“You’ve Been Booed.”
That’s the message inside a Halloween-themed dog and puppy Boo Box with a toy, a ball, treats, and other goodies courtesy of one of Columbia’s newest entrepreneurs.
Lizzy Dekrell, a Mizzou senior from St. Augustine, Florida, launched her business, COMo PetCare, in June, leaving what she considered a restrictive and impersonal gig with the dog-walking and pet-sitting service, Rover. CoMo PetCare has established a remarkably busy schedule of 12-hour workdays for Dekrell – dog walking, poop scooping, drop-in pet visits, overnight stays, and a subscription-based service for weekly dog walking that she bills monthly.
She recently provided a week of pet sitting for one home with three cats and two dogs.
“They were awesome. Actually really fun to work with,” Dekrell said. “I’m like the nanny I guess.”
In addition to CoMo PetCare’s regular menu of service, she is now offering Boo Boxes, which cost $39.99 plus $3.99 for local delivery or $5.99 for shipping. Local deliveries are made within 24 to 48 hours of purchase. The Boo Box comes with the encouragement for the recipient to pay the surprise forward by ordering a Boo Box for someone else.
That part of the business is modeled after a Boo Box Dekrell remembers receiving when she was younger. The box had Dollar Tree-type chocolate and goodies, along with the note, “You just got booed,” and instructions for how to “boo” someone else.
That translated into a dog- and pup-centered Boo Box because, Dekrell said, “I get more excited for my dog’s birthday than my own birthday.”
Her Boo Boxes have a squeaky toy, one homemade shaped peanut butter treat, a rope toy, poop bags, a ball, and CoMo PetCare branding items and her business card.
The first 10 orders will receive a buy-one-get-one-free incentive.
And don’t let the box name worry you. Dekrell says, “It’s not scary for dogs.”
For ordering details and to learn more about CoMo PetCare, go to comopetcare.com, email [email protected], or call 573-206-9497. The website footer also has all the Boo Box social media channels for connecting.
Dekrell got into weightlifting in high school and became a certified personal trainer and nutritionist. Her MU online business coursework is nudging her toward business management or marketing. She began working as a Rover contractor when she was in high school and continued that work until late spring when she decided to ditch that gig and go to work for herself.
“I love watching dogs. It’s something I’m good at,” she said. “So why not make it something I can do long-term?”
In many ways, she’s learning the business as she goes, though she already has expertise and experience in taking care of dogs. Dekrell is now looking for an employee who can match her passion for both customer service and dogs.
“I’m looking for someone who is passionate about being with pets and who takes them seriously,” Dekrell said. “I want pet care service that I wish I had for [my own dog]. I just want it to be a safe space for pets and for people to know they’re getting what they paid for.”
