AT-HOME COMFORT. Sarah Morse, owner and founder of Eau Claire Pet Care (pictured above) has been taking care of the Chippewa Valley's furry friends and family for going on 10 years. Little did she know, her early days as a veterinary assistant would evolve into the stay-at-home pet care services she — and her growing team — offers today. (Submitted photo)

Stay-at-home pet care services have become a growing offering in the Chippewa Valley; a means to offer peace of mind to both pets and their owners when traveling or simply getting through the in-person workweek.

Sarah Morse, owner and founder of Eau Claire Pet Care, can’t help but fall in love with every new — and returning — pet she has met through routine home visits, a passion that has only grown over 10 years of continued business in the Chippewa Valley.

“I am fortunate to now work full-time doing what I love,” Sarah shared with clients through her website. “I have built a professional team dedicated to providing the best care for your pets, ensuring your peace of mind when you leave them at home.”

Sarah’s – and Eau Claire Pet Care's – story began with her role as a veterinary assistant at the Eau Claire Animal Hospital. As Sarah grew into different roles and gained skills in animal care along the way, she made the leap to offer pet-sitting services on the side.

"Everyone wants to see their animal happy; when (pets are) at home, that is their favorite place to be." —Sarah Morse, owner, Eau Claire Pet Care

Little did she know, those first steps would evolve into the business Sarah leads today, serving dozens of clients who rely on Eau Claire Pet Care for overnight pet sitting, daily walks, at-home visits and even grooming.

“I have met dogs when they (were) puppies and now they are senior dogs,” Sarah said, reflecting on the relationship between clients over the past decade. “It’s cool to make relationships with pets that aren’t your pets.”

Eau Claire Pet Care offers its services to a wide array of animals — not just cats and dogs, Sarah noted. She shared countless humorous anecdotes from clients’ pets, from a time she cared for 300 birds in one home to ongoing visits to farms to care for goats, horses and pigs.

Mr. Pickles, pictured above. His favorite snacks, according to Sarah, are Pringles chips — but he's sure to eat just about anything. (Submitted photo)

Kim Nerison, a client of Eau Claire Pet Care's for eight years, has many different types of animals in her chosen family. Currently, Sarah helps care for Kim’s two dogs, a cat, and their pet pig, Mr. Pickles.

“I just love farm animals,” Sarah said. “My client, Mr. Pickles; he’s a potbelly pig and probably one of my favorite animals ever. It’s fun to learn more about those animals and have relationships with them.”

For Kim’s dogs, who she shared have experienced anxiety at traditional boarding care facilities, at-home care services quickly became a lifeline and source of continued tranquility for her pet’s well-being.

“We love our animals, they are very much family members to us,” Kim said. “But we also have fairly active lifestyles. Knowing we have that service to rely on — so that we can still pursue some of those hobbies that pull us away from home — has been really important for us.

“It’s comforting for us to know that we've built that relationship with somebody who is knowledgeable, experienced, reliable and can trust that our family members at home are being taken care of,” Kim said.

Like many of us who might prefer the comfort and coziness of our own at-home environments, Sarah hopes to offer the same reliable routines to the pets in our lives, as Eau Claire Pet Care evolves.

Eau Claire Pet Care’s services will continue as designed, as Sarah and her team of seven staffers and “pet sitters” deepen their relationship with longtime and new clients alike. The team actively offers complimentary “Meet and Greets” to ensure at-home services are right for potential clients' pets.

“In the many years that we have been doing this, you just seem to understand things a little bit more,” Sarah said. “Everyone wants to see their animal happy; when (pets are) at home, that is their favorite place to be.”

Visit the Eau Claire Pet Care website at eauclairepetcare.com or call (715) 828-7588 to learn more about each individualized at-home service for your pets.