Meet Melissa Dolo

We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Dolo recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Throughout my life I have found purpose by taking risks and following my heart. I am going to tell you about some important moments that helped shape who I am today.

Purpose through Creativity

In elementary school I was involved in dance, chorus, and band. In high school I enjoyed graphic design, photography, and videography. These hobbies helped me express myself through high school graduation. As I prepared for college, I felt like creative majors were frowned upon. I slowly started letting go of my creative self. I needed to choose a field where I could get a job after graduation. I really liked working with children and decided to major in psychology.

Purpose through Service

My first year of college was hard, specifically being a first generation student with limited knowledge and guidance. During college, I didn’t have time for creative hobbies. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those activities were a huge part of my identity and brought me joy. I was accepted into the AmeriCorps Bonner Community Scholar program at Rider University. This is where my love for helping others really ignited. I mentored youth in an afterschool program who were living in transitional housing. This was a powerful moment for me. I never experienced food insecurity or homelessness growing up. The resilience within these kids inspired me. It affirmed my career choice of wanting to help children.

Purpose through Community Building

After my undergraduate studies, I pursued a master’s degree in Community Counseling. This was driven by my community service exposure. I was offered an Assistantship in Campus Life and this moment forever changed me. It opened my eyes to new career opportunities and reinvigorated my creative spirit. In my role, I was tasked with creating events and building community for undergraduate and graduate students. Community building brought me a strong sense of purpose and through that experience I made lifelong connections. Event planning opened many doors for me. It led to 11 years of planning impactful academic, social, and cultural events for university students. It also brought me to New York, a dream of mine! I worked at the Fashion Institute of Technology with amazingly talented students, and had the chance to work on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Purpose through Change

After I got married, I took a leap of faith and relocated to San Diego from New York with my husband. This was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. It took a while to land a job in Higher Education. While I waited, I wanted to explore San Diego and make some money so I started dog walking with Rover. I fell in love with dog walking, but eventually I landed a job at San Diego State University. I enjoyed my time in Student Life & Leadership but wanted something more flexible for my growing family. My career of 11 years in student affairs and event planning had come to an end and the feeling was bittersweet. I joined a startup company in the pharmaceuticals industry. This was a huge change as I had no experience in this space. Fortunately, I was paired with an amazing mentor and friend who provided guidance. Eventually, I became comfortable in my client success role and was promoted to a team lead. While in this role, I found purpose through training and mentoring teammates. However, after 5 years in this career I knew it was time to move on and do something different.

I left a promising career and started on a self-reflection journey. What would make me happy, what was I missing in my life? I came back to the industry that filled me with the most joy; PETS! While I was a dog walker I had an idea of transporting dogs for their owners. At the time I didn’t have the confidence or strength to start my own business. I’ve had many moments of doubt and imposter syndrome since I became a small business owner. The difference now is that I have nothing to lose and an extremely supportive husband. I know running your own business is hard work, but it’s incredibly gratifying putting all of your time and energy into something you are extremely proud of.

I have always followed my heart and purpose has found me. I took risks, tried new things, and learned from every experience. Each decision has prepared me for this next chapter of my life. Today, I am the proud owner of Pup Rider, a pet taxi service in San Diego.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I recently launched a pet taxi business in San Diego called Pup Rider. Since I was a kid, I loved being around dogs. Growing up my favorite pup was Nana, a beautiful Siberian Husky with lots of energy. When I was a dog walker I felt the happiest and healthiest. It was the kind of job that didn’t feel like work, it was fun and free. During my time as a dog walker I had many opportunities to transport pups. I’d pick them up for overnight visits, take them to a dog park, or bring them with me on errands. It was an idea I sat on for several years because I didn’t see myself as a business owner. It wasn’t until I quit my day job and had some creative space that the idea came flooding back. Many people are accustomed to door to door service for their food, groceries, and laundry. Why not help out busy dog owners too.

