The beginnings in pet taxi services
Animals, nature, the countryside, memories…
Olivier Michaud, creator and founder of this new structure in the animal world, and more specifically in pet taxi services.
From a very young age, during school holidays, I regularly went to Valence-d’Albigeois, a small French village located in the Tarn region, where my grandparents lived.
This small agricultural area introduced me to a world very different from that of the Paris suburbs.
Most of my family members and relatives worked in sheep farming, poultry farming, or agriculture.
Like many households, my grandparents had four-legged animals.
Mickey and Titus were the family dogs.
In the small garden behind the house, my grandfather kept rabbits and also grew vegetables.
When the season approached, we would go mushroom picking in little-known spots that only my grandfather knew.
My grandmother, meanwhile, prepared excellent meals, all more generous than the last.
So many wonderful memories…
My mother had cats and dogs, fish as well, and I always grew up in an environment where animals were part of our daily lives.
This is the origin of my closeness to nature and animals, which I would like to share with you.
A professional journey takes shape
Freight transport
Holding a freight transport license and being an entrepreneur at heart, in 2012 I created my first company in freight transport after gaining experience as a delivery driver in the Paris region.
Our drivers carried out pure delivery services: letters, parcels, and pallets.
The experience was very enriching, as the company grew from just a few delivery routes to larger contracts, with a much bigger team to manage (up to 50 drivers).
Transport became my path.
Passenger transport
I later created another activity in passenger transport after obtaining my license for passenger transport (up to 9 seats).
Bookings were made through our website, and our customer base gradually grew. We offered private journeys and shuttle services, including connections to Paris-Orly Airport and Paris–Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport in Roissy.
Passenger transport with animals
Passenger transport, or VTC (chauffeur-driven vehicle services), is an activity I truly enjoyed, and I decided to embark on this journey on my own, adding my personal touch: this time, our dogs and cats would be part of the experience.
VTC
Independence is essential for someone like me, who values freedom and enjoys doing things his own way.
This activity offers a great deal of freedom thanks to its flexibility.
Income is fully controlled by the service provider, as pricing can be adjusted according to demand.
Journeys can be short, between two train stations or two airports.
Longer trips for a move? Or even a special request? We respond to them all.
Being self-employed allows you to manage your own business; strategic decisions depend not on a hierarchy, but on your own entrepreneurial vision and field experience.
The opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life is also extremely enriching.
Especially when clients have animals…
Most taxis or VTC services do not accept animals, or only do so reluctantly.
Concerns about hair or potential incidents are the main reasons.
As a result, many pet owners are left without solutions and turn to pet taxi services.
Some services only accept animals in cages inside the vehicle, which is not our case. Our company also holds a VTC license, allowing us to transport owners together with their dogs or cats in the vehicle.
VTC with animals
When a person gets into the vehicle with an animal, the animal is not necessarily reassured at first.
However, once a conversation begins between the owner and the driver, the atmosphere relaxes. Driving smoothly, paying attention to every obstacle or road surface, helps reduce the animal’s stress and anxiety.
I notice that exchanges are much warmer with passengers who have animals.
Naturally, the main topic of conversation is the dog or cat, as pet owners are often passionate about their companions and enjoy sharing anecdotes and advice.
We usually start by introducing the “little one,” mentioning their name, breed, and behavior as a way to start the conversation.
Sometimes, the length of the journey goes unnoticed as we talk about pet-friendly places and activities for animals.
The atmosphere is always pleasant and relaxed, and the animal often falls asleep.
