Local Pet Sitter Offers More than Just Feeding and Walking Animals

Being a pet owner can sometimes be an inconvenience when it comes to going on vacation or just being out of the house for several hours when going to work.

It’s not like your pets can go to work with you. And putting a pet in a kennel can eat away a big chunk of your vacation fund. Neighbors, family and friends all volunteer to lend a helping hand but when the time arises, other plans override your need.

Well, if you find yourself living one of these scenarios, look no further than Jessica’s Happy Paws Pet Sitting.

Customers can rely on Jessica Zuchel of Channahon to give the utmost care to their pets in the luxury of their own homes. Zuchel said her sitting service is not limited to cats and dogs.

“I will sit for any animal,” Zuchel said.

Sitting services include caring for the pet, feeding and walking or exercising the animal, Zuchel said. Cleaning up the yard after a dog does it’s duty and cleaning and replacing cages with fresh bedding, or newspaper are also offered, she said.

Zuchel can also do basic grooming such as giving the animal a bath, brushing and clipping nails. She is also qualified to administer certain medications to pets.

Zuchel shadowed at Minooka Animal Hospital where she cared for and administrated medication to animals.

Most of her experience, however, comes from growing up with pets. Currently, Zuchel has two dogs; a pit bull named Amber and a Great Dane named Stormy. She also has an aquarium housing a garter snake. She also has two domestic rats.

Currently, Zuchel is enrolled in an online veterinarian assistant program through Penn Foster Career School in Scranton, Pa. She began classes in March and although she has until June 2012 to complete the program, Zuchel anticipates she will be finished in December.

“I have finished nine of the 12 modules required for the program,” Zuchel said. “Each module has four to five lessons within it.”

Zuchel has completed lessons on pharmacology, parasitology, radiology, emergency care, handling and restraining farm animals and lessons on various animals, including mammals, reptiles and birds.

Upon completing the program this December, Zuchel said she hopes to land a job as a veterinarian assistant but “if I don’t get a job right away, I will continue by education by enrolling in the veterinarian tech program at Joliet Junior College.”

Zuchel can be reached at 815-258-5755 (cell) or at 815-521-1056, seven days a week from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. Negotiable prices will vary on the pet and service requested.