Following my exit from the startup company, I was burnt out and looking for purpose in my life. I met with a friend in the summer of 2022 and we started talking about our dream jobs. As she was speaking I couldn’t believe she had the same vision as me. First, that means it’s a good idea. Second, what am I waiting for! That moment opened my eyes and made me realize there was no better time to get this idea off the ground. When I first started working on the business, I was half committed. In my mind I needed to snag a full-time gig to prove I was successful after leaving my position at the startup. This was a tough time for me mentally. I went through a lot of rejection and couldn’t stay focused on my next move. In the moment it sucked, I felt like a failure. In January 2023, I was passed over for a position and said; “Okay universe I think you are trying to tell me something, let’s do this.” That was the motivation I needed to fully commit to Pup Rider and becoming a small business owner.

Now let me tell you about Pup Rider. It’s a 1 woman show with many brilliant supporters. I am a committed mom, wife, and dog lover who understands how crazy life can get with work and personal responsibilities. I am here to alleviate the stress of shuffling your dog(s) to appointments, daycare, or the dog park. Some folks have multiple dogs with different needs; a puppy who attends training classes, a senior dog who visits the vet often, or an energetic dog that needs to run and play at the dog beach. Whether you need Pup Rider’s services for a travel emergency or daily pick-ups and drop-offs to daycare, we are here to cater to you and your dog’s needs.

Many people say; “So this is Uber for dogs right? That is the best way to explain my services, but the safety and comfort of pups is my main concern. Pup Rider is so much more than a ride. If needed, I can enter someone’s home and take their dog to an appointment when they are busy. I offer a Meet and Greet for all new clients to ensure it’s a good fit and the dog is comfortable with me and the car. The vehicle has multiple seating options with comfort and safety in mind. A comfy dog couch in the back with safety belt hook-up to harness, a soft crate option with padded bed, or a bucket seat with safety belt hook-up to harness. If the dog has mobility issues, I offer a ramp to help them into the car. I have experience handling and transporting dogs as a pet sitter and dog walker on Rover since 2015. My profile has 60+ 5 star reviews with 23 repeat clients. I am First Aid, CPR, and Pet Sitter Certified through PetTech and NAPPS. I can transport more than 1 dog and won’t turn away breeds or sizes. I have Care, Custody, and Control coverage, as well as commercial auto insurance to ensure your pet is protected while in my care. Your pup will get lots of love, treats, and their favorite music during their ride.

The next time your pup needs a ride to grandma’s house or to make an appearance at a wedding ceremony, trust Pup Rider!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Pure passion and excitement for your business idea 2. Surround yourself with brave and knowledgeable entrepreneurs
3. Ability to take risks

Advice: If you have a good idea or something you truly believe in, go for it. I can’t tell you how many times I had a cool idea and years later I see a similar product or idea selling to the masses. Start small, do your research in your industry, ask for feedback or guidance from community members / industry folks, and don’t give up. Starting anything requires resilience and perseverance. You will make mistakes and may feel out of your league. Learn from these moments, keep learning, and don’t be afraid to seek mentorship or form partnerships within your industry.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes, one of the hardest things about being a new business is getting the word out about your services and finding clients. I have recently been reaching out to pet businesses and letting them know about Pup Rider. I am interested in partnering with any pet industry businesses such as vets, groomers, training facilities, dog runs or parks, shelters, pet stores, pet hotels, dog friendly hotels, restaurants, bars, dog gear, food or treat vendors. I am also open to collaborating with other small business owners in San Diego, as well as wedding and event planners. We all know events are much more entertaining when dogs are in attendance.

I’d like to offer complimentary rides for businesses and people who need it the most. Being able to partner with local shelters and give back to service dogs and veterans would mean the world to me.

If you know anyone who may be interested in my services or partnering, please have them email at [email protected] or message me on Instagram @pup.rider.

Thanks in advance for spreading the word about Pup Rider and getting pups where they need to be safely!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Robyn Perez, Deawaika Dolo

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