Meet The Pack Leader Carly

It all started when…

My journey began at a young age, around 7 or 8, in the neighborhood of Colonial Hills. Even back then, I had a fiery entrepreneurial spirit. I'd play 'restaurant', taking orders from menus I crafted on construction paper, featuring dishes I could whip up from our pantry. My heart was equally divided between a deep love for animals. I rode horses, dreamt of imaginary pets, and was always eager to be around animals.

When I was 8 years old, I had a brilliant idea – to start a pet care company. Originally named Carly's Pet Care, I eagerly distributed flyers throughout our neighborhood, offering dog visits, fish care, and kitty cuddles. My mom would accompany me, which not only added an extra layer of care but also exposed me to the ins and outs of home care. While my prices eventually rose from $2 per dog, my passion remained unwavering.

Throughout school, I sporadically helped family friends with their furry companions. But it wasn't until a summer break during college that I had an epiphany – I could turn my passion into a real business. I provided pet care to local neighbors, to ensure they could travel stress-free while their pets received the love they deserved. It was a dream job for an animal lover like me. My clients soon grew from 5 homes to 40 during that summer.

Realizing the need for more like-minded pet sitters, I enlisted the help of my sisters, college roommates, and close friends, and year after year, we witnessed incredible growth. This journey involved more clients, more sitters, the development of policies and procedures, the introduction of forms, bonding, insurance, a mobile app for booking, communication, and payments, and so much more. Fast forward a decade, and so much has changed!

We proudly rebranded to Happy Tails Pet Care and my connections with other pet care companies in Columbus enabled me to acquire three businesses, adding to our Happy Tails family. With a client list exceeding 1,000 homes, countless pets, and a dedicated team of sitters, my role shifted from hands-on pet care to expanding my passion for business and networking.

In addition to Happy Tails, I also founded two other businesses. Happy Trail Adventures is my passion project, where I educate women on the joys and skills of backpacking. With thousands of solo backpacking miles under my belt, including journeys on the Pacific Crest Trail, the Colorado Trail, and the Long Trail in Vermont, my mission is to bridge the gender gap in outdoor adventures. My workshop classes, alumni trips, book clubs, and community day hikes aim to empower women to explore the great outdoors.

My primary focus is serving the Columbus community through real estate. I am a REALTOR® with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services and have added Happy Homes to my list of business ventures. I find immense satisfaction in assisting clients, especially those who are cross-clients from Happy Tails and Happy Trail Adventures.

Though my businesses span different services, the common thread is my dedication to serving and providing value to others. I've always been someone who believes in giving more than I take, and it brings me immense joy to support my clients in various ways. Whether it's caring for your beloved pets and homes, guiding you through the home buying or selling process, or equipping you with the skills to embrace the outdoors – it's profoundly rewarding to serve and help my clients in their unique journeys.

Feel free to follow me on social media or send me an email – I'd love to connect with you!

With warmth and gratitude,

Carly Johnson