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Name: Buddy's Sleepovers and Play Dates

Type of business: Non-kennel boarding for dogs, cats, birds, ferrets with boarding provided by screened hosts.

Address: P.O. Box 11 Wickatunk, N.J. 07765

Telephone: (800) 401-8541

Web site: www.buddys-sleepovers.com

Number of employees: 80 hosts

Founded: 2008

Top officers: Marilyn and Howard Beutel, owners

How would you describe your business?

"We match up pet owners and hosts for pets while the owners are away," said owner Marilyn Beutel. "The hosts and their homes are carefully screened so only experienced host families and their safe and warm homes are used to board your pet for an overnight sitting, weekend, or longer when the pet owner takes a vacation or goes out of state on a prolonged visit," said Marilyn Beutel.

"We are very particular about the care your pet will get with the host selected to board your pet. We match pet owners with a host who will board the pet owner's dog, cat, ferret, or bird. We interview each potential host and invite the pet owner with his pet to meet the host before scheduling a sleepover. It's a very personalized service, where we make sure that it is the right environment for both parties.

"We also operate a Pet Taxi to provide pet owners the opportunity to taxi to get the pet to the vet, groomer, or to the host family where the pet will be boarded."

What makes your business special?

"Our very personal service. The host and pet owner meet beforehand and to make sure that it is the right environment for that particular dog. The dog is the only one being hosted and taken in like another family member. I meet personally with the potential hosts; I get to know their personalities and environment. Not everyone is selected to be a host. I'll meet with them and spend time with them before anyone is selected."

What goals do you have for the business?

"Our goal is to expand and keep the quality of our personalized service out of New Jersey and put the service in New York."

How has your business changed?

"Since we began, the demand by pet owners for the service has grown. The amount and variety of people who are making themselves available to be hosts. Those who want to be hosts must be available all day and not working. The increased supply of possible hosts is probably a result of the current economic situation. A lot of the hosts are retired individual or are moms who care about animals."

What was your most important deal?

"Every match we make we make between host and pet is our most important deal. The truth is the dogs are like the owners children so every single match means so much to the owner and whether they want to do this again."

What changes do you expect in the next 10 years?

"I see us continuing to expand, and hopefully we will be able to do the whole Northeast."

What is the most important thing you have learned in your business?

"Customer service. In this type of business, where dogs are treated like family and children, we respect all of the needs of the owners and the dogs. We really become very close to the owners. We listen to all their needs. We don't want them to leave for vacation without feeling 100 percent that their pet is in the right place. There is always a meet-and-greet before the commitment, they spend time there. Ninety-nine percent of the time it is fine. But if the owner is on the fence about it, then I find another host for them. They have to feel 100 percent comfortable with the host before they leave."

What advice would you give to someone considering your line of work?

"It's not as easy as it seems. It takes so long to make a match, between finding a location and a host. You have to be a good listener to be able to match the dog to the host. There are so many elements to this. And you have to understand who would be great as a host, which is the core of the business. It's also a 24/7 business and you have to be prepared for every emergency.

Is there anything else you would rather be doing?

"No. I love doing this. I was a teacher for 30 years, had been the director of a pre-school for four years, and I feel it's very similar working with parents of children and those who are owners of dogs. It's their child and they want the absolute best."