Beware of Low Cost Service

We've been in business for a long time and we've seen our share of low cost alternatives. While we are not in competition with them for your business we do want to share our thoughts to help you make a sound decision.

No Credentials. Most of these providers are not licensed to do business and they don't have insurance or a bond. It is wise to choose someone who places value and professionalism on the service they are providing. Are they bonded and insured? Are they licensed to do business? (you can check with the city) Are they a member of the Chamber of Commerce? Look for signs that they are legitimate and have a professional business presence in the community.

No Accountability. Hobby pet sitters without a business don't have a reputation at stake. There are no documented reviews and they don't have a presence with a professional network. Be wary of trusting anyone in this position.

No Structure. While professional businesses offer a local manager you can always reach and online scheduling with GPS tracking to show you their location and time of arrival and completion, hobbyists don't have these safeguards. We have heard from so many pet parents who call us in a panic that their pet sitter didn't show up, they can't reach them and they don't know if their pets have been cared for since they left for vacation. Yikes. In one situation, the pet owner called the hobbyist who said she was at their house yet they were watching their security cameras and she wasn't! They abandoned their travel and made the 5 hour drive home. This isn't possible when you have flown to your destination.

Very Low Cost. Be skeptical over a business or hobbyist that offers a rate that seems too good to be true. When you consider the travel time and expense between jobs and that, with travel time, it can easily take almost an hour to do a 30 minute visit, how do they support such low wages? Are they invested in the care they provide?

We've all heard the saying "You get what you pay for". We know it is true when we hire team members and we are selective in our hiring process. It is also proven true in any service-oriented business from landscaping to home improvement projects to auto mechanics. The difference in our industry is that, not only are you giving someone the key to your home, lives are at stake. There is a lot riding on your choice. 

What should you do? If budget is your primary concern and you are not able to afford a professional service, with all of the benefits that come with that service, we would strongly recommend choosing a family member or close friend that you know and trust. 

Cat With Asthma

We take care of many special needs pets. Most are diabetic dogs and cats who require insulin injections twice a day. We've also given fluids to pets who have kidney disease, injections for pain medications and plenty of oral medications for all sorts of conditions from blood pressure to thyroid. We have all sorts of tricks to get those pills down when the pets aren't cooperative.

Rama is a cat with asthma. He's on an inhaled steroid once a day after every evening meal. He must sit quietly with the pet sitter and take 8 to 10 breaths from his inhaler. The client also has a rescue inhaler standing by should he have an asthma attack outside these treatments and we monitor his breathing comfort on every visit to work with the client if he starts to have symptoms that may lead to an attack. 

No matter what condition your special needs pet has we can help! Give us a call to talk about it and we'll come up with a plan to allow you to travel with Peace of Mind.

Barking Dogs

Is Your Dog Barking?

Whether you're trying to have that zoom meeting and your dog is barking at every little noise that you may not even hear or your neighbors have told you they can hear your dog barking when you're not home, we can help!

A tired dog is a quiet dog! For as little as $15 a day we will take your dog on an adventure to burn off that excess energy! Schedule Today! 

You're also going to love getting our dog walk maps that show you the walk distance and where we went!

Live Pet Sitter Map

Our Live Sitter Map is monitored throughout the day. It shows the manager where every pet sitter has clocked in, how long they've been clocked in, details about the visit (client, visit type, visit length) and, when zoomed in, the dog walk route as it is in progress!

Any late arrivals (alerted when the pet sitter hasn't clocked in within 15 minutes of the visit end time) will also be shown on this Live Sitter Map and a pop up notification is sent to the manager and the scheduled pet sitter. Late arrivals are uncommon and are usually only seen on busy holiday weekend mornings when we often start earlier than scheduled to let all the dogs out for potty by the end of our first hour of the day.

Travel with Peace of Mind knowing your pet care is being managed at all times!

Preparing for Your Personal Emergencies

Pet Care Tips for Personal Emergencies

We get a lot of calls from patients in the hospital and from hospital staff on behalf of patients when they learn they have pets at home. While it isn't ideal to walk into a home with pets who don't know us, we have skills that allow us to manage the situation. 

Here are our Helpful Preparation Hints that, should you find yourself in an emergency, will help us step in to take care of your pets. This is especially helpful for seniors who live alone and everyone in the community who doesn't have a family member, friend or neighbor who can help.

