Nurse finds a new calling as a pet sitter

By James Thomas Jr.
Correspondent

SMITHFIELD

At Ann Gledhill's Pet Sitters LLC, a sign reads "The more I get to know some people, the more I like dogs." And another: "Pets welcome. Children must be on a leash."

While Gledhill's business philosophies may be in jest, almost two years ago she walked away from a lucrative and in-demand career as a registered nurse to cardiac patients and as an elementary school nurse to open Pet Sitters in March 2008.

The decision for the career change followed a painful six-year period during which her father died of a heart attack and she lost both her mother and stepfather to cancer.

Gledhill moved in with her mother in 2006 to provide the around-the-clock care her mother needed in the final months of her life, temporarily leaving behind her husband, William, and teenage sons, Mathew and Cory.

Upon her mother's death, Gledhill returned home drained from her devotion as caretaker.

"I needed a change from taking care of my parents," explained Gledhill, a Rhode Island native who has lived in Smithfield for 19 years. "I wanted to do something that makes me happy. Money doesn't matter anymore."

Gledhill's career transformation to Pet Sitters revealed the special bonding between people and their pets and one woman's journey to find healing through the pets in her care.

"Pets are always happy to see you," said Gledhill. "They never complain, and they're very therapeutic."

She works from her home where her husband converted half of their garage into office space.

It's filled with office equipment, a large sink and grooming table, pet accessories and even a pet rat named Lucy, which her son, Cory, 17, bought for himself as a birthday present about a year ago. She is joined by Abbey, a year-old chocolate lab, and Scout, an 8-year-old Lhasa apso, keep her company.

Dates on a wall calendar are filled with penciled-in appointment times for pet visits. Though devoted to her new vocation, she still keeps her RN license current and displayed.

"I worked hard for that," she explained.

Pet Sitters is open Monday through Friday, but Gledhill's day often begins early and ends late, seven days a week.

Her employees include her husband and son, Mathew, 19, a George Mason University student, "whenever he's home," and a 19-year-old friend, Caitlin Liakos.

Duties consists of making pet house calls for "walking, feeding, watering, potty breaks and playtime," says Gledhill.

She charges $15 per visit, but rates are slightly higher for occasional boarding, grooming or overnight stays.

Most of her clients are from Isle of Wight County and North Suffolk, including Bennett's Creek and the Obici-Sentara areas. Her overall job is to provide comfort and care to both the pets and their owners.

"Many people treat their pets like children; they don't like them unattended for long periods of time," explained Gledhill. "The visits fulfill the pet's basic needs, so they'll feel they're not being abandoned. They also give the owner peace of mind and relieve them of guilt."

Four times a week, twice daily, her "fun visit" is with Jack and Cougar, 8-month-old Maltese-poodle mixes known as Maltipoos.

Gledhill hugs and nurtures the pair, often chastising Cougar - "the runt of the litter... though the more rambunctious one" - for straying too far.

Later she visits whippets Nestle and Divo, her first daily clients she has cared for since August 2008.

Gledhill knows the personalities of each of her pet charges. Nestle, the female, is clingier and stays close by her side, while Divo, the male, will run and play ball for hours.

"Exercise is a big thing because they need that stimulation," said Gledhill. "They have lots of energy, and it's healthy for them."

There's Zigzag, too, the cat. She gives him water, feed him, changes his litter box and affection ately scruffs up his fur. But Zigzag, as cats often are, is mostly independent.

She also cares for a fish tank and a stabled horse.

Gledhill calls her business an alternative to boarding. Occasionally, she does overnight stays for geriatric pets and others needing medications and special diets.

Her relationship with the pets in her care has evolved from a client relationship to "they're like part of my family," she said.

Gledhill had to qualify for pet CPR and first aid through the American Red Cross, even though she is an RN and a CPR instructor.

"My nursing skills still come into play, but the anatomy of a pet is different, and we actually had to get pet mannequins for training," she said.

Her nursing skills also will be useful when she begins classes to volunteer for the IOW Rescue Squad on Jan. 26. In addition, she occasionally subs as a school nurse for the county.

Her new business and family support has helped relieve some of the pain of her human losses.

"The pets are therapeutic. They're very comforting, loving animals," said Gledhill. "I think dogs sense when you're feeling sad or you're having a bad day, and they know how to fill that emptiness. They haven't replaced it, but it's a lot better.

"I believe it helps with my family, too; they see me doing better," she added. "I'm very happy and at peace at what I'm doing. This has changed my life."

James Thomas Jr. ttomas205@aol.com

To contact Pet Sitters LLC, visit the Web site at petsitters

smithfield.com, e-mail

agledhill@petsitterssmithfield.com or call (757) 371-1144.