Ashley and Chris Martin started All My Pets Services (AMPS) in Austin in 2014. They provide pet care visits, dog walking and bathing and grooming – in the comfort of your fur baby’s own home. We caught up with Ashley to learn more.
What led to starting AMPS? The story of AMPS is the story of our family. As a former veterinary technician, I have a professional background and volunteer history steeped in animal care. My son, a preteen in 2014, has significant needs, and I wanted to utilize my skills set and apply it to something that would allow me to care for him, support our family and also feed my soul. My partner, Chris, in his faith in our dream, quit his job to help provide 24/7 care for my son, and we started AMPS.
Chris actually used it as an opportunity to propose. When trying to think up a name for the company, he said, “Well, you could always go with ‘Ashley Meadows’ Pet Services, or ‘AMPS’. That way, if you decide to change your name to Martin, you wouldn’t have to change the letters.” After we married, I did indeed change to Ashley Martin’s Pet Service (AMPS).
How has the business evolved since 2014? During the pandemic, our business came to an absolute halt. We used that time to re-evaluate where we were heading and completely rebranded, changing the name to All My Pet Services (AMPS) to convey the multiple types of service we currently offer and to encompass the new services we intend to offer in the years to come.
Do you have a place where you dogsit or is it exclusively home visits?
For now, our services specialize in care visits to our AMPS family homes. One of the major benefits of in-home pet sitting is that, because they’re home and comfortable in their own space, many animal companions really enjoy our visits, are happy and relaxed from the start and ready for naptime by the time we leave.
Do you do the washing/grooming in the owner’s home?
We currently have the option of in-home services, or to have us transport to a separate facility for the service and return them home. As we expand the ultimate goal to include a mobile grooming vehicle fleet, as well as opening our first brick-and-mortar location.
You do ‘pet sitting’ at owner’s homes. Can owners go out of town and home care visits be enough, or is It just for owners out for the day?
Both! We space out our care visits throughout the day to provide consistent, structured care and the family receives updates with detailed notes and pictures with every service.
How many dogs do you have?
My family has a young Great Pyrenees named Samwise. He’s a goofy, happy-go-lucky spot of sunshine in our lives. We like to say he’s the real hero in our story, completing our family and providing endless joy and love.
If your dog could speak, what would you ask?
I would ask him to help teach me to live in the moment, the way he does. Every day is his best day: what a gift!
Anything you’d like to add?
AMPS is a grassroots, family-owned company dedicated to enriching the complete pet care experience for the people and families who entrust their companions to our multifaceted service. We are eternally grateful for the love, guidance, and support we have received through the years from our mentors, family, friends, and from the incredible people who have signed on with the AMPS family. We are a small business with big dreams, and we are excited to continue to grow with our beloved ATX.
Find more at: https://allmypetservices.com