Truly successful people tell us that the way to be successful is to follow your passions. It makes sense, you will always go that extra mile for something you are passionate about. I had aviation in my veins and I just had to lean in to that passion to find my stride. My training actually presented the unmet need that I was passionate about satisfying.
In my very first training, I learned about an accident where the humans survived but the dog on board did not. He flew through the cabin on a rough landing and could not survive injuries sustained when hitting the bulkhead. Now, I’m a huge animal lover and advocate, and this stopped me dead in my tracks. I had many years of safety training, but flying with animals in the cabin was new to me and I could not handle the fact that there were no real safety provisions for them when I asked for specifics. I leaned in a little further…
I developed the first standardized Pet Safety Protocols for pets flying on private jets or in the cabin that covered everything from turbulence to bracing positions and evacuation. I also became proficient in pet first aid and CPR. I knew the clients I had who traveled with their pets thought of them as family members, and they deserved the same safety considerations as their humans; right down to pet oxygen masks, life vests and secure seat harnesses. I wasn’t sure if others would care as much as I did about this, but I knew I would feel better if anything happened, knowing that I could help all of my passengers.
Ruffwear Float Coat PFD and Load-Up travel harness
Next I developed a brand that told my story and how I could satisfy a client’s unmet needs based on those safety protocols. I studied SEO and social media integration and worked to get the word out about what I was doing that was different. The best part was that I enjoyed every minute of it because I loved what I was doing! The efforts began to pay off, but I must admit I had some great clients to help me sell the idea. Sit-n-Stay Global took off.
Yes! People wanted someone to treat their pet family members with the same respect and safety consciousness that they received. After the safety briefing on each flight when I essentially trained the pet parent on correct bracing positions and evacuation procedures for their pet, the real fun began. Every flight started with an amenities basket full of treats and toys that could put any pet in a good mood. Spring water was placed out in a crystal bowl on a placemat and the service would begin. Each pet had a detailed profile describing nutritional preferences and I would prepare meals for the pets that would rival the creations presented to their humans.
The service finally made it to “The Lifestyle of the Rich and Furry” and the word was out. It turned out that in addition to caring about the safety of their pets, human clients enjoyed some time to relax stress-free while I kept an eye on their darling.
Animals get bored on a long flight just like humans, so I would load Meerkat episodes on my iPad and watch Meerkats playing with my pet clients. We would look out the window together and I’d point out all of the great spots for dogs on the way. You really can’t beat that for working.
The service evolved as each client would present requests. Soon I was staying on with clients at destinations worldwide to serve as their pet nanny. Not all activities are pet friendly, so when my client would head off for a day of scuba diving or had to put in long hours on a movie set, they could still come back at the end of the day to their favorite family member. It really opened up opportunities for those traveling alone who couldn’t bring their pets along ordinarily because no pet wants to be left alone in a hotel or villa all day. I would research each destination and then take my pet client out for a day of adventure hiking or to the beach. We would send selfies and updates to the human client and everyone could relax knowing the fur babies were in good hands. At the end of the day, I would deliver a happy and tired pet back to their human, and usually set up an inviting happy hour to welcome them home. I would always return to my room smiling, knowing I had the best job on earth.
Boris and Natasha do Venice
Over time I flew with some amazing people and their animals. Let’s face it, if you are chartering a private jet so your pet can go along safely, it’s not likely you have a big attitude to work around. That flying was enormous fun and a spectacular way to break into flying private. I admit my very best clients have been dogs, cats, ferrets, bunnies and even a goat I had charge of in the Middle East. We wagged our tails into Forbes, Business Week and numerous media outlets and won a lot of hearts in the process.
Guests liked my service and it wasn’t long before I was called more often for “human only” flights. I had taken off, climbed out and was ready to level off, cruising in a new career. Of course it got more interesting…
**Professional tip:
If traveling with your pet without a nanny or private jet, you may encounter plane changes in airports without enough time to make it out to a relief area and back. A perfect solution is to go into the “family bathroom” in the terminal which is usually a private room. Lay down puppy training pads and if your pet needs some encouragement in the strange environment, spray them with puppy potty pheromones. You can get both of those at the pet store. Let your pet find relief and then enclose all of the used pads in a Ziploc you bring with you and dispose. Be sure to thoroughly clean the area with Clorox wipes as a courtesy for the privilege, and then head out on your way.
If you wish to learn my system for pet toileting on a private jet, just send me a note and I’ll let you know what else you will need.
Whitefish Dog and Home 