The first thing you notice entering the home of Suzan Cicillini is that she is an avid animal-lover. Two miniature dachshunds bark playfully in the next room, and the sound of a caged bird chirping cheerfully fills the air. Judging by her passion for animals, it is no surprise that this animal-lover’s business does so well. Cicillini is a full-time pet sitter.

For seven years, Cicillini has made a living by caring for other people’s pets and selling homemade pet products. Her business continues to thrive, even in these tough economic times.

Before becoming a pet sitter, Cicillini worked at a pet store for 10 years. She was prompted to start her own business because she “wanted to become my own boss.” Although having her own business does give Cicillini the freedom of being her “own boss,” she adds that really, her clients are her boss. Whenever a client needs her to take care of his or her pet, Cicillini will be there. She says, “If someone needs me to go at 5 a.m., I will go at 5 a.m.”

This availability may just be what makes her business so successful. Because it’s her full-time job, Cicillini is able to give full attention to the animals. On a normal day, Cicillini will usually visit five or six houses to care for the pets. About 95 percent of the time Cicillini goes to the owner’s house to care for the animals, but she has taken smaller animals to her house. All clients sign a contract and are given contact information in case of an emergency. Her fees range from $5 to $25 depending on what the owner wants her to do and how far away they live. Cicillini does anything from a quick visit to staying overnight at the owner’s house.

She’s also versatile. Cicillini is comfortable with different types of animals. Having a bird, two dogs, and a gecko of her own, she will sit for any type of pet at all; from hamsters, to fish, to cats.

Cicillini’s natural ability to communicate with animals allows her to overcome many problems that arise when caring for pets. She described a particular instance that took place when she was meeting a dog and its owner. At first, the dog was extremely aggressive and non-responsive to the owner’s commands. Cicillini spent about an hour just talking to the dog, trying to calm it down. When she left the room and came back with a treat, the dog’s attitude toward her changed and they soon became “best friends,” as Cicillini put it.

Cicillini attributes much of her success to the Internet, which has given her more clients and allowed her to sell her products. Google and craigslist have allowed for even more exposure for Cicillini’s business. Cicillini is featured on many websites and one can find her by Googling her name. She has two websites of her own – one for her pet sitting service, Reliable Pet Sitting Services, and one for the products that she makes, called the R.I. Pet Emporium.

The products range from homemade dog treats to embroidered towels for pets. She also makes custom frames for specific breeds of dogs and “carob pops,” which are paw-shaped lollipops made out of carob and ground rawhide. She says everything she sells is safe and healthy. By incorporating the R.I. Pet Emporium with her pet sitting, Cicillini was able to greatly increase her success, she said.

Cicillini says much of her success came through word-of-mouth. She was born and raised in Warwick and graduated from Toll Gate High School in 1982. She said she knows a lot of people in town but many of her clients live in Cranston, North Kingstown, and South Kingstown. When asked for her secret to making her business work so well, Cicillini replied, “A small business really grows by word of mouth.”

Despite her business’s success, there have certainly been slow times. Cicillini says that this past winter was particularly slow for her because of the state of the economy, which meant that people weren’t traveling. However, in the spring her business has picked up again, as it does every year. She is the busiest in the warmer seasons, which means more walks and outdoor activities for her furry friends.

Not many people can say that they are working their dream job but Cicillini says that with certainty. Suzan Cicillini can say she has a business that she loves and is proud of.

Memorial






ROXY
(1992 - 2009)

She was our little girl.  We love her very much and we'll miss her dearly.