Business & Tech

New Pet Sitting, Dog Walking Business to Open in Manassas

In March, Fetch! Pet Care will began serving pets in Gainesville, Manassas and Centreville.

Prince William County-area resident Erich Leuck is taking his love for animals and making it his livelihood by opening a new franchise of a national pet sitting and dog walking business for the area.

“You know how people say, ‘a good job is one you love,’” Leuck said. “I’ve always loved my animals.”

The New Jersey native and one-time Manassas resident said he will open the doors to Fetch! Pet Care of G.M.C. on March 1 and operate it in his home in Vint Hill, near the country line. 

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The goal of the new francaise is to provide services to clients in Gainesville, Manassas and Centreville; hence the ‘G.M.C.’ reference at the end the franchise title.

Fetch! sitters are experts at dog walking and running, administering pet medications and overnight petsitting.

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Over the years exercising pets has become key in keeping them healthy, Leuck said.

 “Our nation’s pets are beginning to be like our nation’s people,” he said. “40 to 45 percent of dogs are overweight.”

 Fetch! has a national pet weight loss challenge going on in the Washington D.C. metro, to measure the effectiveness of Fetch! staff walking and running overweight pets, Leuck said.

 The business will partner with local veterinarians for the challenge.

 His own best pet friend, Luke, is 110 pounds of pure muscle, Leuck said.

 Caring for the 11-year-old lab mix has schooled him on the importance of pet exercise as well as the increased frequency of bathroom breaks as dogs grow older, he said.

 He also owns a rescue cat named Kosie, pronounced "cah see," who was named by his daughter because she thought the cat resembled a Picasso painting, Leuck said.

 The family also owns fish—Leuck said they've turned out to be “needy little creatures,” he said.

As with any new job, Leuck said he expects some challenges. The good news is that Fetch! is a franchise with very clear procedures for operation.

He hopes to spread the word about the business through talking to vets and advertising. 

He’ll be growing his animal-loving staff, too, but wants to hire new people at the same pace the company grows.

 “It’s something that I will grow with … I want to take baby steps,” Leuck said.

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