Friday the 13th Survival Guide for Pet-Care Pros

You aren't scared of a black cat crossing your path… What's actually frightening is a double-booked holiday weekend. Friday the 13th has a reputation. Broken mirrors. Spilled kibble. A surprise inspection. A line out the door at 7:02 a.m.

But for pet-care pros like you, superstition has nothing on lobby chaos, missed vaccination records, and five simultaneous phone calls.

So in honor of this notoriously “unlucky” day, we’ve put together a survival guide to help you dodge the real fright: operational mayhem. Let’s turn those spooky scenarios into smooth systems for more tail wags and belly rubs.

stressed woman with dog

Scare #1: The Haunted Front Desk

Scene: It’s 8:15 a.m. Three check-ins. One new client. A forgotten rabies record. The phone is ringing. Again.

Survival Tip: PreCheck Before the Panic

With Gingr PreCheck, pet parents handle the paperwork before they walk through your doors:

Vaccination records uploaded in advance
Waivers signed digitally
Feeding and medication details confirmed
Add-ons selected ahead of time

That means fewer clipboard juggling acts and up to $15–$25 more per reservation in add-ons—without awkward upsell conversations at the counter .

Friday the 13th can’t touch a front desk that runs itself.

Scare #2: The Curse of the Missing Records

Scene:
“Hi! I dropped off Buddy last year.”
You search. And search. And search.

Paper files. Sticky notes. Spreadsheets. Somewhere.

Survival Tip: Centralize Everything

Pet-care businesses tell us one of their biggest pain points is juggling multiple systems. Or worse, managing reservations manually. That's enough to make us want to scream in fright.

All-in-one pet-care software combines:

Scheduling
Notes and alerts
Digital contracts
Vaccination management
Payments and reporting

No more ghost-hunting through filing cabinets. Just instant access to the info you need to keep pets safe and customers confident.

pet business missing records with dog and client

Scare #3: The No-Show Nightmare

Scene:
You staffed up. Prepped kennels. Turned away other bookings. And… crickets. No-shows are the real horror story.

Survival Tip: Automate Confirmations & Deposits

Reduce no-shows with:

Automated confirmations and reminders
Self-service deposit collection at booking
Recurring memberships and packages that build commitment

When your system prompts pet parents automatically, you protect your revenue without chasing texts or leaving voicemails. Now that’s what we call scary smart.

Scare #4: “We’re Too Busy to Switch Software”

Friday the 13th energy says: “Don’t make changes. What if something goes wrong?”

We hear this one a lot. But here’s the twist: Many facilities are “too busy” because they’re doing tasks that could be automated .

With Gingr:

Onboarding includes dedicated Customer Success support
Data import options are available
Training resources live inside GingrU
You get guided setup, not guesswork

Switching doesn’t have to feel like walking through a haunted house. It can feel organized, collaborative, and clear.

dog looking at pet-care business software on computer

Scare #5: Revenue Plateaus

The quiet fear no one talks about:
“What if we’ve hit our ceiling?”

Between rising costs and staffing challenges, growth can feel… unpredictable.

Survival Tip: Let Your Software Boost the Bottom Line

With the right systems in place, you can:

Increase average ticket size through add-ons ($15–$25 per reservation)
Implement peak-date pricing automatically
Build recurring revenue with memberships and packages
Increase staff tips by up to 80% with integrated payment prompts

Friday the 13th might be unpredictable. Your revenue doesn’t have to be.

The Real Secret to Surviving Friday the 13th (and Every Other Day)

It’s not garlic. It’s not lucky charms. It’s not avoiding black cats (we love those). Survival means having systems that work quietly in the background so you can focus on what matters most: the pets in your care and the relationships you’re building with their humans.

At Gingr, our mission is simple: help pet-care businesses thrive .

That means giving you tools that: