Oh Behave!

My career path has led me to this enjoyable career as a premier pet care professional. I have past experience in business operations, facilities management, organizational planning, pet care, farm management, and events. My love for animals is in my DNA. I pride myself on a job well done, and I love to care for your pets so you can relax while knowing your pet is loved and cared for when you are not available. 

As my concierge business grew in 2019, I had many clients reach out for help with their pets. My love for animals and extensive background with pets and farm animals made it an obvious next step to add pet services to my business offerings. Cryan Pet Services is quickly growing and I'm loving every minute of it! 

Owning my own business gives me the opportunity to be nimble and creative, taking on new challenges every day. 

Transcript:

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Announcer: This is Pet Life Radio.

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Announcer: Let's talk pets.

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Announcer: It's Oh Behave with Arden Moore.

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Announcer: This show that teaches you how to have harmony in the household with your pets.

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Announcer: Join Arden as she travels coast to coast to help millions better understand why cats and dogs do what they do.

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Announcer: Get the latest scoop on famous faces.

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Announcer: They're perfectly pampered pets in Who's Walking Who in Renton Tinseltown.

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Announcer: From famous pet experts and bestselling authors to television and movie stars, you'll get the latest buzz from Wagging Tongues and Tails.

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Announcer: Garner great pet tips and have a doggone fur-flying fun time.

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Announcer: So get ready for the pause and applause as we unleash your Oh Behave host, America's pet edutainer, Arden Moore.

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Arden Moore: Welcome to the Oh Behave show on Pet Life Radio.

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Arden Moore: I'm your host, Arden Moore.

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Arden Moore: Now, our special guest today is not horsing around when it comes to providing quality pet care.

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Arden Moore: Her quality of care is so great that her company has been named, you ready for it?

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Arden Moore: Business of the Year by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

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Arden Moore: Please welcome to our show, Lucy Cryan.

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Arden Moore: Welcome to the show, Lucy.

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Arden Moore: That's a pretty big title, Business of the Year.

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Lucy Cryan: Yeah, pretty nice.

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Arden Moore: Well, folks, I want you to know that they call it NAPS, but N-A-P-P-S, and the people who are professional pet sitters and are members of that group, they're not taking a lot of catnaps.

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Arden Moore: They work very hard, they're licensed, they're insured, they're bonded.

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Arden Moore: They are continually taking courses to learn how to be better at business, better with pet care, and so every year they have this big contest and you have to submit this lengthy application.

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Arden Moore: Judges consider all of them and at the very end they said, you know what, Lucy Cryan, she's the one, she's the one.

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Arden Moore: So when you found out that your company, Cryan Enterprises, was named to be the top dog, if you will, of the naps, pet sitting world, did you faint, did you cry, did you have a shot of whatever?

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Arden Moore: How was your response?

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Lucy Cryan: I didn't faint, I didn't cry.

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Lucy Cryan: I told my husband and we were both driving in the car because it came on my phone while I was in the car.

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Lucy Cryan: I wasn't driving.

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Arden Moore: Oh, that's good.

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Lucy Cryan: But we both gave a high five as we were driving down the street.

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Lucy Cryan: And then I promptly told a few of my clients, some of the ones that were nice enough to recommend me for the award.

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Lucy Cryan: So yeah, it was pretty cool.

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Arden Moore: And we got a shout out to Kevin.

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Arden Moore: That's your husband, right?

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Lucy Cryan: Correct.

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Arden Moore: Because he likes to hear probably his name on the air.

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Arden Moore: You actually are on the longest running pet podcast on the planet.

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Arden Moore: While you were winning Business of the Year, we found out last week that OBehave with my producer Mark Winter has been named the best pet podcast of the year.

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Lucy Cryan: Wow.

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Lucy Cryan: Congratulations.

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Lucy Cryan: That's pretty cool.

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Arden Moore: And I didn't have a husband named Kevin while driving to find out that news.

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Arden Moore: But we're kind of in parallel universes.

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Arden Moore: So Cryan Enterprises, C-R-Y-A-N, you're in Ohio.

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Arden Moore: That doesn't have a cat or dog name in it because you do more than just pets.

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Arden Moore: Tell us a little bit about what Cryan Enterprises is all about.

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Lucy Cryan: Well, actually, I started as Concierge Services primarily.

