When she first heard that people got paid to walk other people's dogs, Amy Sieger thought it was crazy. At that time, six years ago, she was involved a successful restaurant management career. But the notion got ahold of her, and after a time the idea of walking dogs for a living gained appeal, enough so that Sieger switched careers.
"It will be six years (in business) this February," she said. Sieger warmed up to the pet service concept after meeting someone that sat for her parents' pets. "I'd never heard of such a thing. I thought I really should do that. It took a couple of years for me to get the courage and quit my job."
Nowadays, Sieger walks pets professionally all over Capitol Hill, and in other neighborhoods as well. She can take eight appointments daily, but right now she walks dogs for five clients. If she's only pet sitting, she can handle more clients each day.
"I do cat sitting as well," she said. "I stick to what I know. I do like other animals, but I don't know much about them."
It seems people also need to have their dogs walked and their pets cared for more and more. With people working more, or being away from home on business or travel, pet services have become more common in the last 10 years. It's not something some people want to leave up to the neighbors anymore.
"People are having fewer children and having more pets, so we're focusing on spending more time with our pets," Sieger said. And social mores regarding pets, especially in the city, have changed. "When I was a kid, we'd leave the dog outside all day. There is a demand for it now, and people work more hours and they have dogs as part of the family."
As part of her daily dog walking services, Sieger will enter a client's home, greet their dogs and take them on their walks. All dogs are different, but she shoots for 30 to 45 minutes for each dog walk. On hot days, she'll take shorter walks.
"Some of them want to play. Some of them want to stop and sniff," she said. "Dogs are an easy opener (with people). When I am walking alone, no one talks to me. People always want to say hello to the dogs."
When the walk is done, she brings home her clients' dogs and gives them water, and sometimes treats, before moving on to the next home.
Even though she earns less money in her new career, Sieger is much happier with her life and her work.
"I was a restaurant manager for six years. This is so much better. I feel more balanced and in tune with myself. There is much less stress. I loved and hated my previous job," she said.
Such peace of mind is worth any additional financial stress.
"I make a small living, but I get by," she said. "There are dog walkers that get paid more, but I prefer the individual homes. I could be making more, but it's a choice at the level I am at. I was making more as a restaurant manager...but this pays off a lot better emotionally, physically and mentally."
She plans on sticking with her career for the indefinite future, though there's a chance it could evolve in a different direction.
"I could stay with this a long time," she said. "I would like to start a kennel. That is a future goal of mine. It is my dream of opening up a dog-day care and kennel. But whatever I do, I will always have to be with animals somehow."
As for where on Capitol Hill Sieger most likes to walk her canine clients, she said her favorite spot is Volunteer Park. She likes the park's size and the grass more than the relatively new gravel dog run near the freeway at Boren Avenue and East Pine Street.
"There used to be a dog run in [Volunteer] park five years ago. There should be one there," she said.
Sieger now walks dogs and sits with animals from Monday through Friday for a variety of clients through her business Amy's Paw Pals. Sieger and her husband also have a dog and two cats of their own.
When asked if her husband was more work than her pets, she laughed and deferred to her animal clients.
Amy Sieger may be contacted at Amy's Paw Pals by e-mail at amyspawpals@ msn.com, or by phone at 206-324-3404.
Additionally, there are other pet providers on Capitol Hill and in the Greater Seattle area. A good online resource is www.findadogwalker.com.
Freelance writer Bill Freeberg lives on the Hill and can be reached at editor@capitolhilltimes.com.
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