Four paws Sitting Service Gives Pet Owners a Hand

1274356809 94 Four paws Sitting Service Gives Pet Owners a Hand By ROBIN BROUGHTON

For The State Journal

For owner of Four Paws Pet Sitting Alison Drain, her business is about more than simply watching pets while their owners are on vacation.

A former social worker, Drain sees lack of pet care as an important social issue, especially among the elderly and disabled. For that reason, her services include not only traditional pet sitting but also more extensive in-home pet care for those who physically aren’t able to take care of their pets.

Four Paws Pet Sitting serves the Charleston area, including the Hurricane, Teays Valley and Elkview areas.

“There are many people who need to benefit from the love and care of animals but aren’t able to,” Drain said. “Loneliness can cause stress and other health issues. Animals can help.”

With that in mind, Drain, who has master’s degrees in social work and public administration, designed her business to cater to those who need daily help taking care of their pets in their homes.

“With seniors, I try to create a relationship with them as well as their pets. I will see them every day and be a part of their lives,” she said. “I want them to be able to wake up and feel good about the fact that their pets are there with them, but that I will be there later to take their animals for walks, help feed them, clean out the kitty litter. They can enjoy their animals and all the joy they bring, and I will take care of the rest.”

Drain said she also can bring in the mail, check the property and help with other household duties.

“The social worker in me really wants to make other people happy,” she said. “Pets can bring such happiness. I wanted to do something I was passionate about, but it had to have meaning, too.”

Pets offer a safe connection to the outside world because they love their owners no matter what, according to Drain.

“The elderly and disabled can feel very disconnected from the rest of the world,” Drain said. “Many are not inclined to be a part of the outside world. This can be very lonely.

“I saw it firsthand when my grandfather was in hospice. There was a dog there, and it had such an incredible calming effect on the patients.”

Pets can be especially important to the disabled, who often are scared to go out in public because they are worried about how people will view them.

“Pets see them at their best and at their worst, and it doesn’t matter. Their love is unconditional,” Drain said.

Drain said she also takes a unique approach to the traditional dog-sitting services she offers. Pet owners who are on vacation or out of town on business receive daily updates via text message or e-mail from Drain, often with a photograph attached.

“I let the owners know their pets are doing great, and that they have nothing to worry about,” she said.

She said she personalizes and tailors her care to exactly what is needed. She talks to owners ahead of time and finds out about the pets’ quirks and personality traits and about their daily routines.

Drain, who has two dogs and a cat, said she knows the importance of keeping animals on their daily routines.

“They look forward to their walks and playtime. It’s important to their well-being.”

Typical services include feeding the animals, cleaning up messes, taking them for walks and playing with them.

“I do exactly what the owner would do if they were there,” said Drain, who added that she always takes animals’ special needs into consideration.

“I’ve administered shots to a diabetic dog, sat next to a dog that would only eat while I stayed in the kitchen with him and even worked with a dog to encourage him to walk through a room he’s always been afraid to walk through.”

Kelly McGraw, who lives in the Kanawha City area of Charleston, has used Four Paws services and called herself a satisfied customer.

“My dog has special needs. He has arthritis and can’t make it up the back steps, so Alison had to help him get outside and back in. I would definitely recommend Four Paws. The prices were very fair, and she helped in other ways, too — setting my security system and bringing in my mail and newspapers.”

Drain said she tries to reduce stress for owners by letting them know their pets are in good hands. She also offers services to professionals whose workload makes it difficult for them to take care of all of their pet duties.

“I can help with professionals who can’t always make it home at lunch to let their pets out or give them that much deserved walk,” she said.

For information, see www.fourpawspetsitting.info.