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Lucy Cryan: I mean, that was really what I had planned to do after I retired from my previous life in higher ed and a couple of my clients asked if I would take care of their pets as part of my Concierge Services and I said yes.

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Lucy Cryan: Sure.

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Lucy Cryan: And then, of course, you know how that spreads.

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Lucy Cryan: They told friends who started contacting me and, of course, I love it because who doesn't love playing with pets and hanging out with other people's pets and it just kind of took off.

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Lucy Cryan: So, you know, it started out as a small piece, but now it's about 80% of my business.

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Arden Moore: You started your business after retiring from, is it Otterbine?

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Lucy Cryan: Otterbine.

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Arden Moore: Otterbine University in Westerville, Ohio.

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Arden Moore: What did you do there on campus?

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Lucy Cryan: I was there for so long.

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Lucy Cryan: I had multiple positions.

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Lucy Cryan: But the longest position, I worked in the equine science department for 18 years.

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Lucy Cryan: So I started as a riding instructor and coach back in 1994 and then became the director.

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Lucy Cryan: And then we moved to a new facility.

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Lucy Cryan: And then I think I had another title change.

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Lucy Cryan: I don't remember what it is exactly.

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Lucy Cryan: And then I had to take some medical time off.

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Lucy Cryan: And after that, I transferred over to on-campus fundraising.

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Lucy Cryan: And then part of that was events and then ended up as a business manager for a new facility that they use in partnership with the community actually.

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Lucy Cryan: So that's where I finished before.

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Arden Moore: You know what I like though?

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Arden Moore: We sometimes think we're going to script our lives, right, Lucy?

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Lucy Cryan: Oh, not possibly.

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Arden Moore: And then you get a curve.

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Arden Moore: You got many curves.

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Arden Moore: But you landed with your feet right in the stirrups, right?

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Lucy Cryan: I think I did pretty well, yeah, thanks.

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Arden Moore: I want you to talk a little bit about it because you've hit some pretty big challenges medically and then launching Cryan Enterprises.

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Arden Moore: You launched it in January of 2020, correct?

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Lucy Cryan: Yeah, worst time possible.

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Arden Moore: Let's talk about COVID.

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Arden Moore: So I mean, you're all ready to go.

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Arden Moore: You're launching it and then all of a sudden the world shuts down.

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Lucy Cryan: Right.

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Lucy Cryan: And you know, there was a little bit of a hint that something might happen, but I don't think anybody knew what that was going to be like.

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Lucy Cryan: So yeah, my timing wasn't so great.

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Lucy Cryan: But I actually got kind of lucky a couple months in, I got a gig as part of my concierge or personal assistant and I was a personal assistant to a contractor.

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Lucy Cryan: So that held me for a few because she kept me pretty busy.

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Lucy Cryan: And then, you know, at some point she just she really needed help with a really large project.

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Lucy Cryan: And then, you know, that was wrapping up and I had other pieces were starting to pick up.

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Lucy Cryan: So I got I got pretty lucky, but I also when I retired, you know, I planned for worst case scenario because that's good.

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Arden Moore: That's a good tip.

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Lucy Cryan: Right.

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Lucy Cryan: You can't leave a good job for a new business just not knowing.

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Lucy Cryan: So I knew if I didn't make it in the first year, I could get back in the regular workforce or, you know, we could even be fine.

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Lucy Cryan: My husband has not retired yet.

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Lucy Cryan: So I had that padding as well.

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Lucy Cryan: So it was OK, but it was not what I planned.

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Lucy Cryan: It wasn't ideal to try to launch a business during COVID.

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Lucy Cryan: And obviously the pet, I had even started the pet part, but nobody was going anywhere.

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Lucy Cryan: Nobody needed any pets during COVID.

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Lucy Cryan: They're all home.

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Arden Moore: And then prior to that, people need to know the name Lucy Cryan because you were a pretty amazing equestrian.

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Arden Moore: Tell us, it's okay to say something cool about what you've done because you've done really major competitions on horses.

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Arden Moore: So what would be like a pinnacle?

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Lucy Cryan: Well, a pinnacle.

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Lucy Cryan: I've ridden most of my life until a few years back.

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Lucy Cryan: And I've ridden all different styles of riding and competing throughout the years, starting when I was a young child, but really got involved in dressage probably in the late 80s.

