Noozhawk’s inaugural Four-Legged Friends and More Guide is officially here! We have sniffed out local businesses that best cater to the needs, health, comfort, training, exercise, and general welfare of our furry companions!
To provide a closer look at the pet establishments in Santa Barbara County, Noozhawk has conducted a series of interviews with representatives of local businesses for this year’s Four-Legged Friends and More Guide that will be sure to have your tail wagging.
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Athena Veatch and Chase Grier, Co-Owners of SB Animal Things, to learn more about the pet services they offer spanning from walks, pet/house sitting, grooming, and much more!
SB Animal Things
Question: What is the name of your business or practice?
Answer: SB Animal Things! As a Santa Barbara local, it was only natural to pick such a fitting name.
Q: What types of animals does your business cater to?
A: We cater to animals of all kinds! Whether it woofs, meows, squeaks, neighs, oinks, tweets, or slithers; we’ve got you covered.
Q: Can you describe the services or products your business offers?
A: We do everything from quick walks and drop-in visits to overnight and 24 hour pet sitting!
For those who are looking to get their dog(s) exercised, we offer everything from short walks around your neighborhood, to 2 hour adventures at the park or beach, or even pack walks with other clients’ dogs.
If you’re headed out on a trip and need your pet and home looked after, all of our pet sitting services whether it’s a quick drop-in visit or 24 hour care include complimentary mail and plant services so that your home is cared for too.
We can even offer private taxi services if ever you need your furry friend taken to or dropped off from the groomers, vet, or anywhere else. If you need your pet transported even further we can help keep your pet comfortable and taken care of on your cross country move or even transport them for you internationally!
These are only a handful of the services we offer, so be sure to check out our website so that you can see everything we can do for you and your pets!
Q: How long have you been in this industry?
A: SB Animal Things is a newly established business but our dedicated team is made up of pet care professionals with years of experience.
Q: What makes your business or practice unique?
A: My background in canine behavior and rehabilitation allows me to take on many clients that others would not feel comfortable working with.
Anxiety, reactivity, resource guarding, and even aggression are all things I’m very accustomed to and have years of experience navigating and managing. My safe, force-free approach will keep me, your dog, and everyone else safe no matter what behaviors they may exhibit, so you won’t have anything to worry about while you’re away.
Furthermore, I make sure that everyone under my employee has the same skills in ready canine body language that myself and my business partner have. This allows us to foresee and interrupts incidents before they happen!
The SBAT team is also fully capable of maintaining any training your pet is already familiar with. Whether you are working on classical conditioning, behavioral modification, or rehabilitation we can uphold whatever routine you and your pet(s) have been working on. This includes staying consistent in using any training tools your pet is used to while out on adventures!
Q: What training, education and experience do you and your staff have? Do you hold any professional certifications?
A: I, Athena, first started my career working with animals on a large-scale ranch caring for goats, cattle, horses, and llamas.
I helped feed and milk upwards of 200+ goats a day and was hands-on helping expecting goats during the kidding season. I would also occasionally take the night watch on the ranch, making sure to keep the animals safe from coyotes, mountain lions, and other predators.
In more recent years I have dedicated my time to volunteering with businesses around Santa Barbara that cater to animals and learning different training methods, techniques, and tools so that I can properly assess and handle all kinds of situations.
Our team leader, Chase, has well over a decade of experience with horses. Everything from trail riding horses to Hunters and Jumpers competitors. Chase also spent years working with cats with varying types of medical conditions including those that need daily pills and shots. From there he began working and training his dogs whom he rescued. These dogs came with their own challenges, and after successfully rehabilitating them from their various behaviors, he now has the experience and confidence to comfortably work with other dogs that may be experiencing the same issues of reactivity and selectivity.
All of the team members we hire share the same passion for working with animals that Chase and I have and many of us have volunteered at various local animal care centers around town, such as the local humane society, wildlife rescue, and even a bird sanctuary! Finally, everyone here at SB Animal Things goes through a Pet First Aid/CPR certification program through American Red Cross!
Q: How do you manage behavioral problems?
A: With the utmost precision and care!
We approach every situation with patience, positivity, and safety in mind. Utilizing management and redirection techniques, we strive to avoid behavioral incidents entirely whenever we may encounter an animal’s triggers. When they do happen, staying calm is key! Rather than overreacting or becoming panicked, we’ll instead quickly assess the situation to determine the best course of action to ensure everyone’s safety and remove any triggers that are causing your pet’s panic. After safely handling the incident, we’ll allow your pet a safe place to decompress and update you immediately!
Overall, I can assure you that myself and my team are equipped and capable of handling any of your dog’s behaviors in stride! With our over 20 years of combined experience in training methods, tools, and techniques, I am confident we can handle any situation thrown at us. Rest assured, in the 5+ years that Chase and I have been pet professionals we have not had any incidents, and work hard to keep our track record clean!
Q: Do you work with all breeds/ age groups?
A: Yes! We service all kind of animals no matter their breed, size, age, or training.
Q. What kinds of challenges have you faced within the pet care industry? How did you or your team manage them?
A. My personal preference when training my own dogs is positive reinforcement, but my hands-on experience in dog training covers all four quadrants, so no matter what you’re used to I’m sure me and my team will be more than capable!
I will say, however, that I will not introduce or use any aversive tools or methods with a dog unless my client already uses them, in which case I will happily continue the training your dog is already familiar with (provided the training is being done properly and productively).
A huge challenge that myself and my team face on an almost daily basis is the increasing number of people who allow their dogs off-leash in areas where they shouldn’t be.
Working with dogs that may be reactive/selective means that off-leash dogs are a major problem. We always set our clients up for success, so when out with a dog that may not be friendly we stick to on-leash areas to mitigate risk. Despite this, we often run into dogs that have been let off-leash in these places. So, I now have the whole team carry Pet Corrector, which is a completely harmless can of compressed air that is often enough to scare out-of-control dogs away from our clients while we walk them. Ensuring that everyone maintains safety while out with us. We believe in advocation for our client’s animals, and will always maintain a vigilant eye while out to avoid any off-leash dogs altogether.
Q: What advice would you give to a new pet owner?
A: Never miss the oppurtunity to slow down and enjoy a moment with your pet.
Q: Are you currently accepting new clients?
A: Yes, we are! We currently have plenty of availability for new dog walking clients and are booking 1-2 weeks in advance for overnight and 24 hour pet sitting. So be sure to reach out today about your pet’s needs!
Q: Do you rehome animals no longer able to live with their owners?
A: We have helped rehome animals in the past when clients are unable to keep them, as we are deeply connected to the animal community here in Santa Barbara! We cannot guarantee that we will find a home for your pet, but will help as much as we can.
Q: How do you help make your client feel at ease leaving their pet in your care?
A: By offering them a free, in-depth meet and greet so that my team and I can become aquanted with our clients, their pets, and their pets routine. We also send daily pictures and updates via email or text so that you can see your pet even while away.
Q: How do you keep the public informed about your business or service(s)?
A: We keep our website up to date with any new services or policy updates! We also try to regularly upload pictures and videos of our clients, as well as announce any ongoing promotions on our Instagram, Facebook, and via email.
Q: What is the typical cost of your service(s) or product(s)? Do you offer any payment plans or discounts?
A: Our prices range from $20 for a quick drop-in visit, all the way up to $150 for full 24/7 care. We run regular promotions throughout the year that we will announce on our Instagram and Facebook
Click here to learn more about SB Animal Things!