In the five years she spent working in the veterinary field, Laurie Robinson's long work days made her realize the need for pet sitters.

"In my case, there wasn't enough time for me to drive home on my lunch break, so I had little choice but to leave my dogs without relief until my return home in the evening," Robinson said. "While this isn't necessarily bad for the pet, it is certainly less than the ideal situation."

Robinson had opened a more traditional pet-sitting service last fall. But when she realized there were other people in the same situation, Robinson decided to leave the vet job and devote herself full-time to Rover's Recess in Valparaíso.

"I know there are people in Valparaiso who experience similar situations and would like to give their pets a 'recess' during the work week," she said. "That's why I've created Rover's Recess. Rather than using a lunch break to rush home to let the dog out, busy professionals now have a service to alleviate this added stressor."

It was a leap of faith to leave the comfort of her full-time job at Vale Park Animal Hospital in Valparaiso, where Robinson learned animal handling techniques, husbandry and overall pet interaction skills. But with enough regular pet-sitting clients, Robinson felt she could handle the transition.

"I loved my job," she said. "But I have an entrepreneurial streak and I was ready for a change. I figured if I didn't do it now, I never would."

The goal of Rover's Recess is to provide personalized care for dogs when their owners cannot. Visits average about 15 minutes and can help with such issues as house-training a puppy, senior dogs with poor bladder control, and pets with separation anxiety.

Robinson believes her credentials -- she is an active member of Pet Sitters International and carries liability insurance -- will help make her business a success. So she had brochures printed and started passing them out at pet supply stores. Robinson is currently focusing the business in the Valparaiso area and will expand with the demand.

"I have a wonderfully supportive husband, and I know the market is out there," she said. "So now that I've quit my job, it's really sink or swim."

Rover's Recess

Owner: Laurie Robinson

Phone: (219) 916-8548

Number of employees: One

When opened: April 2

Type of business: Pet care business focusing on mid-day home visits for working professionals' pets