Inspiring Conversations with Dorian Acito of Teacher’s Pet Orlando

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dorian Acito.

Hi Dorian, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story about Teacher’s Pet began just before I established my pet sitting business in 2001, with a disturbing experience with my first dog, Alfa, when I had to board him at our family vet back then. This was the first time that I was traveling out of town without Alfa, and I had to leave him for 5 days at the vet’s facility. When I returned to town and picked him up, he was skin and bones! I could see his entire rib cage through his fur, and I was so upset! I asked why they hadn’t called me to let me know there was a problem and that he hadn’t been eating. That would have never happened to a pet in my care! If I had to go out and buy a hamburger or prepare a special diet, I would do that gladly to encourage an anxious and fearful pet to feel more secure and stay healthy.

So this disturbing experience my dog had while I was away, plus the fact that during that time I was not finding the graphic design positions that I had found in other parts of the U.S., reminded me how much I have always loved animals and pets. I loved Lassie, Flipper and Gentle Ben, stories of companionship, friendship and love between animals and people that had bonded. And for me, my two Italian Greyhounds, Alfa and Saucie, were the light of my life, and the inspiration for my logo for Teacher’s Pet, the two little profile heads. For me, and like many people feel these days, my pets were my family! They sat beside me on the sofa, sleep in bed at night and often during the day, and I provided the best food, nutrition and enrichment so they can have a long, healthy lives. And many other pet parents and guardians feel the same way.

I realized that there was a need and opportunity for someone with my love of pets, entrepreneurial spirit and ability to comfort and care for family pets., like I have done with mine. I had worked in the corporate world for many years feeling like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. And coming out of a decade of studying, working and teaching graphic design in a city that didn’t yet have the design opportunities that I had found in other areas. And with professional pet sitting being a service and business that was not widely known, there were many pet parents who had yet to even hear about this in-home service for their pets. People could travel or be at work all day, and not worry that their pets were eating, playing, exercising, being social and kept safe.

Often, where I go, they go; but our pets cannot go everywhere we go, especially while we work or vacation.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any new business or venture, there have been obstacles and challenges along the way, especially as a sole proprietor. Often when people think of someone pet sitting or walking dogs, their first thought is “that sounds so fun”. And often is it fun, playing and holding cuddly pets, catching photos of them at their cutest and sweetest, their affection. But there is also the pain of watching a beloved pet that you have cared for many years struggling with pain, illness and dying. When I was busy with many of clients’ dogs, the day would run from early morning to late at night, seven days a week,, for weeks without a day off. It also means working holidays and finding time to take a vacation.

But in the end, like my dad used to like to say, “I did it my way.”

A year ago, after struggling with years of chronic back pain from injuries, I had back surgery. But the few years prior, I had to stop taking on large dogs for walks and were jumpers to protect from further damage. So I mainly took on small dogs and more cat families.. So my business has gone from mainly dogs to mostly cats. I love them both!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As the sole proprietor of Teacher’s Pet Orlando, I provide professional, experienced and personalized pet care in your home while you are away at work or travel. Teacher’s Pet was established in 2001 and serves in and around Downtown Orlando, and areas with 32801, 32803, 32806 and 32814 zip codes. With traffic and how spread out Orlando is, my service area is much more manageable and I’m spending more time with the pets, not in traffic so much.

I’ve always had a way to help calm down anxious and draw out fearful pets, especially cats that typically hide from strangers. Pets, and their families, appreciate that I like to take time to spend with them. Whether it is playing, sitting in my lap or walking. My service is for those that appreciate someone caring for their pets by spending time, not just running in and out for a potty break or throw down food. And I personalize visits to requests by clients and what the pets need.

Often part of the care I provide is for special needs pets that need medication, diabetic injections, special diets and at times behavior issues.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I feel pretty sure that are a few surprising things that people don’t often know about me that’s related to my business and work. One thing is that we had family pets until we found out that I had terrible allergies and asthma to dogs, and especially cats! On a scale from 0 to 6 (6 being the highest level of allergic reaction to testing, cats were a 6 and dogs a 3. If I was in a room in someone’s house and they had a cat, I was wheezing within minutes and having trouble breathing. I didn’t even have to touch a cat, just being in the same room. So for many years, unfortunately I lived without pets at home. Just befriended other pets and stray cats.

That was how I discovered the Italian Greyhound, a toy sighthound breed. Although they are not technically considered a non-allergic dog breed, they tend to trigger little in allergic reactions because they have very fine, singular layer coats and rarely have a doggy odor like dogs with double coats. When I discovered and looked in the beautiful eyes of the first one I had seen, it was love at first sight!

Contact Info:

• Email: teacherspetsit@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/teacherspet.orlando?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Teachers-Pet-Orlando-289752454369865/
• Other: https://g.page/teacher-s-pet-Orlando