In honor of Tuesday’s National Take A Hike Day, we’re celebrating Michael Mullane, owner of Fido's Friends in Clinton, CT!
While he loves his job today, not that long ago Michael was a recent college grad sitting behind a desk as an actuarial analyst, realizing that that line of work wasn’t for him.
“I’d saved up some money and decided one day to just ‘retire early,’ even though I was only a few years into my career and didn’t have a plan.”
The next thing he knew, Michael was wrapping up a year’s worth of travel, sleeping on his friend’s couch in Salt Lake City, when he took a job that would change his life.
“I was looking for spare work to make a few bucks when I got hired by a woman who took groups of 5-10 dogs hiking in the mountains every day.”
While the money wasn’t great, it was enough to get by, and the lifestyle clicked with Michael. So when he moved back to CT and had to decide what his next career step would be, he chose to start his own dog hiking business instead of returning to banking or insurance. “I didn’t know if it was a viable option, but I figured I’d put up some flyers and see what happens.”
Years later, Michael has built a solid business with three handlers on staff and was even able to buy his first home, all through group hikes, visits, & boarding.
“As long as a dog is capable, they can really benefit from hiking. It’s great for young dogs because it helps them learn how to interact with the pack. It’s great for older dogs because they can teach them how to behave. Dogs that are fit burn that excess energy. Dogs that are unfit improve their health. Timid dogs learn to socialize. Overzealous dogs get put in their place gently. It’s a win for everyone.”
PetPocketbook is also a win for Michael.
“It has taken a lot of work off of my desk. I don’t have to invoice my clients anymore. And It’s a lot easier to edit the PetPocketbook calendar than dozens of Google Calendars for each client and handler. PetPocketbook gives me a lot of peace of mind to not have to micromanage the business quite as much.”
So, no matter what shape or size you are, leave your desk for a bit, get outside and join us in celebrating National Take a Hike Day!