How did dj's Critter Care get its start?
DJ Intermill began dj's Critter Care in September 1990 as a one woman business. Under her guidance, Critter Care is now Columbia's oldest professional pet sitting service.
It wasn't long before additional sitters were contracted. The business has continued to grow ever since. In 1994 DJ quit her "regular" job and made Critter Care a full-time endeavor. In April of 1997 a competing business, Palmetto Pet Sitters, was purchased. Today Critter Care has 12 sitters who provide loving care to pets.
DJ Intermill is involved in a pet sitters listserv where pet sitters from all over the world share stories and ideas.
Our Staff
Pet sitters for Critter Care must be honest pet lovers who pass two background checks. We look for responsible adults who have pets of their own, have worked two jobs at once before and have shown good judgment in the past. All sitters are bonded.
DJ Intermill currently covers the St Andrews, Irmo, West Columbia and Lexington areas of town. Back in the early days she worked from the Northeast to the VA Hospital to Lexington to Ballentine...which is how Critter Care grew and DJ went through so many cars. DJ has two dogs, three cats and an aquarium of her own.
Kim Kordes began as Critter Care customer first and then began pet sitting in 1999. She covers the Irmo area. Kim and her husband Mike, who also pet sits, have three boys, four dogs, a hamster and a fish. Kim works a regular job for SCE&G. Kim seems to really enjoy pet sitting unless a snake is mentioned!
Leslie Wylie was one of Critter Care's first pet sitting customers 17 years ago. Leslie began working as a dog daycare worker which really means she can throw a tennis ball for hours! As the mid-day dog walking business grew in the Irmo area, she began helping walk dogs in the middle of the week. It wasn't long before Leslie started doing regular pet sitting. Leslie and her husband have 2 kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats.
Anna McNeal has been pet sitting in the 29209 area of Columbia since 2004 and is the backup sitter for the City of Columbia sitters. She has two dogs, one cat and fish.
Charlene Cassidy is another pet sitter who began as a customer. Charlene covers the City of Columbia and has three dogs of her own.
Robin and Billy Osborne are customers turned pet sitters who also cover the Lexington area. They have two dogs and three cats.
Susan Hamilton is back! Susan was a pet sitter for about 8 years and then retired from pet sitting. Now she's back, living in Irmo and busy getting acquainted with some of her former customers. Some of you may recognize Susan from when she worked the downtown area too. It's the same Susan.
Susie Gilbert is a long time customer (from the early 1990s) turned pet sitter. Susie and her husband have two grown children, 3 dogs and 1 cat.
Cameron Gilbert is a Critter Care customer too and one of Susie's grown children. Cameron has 2 labs. Cameron is the downtown dog walker who covers St Andrews dog walks sometimes. Cameron will be doing regular pet sitting in the City of Columbia.
Karen Bromwell began pet sitting for Critter in 2008 but she began working for one of our friendly competitors about 7 years ago. Karen, who covers Irmo, shares her home with two of her three children and they have 4 dogs.
Sara Hanle is our newest pet sitter. She lives outside of Lexington and will be covering Red Bank and a portion of Lexington. Sara and her husband have 2 dogs and a kitten.