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Lucy Cryan: I had a wonderful coach in Michigan, I lived in Michigan at the time, and she really got me hooked.

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Lucy Cryan: And so I really started doing the dressage thing.

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Lucy Cryan: I had off the track thoroughbred, a former racehorse, I didn't have a fancy horse.

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Lucy Cryan: She didn't cost a lot of money.

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Lucy Cryan: In fact, she cost less than $1,000.

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Arden Moore: What was her name?

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Lucy Cryan: Her name was Skye, Skye's Weekend, but people used to laugh because my name's Lucy and her name's Skye.

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Lucy Cryan: And we all know the famous song that Lucy and her, yeah, so that was kind of cute.

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Lucy Cryan: But anyway, I competed with her for many years.

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Lucy Cryan: And when she was ready for a break is when I started my own human family.

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Lucy Cryan: So I then after I had kids, I got right back into it with another horse after I retired her.

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Lucy Cryan: And through United States Dressage Federation, I have a bronze and a silver medal, which basically you have to, yeah, it's pretty cool.

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Lucy Cryan: You have to score certain levels and you turn in your scores from judges in order to get the medals.

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Arden Moore: That's nice.

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Arden Moore: What horse was that?

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Lucy Cryan: So Sky achieved most of the scores with Sky and then I bought another horse.

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Lucy Cryan: His name was Poet and I finished my scores with Poet.

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Lucy Cryan: So, but again, that's, you know, that's been a long time ago.

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Lucy Cryan: And then after I never got my gold, gold is from pre-level.

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Lucy Cryan: Poet was not suitable and I already had a family at that point.

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Lucy Cryan: And I continued to train and ride and had some younger prospects, younger horses.

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Lucy Cryan: And then of course, I was coaching teams and working with my students.

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Arden Moore: So for the average person like me that knows more about cats and dogs and horses, what is dressage for us mere mortals that don't ride on the saddle?

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Lucy Cryan: The classic, most people have heard of the Lipizan Stallions.

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Lucy Cryan: So that's dressage.

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Lucy Cryan: Now, that is a different level than what most of us do in competition.

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Lucy Cryan: That's more of, they do more performance art.

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Lucy Cryan: So they're doing, yeah, they're doing things that are a little beyond.

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Lucy Cryan: Other people describe it as ballet, horse ballet.

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Lucy Cryan: You know, basically, it's very time consuming because you train and you have to basically be in control of every step of your horse.

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Lucy Cryan: You know, everything, every step they make, you're trying to improve or to do the next thing.

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Lucy Cryan: And you're judged on every movement or every change of every transition.

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Lucy Cryan: It's pretty intense.

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Lucy Cryan: It's kind of a, I don't know, it takes a perfectionist, I think.

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Arden Moore: Well, there's your personality.

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Lucy Cryan: Yeah, right.

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Lucy Cryan: So, you know, I also did some jumping, I did some eventing.

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Lucy Cryan: And those things are fun and you have to be pretty perfect for that too.

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Lucy Cryan: But it's a little different, you know, there's a different type of concentration.

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Lucy Cryan: But I loved it.

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Arden Moore: Well, I just put this together.

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Arden Moore: I think you reached for the sky and you were poetry in motion with those two horses.

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Lucy Cryan: Oh, look at that.

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Arden Moore: You got them both.

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Arden Moore: And everyone, we're speaking with the Business of the Year for the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

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Arden Moore: We're talking to Lucy Cryan.

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Arden Moore: We're going to take a brief break and we're going to talk about her role now as a top dog in the pet professional pet sitting world.

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Arden Moore: But you all know the drill.

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Arden Moore: We've got to sit, stay, we'll be right back.

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Announcer: Time for a pause.

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Announcer: For furry ones actually, sit and stay.

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Announcer: Oh behave, we'll be right back.

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Announcer: Take a bite out of your competition.

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Announcer: Let's Talk Pets.

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Tamar Geller: Hi, I'm Tamar Geller, life coach for Dog and the People, and I invite you to listen to Arden Moore on her behave show on Pet Life Radio.

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Arden Moore: I'm delighted.

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Arden Moore: If I had a tail, I'd be wagging it right now, but you know.

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Tamar Geller: I'm wagging mine.

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Announcer: All behave is back with more tail wagging ways to achieve harmony of a household with your pets.

