Taxi service caters to canine riders

Sarah Bleeker gave a friend's dog a ride to doggy day care one day and got a hunch that's led to a business of her own.

The owner of Camp Fido told Bleeker there was a need for someone to shuttle pooches to and from the day care. The idea for Tail Waggin' Pet Taxi was born.

Today Bleeker not only gives dogs a ride to day care, but offers trips to the vet or other destinations like the dog park. She strives to offer one-on-one service for each of the dogs riding in her taxi to avoid the unpleasantness that might arise when dogs that are unfamiliar with one another share a ride.  

Dogs that know each other through Camp Fido ride together to and from day care, however.

The business is steadily growing. She has a core group of 10 regulars and an overall clientele of about 35 customers.

She also has expanded into dog walking ($12 for a one-hour walk) and house sitting ($12 for a one-hour visit and $23 for an overnight stay).

The 16-month-old business appears ready to move into the next phase of growth and she now is working with her niece, a business major at Western Michigan University, to get a business plan written.

Mornings and afternoons, when she is picking up and dropping off dogs, is the busiest time of day. Then comes the dog walking.

While she specializes in dogs and cats right now, she also will work with owners of birds and reptiles.

One uncertainty for the business is gas prices. Bleeker says she may have to raise her taxi service rates as gas prices continue to climb. Right now she charges $1 per mile up to 10 miles, then 50 cents per mile. That is subject to change as gas prices go up.

For Bleeker the variety of the job is what she loves. "Every day is completely different," she says.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Sarah Bleeker, Tail Waggin' Pet Taxi