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DOG’S BEST FRIEND | Eric Pratt, owner of Taddy’s Pet Services, gives his magic touch to Hank, the 12-year-old border collie mix of fellow Readers Voice winner Eric Peay. (Arnold Wayne Jones/Dallas Voice)
Eric Pratt was an accounting major in college, but after receiving a bottle of wine for taking care of a friend’s hamster and two cats, he realized he could turn pet-sitting into a business. Eleven years later, Taddy’s the one of the largest pet-sitting companies in Dallas, with six full-time and seven part-time employees. Their clients include about 70 dogs and 20 cats, not to mention birds, turtles, hermit crabs and poison dart frogs (which aren’t really poisonous). Of the reason he counts for his success is that fact that it is him, the owner, who visits with each new clients and gets to know the animal, and then introduces them to their sitter. “I have great empathy for all animals, especially dogs and cats,” says Pratt. “I’ve always had a dog growing up[, and] my whole life. They have a calming effect. The reaction that pets have with humans, they become part of your family. Most of my clients call them their baby.“
— Mark Lowry
BEST PET SITTER/DOG WALKER
Taddy’s Pet Services
1920 Abrams Parkway, No. 387
Call for appointment
214-732-4721
TaddysPetServices.com
BEST ANIMAL ADOPTION
SPCA of Texas
2400 Lone Star Drive
Open daily at noon
214-742-7722
SPCA.org
BEST BOARDING /
KENNELING
Petropolitan
408 S. Harwood St.
Open Monday–Saturday
214-741-4100
ThePetropolitanDallas.com
BEST VETERINARY
HOSPITAL
Katy Trail Animal Hospital
4151 McKinney Ave.
214-363-4463
KatyAnimalTrailHospital.com
BEST PET SUPPLY
PetSmart
5500 Greenville Ave.
(and additional locations)
Open daily
469-232-2030
PetSmart.com
BEST DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING
Man’s Best Friends
2641 Westgrove Drive, Carrollton
(and additional locations)
Call for appointment
214838-0015
MansBestFriend.com
BEST PROFESSIONAL
PET GROOMING
Petropolitan
408 S. Harwood St.
Open Monday–Saturday
214-741-4100
ThePetropolitanDallas.com
BEST SELF-SERVICE
PET GROOMING
The Pooch Patio
3811 Fairmount St.
Open daily
214-252-1550
ThePoochPatio.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 16, 2012.