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Announcer: Now, back to your fetching host, America's Pet Edutainer, Arden Moore.

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Arden Moore: Welcome back to the OBehave Show on Pet Life Radio.

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Arden Moore: I'm your host, Arden Moore.

00:12:33.180 --> 00:12:34.880
Arden Moore: I'm talking with Lucy Cryan.

00:12:34.900 --> 00:12:39.840
Arden Moore: She is the Business of the Year by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

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Arden Moore: Let's just stick to NAPS, it's easier to say.

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Arden Moore: What I like about it is they selected you.

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Arden Moore: You don't have this gigantic company and you don't just help dogs and cats.

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Arden Moore: Your company, Cryan Enterprises in Ohio, is also helping people who have horses maybe and farm animals.

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Arden Moore: Is that correct?

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Lucy Cryan: That is correct.

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Lucy Cryan: I have a lot of horse experience and I have had sheep, and I worked with 4-H clubs.

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Lucy Cryan: We worked with a lot of different animals including poultry, chickens and so on.

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Lucy Cryan: Between myself and the two gals, my independent contractors, we have a lot of experience with a lot of different animals.

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Lucy Cryan: It's a little different.

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Arden Moore: It's not boring, that's for sure.

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Arden Moore: Caring for different animals.

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Arden Moore: There are some people that are in the city that want to have chickens.

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Arden Moore: Is there a chicken tip you can give?

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Arden Moore: Because you are a top professional pet sitter.

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Arden Moore: What's something you could tell people who want to have chickens?

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Arden Moore: Yeah, give me a chicken care tip.

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Lucy Cryan: Oh my gosh.

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Lucy Cryan: I don't know that I have a chicken care tip.

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Lucy Cryan: I mean, just make sure you know what you're getting into, right?

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Arden Moore: Yeah, make sure that cage is secure, right?

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Lucy Cryan: They take a lot of attention and other animals like to get in and get your chickens, which unfortunately happens even in the city.

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Lucy Cryan: I mean, make sure that your coop and everything is well secured.

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Lucy Cryan: It's impossible to not even do chickens to not get attached.

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Arden Moore: Yeah, they have personalities.

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Lucy Cryan: They really do and they're kind of delicate sometimes and there's a lot of predators.

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Lucy Cryan: So chickens are a tough one.

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Arden Moore: What about horses?

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Arden Moore: Because tell us where you live in Ohio, what kind of is it rural, suburb, what is it, and what would be a couple of tips or what do you do for horses as a pet sitter?

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Lucy Cryan: Well, I'm in a suburb of Columbus.

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Lucy Cryan: Well, there are horses and actually Otterbine has the whole farm in them, in actual Westerville, but we're close.

00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:41.040
Lucy Cryan: We have rural area all around us.

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Lucy Cryan: Basically, it's not just me, me and my contractors.

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Lucy Cryan: We do whatever is necessary when people are out of town.

00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:57.260
Lucy Cryan: Basically, it's cleaning stalls, feeding horses, medicating if necessary, whatever they need done.

00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:09.480
Lucy Cryan: I'll even do appointments where I'll go and meet the farrier if the owner is not available, because the farrier needs somebody to hold the horse or the vet, needs somebody to handle the animal while they're working.

00:15:10.060 --> 00:15:10.820
Lucy Cryan: We'll do that.

00:15:11.020 --> 00:15:12.320
Lucy Cryan: Pretty much anything you need.

00:15:12.380 --> 00:15:17.640
Lucy Cryan: Of course, with my experience as a former trainer, I can even exercise necessary.

00:15:18.020 --> 00:15:20.640
Lucy Cryan: That's a little above and beyond of what we typically do.

00:15:21.100 --> 00:15:22.280
Arden Moore: But I like that.

00:15:22.300 --> 00:15:29.180
Arden Moore: Don't you think if I'm a horse and I see Lucy Cryan coming up to me, I think I'm in good hoofs, aren't I?

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:30.780
Lucy Cryan: I hope so.

00:15:31.380 --> 00:15:34.320
Arden Moore: I know, but I mean, do you think there is such a thing as horse sense?

00:15:34.660 --> 00:15:35.640
Lucy Cryan: Oh, for sure.

00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:38.500
Lucy Cryan: Primarily, it's confidence.

