FOR pet owners balancing demanding work schedules, travel and unexpected emergencies, finding reliable care for their animals can be difficult. Entrepreneurs Denisha Sinclair and Kai-ci Hutchinson are seeking to fill that gap with Cuddlr, a pet care business providing care for cats and dogs when their owners are unavailable.

Conceived in July and launched in October, the business provides dog walking, in-home pet sitting, overnight boarding, pet transportation, medication administration and quick visits for feeding and other basic needs. The idea grew out of Sinclair’s experience balancing corporate employment with caring for her own dog.

“Because of the fact that my dog would be home all day when I left for work, that is what sparked the idea for me,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

Concern about her dog spending eight or nine hours alone while she was at work led her to consider how other pet owners might be facing the same problem. Both founders are animal lovers and have helped friends and family care for their pets when needed, experiences that informed their decision to establish Cuddlr.

Pet sitting has emerged as the business’s most requested service so far.

Building trust with Jamaican pet owners is a key priority for Cuddlr, particularly given the importance many place on their animals as members of the family.

“Pets these days are more than just animals that people keep in their homes. They are a part of their family. They’re their babies,” she said.

As part of its approach, Cuddlr arranges meet-and-greet sessions before a pet sitter enters a client’s home, allowing owners to become familiar with the person who will care for their animals. Pet sitting has emerged as the business’s most requested service so far, according to Sinclair. The company also offers overnight boarding in Kingston for cats and dogs, with arrangements made to ensure the two are boarded separately. Advance notice of approximately two weeks is required for boarding bookings. Beyond its core offerings, the business has introduced specialised services that allow owners to request care tailored to their pets’ routines and individual needs.

“Within our specialised services, you are free to request whatever you want,” Sinclair explained. “Whatever you want your dog to experience, just let us know and we will see if we can make it possible.”

Although Cuddlr operates primarily in Kingston and St Andrew, its services are available islandwide. The company has a team of four, including both co-founders. Sinclair said recruiting additional team members was relatively straightforward, with prospective workers responding positively to the concept. The founders also used the Trupet Expo as a strategic launch platform, recognising the event as an opportunity to introduce the service directly to Jamaica’s pet-owning community. At the time of the interview, customers could access Cuddlr through Instagram direct messages and WhatsApp, with the website expected to launch in early November.

Having stepped away from corporate employment to focus on Cuddlr, Sinclair is exploring several ways to expand the business, including a pet shuttle service that would collect animals for daytime activities and an in-home exercise service featuring treadmills for active dogs. The longer-term vision is to establish what she hopes will become Jamaica’s largest dog park, giving pet owners a dedicated space for their animals to exercise and socialise.

“We want to really get to a place where, when it comes to a person requiring the best care and environment for their pets, we are at the forefront of their mind,” she told the Sunday Finance. “We want to build trust in pet parents so that they can confidently turn to us when their pets are at different stages in their lives.”