Meet Jasmin Reyes | Veterinary Technician & Dog Walker
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jasmin Reyes and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jasmin, what do you attribute your success to?
Growing up, I loved all types of animals and knew I wanted to work with them when I got older. I got my associates in animal science and became a veterinary technician and have been working in the hospital setting for the past 4 years. People think we see and play with puppies often but the reality is, we see more sick patients. One day, there was a little dachshund dog named “Paisley” that got diagnosed with kidney failure, meaning her kidneys were not functioning properly anymore. There are a few stages: Stage 1 being semi normal, stage 2, 3, 4, and 5 being the “end stage”. She was at stage 4 and the doctor was recommending euthanasia (being put to sleep) because of how severe her kidney failure was and her symptoms were bad. Her parents decided to keep treating her with fluid therapy which is almost like IV for hydration but the water is given under the skin to help the kidneys flush properly. Paisley needed this every single day. So one day as I was speaking with her parents, I asked them “how would you like it if I come over to your house and administer her fluids there so she is in the comfort of her own home?” They loved the idea and we started trying it out. At first, she was not the biggest fan, but eventually with a bunch of pumpkin treats, she didn’t mind it anymore! Anytime she would get in the car to go to the vet, she would start getting stressed and would start having loose stools after each visit. Coming to her home prevented all that! When Paisley was diagnosed with her disease, she was given about 4-5 months left of life, or even less. It has now been almost a year since we started doing her fluids every day and went from stage 4 to stage 2! We might’ve even prolonged her life. That’s when everything clicked.
This is why I started expanding my business. Treating Paisley at home was just the beginning. There are many others out there who suffer from the same disease and I wish I can help.
My goal is to help pets & pet parents feel at ease in the comfort of their own home. I am confident and determined that I can help prolong more lives out there on sick dogs and cats in need of at home care. That doesn’t just include fluid therapy, but also anything else like nail trims, treating ear infections and flushing them out, expressing glands, walking pets, and boarding them in the comfort of their own home or mine! The idea is to expand my small business even more and offer many different services. Everyone deserves the best quality pet care for their loved one/s.
What should our readers know about your business?
My business provides many options! I provide dog walking, pet sitting, and medical services at home! I’m not an ordinary dog walker, I’m also a veterinary technician! Pup needs a nail trim? You got it! Need to board your pet but don’t want to leave him in a kennel all day? We got you with our at home services where they can lay on the bed and enjoy sitting on the couch!
I come from a small Latin community in Huntington Beach trying to give my family and myself the best life possible. It has not been easy. I remember going to school full time and working a full time job with no car. I am now working full time at the hospital and working on my business at the same time. It has been a very long journey since day one but caring for all these wonderful animals has been worth it. The days get rough and tiring but I am proud of how strong I am when it comes to juggling both of them at the same time. One of my dream goals is one day purchasing a home for my parents and I hope Furry Needs allows me to do that in the future!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Living in Huntington Beach is pretty fun! You can’t come visit unless you’re planning to take a swim and enjoy a bonfire right after! I love walking down Main Street. They have a street fair on Tuesday’s with lots of Vendors and lots of yummy foods. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, then I would definitely recommend The Funnel House. They have the biggest ice cream sandwiches and yummiest funnel cakes. I’d finish off the night walking down the pier during sunset time.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely would have to say my dad! When I was only about 13 years old, my dad would keep boat parts in his garage and would have me upload them on “Craigslist” when that was the “thing” back then (the old “Amazon”). One day he had me post a boat engine for about $650. I received a message from a potential buyer and [they] wanted to purchase it ASAP. Nobody was home but I wanted to make a sale because that money seemed a lot to a 13 year old. I messaged [them] my address (not thinking this could’ve been a crazy person!) and they showed up. I opened the garage all by myself and the person took a look at the engine and said [they’ll] take it! I received the $650 in cash and I instantly knew I wanted to pursue entrepreneurship. To which now I have found that in the veterinary field and my small business “furry needs, pet essentials”
(Also, yes my parents were mad I did that by myself but I also saw that they were proud of me!)
Instagram: furry.needs
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