00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:45.240
Lucy Cryan: If a handler is not confident when they approach them, then they're nervous because they think they're flight animals by nature.

00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:51.000
Lucy Cryan: If they feel that you're nervous, then their instinct tells them to flee.

00:15:51.080 --> 00:16:05.120
Lucy Cryan: As long as you're confident and walk up to them, I don't mean aggressive in any sense, but if you are confident and happy and comfortable, then they're happy and comfortable and confident as well.

00:16:05.700 --> 00:16:07.100
Lucy Cryan: That's the biggest thing.

00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:09.340
Arden Moore: You also do a lot of cats and dogs, right?

00:16:09.400 --> 00:16:09.720
Lucy Cryan: Yes.

00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:12.300
Lucy Cryan: That's mostly what we have is cats and dogs.

00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:13.840
Arden Moore: You're walking into somebody's house.

00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.520
Arden Moore: You've already done the meet and greet.

00:16:15.540 --> 00:16:18.180
Arden Moore: They met and the pet was on their best behavior.

00:16:18.360 --> 00:16:22.020
Arden Moore: Now, mom or dad is gone and Lucy Cryan walks in the door.

00:16:22.380 --> 00:16:26.240
Arden Moore: What do you do for these dogs or cats if they try to be a little uppity?

00:16:26.920 --> 00:16:30.180
Arden Moore: How do you say, hey, it's me, Lucy, because I think that's a challenge.

00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:39.640
Lucy Cryan: It is a challenge, but honestly, I have great pets I work with and I haven't really had that problem, but I always have treats in my pocket.

00:16:39.780 --> 00:16:40.400
Arden Moore: That's good.

00:16:41.000 --> 00:16:41.340
Lucy Cryan: Yeah.

00:16:41.760 --> 00:16:46.720
Lucy Cryan: Most pets, well, dogs in particular, a treat will usually get them over the hump.

00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:51.220
Lucy Cryan: I have had some cats that were a little testy, that hide, they're afraid.

00:16:51.400 --> 00:16:57.600
Lucy Cryan: I had one cat that climbed up into the springs of the couch, took me 45 minutes to find her.

00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.320
Lucy Cryan: Yeah.

00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:01.220
Lucy Cryan: She needed medication because she has seizures.

00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:05.880
Lucy Cryan: It wasn't just, okay, I'll put out your food and I can come back and find you later.

00:17:05.900 --> 00:17:07.340
Lucy Cryan: I had to find her.

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:10.800
Lucy Cryan: Of course, the owner was on a plane so I couldn't even contact the owner.

00:17:10.820 --> 00:17:12.660
Lucy Cryan: It was just one of those things.

00:17:13.360 --> 00:17:19.420
Lucy Cryan: She's a Persian and Persians can be a little persnickety about who they like and who they don't like.

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:23.620
Lucy Cryan: That was probably the most challenging first visit I've had.

00:17:24.080 --> 00:17:27.420
Lucy Cryan: Luckily, thank goodness, my dogs have all been great.

00:17:27.840 --> 00:17:34.440
Lucy Cryan: I think I have one dog that's a little shy, but if you just sit still and just take your time, they get over it.

00:17:34.600 --> 00:17:39.160
Lucy Cryan: In fact, right now, I have a cat that the owner knew to me.

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:41.160
Lucy Cryan: The owner said, well, I'll probably hide.

00:17:41.220 --> 00:17:42.280
Lucy Cryan: No, he met me at the door.

00:17:42.300 --> 00:17:45.620
Lucy Cryan: He was lonely enough probably because his person was gone.

00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:49.160
Lucy Cryan: Again, even the same is worse.

00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:55.280
Lucy Cryan: If you have confidence and you're not afraid and you have treats and you speak nicely to them, that's good.

00:17:55.380 --> 00:18:02.540
Arden Moore: Have you ever had any strange request from a pet parent on how to care or how to feed a dog or a cat?

00:18:02.620 --> 00:18:06.860
Arden Moore: Sometimes when I talk to pet sitters, you're supposed to, there's been some wacky requests.

00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:08.160
Arden Moore: What can you name one?

00:18:08.500 --> 00:18:14.440
Lucy Cryan: Nothing too wacky, but some really routine oriented dogs.

