Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara McCracken.
Hi Sara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstories.
Growing up, we always had dogs in the house, and not just dogs. We had cats, hamsters, fish, a turtle, a rabbit, a chinchilla, and a snake, all at the same time! I fully believe this is where my love for animals started, and even to this day, my husband and I function out of a “mini farm” lifestyle. We love caring for our two dogs, cats, and pet conure! It shouldn’t be surprising to realize I made a career out of that love.
Wild Fur was honestly never intended to be what it is. I thought I could make some extra funds on the side, keep my full-time job, and just enjoy doing it! However, after clicking “publish” on my website in 2020, Wild Fur took off more than I could’ve ever imagined. It started right out of our home. We didn’t even have a fence, yet people loved the care I provided for their babies. They loved it so much that we ended up converting our home office into a room dedicated to a pup (think doggie hotel), then we converted our guest room and then moved to a property with an acre of land to expand this little dream further.
Now, we have two Wild Suites in our backyard with their own fenced-in area! And we stay fully booked more often than not throughout the year. Not only that, but the relationships I have formed with the families of these pups through daily walks and visits and picture updates when they’re out of town have made everything worth it. Wild Fur has blessed me with the chance to get to know many people in our community who have hearts bigger than Jupiter and truly, deeply, unapologetically love their fur babies. They have welcomed me into their homes, lives, and hearts, and I can only hope our little “Wild Fur Family” continues to grow.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve heard this saying and always tried to function from it: “Nothing easy is worth it.” If it’s easy, it’s probably not worth investing in, but if it is difficult, if you will be challenged by doing it, then it will be worthwhile in the long run. Running a small business (especially one that jump-started during quarantine) is immensely hard. Early on, I had yet to learn what I was doing. I just started! And I am so glad I didn’t wait until I had everything “figured out” to get started; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here today. It’s true; with just jumping in and figuring it out as I went, mistakes and all, I wouldn’t know the people I know now wouldn’t have the experiences I have now and definitely wouldn’t have as much confidence. Looking back, I should have set some policies in place, charged more, and had business insurance, but these were all lessons I learned along the way, and I’m still learning every day!
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
What a loaded question! Wild Fur, LLC is a pet service business. I offer dog walking, drop-in visits, and pet sitting in our Wild Suites! The Wild Suites are basically like tiny homes for dogs! I wanted to offer a boarding solution for pup parents and their fur babies who cannot tolerate traditional kennel-style boarding. I thought, “why should my dogs have to stay in a tiny run with limited outdoor access and human interaction when I would never do that to them at home? And why are all the “luxury” boarding facilities charging through the roof for the basic love and care my dog should receive and does at home?” Traditional boarding can be traumatizing and confusing for dogs. They often go from a cozy, comfortable home to a loud, hard environment with far less engagement so that we can enjoy a vacation. Still, we never really enjoy it because we’re worried about our fur babies the whole time. So, Wild Fur was born to break the mold of what people think when they see “dog boarding” and to provide pup parents with peace of mind while they are away, which to me is invaluable. If we need to set ourselves apart more, we send daily updates with more pictures than can be counted for no additional cost. Because that’s what dog boarding should be. I am so proud of what we have created here and can’t wait to see all that God has in store as we continue to follow His lead in our business!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
If you’re talking about books for life in general, the only one that matters is the Bible! I wouldn’t be who I am without that one. If you’re talking about resources that have helped me in this business besides that, I would say becoming Fear Free Certified completely changed the way I see things! It helped me understand how dogs communicate with us and allowed me to respond in a way that would help alleviate signs of fear, anxiety, or stress.
Pricing:
- Pet Sitting: Starting at $40/night
- Dog Walks & Visits: Starting at $15/visit
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildfursc.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/wildfursc
- Facebook:www.facebook.com/wildfursc
Image Credits
Professional Photos by Ebonn Yvonne Photography.
