Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Scott.
Hi Mary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Mary Scott — Founder of PamperPet–Pet Concierge
Mary Scott took an unexpected path to becoming one of Santa Barbara’s trusted names in personalized pet care. After years working as a paralegal, Mary realized that a career behind a desk wasn’t aligned with her true values—or her lifelong love of animals. In 2009, she made a bold career change, beginning work as a veterinary receptionist while simultaneously building a pet-sitting clientele and volunteering with the ASAP Cat Shelter.
What began as a passion project grew into a thriving small business. After several years of developing her clientele, Mary formally launched her pet-care business in 2016 and rebranded as PamperPet–Pet Concierge in 2018. Today, she provides highly personalized pet sitting, dog walking, overnight care, pet transportation, and concierge services to an exclusive clientele throughout Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and surrounding communities.
With more than 16 years of professional animal-care experience, Mary brings a rare combination of compassion, professionalism, and hands-on knowledge to her work. She is a Fear Free Certified and a Certified Professional Pet Sitter. Mary was named Pet Adoption Advocate of the Year by Pet Sitters International in 2019.
For Mary, PamperPet is about much more than caring for animals while their owners are away. It is about earning the trust of both pets and people and giving clients the peace of mind that their beloved companions—and their homes—are in exceptionally caring hands.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Leaving a “Safe” Career to Start Over
One of my biggest challenges was giving myself permission to leave a career I had built as a paralegal and start over in an entirely different field. I had always loved animals, but pursuing that passion as a career meant stepping away from the security and familiarity of the legal profession and taking a leap of faith.
Building a Business from Scratch
PamperPet began with me simply providing excellent care to a few clients and gradually building a reputation through word of mouth. I had to learn how to build a business from the ground up, including developing my clientele, establishing pricing, creating systems, managing my time, and figuring out the many aspects of being a small-business owner. There was no roadmap—I had to learn as I went.
Learning to Value My Own Expertise
Early on, it was difficult to recognize that my time, experience, judgment, reliability, and knowledge were all part of the service I was providing. I learned that professional pet care is much more than simply walking a dog or feeding a cat. It requires expertise, responsibility, flexibility, and the ability to handle whatever unexpected situation may arise. Learning to value that expertise—and charge accordingly—was an important part of growing as a business owner.
Earning Trust in a Very Personal Business
Pet care is an unusually personal business. Clients aren’t simply hiring someone to walk their dog; they are entrusting me with their beloved family members and usually giving me access to their homes. Building that level of trust takes time and consistency. I learned that my reputation is my greatest business asset, and it is built one client relationship and one animal at a time.
Learning to Set Boundaries
As PamperPet grew, I learned that being successful doesn’t mean saying yes to everyone. I had to learn to protect my time, establish healthy boundaries, and be intentional about the type of clients and services that were the right fit for my business. That was not always easy, but it ultimately allowed me to provide a higher level of service to the clients I chose to work with.
Growing While Continuing to Give Back
Building a successful pet-care business never diminished my desire to help animals who needed a second chance. My work with the ASAP Cat Shelter and directing its Working Cats Program has allowed me to continue helping animals who might otherwise have very limited options. For me, that has been an important part of the journey: creating a successful business while continuing to make a difference in the lives of animals who need us most.
Taking a Chance on Myself
Starting over was both exhilarating and intimidating. There were plenty of moments when I wondered whether I had made the right decision. But little by little, I built something that was uniquely mine. My journey has taught me that taking a risk on yourself can be challenging, but it can also lead to a life and career you never imagined.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a professional pet sitter, dog walker, and pet concierge serving clients throughout Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, and surrounding areas. I specialize in creating customized pet care plans and schedules based on each client’s individual needs, routines, and preferences. In addition to pet sitting and dog walking, I provide pet transportation and concierge services, helping clients with everything from finding the right veterinarian or groomer to coordinating other pet-related needs.
I’m known for providing highly personalized, dependable care and for getting to know each pet as an individual. I believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach to pet care, and I take the time to understand what makes each animal—and each client—comfortable and happy.
What I’m most proud of, however, is the business I’ve built while staying true to myself. I’m proud of the wise business and personal decisions I’ve made along the way that have allowed me to keep PamperPet genuinely mine. I’ve learned when to take a risk, when to say no, when to change direction, and when to trust my instincts.
I’m even proud of some of the decisions I once considered mistakes. Those experiences taught me an enormous amount about myself, my priorities, and my values. They helped me become not only a better business owner, but also a better person. I think that authenticity is one of the things that sets PamperPet apart: I’ve built a business around the way I believe pet care should be provided, rather than trying to fit myself into someone else’s idea of what a pet-care business should be.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can work with me through my personalized pet care, pet concierge services, and consultation. I can be reached directly at 805-316-1560 or mary@pamperpetsb.com
To learn more about PamperPet–Pet Concierge or to get in touch, please visit my website at pamperpetsb.com (https://www.pamperpetsb.com)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pamperpetsb.com
