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OH CANADA! SAVE 10% ON FEES ON ALL SERVICES BOOKED FOR JULY 2025!
Pet parents need help sometimes, too - and let's face it: kennels aren't always the best option.
Life get's hard enough.
We aim to make it a little easier by providing access to quality, private pet care services in Calgary and designed to support all Calgarians of all walks of life.
Hope you enjoy learning more about our story, team, and how we strive to focus on our communities.
The Spare Humans Story
If I am being honest, the story of how The Spare Humans came to be is pretty unoriginal - a tale as old as time, really:
Everything sucked. My mental health was crumbling, and I needed to earn more money. Despite nearly a decade in a cushy, big-wig job with a fancy financial firm, I found myself struggling to pay down debt acquired over a tumultuous few years as my personal life fell apart and costs of living climbed. I sat myself down one day, determined to find a solution. I ended up with fifty-seven "side hustles".
Batsh*t insane, right? Right.
Pet sitting eventually made the top-five I kept. I liked and was experienced with animals. Especially those "problem pets" many avoid. It got me out of my apartment. Paid okay. Sure, why not? Money in the bank - nothing more, nothing less. Then Susan contacted me in February 2024. I was going to spend three weeks housesitting Bean, a six-month old Westie while Susan was out of the country. Susan and Bean changed everything.
I fell in love - with the people, with the animals, the heartwarming experiences and the completely absurd ones- all of it. As the bookings rolled in an idea began to quietly form: I was good at this. I enjoyed this. I could ... build something incredible with this.
Gradually, the money stopped mattering as much and the constant burnout and stress I faced at the firm stopped being worth it - I was truly helping people again - something I missed dearly while I climbed the corporate ladder two rungs at a time. By October 2024 I had resigned from my safe but increasingly unfulfilling career with nothing lined up beyond this little idea. I was terrified.
"This is so not like me. At all. Oh, sh*t. Oh, God. What have I done?"
Ignoring the panic perhaps to near-delusion, I brought Ty in officially to work with me. He had been helping out frequently by this point out of shear necessity due to demand for pet sitting in Calgary and my unfortunate inability to be in multiple places at once. I had decided to go full tilt and begin to build The Spare Humans - not just a company, but a community that is just as much about the people as it is their pets, and here we are. While I have since returned to Corporateland (bills don't care about dreams), taking the leap and starting this company remains the best decision I ever made.
We continue to grow and are constantly seeking opportunities to build connections with Primary Humans and interested Spares in the communities in which we live and work. We are actively seeking partnerships with various local small businesses, professional groups, and government/non-profit organizations that operate within or assist those groups of Calgarians most disadvantaged when seeking the affordable services they need to become their best selves.
We are so excited for what's next and beyond grateful that we get to do this every day.
Thanks for stopping by - it's been so nice to meet you!
Yours truly,
Lauren M.
Bean, the pup who started it all. R.I.P. little maniac
Meet the Team
The Spare Humans currently consists of just us two pet sitters (Lauren & Ty) located in the Beltline district of downtown . However, we are actively seeking additional Spares in all quadrants of the city and are excited to care for even more of Calgary's pets and people!
Working as a team permits us to function with multiple flexible schedules and allows for coordinated coverage to ensure pets in our care are always given the attention they deserve so Primary Humans can rest assured that their companions are being prioritized.
Lauren
Lauren has over a decade of experience caring for pets of all sizes and species, including special needs and seniors. A specialized skill set focuses on trauma-affected and/or reactive large dogs, including but not limited to Cane Corso, Shepherds, and Bully breeds. Her balanced approach of compassion and regiment coupled with "alpha energy" is ideal for pets with unique needs. Knowledge of stimulus requirements ensures clients have routines and training maintained or enhanced.
Lauren has escorted many across the Rainbow Bridge, and is hyper-sensitive to dietary and medical needs, including being well educated on when changes to behavioral or physical mannerisms require vet attention. Since returning to a role in the financial world, Lauren's availability tends to vary, so she and Ty coordinate closely to ensure coverage is a non-issue.
Ty
Ty is a feline expert having been the Primary Human of cats his entire life, though he knows his pup care as well. Ty is well-versed in administering a wide range of medicines and is familiar with many common ailments and allergies cats encounter and their symptoms and treatments. Ty loves the grouchy, ornery, and quirky. His laid-back and calm energy quickly makes him a pet favorite who Velcro to or shadow him frequently which often demotes Lauren, his wife, to third wheel (who is not at all bitter about this). Ty is also a talented musician and has found a new fanbase in our furry friends, especially those that struggle with anxiety or hyperactivity.
Ty's availability is very open and flexible; however, a knee injury makes him currently unable to safely accept extended dog walking requests with large breeds that are on the higher end of the reactivity scale.
Honorary Team Member: Szechuan
Szechuan ("Shesh") is a zoom-filled, runt-of-the-litter little lady that gives the best headbutts and mostly hangs perched on our shoulders. Shesh is the reason we always meet with her potential new roommates before confirming any boarding or day care bookings. Despite her very tiny stature she has the biggest personality and is not aggressive unless in self defense, which has unfortunately been required in the past.
Shesh is a great pal for calm, female or generally older pups. That said, she is tolerating of others not in these categories as long as they respect her space & boundaries (i.e. The Cool/Panic Room [see below] remains her safe space if overwhelmed). She's a good girl and a sweet baby, who generally adjusts to being a roommate to other four-legged friends with a little bit of patience.
Does your community need a Spare Human?
If you think it could be you, we would love to chat!
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