Love and Care When You Can't Be There
A home-based dog playgroup and dog boarding facility with pickup & drop off services at your home included, located on a spacious and quiet 5 acre pasture property in Underhill, VT
About Us
Andrea's Animal Care LLC is a home-based dog playgroup and dog boarding business located on a spacious and quiet 5 acre pasture property in Underhill VT. We are located directly between Burlington/Lake Champlain and Smugglers Notch serving our neighbors' pet care needs. Flexible and local once a day home bound care offered, as well, for farm and caged animals. Using our manager dog, Cody, a 70 lb labradoodle and the help of my two sons, Mark and Kevin, we have been caring for the community with pick up and delivery at home since 2011.
I am a member of Vermont Womenpreneurs, and was asked to speak about being a mother in business. I spoke alongside a dozen other local women in business on stage at the Vermont Comedy Club.
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That day in 2019, I shared the stage with my youngest son, Kevin, who was just 10 at the time. Here is a video of how my business came to be.
Mission Statement
I started this business in April 2011 with the goal to help people with all types of animals go on vacation like a farmer in Jericho had helped me with my ducks and chickens at the time.
I raised chickens for show and my family was nationally known as master breeders. I also rode horses as a child and did some endurance riding. My first job was as a dog washer for a groomer. I then went on to be a dispatcher for technical services nationally and get a business degree while also working in financial services. All these experiences have brought me full circle.
I was selling and delivering eggs to neighbors as a stay at home mom, was volunteering to help NOFA with its workshops bringing farmers and the community together to learn about agricultural practices, and running after school programs at the Underhill ID school bringing the farming community into the schools.
Through volunteer work my name then became synonymous on the community forums with farming and as a helper. Animal care services are largely about being able to intuitively connect with the animal and being willing to help the human however needed.
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My family was known nationally for pure bred fancy chickens and I grew up with my own bloodline and surrounded by old time fanciers from across the country.
In Vermont most homes have at least one animal and mostly dogs. Each year the business grew in a house sitting model. Gradually I brought them all home with me to love and care for my sons at the same time, as a single mother.
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I hope our business has been and continues to be of value to you all for years to come! My sons were just 2 and 5 when I started this business. The community has helped me raise them and the animals have taught them so much.
Today My Mission is 3 Simple S's
Safety
Your animal's well-being is of utmost importance to me. I ensure that they have a fun, happy, stress-free experience on my property. In order to make sure this happens, I am committed to taking in only a balanced animal and human clientele, so the energy remains as consistent as possible. In this way, your pets get the one-on-one attention and care they deserve.
Security (Emotional)
Both for the animals in my care and the people that trust me. The animals have a sense of calm when anxious and the people know they can relax knowing I will not only be there but I will also communicate, care and be consistent.
Socialization
For dogs coming to playgroups and boarding, they are introduced to many many scenarios with other dogs in a place where I am leading them into making friends.