00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:26.060
Lucy Cryan: Like, you know, there's two dogs and this one has to go in this crate, but you have to make sure that you feed him first, but this one can go out without his harness or a leash.

00:18:26.080 --> 00:18:29.360
Lucy Cryan: But the other one has to be on, you know, like timing just like this.

00:18:29.380 --> 00:18:33.760
Lucy Cryan: You know, there's some that are so routine and they have quirks.

00:18:33.760 --> 00:18:39.800
Lucy Cryan: Like if even in the fenced in yard, if he's not on a leash, he'll get away from you and you'll never be able to catch him.

00:18:39.820 --> 00:18:43.060
Lucy Cryan: And so, yeah, some of them seem a little weird.

00:18:43.060 --> 00:18:46.260
Lucy Cryan: Like maybe if you work with them, maybe you could get beyond it.

00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.700
Lucy Cryan: But it's OK.

00:18:48.040 --> 00:18:54.680
Lucy Cryan: Like, I'm happy to if the dog is doing their normal routine, dogs, multiple cats, whatever their normal routine.

00:18:54.920 --> 00:19:00.640
Lucy Cryan: I mean, I have some that leave me all sorts of fancy treats, you know, like they have in the fridge.

00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:04.600
Lucy Cryan: They'll have special things ready and for me to give the pets.

00:19:04.600 --> 00:19:07.100
Lucy Cryan: But again, it's OK.

00:19:07.120 --> 00:19:10.100
Lucy Cryan: Like I haven't found anything unreasonable.

00:19:10.520 --> 00:19:13.940
Arden Moore: It sounds like it's demonstrating that people love their pets.

00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:17.740
Arden Moore: And especially as we got through COVID, they really kept us sane.

00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:20.400
Arden Moore: People are getting back to traveling.

00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:22.860
Arden Moore: There's some of them going back to their offices.

00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:25.040
Arden Moore: You're a professional pet sitter.

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:36.860
Arden Moore: So what would be a few tips you could share with people on how to really pick a quality person to come in and care for their pets and, you know, and do other things at the house while they're away?

00:19:36.880 --> 00:19:38.760
Arden Moore: Because that's really paramount.

00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:40.160
Lucy Cryan: Well, that's where NAPS comes in.

00:19:40.360 --> 00:19:57.960
Lucy Cryan: I mean, I tell people all the time, if I have calls, people outside my area or I can't take them because I'm booked or whatever, I always tell them to look at NAPS first, see if they can find somebody who is certified, who is taking classes, who's insured is key.

00:19:57.980 --> 00:20:04.640
Lucy Cryan: They have to have insurance bonded if they're not the ones personally coming, if their staff is coming for them.

00:20:05.180 --> 00:20:12.000
Lucy Cryan: And if they can't find anybody in the area on NAPS, there are other associations that have the same type of thing, which is fine.

00:20:12.320 --> 00:20:21.280
Lucy Cryan: And then references, get references and talk to the references, you know, don't just get a list, but actually make a phone call because that's really important.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:25.020
Lucy Cryan: I mean, if you're having somebody in your home, it's really important.

00:20:25.220 --> 00:20:30.460
Lucy Cryan: So that's really the biggest thing is just and do the meet and greet, make sure that your pet gets along.

00:20:31.040 --> 00:20:34.500
Lucy Cryan: And if it's not a good match, find somebody else because sometimes that happens.

00:20:34.520 --> 00:20:43.620
Lucy Cryan: There are dogs or cats or horses that sometimes don't click with a certain personality or have a fear of X, Y, Z.

00:20:43.640 --> 00:20:45.740
Lucy Cryan: I don't know, men sometimes pass.

00:20:45.760 --> 00:20:46.000
Lucy Cryan: Yeah.

00:20:46.300 --> 00:20:51.420
Lucy Cryan: So, you know, sometimes a match isn't going to be good or you bring them in your house for meet and greet.

00:20:51.440 --> 00:20:54.260
Lucy Cryan: And there's something that doesn't feel right to you as the owner.

00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:55.280
Lucy Cryan: Don't feel bad.

00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.700
Lucy Cryan: Just say thanks.

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:59.720
Lucy Cryan: It was great meeting you and find somebody that you feel comfortable with.

00:21:00.020 --> 00:21:02.220
Arden Moore: So, a couple of sites I want you to name.

