- 17 January, 2006 -

In today's highly competitive - and saturated - business culture, finding a distinct void in any marketplace is a tall order. But, that's exactly what Paul Mann did, and his brainchild, FETCH! Pet Care, Inc., is clearly barking up the right tree having readily established itself as the nation's "top dog" - the largest pet sitting and dog walking franchise in the United States. Snapshot of a Pet Sitting Industry Revolution It turns out that dog's truly are "Mann's" best friend. Indeed, the nationally franchised FETCH! Pet Care was born out of Paul Mann's personal difficulty in trying to find reputable sitters for his own pets. He did not want to kennel board or facility daycare his animals due to the many health and psychological risks associated with these methods, and wanted assurance that his pets would receive humane care they needed, and the affection they craved, while he was away. Through his efforts to find a pet sitting service that met his needs, Mann quickly learned this industry was largely made up of small 1-2 person operations that cover a limited geographic area, book up quickly, and were often unavailable when he needed them most. Mann recognized this glaring discrepancy between the demand for reliable pet care and both the lack of quality and quantity of the supply of professional service providers. He channeled this frustration into a business plan and, in 2002, founded FETCH! Pet Care out of Berkeley, CA with the sole mission of providing as-needed professional, reliable, and loving care to pets of all kinds nationwide. "With over sixty percent of U.S. households owning one or more pets, the demand for professional pet sitting and dog walking services is at an all-time high especially one like ours that allows pets to maintain their daily routine in a natural environment," notes Mann. "Because many pet owners are frustrated by the lack of professional and reliable caregivers, or reluctant to kennel board or daycare their pets in group facilities due to health and other valid concerns, our safe, convenient, and nurturing at-home pet care services are meeting, and in some cases exceeding, a distinct consumer need for which demand is burgeoning." Mann continues, "Selecting just the right sitter to care for a pet and a home is not a decision to be taken lightly. My company doesn't just offer pet sitting services; it offers peace of mind." "Reigning" Cats and Dogs Within two years of operation, FETCH! Pet Care expanded to cover the entire San Francisco Bay Area and grew to become Northern California's leading pet sitting and dog walking service with over 900 clients and over 80 on-staff sitters. Motivated by the overwhelmingly positive response, in January 2004, FETCH! Pet Care opened its first franchise in San Diego, California. Today, the company is the undisputed leader of the pet care pack, with over 30 franchise locations throughout California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, and North Dakota servicing over 400 cities and towns. Mann also already has formal commitments to open six additional locations throughout the United States in early 2006. From the outset Mann intended to set a new standard in pet care with a combination of benchmark services and benefits. His free no obligation in-home consultations with bonded, insured, screened and trained sitters and a money back satisfaction guarantee is combined with a complete array of pet care services meeting all budget levels. Services include private dog walks, group dog exercise, daily pet visits, in-home overnight sitting, private in-sitter's-home boarding and day care, pet taxiing, yard pet waste removal, and home care. From walks and adventures to visits and overnights to assuring the client's home is safe and secure, Mann is determined that his business maintain a "leg up" by covering any pet owner's distinct needs. Mann also applied his well rounded background in technology, operations, sales, and marketing to completely Internet enable, technologically enhance and otherwise streamline all aspects of the company's escalating daily operations. This included the deployment of sophisticated software programs to track assignments and deliver real-time electronic order confirmations to clients and automatic assignment reminders to sitters. In addition, he hired, screened and trained staff in key geographic regions, established phone dispatching to centrally and rapidly fulfill each client's pet care requests, and invested in major national marketing and communications initiatives to establish FETCH! Pet Care as a reputable, trusted, and well-known brand name. Got To See a "Mann" About a Dog Paul Mann's FETCH! Pet Care franchise initiative provides serious full-time business operators with a proven, turnkey, and professional pet care franchise system that requires a low capital investment. Training and other franchise materials cover virtually all aspects of the business including operations, marketing, legal, accounting and human resources. Franchisees also have access to discounted software, insurance, trademarked and branded marketing materials, and benefit from both sophisticated national advertising and public relations programs as well as online franchise discussion groups. "FETCH! Pet Care is also unique in that it offers those seeking a sound, low-risk business venture a unique opportunity to combine their love of animals with a proven, turnkey home-based franchised business for just $5,000 among the lowest capital investments in the franchise industry today," says Mann. "With the pet care business having doubled in the past decade and the demand for services outpacing supply, ours has proven to be a recession resistant business opportunity a rarity in today's tumultuous business climate." Please contact me at 858-577-0206 or merilee@kerncommunications.com to arrange a conversation with Paul Mann and/or any of his franchisees. FETCH! Pet Care clients are also available for interview.

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