If you'd like to work out of a home office and take care of animals and their owners, being a wholistic veterinarian might make a lovely choice. But with our rat race lifestyles, even pet sitters and dog walkers are in high demand these days.

"I SEE ALL MY PATIENTS IN THEIR HOMES"

Working from a home office in Northern Virginia, veterinarian Krisi Erwin makes house calls only, bringing acupuncture, hospice services, canine rehabilitation and much more to her four-legged patients. Owners, too, are helped, with everything from grief counseling to understanding that age is not a disease, but a normal part of life.

In short, it's a wholistic approach, which is why her practice is named Wholistic Paws Veterinary Services (www.wholisticpawsvet.com).

We caught up with Dr. Erwin by email to learn more. "I've been a veterinarian since 2003. I worked at a local general practice for eight and a half years, and I realized there was a real need for specialized in-home care for some of my patients," she explained.

"Some pet parents would choose to not seek medical care for an aged pet due to the stress and struggle of getting them into the hospital. Some of my patients would injure themselves in the car when they would come in for an acupuncture session, thus negating the benefit of the treatment ... And finally, many families would prefer to say good-bye to a beloved friend in the comfort and dignity of their own home and not in the 'impersonal' exam room."

LESSONS FROM OUR PETS

Many home-office workers have pets, and some of the strongest bonds develop as a result. Erwin says her own pets taught her many valuable lessons. "My dog Amadeus, my co-pilot who wonderfully guided me through high school, college and vet school, and then into my career, suffered from a great deal of arthritis. He responded beautifully to acupuncture and rehabilitation medicine, and he really taught me how much these techniques can help to improve and extend quality of life."

Erwin also learned much from her cat, Grace. "She was the brilliant mastermind and the 'mayor' of our household ... She was a wonderful companion and she taught me how the end-of-life experience and hospice care could be deeply meaningful and a chance to do that 'one more thing' for one who has done so much for me."

Erwin learned even more when her cat developed cancer. "She coped with it with dignity and an amazing attitude. My experience helping her until she was able to pass peacefully on her own inspired me to try and bring hospice care to my community so that others might experience this bittersweet but invaluable time with their own pets."

PET MASSAGE THERAPIST

If you'd like to work with animals and be home-based, too, Erwin has some suggestions.

"You can learn to be a pet massage therapist. There are various programs across the country such as Equissage (www.equissage.com) that provide excellent training. If you're interested in learning how to help pet parents as they grieve, training is available through the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (www.aplb.org) and through the Pet Loss Companioning courses offered through Two Hearts Pet Loss Center (www.twoheartspetlosscenter.com). There are also excellent courses offered through the Center for Loss in Fort Collins, Colo. (www.centerforloss.com)."

Pet sitters and dog walkers are in high demand, too. For more on those callings, see the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (www.petsitters.org) and DogWalker.com.

Christine Durst and Michael Haaren are leaders in the work-at-home movement and advocates of de-rat-raced living. Their latest book is "Work at Home Now," a guide to finding home-based jobs. They offer additional guidance on finding home-based work at www.RatRaceRebellion.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.