MORRISTOWN, NJ — A new business offers customizable pet-sitting services for busy Morristown-area owners, with a team of animal lovers ready to walk, feed , visit, groom, or play with your four-legged best friend.
Woofie’s of Morristown began accepting clients in October for dog walking, pet sitting, and grooming needs in the Morris County area, by phone and online.
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“We feel like we’re a one-stop shop for pet needs,” says owner-operator Jill D’Esposito, adding that pet sitting services are customizable , based on what each client and each pet needs.
And, the Woofie team is in Morristown after St. Patrick’s Day Parade, for current and potential clients to meet animal lovers who will care for their beloved pets. A mobile grooming spa will also be set up for dogs to be pampered, and they’ll be offering free mini brush-outs – to the dogs, of course! (See more on that event at the bottom of this article.)
This will be the first New Jersey location for Woofie’s, which has been around since 2004 as a company. Woofie’s of Morristown serves towns including Florham Park, Madison, Mendham, Morris Plains, Parsippany, and Randolph.
The local franchise is owned and operated by D’Esposito, a Hackettstown resident who brings to the organization experience from a decade in the manufacturing sector.
She and her husband, Guy, have been married for 27 years, and are longtime cat owners who are interested in starting a business.
“We love animals,” she said. “We thought (Woofie’s) was a perfect fit.”
Because of her busy schedule, D’Esposito and her husband have held off on getting a dog in the past, she said, because she felt she couldn’t give the dog enough love and attention.
“We didn’t have dogs because we both worked full time, and we couldn’t find a service like Woofie’s,” she said. “That’s why we had cats because they were freer.”
Through Woofie’s, owners can request a groomer come to the mobile pet spa and give their dog a springtime trim, go for an afternoon walk, or book a sitter to look after their dogs and cat (or hamster, or snake) long weekend.
“If you want us to come with you while you’re on vacation four times a day, we’ll go four times a day,” he said, as an example. “If you want us to sleep at your house, we will come and sleep.”
Woofie’s also offers a “Bed and Biscuit” service, where pets come to a sitter’s home or visit the D’Esposito residence for a night.
A mobile app keeps pet parents connected with Woofie employees, who will update a digital journal as they spend time with the animals. She says the process provides peace of mind for owners, so they don’t have to wonder if a caregiver remembers specific feeding instructions for a pet.
“People love it, and pet owners can communicate with us through it, too,” he said.
All employees are required to complete training online, and D’Esposito said he accompanies them on their first visits for hands-on training, too. The Woofie team is currently hiring additional sitters and dog-walkers for its clients in Morris County, and has a full-time groomer on staff.
D’Esposito said she is looking for patient, responsible people who love pets to join her staff, especially if they have experience working with animals or are trained in pet CPR. Woofie’s app model also lets employees have a more flexible schedule – and have colleagues nearby to help them if they need to cancel in an emergency.
“We have a whole team of sitters,” D’Esposito said. “ And if something happens, where a pet sitter can’t go to work, there’s always a backup. We won’t leave a dog alone.”
Woofie’s also provides pet-free house sitting services, if vacationers need mail delivered.
Area residents who want to learn more, and meet the Woofie team, can stop by their grand opening event on Saturday, March 9 after they march down Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade. There will be a “pawty” pop-up tent around 1:30 pm at Headquarters Plaza Pioneer Park (3 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ).
“It’s really for our customers to get to know all the pet sitters, because the pet sitters are home when the customers aren’t,” she said, adding that some current customers live within walking distance of the parade.
Woofie’s is offering a free mini brush-out for dogs and coupons for pet services that day and giving away a prize for the best dressed dog for St. Patrick’s Day as well as some other giveaways. People can also check out the mobile pet spa, which can come by appointment to a client’s home and will also be attending various events this year. Clients can book grooming services for cats, too.
D’Esposito says this is a good time to book sitters for spring and summer vacations, or schedule dogs whose coats need more care for a trim. . They offer services 365 days a year.
“In the spring, too, we worry about allergies,” he added. “A lot of dogs get allergies, so it’s good for them to get a bath, because the pollen can stick to their fur.”
Click here to see what Woofie’s of Morristown has to offer, or give them a call at 908-441-6000.
