Today we’d like to introduce you to Keena McBride
Hi Keena, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From a young age, my deep affinity for animals and nature sparked a dream of becoming an entrepreneur dedicated to animal-focused ventures.
Through exploring human-animal interaction, I discovered profound benefits: animals alleviate stress, improve heart health, and play a crucial role in nurturing children’s social-emotional skills.
In 2021, I founded SMR Pet Services with a passion for pet empowerment and fostering solid pet-guardianship relationships. I aim to offer a comprehensive solution for all pet care needs, ensuring that pets receive the best possible care while supporting owners as responsible and caring guardians.
To achieve this vision, I developed a diverse range of pet care and training services. These include personalized pet concierge services, a pet matching service where I match pets with suitable guardians, etiquette training focused on skills and manners, and an Animal Allies program that teaches self-awareness, conflict resolution, interpersonal skills, social-emotional learning, and anti-bullying initiatives.
This journey has been incredibly fulfilling, and I eagerly anticipate continuing to impact the lives of animals and their human companions positively.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Navigating the path of founding SMR Pet Services has been a journey marked by successes and challenges. While my commitment to improving pet empowerment and fostering strong pet-guardianship relationships has been unwavering, there were obstacles along the way. Securing initial funding, establishing a loyal clientele, and navigating the intricacies of the pet care industry presented significant challenges. However, each hurdle has been a learning experience, reinforcing my determination to positively impact our understanding of animals’ needs and how we can fulfill them.
We’ve been impressed with SMR PET SERVICES , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
SMR Pet Services is a holistic, force-free pet service specializing in pet concierge services. Our pet concierge service offers personalized assistance to manage various aspects of your pet’s life, enhancing convenience and providing peace of mind. This includes daily walks, skills and manners training, administering medication, scheduling grooming and doctor appointments, organizing pet transportation, recommending pet-friendly activities, and fulfilling specialized requests. We strive to ensure pets and guardians experience comfort and top-notch care.
Our pet matching service grew out of my experiences volunteering at animal shelters, where I witnessed the challenges of overcrowded facilities and the stress animals endure, akin to PTSD. Primary reasons for animal surrender included mismatches with guardians, unwanted behaviors, and financial constraints. Motivated by this, I developed a pet matching service to pair pets with suitable guardians carefully, considering factors such as environment, lifestyle, time commitment, energy levels, allergies and sensitivities, family and living arrangements, and financial responsibility.
The Animal Allies program was specifically designed for youth and young adults to address the social-emotional skills gap that has been exacerbated by the post-COVID environment. I have observed deficiencies in interpersonal communication and cooperative play skills among children. Our program uses pets to promote social-emotional learning and life skills by integrating etiquette training and animal welfare education into a tailored curriculum. This includes Canine Anti-Bullying classes, which aim to reduce conflict and bullying in the classroom and encourage youth to advocate for animals, others, and themselves.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is enhancing the lives of both pets and their guardians through awareness, education, and compassion. As a young girl, I experienced firsthand the positive impact of animals on health and mood. Over time, I noticed that many people, including myself, lacked the knowledge to understand and meet our dogs’ needs. Like children, pets require patience, responsible guardianship, individualized attention, structure, and routine. Proper planning is essential to make pet guardianship a positive experience and to be proactive rather than reactive. This realization drove me to explore and address these gaps.
My commitment deepened as I continued my journey by volunteering at animal shelters, witnessing firsthand the challenges and stress that both animals and guardians endured. Many issues leading to surrenders, such as non-aggressive behavior problems and mismatches between pets and guardians, could have been resolved if the guardians had the necessary knowledge, skills, and tools to address their pets’ needs. These experiences highlighted the critical need for tailored pet care and the importance of fostering strong, supportive relationships between pets and their guardians.
Additionally, I want SMR Pet Services to educate and empower the next generation. The Animal Allies program teaches empathy, social skills, and emotional intelligence through animal interaction. The program helps youth develop a compassionate understanding of the human-animal bond by integrating etiquette training and animal welfare education.
SMR Pet Services was created to bridge the gap between guardians and pets. Our mission goes beyond offering services – we aim to eradicate animal neglect and cruelty while cultivating a world where pets flourish. With our knowledge and genuine love for animals, we pledge to provide unparalleled care and support to guardians and their beloved companions.
As Mahatma Gandhi once said,
“The greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.smrpetservices.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smr.pets?igsh=MmQwYWJkN2FkMnU4&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMRPetServices?mibextid=LQQJ4d