1: Put a card in your wallet with emergency contact information and, in large print, that you have pets at home alone.

2: Use a hide-a-key. You can place these just about anywhere and they come in all sorts of disguises. This is a far more secure solution for hiding a key than placing the key in or under a flower pot or under the door mat or furniture. 

3: Keep the food and medication in an easy-to-find location. In the event you aren't able to call us and the nurse calls on your behalf we'll be able to find it.

4: Tape a note to the food storage container or nearby wall that has feeding and medication instructions.

5: Notify your veterinarian of your emergency pet care provider's name and they will let you know what they need to provide treatment in your absence. They may also be willing to supply more medication, should you not have enough, and bill it to your account.

Of course, it is helpful for your emergency contact to be familiar with your pets. We are happy to come by to meet you to alleviate your concern over this important decision and we're always just a phone call away!

Always Fresh Water For Dogs

Are you frustrated by water drool all over your floors? Does your dog play in her water bowl and spill it everywhere? Do you worry that your dog will run out of water while you're away for the day? Are you still using a gravity fed water dispenser that is heavy and awkward to fill and becomes slimy with bacteria between cleanings?

We have a product for you!

The Lixit water faucet is Always On and Always Fresh! No more water mess in your house, no more drool and debris making the water bowl gross. With a Lixit faucet your dog's water will be clean and cool, all of the time! For less than $10!

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Slow Down Dog Bowl

Some dogs gobble their food so quickly it causes them to vomit! For some dog breeds this behavior can be dangerous, even fatal! Eating quickly can contribute to a condition commonly referred to as "bloat". Read this WebMDPet article for more information about this condition.

Our Favorite Product highlight is for the use of "slow down" feeding dishes. If your dog eats quickly you're going to want to get him one of these! Simply place his meal in the dish and the dish slows him down by forcing him to take his time picking his food out of the nooks and crannies.

Check out this product we recommend!

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Our COVID-19 Protocol

We are following recommended protocol to protect our clients by using hand sanitizer before and after every visit, washing our hands at every visit and using sanitizing wipes on doorknobs, gates, garage entries, keys, lock boxes, fobs, food bins, scoops and all other contact points. 

We are doing all that is possible to protect our clients and their homes as we continue providing an essential service to the pets in our care.

  

Managing Care for Senior Pets

Senior Pets Are Beautiful Souls

We take care of a lot of senior pets. Some of our clients, seniors themselves, have difficulty with pet transportation and sometimes a senior pet is not able to get into a vehicle.

I started thinking about how we can prepare ourselves for our pets' senior years when trips to the vet are more frequent and illnesses are often more difficult to treat.

Here are our Top 5 recommendations for managing care as your pet ages.

1. Make sure your pet is comfortable getting in and out of vehicles. Many pets are very stressed by this experience and that will only make transportation more difficult during an emergency. If your pet is fearful consider working with a trainer who can help you through desensitizing him and create a calming experience. If you have a cat it is wise, at any age, to make your cat comfortable in a carrier.
2. Pet insurance, while more expensive as pets age, can be very helpful with the medical bills for common procedures most senior pets will require. Ask your vet which insurance they recommend for best coverage.
3. GoodRX is a free app that can save a lot of money on prescriptions. Senior pets often need pain management and anti-inflammatory drugs on a daily basis.
4. Know where the emergency clinics are that can help you late at night. That link has information on 24 hour clinics, local on call availability changes and you should call your vet to know their availability after office hours. Save all clinic phone numbers and addresses in your cell phone contacts. During an emergency it will be a relief for help to be just a few clicks away - rather than at the end of a frantic Google search.
5. Think about End of Life choices before you are faced with this most heart-wrenching decision. What treatment options will you pursue? What is the expected outcome and survival rate if treatment is recommended? What is the quality of life during and after treatment? If you make choices while your pet is healthy it will be clearer in your mind when your pet is ailing as to what you've already decided you are willing to do as he nears the end of life. Deciding today whether you would choose chemo if your dog, as a senior, develops cancer and knowing your reasons for that decision can make it a less emotional choice when the time comes.

If you are lucky enough to have a pet who has lived into their senior years you know the lifetime of joy and unconditional love they have given. It's such a special time with your pet. Prepare for their needs and enjoy their golden years!