A few days ago, the Municipality of Saint-Polycarpe opened its doors to a new business headed by an 8-and-a-half-year-old employee. A great lover of animals in general, Florence decided to earn her pocket money in the best possible way: by taking care of pets of all sizes. 

Since birth, Florence has had excellent contact with animals. "I love being with them and wanted to be even more than usual (laughs) so that's why I decided to go into business for myself. I don't have a favorite animal, I just love taking care of them. I offer people the chance to go for a walk with their dog, or to come to their home when they're away to feed their bird, rodent or cat,” sums up the young woman who attends the Sainte-Justine-de-Newton pavilion at Val-des-Près elementary school. 

At the time of her interview with the author, Florence did not yet have any customers. However, the day after the interview, she landed her first client and will start taking care of 3 cats and 2 dogs on a regular basis next week. 

For her services, Florence charges $3 to walk a small dog and $5 for larger dogs. For home visits, rates will be adjusted accordingly, depending on the number of animals and the tasks involved.

The young woman is available from 6pm to 8pm on weeknights during the school year, and on weekends from 9am to 3pm. 

Of course, to be able to do her job, Florence can count on the support and help of her mother Elyse Arbic, who will drive her to her customers, who must live in the Saint-Polycarpe area. "Florence is my eldest child, and she's very mature for her age. At the age of five, she was already talking about opening her own confectionery. She quickly understands a lot of things that other children her age don't always grasp. She's very gifted. She loves to read, draw and is very good at school. She exceeds her teacher's expectations,” says Ms. Arbic. 

What job does Florence want to do when she grows up? “I don't know exactly, but something related to the animal world,” she replies, without much surprise.

Recovering from major depression 

Despite her young age, Florence hasn't always had it easy since she was born. At the age of five, the young girl suffered from depression, from which she recovered thanks to Pringle, a Siberian husky. 

"In 2020, my father died suddenly, and he had a very special relationship with Florence. They were very close to each other. In 2021, we moved from Les Cèdres to Saint-Polycarpe and she started kindergarten at the same time. In 2022, we also welcomed a new child into the family. All these factors plunged Florence into a major depression. She was no longer recognizable. She wasn't the bubbly little girl she used to be, she had dark thoughts and she really wasn't well,” confides Mrs. Arbic. 

In 2023, the family adopted Pringle, who became Florence's best friend and confidant. "He calmed her anxiety and really helped her heal from her depression. He was a faithful companion to her and an unfailing support. Then, in January 2024, Pringle passed away. It caused Florence a lot of grief, but it was the presence of this faithful friend that inspired her to start her own business,” she concludes, confirming that the young woman has regained her characteristic dynamism and smile. 

Anyone interested in using Florence's services can contact her on Messenger via her official Facebook page Florence, l'amie des chiens.