IN THE FINAL WEEKS of a pet’s life, they may have special needs. Their people also may need help. Those living in Chicago, IL, can turn to the hospice services provided by Rover-Time Dog Walking & Pet Sitting.
THE IDEA
Assist with end-of-life care, provide support. Julia Rohan founded Rover-Time in 2012, and soon she met the dog who would inspire her to offer hospice services. Cujo the Pit Bull was an existing client when diagnosed with terminal cancer. His humans worked long hours.
“They were the first to ask if I could help in this way,” Rohan recalls. “They wanted to do right by their dog.”
She spent middays with Cujo, giving him meds, taking short walks and providing company.
“All of the things a pet parent would do for their dying cat or dog if they could stay home and away from their normal life.”
Rohan always handled Cujo with care.
“As they are dying, animals can get snippy. I read his body language and made sure not to overstep. We had peaceful visits that left him feeling content.”
They also gave Cujo’s family peace of mind.
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“Many people fear coming home to a dead pet. Having someone there a good chunk of the afternoon helps them walk through the door at the end of a workday.”
Hospice became a permanent addition to Rover-Time’s services after Cujo passed.
THE EXECUTION
DIY and multitask. Clients in need of hospice services meet with Rohan to go over their situation and to customize care. She handles all of these assignments herself, as opposed to tasking one of Rover-Time’s 15 employees, for multiple reasons.
Busy with operations, Rohan misses the hands-on work.
Also, she says, “It’s a wonderful gift” to be able to support pets during this stage of their lives and their people.
Rohan can multitask during the visits as well. She typically spends several hours at a client’s home, the majority of time simply sitting with the dog or cat and working on her laptop.
“It’s not as labor-intensive as it might seem,” Rohan says, pointing out that client communication makes up the bulk of the work. “During that first conversation, I create a safe place for them to share what they need, how I can provide comfort to everyone, and then I ride those ups and downs with them until they make the difficult decision to help their pet cross over.”
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Rover-Time hospice services cost $35 to $50 per hour, with a $25 new client fee if warranted.
THE RESULTS
Positive word of mouth, client retention. Rohan may see only four to five hospice clients a year, but the impact on her business is significant.
“I see the bigger picture. Walking with the customer through this process, building intimacy over time, saying goodbye. Showing that I care and that the loss impacts me creates a brand ambassador who speaks very highly of Rover-Time’s purpose and pride in what we do at all stages of a pet’s life.”
Clients often return to Rohan when they bring a new dog or cat into their home. Cujo’s owners now entrust Rover-Time with their their current pups, Lulu and Tator Tot.