Kim ~ She's either a nut case or has no idea how to run a business or is on the verge of bankruptcy or all 3! I don't think your choices are work for her or work at the pet store. If the pet store doesn't work out -- there has got to be other designers you can work with. You have a wonderful portfolio of your artwork. Have you considered asking the pet store if you can hang some of your pet drawings? Many people would love to have a portrait of their babies. And most of them come into pet stores. I know some people who have paid lots of $$$$ to have murals of their furbabies painted in their house. Perhaps the pet store will let you paint some scenes on the walls. Combining your talent and your love of pets seems like a wonderful way to pay the bills.