Pet care in the U.S. is big business, with pet parents across the country spending over $60 billion on their furry friends in 2014 alone. We, as a nation, will do anything for our pets, leading to a growing trend for businesses that specialize in pet care and cater to the whims, and medical needs, of our four-legged friends. Pet parents need to know that their furry companions are being looked after at every turn, and that there are companies dedicated to every aspect of life. From pampering to first aid, entrepreneurs across the country have considered everything, ensuring that we all sleep a little more soundly at night.
Introducing Cheryl Brady, one such entrepreneur. An animal lover herself, Cheryl had enjoyed a long career in corporate work until she decided that she wanted to do something more meaningful. In 2010, Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance, which is currently based in her home city of Bradenton, Florida, was born. Remember that $60 billion that we mentioned earlier? A quarter of that amount, some $15 billion, was spent on medical and surgical bills, with pet parents desperate to provide the same levels of care for their furry friends as they expect for themselves. It makes sense, then, that an ambulance service for pets would prove so popular.
Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance began as a small venture, comprising a single van and a determination to provide the very best care for pets across the city. However, just two years later, Brady was in possession of a former Sarasota County ambulance that had been equipped with large dog cages, gurneys, and specialist oxygen masks. Now a team of four, Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance boasts pet first aid and CPR certification.
Operating for relatively low service charges, and accepting insurance, Brady and her team have ensured that pet parents across the city have access to a valuable service. Some 6,500 patients later, Vet Care Express Animal Ambulance is expanding into Hillsborough and Pinellas counties – a testament to the lengths that pet parents, and the emergency services, will go to in order to ensure that our pets are well cared for.
Keep up the good work, guys – your dedication is so appreciated!
Photo ©iStock.com/VickiReid
