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Pet Taxis Give Rides To Vet, Groomer, Pals
By Susanne Lazanov
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, August 6, 2002
When Shelley McGee's dog used to visit the groomer, McGee's mother-in-law remained on standby. If her son or daughter-in-law ran late she retrieved Sadie. Now the freshly washed border collie no longer spends hours crated, waiting to go home. Instead, she takes a pet taxi.
Mcgee, who lives in Arlington, uses a service provided by Tammy Rosen, Sadie's pet sitter. "What with work responsibilities and traffic, getting home on time from D.C. can be a close call." McGee says. "The pet taxi offers convenienceand peace of mind."
Rosen added the taxi service to her Arlington-basedFurget-Me-Not Pet Care business after a non-driving client asked her to take her pets to the vet. Soon Rosen also was driving April Myer's pug, Frisco Frazier, to monthly grooming appointments.
"I don't have relatives in the D.C. area, and my friends' lives are as busy as mine," says Myers, of Arlington, who also owns a cat, Cal, the California Dream Boy. "The service allows people who don't drive because of a disability, or by choice, to still feel good about the manner in which they care for their furry kids."
Myers admits there's a downside. Owners have to trust the driver's assessment of how well the service provider treats their animals. Communication is very important, she says, especially after a visit to the vet.
One client of Leesburg-based Kit & Kaboodle Pet Care Service did. She asked owner Carmen Velasco to taxi Casey, a black Lab, from her new home in Ashburn to her old Leesburg neighborhood for play time with best friend Max, a yellow Lab. "People lead such busy lives and work very long hours," Velasco says. "Yet their animals are like their children."
That's true of retired folks as well. Directors of several retirement communities invited Velasco to market her service to their residents. "Older folks have both animals and challenges to mobility," she says. "Pet taxis are a niche industry that will grow as more people realize the benefits."
Such as being able to comfort an animal while going to the ber. "Lots of people are uncomfortable driving with sick or injured pets in their vehicle," says David Appell, owner of Fetcha Pet Taxi Service & K-9 Training, based in Riverdale Park. About half of his customers go along for the ride. "They feel safer having their pets in our crates, which are bolted to the floor."
Appell has transported birds, a Komodo dragon and snakes, as well as cats and dogs. "Our two dedicated vans carry just about any animal that can fit into the crates," he says. "But we've transported Great Danes by dismantling the crates and harnessing the dogs to the floor."
Fares vary. Fetcha Pet, on call 24/7, covers the District and Howard, Montgomery and Prince George counties as well as Northern Virginia for $25.95 round trip plus $1 a mile (plus an emergency surcharge of $10 to $20; discounts apply to seniors and nonprofits). Kit & Kaboodle, serving Sterling to Leesburg, gets $25 a round trip, $15 one way. Furget-Me-Not makes round trips within Arlington for $15.
McGee, who would spend at least an hour driving from the office to the groomer and then home during rush hour, considers the time she gains almost invaluable. "It's definitely worth the cost'" she says. "Besides, it gives me more time to play with Sadie."