public, the best in-your-home pet care. We pride ourselves on continued education to provide up-to-date and the latest in proper pet care to aid in the excellence of service. We will continue to educate ourselves through seminars and other educational programs.
2009:
Professional Pet Sitting Etc. moved its primary location to offer more room in training employees. The economy was not kind to us this year, as with everyone, however, our company did fair well. The economy did help in that we were able to find a wonderful space for little money.
2010 – 2012:
Professional Pet Sitting Etc. is in the process of completing work on the new office , library and training are. Our office is still not a public office, for safety of all clients’ keys and information, however, this space will be able to better accommodate our continued growth.
Awarded NH Pet Sitting Business of the Year Again!!
2013:
We incorporated our new Online Registration/Reservation Program. This will enable our clients to create their own personalized pet and home care profile 24/7 right from the comfort of their homes. Reservations can easily be made 24/7 from anywhere in the world as long as you have internet access.
2014:
After having our past host, acquire a virus in their servers and having our entire website deleted from the web. We have completely updated our website with new features, easy to find information. See our videos, pictures easily.
We have noticed a huge rise in new clients and Reservations of services this year. A welcome boost in our business growth after the past sluggish years with the economy.
We have added nearly 50 more educational and interesting articles to our blog list!
We are dominating the web, listing as first in many Google categories and with a Web Authority rising fast!
2015:
We have continued adding many educational articles to our blog list. We are 180 articles strong and 30 videos.
We have WON
BEST PET SITTER and BEST DOG WALKER
in the NH A List Contest
2016:
We have WON AGAIN
FINALIST in BEST PET SITTER and BEST DOG WALKER
We have been averaging 4-6 new articles per month. We are now at 250 educational articles on our blog list!!
2018:
Started the search to EXPAND the company and services.
We began the 2 year search for the best building to open our Animal Care Center.
2019:
Voted BEST PET SITTER Again!
In December of 2019, we found the Fallon’s Furniture building and started the process of due diligence in hopes that this building would be the one.
2020:
After months of zoning and planning board meeting approvals, and lots of tests and research, we closed the sale on May 19, 2020.
It took 5 months for all the contruction was done to make the Animal Care Center of NH a reality. Our gorgeous building was officially open September 2020.
Of course, the world was going through the COVID pandemic, so business for everyone was severely impacted.
2021:
The beginning of the year was slow but with the world finally getting vaccinated, personal lives and businesses were starting to get back to normal.