Meet Jessica Cobb: Pet care service provider

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica Cobb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Knowing that I’m providing a valuable and needed service for our clients makes me extremely happy. It is super rewarding to see a dog come out of it’s shell after the owner bring it to our daycare program or an owner really step up to the plate and put the dog training they learned in one of our classes into practice.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have learned over this past year and a half that the support of our clients and our community is an amazing thing to see! A business like ours has truly touched alot of people because we care for the thing that they love. This was very evident when my husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer a year and a half ago, just four short months after expanding & opening the brick and mortar business. Our life was turned upside down. So many of our clients helped us out with donations, encouragement, fundraisers, etc. to help us get some of the treatment for Russ. He is still going through treatment and care and we still have clients that will randomly mail us a donation check, drop by and give us a card of encouragement, ask about Russ and tell me they’re praying for him. Small town vibes are strong in this city and while some say that’s a bad thing, it has been a godsend for us during this time. We couldn’t have gotten through and preserved to where we are now without it and we are forever grateful how opening this business has brought us so many friends and wonderful people into our circle.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a sucker for wide open spaces, fresh air and off-the-beaten path experiences. I love Griffin because you have amenities of the city such as restaurants, necessities, etc., but you can drive 10 minutes in almost any direction and enjoy some beautiful farm scenery and open roads. I would take visiting guests to the town of Woodbury, which is about a 45 min. drive through lovely backroads to High Cotton, an antique warehouse and do some shopping. At some point, we would definitely stop at Honeywood Farms in Barnesville for some farm fresh food. They have a beautiful open pavilion on the farm where you can eat and enjoy the scenery and views. As far as eating in town, definitely Bank Street Cafe for their burgers or really, anything! The ambience of what used to be an old bank, is pretty awesome, along with their food. Then we for sure would have to hit up Corner Cafe downtown for one of their HUGE, amazing desserts! Because I’m a huge animal lover, a place I always take visitors to is just outside of Griffin in Locust Grove to the Noahs Ark Animal Sanctuary. It’s a beautiful rescue for all kinds of exotic animals with shaded paved trails and it is free admission. Very peaceful and fun for everyone.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
This entire business of ours would have never existed if it wasn’t for the encouragement and support I got from my husband, Russ. He was the one that said it’s ok to quit your “normal” job and start up this pet sitting thing about eight years ago when we lived in Pennsylvania, knowing he would be supporting us both while I built it up. And then again when we moved to Georgia, he was always the voice of encouragement to keep going, you can do it again! Times were not easy financially for most of those years, but he never doubted me even when I doubted myself. As of a little over a year ago, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. The doctors have given him up for dead on more than one occasion and we were told last March that he had six months or less to live. Here we are going on a year and we are seeing improvements, albeit very slow, with the new clinic we are going to. This man has taught me more about fighting, perseverance, positivity and keeping a good attitude no matter what life hands you than anyone I have ever known. And still to this day, as we have expanded my little pet sitting business into a 6,000 sq. ft brick and mortar building that offers multiple services, he tells me almost weekly how proud he is of me and what I’ve accomplished. People may see me as the “face of the business”, but he’s truly the reason why it exists.