00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:10.340
Arden Moore: Tell everybody your website, if they're in the Ohio area where you are, and how they can get hold of the NAPs, people at NAPs.

00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:13.660
Lucy Cryan: So, Cryan Enterprises is mine.

00:21:13.740 --> 00:21:14.360
Lucy Cryan: Super easy.

00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.860
Lucy Cryan: cryanenterprises.com.

00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.760
Lucy Cryan: It can't get any easier than that.

00:21:18.020 --> 00:21:18.800
Lucy Cryan: And then NAPs.

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:20.280
Arden Moore: petsitters.org.

00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:24.960
Lucy Cryan: Yeah, I was going to say you can type in NAPs on your Google search and it'll come right up.

00:21:25.100 --> 00:21:26.700
Lucy Cryan: It's the first or second thing that you see.

00:21:26.780 --> 00:21:34.040
Lucy Cryan: So you can get in there and then there's a, I don't know what the heading is, but there's a way to look for pet care providers in your area.

00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:35.880
Lucy Cryan: So that's really helpful.

00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:40.080
Lucy Cryan: And I've gotten a couple of really good clients from that site.

00:21:40.440 --> 00:21:45.380
Lucy Cryan: Ones that were going the extra mile to find the right person to do what they needed to do.

00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:49.880
Lucy Cryan: And that's where I got my first client whose mother lives in assisted living.

00:21:50.820 --> 00:21:58.720
Lucy Cryan: So that was a really good start working with people in assisted living and their animals.

00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.420
Arden Moore: That's a good point.

00:21:59.640 --> 00:21:59.980
Arden Moore: Yeah.

00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:00.820
Arden Moore: I like that.

00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:03.800
Lucy Cryan: And I found my very first one through NAPS.

00:22:03.820 --> 00:22:13.260
Lucy Cryan: I mean, she found me through NAPS because it was so important to her to have the right person with her 90-year-old mom who was in congestive heart failure but loved her cat more than anything in the world.

00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:16.880
Lucy Cryan: So she wanted to make sure she got somebody who was very reputable.

00:22:17.280 --> 00:22:23.160
Lucy Cryan: And, you know, so NAPS has really helped me out with getting started in that little weird niche.

00:22:23.400 --> 00:22:28.720
Arden Moore: Well, you've come a long way from being a little girl with a pony named Tom Collins, right?

00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.400
Lucy Cryan: Right.

00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:32.940
Arden Moore: To champion horses named Sky and Poet.

00:22:33.400 --> 00:22:44.060
Arden Moore: You work a lot, but I've always been curious as pet sitters, when you get some downtime, when you get to take a break, what do you like to do or where would you like to visit?

00:22:44.220 --> 00:22:46.740
Arden Moore: What's something that really, that's my getaway?

00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:49.040
Arden Moore: What is your getaway as a professional pet sitter?

00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:59.620
Lucy Cryan: Well, I'd love to travel, but you know, I of course have pets, so we have to make arrangements that we're going to travel without them, but we do take them a lot.

00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:03.040
Lucy Cryan: We'll go to places that have great hiking.

00:23:03.120 --> 00:23:08.940
Lucy Cryan: You know, we've been to North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky has some great hiking.

00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:12.300
Lucy Cryan: New York, a lot of great places to go hiking.

00:23:12.780 --> 00:23:18.540
Lucy Cryan: And so we do that to get away because we're both, my husband and I are outdoorsy and we like to do those things.

00:23:18.840 --> 00:23:21.420
Lucy Cryan: And then occasionally we'll take off without the pets.

00:23:21.640 --> 00:23:23.360
Lucy Cryan: And I like to go to the national parks.

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:30.520
Lucy Cryan: Most of them don't allow dogs on the trails, so they have to stay at home, which is unfortunate, but I understand it's wildlife.

00:23:30.680 --> 00:23:38.100
Lucy Cryan: So we go to a lot of the national parks and I hope to hit as many as possible over the next 10 years of my retirement.

00:23:38.560 --> 00:23:39.120
Arden Moore: I like that.

00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:47.980
Arden Moore: You are the business of the year for NAPS and pet sitting when you're licensed, insured and bonded is a profession.

00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:49.200
Arden Moore: It is not a hobby.

00:23:49.220 --> 00:23:53.860
Arden Moore: So what message would you like to leave with to people who have pets?

