Lifelong animal lover returns to Staten Island, opens pet sitting business

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Carolyn Jamate, 54, of St. George, is a lifelong lover of animals and the outdoors. Having grown up in Grasmere, where opossum, raccoons, snakes and other wildlife were regular inhabitants of her family’s backyard, she was always willing to nurture animals.

“I have memories of my family using a trap to help relocate the animals to High Rock [Park] when our neighborhood was being developed back in the 1980s, and they were losing their habitat,” said Jamate.

“You could say I come from a family of animal lovers,” she said, noting she majored in journalism at New York University, which allowed her to research and write about a wide variety of topics, including animals.

Upon graduating, Jamate worked in corporate marketing, which enabled her to learn about planning, strategy and project management. But she never lost sight of her love for pets.

“While working in the corporate world, I always focused on my love of animals, rescuing them directly off the street at times, volunteering at rescues and donating whenever possible,” Jamate added.

Before returning to the borough, she had a Facebook encounter that resulted in her first petsitting gig for two Rhodesian Ridgebacks in 2022 in Saranac Lake, N.Y.

“I loved it [pet sitting] so much that I wanted to figure out a way to continue,” she said.

Upon returning to Staten Island after formerly living in California and Washington for seven and a half years, Jamate wanted to escape the stress of the corporate world, and recapture all the elements she loved about the borough — including her love of animals.

“After my return, I worked a series of consultant jobs in Manhattan, but no longer found them fulfilling and was really grateful to fall into pet sitting and dog walking, which is more closely aligned to my values and what I consider important in life,” said Jamate, who had been a senior communications consultant for Wells Fargo in Manhattan.

With that in mind, she decided to launch Happy Paws, Happy Tails in February, 2024 in Staten Island.

“I have never looked back since then. I have had pretty much back-to-back pet sits since, for both dogs and cats,” said Jamate. “I witnessed first-hand the peace of mind it gives pet parents to have someone capable and loving to dote on their pets while they’re gone. I saw it was a win-win.”

SERVICES OFFERED

Happy Paws, Happy Tails offers dog walking and pet sitting, both overnight stays and drop-ins. Jamate meets with pet parents to make sure she is a “good fit” to care for their dog or cat.

She also offers pet sitting for senior dogs, who may need medication or extra care, as well as puppies, who can be a “handful.”

“I also hope to offer wedding attendant services in the future, where you are basically a pet chaperone. I think it’s an amazing idea to include your pet in your special day,” said Jamate.

She provides care in the pet’s home because this is often the most comfortable for the cat or dog, said Jamate.

CERTIFIED AS A PROFESSIONAL

“I think of myself as a favorite auntie coming over to take care of precious pets. There are many people who refer to themselves as pet sitters or dog walkers, but being a professional usually means you have insurance and certifications,” said Jamate.

She said she is certified in pet sitting, has received a pet first aid certification and has consistently received 5-star ratings from pet parent clients.

“As a pet professional, there’s so much you can focus on to continuously increase your skills, such as training, safety, equipment and so forth,” said Jamate.

Since launching the business, she has found that many pet parents book their pet sitter on the same day they purchase their flights or vacation plans.

A TRUE LOVE FOR PETS

Jamate believes she was born harboring a love of canines and cats.

“My family didn’t have a dog until I was around 11 years old. It took years of hounding them before they finally gave in to having a dog. Our first rescue dog, Juno, a Black Lab, came right off the streets and was in bad shape,” she recalled. “He needed a whole lot of veterinary treatment, but the gratitude, love and devotion we received in return was immeasurable.”

In fact, Jamate cherishes every moment she spends caring for pets “whether that’s snuggling up on the couch, going on a walk or teaching them something new,” she said.

HAPPY PAWS HAPPY TAILS AT A GLANCE

Website: happypawshappytails.com

Facebook: Happy Paws Happy Tails

Instagram: @happypawshappytails_si

New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners.

If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com.

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