DENISEN HARTLOVE
Clayton Pioneer

At O’Brien Family Pet Care, Aimee and Rory O’Brien bring their clients – and their owners – a sense of calm from knowing they’re in capable hands O’Brien, who has two cats and a horse of her own, worked for the Contra Costa Emergency Veterinary Clinic as a registered veterinary technician for five years. Now as licensed and bonded pet sitters, she and Rory provide care for a variety of animals – including dogs, cats, horses, lizards, birds and rodents. Her experience in veterinary medicine makes her a valuable resource for families whose pets may have health concerns or are recovering from illnesses. Along with working at the emergency clinic, she has helped animals at Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation. “You don’t ever think that every dog or every cat wants all the attention and affection in the world,” she said. “It’s just like people – you need to be respectful of the animal’s history and boundaries.” Prior to taking on a new client, O’Brien has them fill out a form with information relating to their pets’ needs, including medical history, diet and behavior. She then visits the home, free of charge, to get acquainted.
Cynthia Tracy is one of O’Brien’s newest clients. Tracy has two Labrador retrievers, Gracie and Oliver. While both dogs are young, they suffer from health problems. That has posed a challenge for Tracy in finding qualified caregivers. Tracy turned to the O’Briens when her previous pet sitter canceled before one of her frequent business trips. She searched the Clayton Pioneer’s Website for local pet sitters and found their company. Aimee came to her home that same night for a visit. “What I really liked about Aimee is she asked questions other people didn’t ask,” said Tracy. “Where is the food? What kind of medication? Where are towels in case there’s an accident? She’s got that vet tech training.” Shortly afterward, O’Brien proved she could stay calm in a crisis as well. Tracy recalls getting a phone call after an incident with one of the dogs. “Aimee was very calm. She called, let me know what happened. ‘The dogs are fine, but your wood floor may not be,’ ” Tracy recollected. O’Brien also is studying for her master’s in fine arts with an emphasis in photography and offers pet portraiture as an additional service to clients. Her favorite aspect of her job is that she gets to play with animals all day. “Since I was a little girl, I knew I was going to work with animals one way or the other,” she said. “I get to make a difference in their lives, I hope.” To reach O’Brien Family Pet Care, call Aimee at (925) 899- 7354; email obrienfamilypetcare@ gmail.com.