00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.580
Arden Moore: We love them.

00:23:54.680 --> 00:24:03.180
Arden Moore: They're our most priceless asset as far as really investing in a professional pet sitter instead of a kid down the street.

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:09.340
Lucy Cryan: Well, I feel like I kind of answered that I mean, it's just for peace of mind, right?

00:24:09.360 --> 00:24:14.740
Lucy Cryan: Your animals are like your children, so you want to get the best possible care you can.

00:24:14.760 --> 00:24:27.640
Lucy Cryan: The kid down the street might be fine, but I wouldn't do it, which is one of the reasons I decided to start doing this because I had a hard time finding somebody that I trusted and I felt was reliable.

00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:36.440
Lucy Cryan: So, you know, I think going the extra mile for your furry family members or scaly family members or whatever it is.

00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.860
Arden Moore: Or hoofed ones, yeah.

00:24:38.020 --> 00:24:40.000
Lucy Cryan: Or feathered or whatever they are.

00:24:40.020 --> 00:24:41.880
Lucy Cryan: I think it's definitely worth it.

00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:52.340
Lucy Cryan: And you know, unfortunately, you hear the sad stories of the neighbor kid that accidentally let the dog out and he got into the road or they forgot to show up and let the dog out.

00:24:52.360 --> 00:24:53.960
Lucy Cryan: I mean, you do hear those things.

00:24:54.020 --> 00:24:58.000
Lucy Cryan: I guess that could happen with the professional as well, but a lot less likely.

00:24:58.320 --> 00:24:59.100
Arden Moore: Well, that's good.

00:24:59.420 --> 00:25:01.580
Arden Moore: Hey, we're speaking with Lucy Cryan.

00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:12.160
Arden Moore: She runs Cryan Enterprises in Westerville, Ohio, and she was named Business of the Year by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

00:25:12.460 --> 00:25:13.880
Arden Moore: That's a Top Dog Award.

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:15.900
Arden Moore: She's come through a lot in life.

00:25:15.900 --> 00:25:17.240
Arden Moore: She was in academia.

00:25:17.860 --> 00:25:21.100
Arden Moore: And I just love how you keep reinventing yourself, Lucy.

00:25:21.540 --> 00:25:24.420
Arden Moore: And I want to congratulate you on this award.

00:25:24.440 --> 00:25:29.340
Arden Moore: And thank you for being so compassionate to all kinds of animals.

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:31.220
Lucy Cryan: Oh, well, thank you for having me.

00:25:31.240 --> 00:25:32.080
Lucy Cryan: It was really fun.

00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:35.760
Arden Moore: And I also want to do a shout out at this time to my producer.

00:25:36.020 --> 00:25:40.600
Arden Moore: Mark Winter is the executive producer of Pet Life Radio.

00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:49.280
Arden Moore: And Obie Habe, guess what, guys, was named the first week in January as the Pet Podcast of the Year.

00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:51.000
Arden Moore: We were the top pet podcast.

00:25:51.380 --> 00:25:58.100
Arden Moore: We have been on the air since 2007, so we are also the longest running weekly pet podcast on the air.

00:25:58.340 --> 00:26:00.080
Arden Moore: I think we're going to Mars next, Mark.

00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.660
Arden Moore: I don't know.

00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:01.440
Arden Moore: We'll check it out.

00:26:01.800 --> 00:26:05.660
Arden Moore: Until next time, please, guys, check out my YouTube channel.

00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.780
Arden Moore: It's Arden Moore.

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:09.860
Arden Moore: And be good to your pets.

00:26:10.280 --> 00:26:18.400
Arden Moore: And so this is your host, Arden Moore, with just two words for all you two, three, and four-leggers out there, Obie Habe.

00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:23.400
Announcer: Coast to coast and around the world, it's Obie Habe with Arden Moore.

00:26:23.560 --> 00:26:30.760
Announcer: Find out why cats and dogs do the things they do and get the latest buzz from wagging tongues and tails in Rin Tin Tinseltown.

00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:39.100
Announcer: From famous pet experts and bestselling authors to television and movie stars, you'll get great tail wagging pet tips and have a fur-flying fun time.

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:47.540
Announcer: Oh behave with America's Pet Edutainer, Arden Moore, every week on demand, only on petliferadio.com.

00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:47.780
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