Fast Start: Taking root

Bethany Munt, owner, On the Move Pet Care
 
Roots: I am a true Rochesterian and grew up in the beautiful town of Brighton.
 
Return: I had been out of the area for almost 10 years. I just moved back one year ago and it was my family that had the biggest pull in getting me back from Washington, D.C.  Since moving back, I’ve developed so much appreciation for how special this community is and how amazing the quality of life here is relative to many of the other places I have lived.
 
Rochester’s pet scene: Although I hate to say a single negative thing about Rochester, we are totally behind the times when it comes to the pet world and all of the exciting opportunities that exist in other cities. In Washington, D.C., there were so many different social events that involved pets-everything from pet-friendly happy hours to boat cruises with your pup. I’d like to bring back some of the creative pet-friendly activities that were commonplace in Washington and help create an awesome pet community here in Rochester.
 
Dog-friendly happy hour: Our first event will be Pups and Pilsners on July 10 at Easy on East, Rochester’s first-ever dog-friendly happy hour! The hope is to have an event each month throughout the summer. The best way to stay tuned to our upcoming events is to like our On the Move Pet Care Facebook page, OTMPetCare.
 
What On the Move does: My focus is on providing an affordable option to young professionals and families who rely on friends, family and lunch breaks to accommodate their pet needs. We provide services for all pets, not just dogs and cats. The services include mid-day visits starting at just $11 a visit, overnight visits, pet sitting, play dates for socialization with other animals and even pet taxi services to the vet or groomer. A full list of services is available on our website, onthemovepetcare.com.
 
The challenge in Rochester will be creating awareness that there are alternatives to boarding or kenneling your pets. A lot of my current business has come from referrals of the other pet businesses I’ve contacted that can’t provide in-home service. I’m happy to collaborate with these businesses.
 
Puppy love: Passion for animals and the desire to love what I do every day are my driving motivators. I’m most excited about helping to grow the pet community in Rochester and creating something new and exciting in my hometown. The business and organizational skills I developed in college and work translate well too.
 
Other work: I have been working as a business analyst and systems architecture consultant for the government through a consulting firm out of Washington, D.C. When I lived in D.C., I helped launch and manage an in-home pet care company in Arlington, Va.
 
Age: 27

Education: Bachelor’s degree in childhood development, Hobart and William Smith Colleges; master’s degree in public policy, George Mason University

7/5/13 (c) 2013 Rochester Business Journal. To obtain permission to reprint this article, call 585-546-8303 or email [email protected].