Elmhurst Among Local Communities to be Served by New Pet Care Franchise

Erin McBride was once photographed as a child behind a grandfather clock, sharing beef jerky with the family cocker spaniel. Today, she tasks herself with trying to keep her energetic 2-year-old boxer, Amadeus, from jumping around after recently tearing his ACL.

“This is pretty much 24-seven,” she said of the latter responsibility as Amadeus hopped on top of a picnic table at Robbins Park in Hinsdale.

It’s clear that McBride is a dog person. So when the former Chicago Board of Education project coordinator read a 2007 article in RedEye about Fetch! Pet Care, a national network of pet-sitting franchises, her interest was piqued.

“I called my mom and I called my husband, and I said, ‘Ok this is what I want to do,’ ” McBride said.

It took a few years, but McBride followed through.

On March 20, the 30-year-old Beverly resident and Nazareth Academy graduate opened her Fetch! Pet Care franchise to serve Clarendon Hills, Darien, Elmhurst, Hinsdale, La Grange, Oak Brook, Western Springs, Westmont and Willowbrook. She is in the process of hiring her first six area sitters.

Fetch! began in California in 2002 and is now in 32 states and 1,500 towns. Its franchisees hire local contractors who provide a variety of customizable pet services, from an afternoon walk each day to boarding services during vacations.

McBride said she thinks the western suburbs are perfect for Fetch! because they’re full of very busy families, and research showed there’s a sizable pet market.

“I think a lot of the time, pets get the last of your time,” McBride said.

McBride said she’s looking for area contractors with experience in the art of pet sitting. They must pass a background check and not be in it solely for the money.

“Generally speaking, they’ll probably be [mostly] stay-at-home moms or retired people,” McBride said of her future sitters, who should be “people who are passionate about pets and who want to spend time with pets for some extra money.”

For now, Fetch! will be managed out of McBride’s home. While she will do some sitting from time to time, she hopes most of the pet care will be done by people in their local communities. Prices depend on the particular job, she said. The most basic service, a half-hour walk, costs $22.

McBride wants to work with area humane societies to get their volunteers involved with Fetch! and will be promoting her business this summer at various local events.

She has received several applications from potential sitters and will interview candidates in the near future. In the meantime, Fetch! is open for business and she’s sitting for any interested clients.

To get more information on Fetch! or to book a sitter, call (630) 303-9933 or visit hinsdale.fetchpetcare.com.