When she moved to Gilpin County in 2015, Brittanie Dickson still didn’t really know what would be her life’s work. She did know that animals had always been a huge part of her life. “I have grown up with animals, and as an adult have worked in the animal health industry, working in animal hospitals as a receptionist and a veterinary technician assistant. I always knew I wanted to work with animals, but I didn’t know which road to go down. I’ve been a foster mom to animals, I’ve been involved in animal transport, missing animal rescues, a volunteer at animal shelters, assisted with rescue events, etc.”
But soon after she moved to the area, one of her neighbors asked if she would watch their two dogs while they went on vacation. “I agreed, and just like that my pet sitting business began.
From there my entire business grew by word of mouth.”
In 2019, Dickson decided to follow in her parents’ footsteps and start her own business. “I came up with the name Mountain Paws & Claws Pet Services and opened it as an LLC. I quit my job as an activity’s coordinator in an assisted living facility and took on pet care as a full-time career,” she detailed.
She explains her reasoning this way: “The demand for pet care in our mountain communities is extremely high. I have had the difficulty of finding a trustworthy animal caretaker for my own pets. Before starting this business, I have hired multiple people to care for my own animals while I am away on vacation. Unfortunately, I have had multiple bad experiences and now when it comes to finding someone to help me, I have extremely high standards.
“I want to be able to give my clients the same standards that I hold for my own animals. Having to worry about your pets while you are on a vacation trying to relax is not ideal.
Being able to hear from my clients that they can relax while they are away because they know their animals are in good hands is something I pride myself on.”
Mountain Paws & Claws offers her unique in-home pet care to Gilpin, Clear Creek, Coal Creek, Boulder, and Jefferson County. Her services include overnight stays, drop-in visits for potty breaks, feeding, medication administration, kitty litter scooping, stall mucking, dog walking, and acting as a “pet taxi” to and from the vet.
Dickson also prides herself on accepting all animals regardless of breed or variety. She stresses that “I care for everything from dogs and cats to horses and chickens. Young, old, or special needs. They all need love and attention. I will take extra time to meet with my clients who have rescued and fearful animals. I have a passion for rescued animals and know that a lot of them have complicated backgrounds and just need someone to have patience and empathy.”
Dickson also continues to further her education. She is learning more about animal behavior, animal communication, and body language. She is also involved with GCART (Gilpin County Animal Response Team) as well as Summit Lost Pet Rescue, Inc. “Being a part of both teams helps me expand my skills and knowledge and offer my community tips and hands-on help with missing animals,” she explains.
She sees her mission as helping people “give their pets the absolute best life. I strive to meet the demands of all my customers by providing them with a peace of mind while they are away. Nobody should have to worry about their pet’s well-being while they are gone. Whether you’re away for one day, one week, or just need regular daily pet care, you can trust me to take care of all your pet’s needs. I will love them like they are my own.” She believes that, since the pets remain in their own familiar environment, they will be happier and healthier upon their owners’ return.
The company is now more than three years old, and, she says, “business is booming!” She has two part-time subcontractors who help with overnight stays and drop-in visits, and she’s currently working on expanding further. “Keep an eye out on social media,” she announces, “for exciting updates as I move forward with a new business venture for your animals.”
It’s not surprising that her favorite part of the job is getting to know each animal. “Building a bond with them while their owner is away, is something very special. Every animal is so unique and tells a different story. I have never met one animal with the same personality.”
You can watch for Dickson’s updates on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MountainPawsClawsPetServices and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mountainpawsnclaws/. Her website is http://www.mtnpawsnclaws.com and her email is Brittanie@mtnpawsnclaws.com.
Sponsored by Gilpin County, with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act
