Today we’d like to introduce you to A. Tempest Young.
Hi A. Tempest, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I launched my pet sitting business in 2008 while working as a Veterinary Technician at Brickyard Animal Hospital. Having earned my Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology and passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam in 2009, I built a strong foundation in animal health, medical procedures, and compassionate care. At the time, veterinary technician pay scales were modest, but my commitment to animal welfare was unwavering. When a client contacted the clinic seeking in-home care for their pets, I realized I could extend my skills beyond the hospital setting – and so Vet Tech Pet Sitting was born.
What began as a solo venture quickly grew into a trusted, professional service. Within a few years, I had several fellow technicians and trained team members working alongside me to meet the growing demand. While my original goal was to employ only licensed Vet Techs, I soon discovered that with proper training and mentorship, passionate animal lovers could also learn to safely administer medications, perform SubQ fluid therapy, and recognize behavioral or medical red flags requiring veterinary attention.
Over the past four years, I’ve expanded our offerings to include specialized services such as Pet Taxi, extended overnights, in-home boarding, and my most meaningful addition – Animal Reiki. I’ve also partnered with other pet care providers, including Alta Dog Rehab, to support clients’ pets with post-surgical or therapeutic rehabilitation at home.
This year, I licensed my second business Animal Reiki Utah and began sharing my knowledge more widely by teaching free introductory Animal Reiki classes at local sanctuaries, as well as paid Level 1 courses in the “Let Animals Lead®” method developed by Kathleen Prasad. This meditation-based approach honors each animal’s agency and wisdom in the healing process. I am endlessly grateful for the animals who have been my greatest teachers – guiding my work, deepening my compassion, and inspiring my lifelong dedication to their well-being.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As this was my first business, I had to learn everything from the ground up: licensing, bookkeeping, payroll, and advertising. There was no roadmap, so I relied on curiosity, persistence, and a genuine desire to grow. For a few years, I’ll admit I coasted, hoping things would naturally improve. Then COVID hit, and suddenly, my client base disappeared. No one was traveling, and without a steady stream of weekly visits, business came to a halt.
But that challenge became a turning point. It forced me to take a hard look at what I wanted and reignited my motivation. During those quiet months, I began rebuilding, networking with other pet professionals, nurturing existing relationships, and creating new ones that could support long-term growth. Each connection I made reminded me that trust and consistency are at the heart of this business.
Hiring was another major learning curve. In the early days, I mostly worked with people I already knew – fellow Vet Techs or clients who loved animals as much as I did. But as the business grew, I had to step out of my comfort zone and recruit beyond my circle. The hiring process required patience, countless interviews, and trusting my intuition about who would fit our culture. I’ve learned to recognize the right team members by their empathy, reliability, and heart for animals.
Today, after facing uncertainty and doing the hard work, I’m proud to have built a team I fully trust – people I’d recommend to anyone. Every challenge along the way has strengthened my resilience, my leadership, and my belief that relationships, patience, and persistence are what truly sustain a business.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
We are best known for our comprehensive and compassionate pet care services, offering everything from overnight stays and daily drop-ins to Pet Taxi, in-home boarding, vet visit accompaniment, and hourly daycare in the client’s home.
What truly sets us apart is our advanced medical expertise and ability to provide specialized care that goes far beyond typical pet sitting. Our team is trained to support pets with medical needs – including bladder expression, subcutaneous fluid administration, injections, bandaging, nail trims, and guided exercises in collaboration with Alta Dog Rehab.
This unique combination of professional veterinary knowledge and gentle, personalized care gives our clients peace of mind that their pets are always in capable hands.
Another cornerstone of our work is our Animal Reiki program, offering healing sessions for both pets and their human companions in the comfort of their own homes. We also share this practice with the wider community through Animal Reiki classes hosted at local shelters and sanctuaries.
Above all, we are defined by our reliability, compassion, and deep respect for the well-being of every animal we serve. Each service we provide is grounded in our belief that animals deserve care that honors both their physical and emotional needs.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Without question, passion is the driving force behind my success. My work is rooted in a genuine love for animals and a deep sense of purpose in providing services that are both highly needed and deeply appreciated. That passion has carried me through every challenge. Learning to run a business from scratch, facing uncertainty, and navigating the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship.
When you care deeply about what you do, it fuels your perseverance. It pushes you to keep learning, keep improving, and keep showing up even when things get difficult. For me, every client and every animal I care for is a reminder of why I started in the first place – to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
That sense of purpose has been the foundation for everything I’ve built. It’s what helped me overcome obstacles, grow through setbacks, and ultimately create not just one, but two thriving businesses that reflect my values: compassion, integrity, and excellence in care. Passion isn’t just what started my journey—it’s what sustains it every day.
Pricing:
- Overnights start at $70 per night
- Stop by’s start at $29 per 30 min visit
- Pet Taxi base rate $23 plus 0.85 cents per mile
- Boarding starts at $70 per day
- Animal Reiki session $75- discount packages available
Contact Info:
- Website: Vt-petsitting.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/animalreikiutah
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GRrHaYJXa/
