Everything but a cow

hen Henry W. Sulzman ’58 retired in May 1994 he permanently traded in his necktie for a leash and began devoting all his time to his pet sitting business—Bud’s Pet Homecare.

Sulzman worked as a school principal for 17 years, first for Downe Township, and later for Upper Deerfield Township. As he began to think about retiring, he hoped to have an established retirement career that didn’t require a shirt and tie. “I wanted to leave education and start something with low overhead,” he said.

His wife Eloise, a professional social worker, gave him the idea for the business after reading an article. Sulzman, who has four dogs and two cats of his own, was accustomed to being around animals. With a love of pets and for the outdoors, animal care seemed a natural move.

And it seems to be a natural talent. In 1995, Pet Sitters International voted Bud’s Pet Homecare as one of the top five pet sitting services in the country. In 1999, The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters inducted Sulzman into its Hall of Fame.
Bud’s Pet Homecare is family owned and operated. Sulzman and his son, Robin, are partners. Sulzman’s daughter also helps out on occasion. He chose the name “Bud” because of the nickname his sister gave him while growing up.

Sulzman began Bud’s Pet Homecare in 1987. He would get up at 4 a.m. and go to a client’s home to care for their animal. Later, after working a full day, he would return to the client’s house again. Slowly the business grew, one pet at a time.

Today, Bud’s Pet Homecare serves more than 400 clients. Over the years he has watched just about every type of pet including horses, donkeys, snakes and piranha. “Everything except cows,” he said. He manages his business according to a simple philosophy: “If you can do it, show me and I'll do it too.”

from summer ’00