The splendor of summer is right around the bend. We are approaching the season when children, freed from studies, populate the neighborhood, friends and families hold cook-outs, and we find ourselves preoccupied with the health our pet’s coats.
There’s a reason for our annual fixation. Dogs usually begin to lose their winter coats in early spring, when it is gradually replaced by a shorter, lighter coat suited to the summer months. The amount of shedding varies widely from breed to breed. For example, the pet parents of German Shepherds will groan about the amount of shedding all year long, while those of us with poodles rarely have to get out the broom or vacuum, even with the arrival of summer.
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19
May
2009
Dogs, Cats, Horses, Pets
Today I’d like to discuss some of the benefits of our business model.
Because we work with a team of pet sitters across the Metro Atlanta area we can ensure that there will always be a qualified pet nanny to meet your pet sitting needs. Whether you are planning a holiday trip or need service starting tomorrow there will be a caring animal lover to care for your pet. When one of our nannies goes on vacation, we can help cover your pet sitting needs by bringing in a back up. In case of an unforeseen circumstance or emergency, should your regular pet sitter be unable to visit with your pet, we have processes in place to provide immediate back up support, to ensure that your pet is ALWAYS taken care of. We are home to many caring pet nannies. All of our nannies, go through a 2 step interview process, background checks and are bonded and insured. Does the fact that we work with several pet sitters mean that your pet is not well cared for? Of course not! All of our nannies are animal lovers, and have their own pets at home. They understand the level of care we all want for our pets. Two of our nannies are certified dog behaviorists and many of our nannies work directly with rescue organizations to help needy and abandoned pets find a new loving home and love along the way. Our business model helps ensure that there will always be a qualified loving pet nanny to take care of your beloved pets.
I just came across this horrifying story.
A Marietta man left 35 cats alone in his home while he left the country!
Police have issued an arrest warrant and if he is arrested he will face a $20,000 bond. Pet sitting services would definitely have been less expensive and better for all involved. Neighbors say the man rescues cats.
Read more about this story and the cats found here.
While having the heart to rescue animals is an awesome gift, it is also one with awesome responsibility. It is important to consider all pet needs as you add new members to your family. While cats are often thoughts of as independent creatures, they come to rely on us when we welcome them into our homes and need the same considerations as our other pets when we are away.
When I was younger, we brought home pets all the time with no consideration as to what was best for the pet AND the family. As I grew older, I began to understand more about the importance of educating children on the needs of a pet. When we decided to get a dog, we knew we had to train our daughter how to behave just as much as we needed to train the dog.
It is really important to assess your child’s maturity level and necessary involvement when introducing a new animal family member. This site has great pet recommendations by age. It has great tips on how to build a relationship between your pets and your children and safety precautions. How important do you feel it is to educate your child on their role in your pets’ life?
ASPCA Guide to Pets and Children
I just found this awesome site!
It’s kind of like Web MD for kitties!
It lists symptoms you may be seeing in your pet.
Through the symptom links you can find out what might be the cause and what steps you should take. It lists suggested home care and tests your vet might run to determine what is going on.
Take a look and make it one of your favorites too!
From the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters:
Grateful pet owners from around the country honor their trusted pet sitters this week during National Professional Pet Sitters Week, observed March 1 – 7, 2009. The week-long event recognizes the many contributions of professional pet sitters nationwide for their commitment, hard work, and dedication. Pet owners can thank those trusted
individuals who take such good care of their adoring pets and for the loving care they provide.
Pet sitting has become one of the top 10 professions in the past decade, according to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). Pet ownership in the United States is continually on the rise and currently, 63 percent of all American households have pets. The U.S. pet population includes approximately 73 million dogs, 90 million cats, and 16 million birds plus fish, hamsters and other animals, according to the America Pet Products Association.
When choosing a professional pet sitter, owners should take in consideration whether the service provider has commercial liability insurance, references, and literature fully describing services and fees. The NAPPS Web site offers a nationwide referral network as a valuable online resource for locating pet sitters in all areas of the country. Accessible directly from the NAPPS Web site, www.petsitters.org, this free service provides contact information for all NAPPS member pet sitters and pet sitting companies in the area. With one simple search, pet owners can learn all about the services provided, and even details regarding the sitter’s experience and expertise.
The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) is a national nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting the concept of in home pet care, supporting the professionals engaged in at-home pet care, promoting the welfare of animals, and improving and expanding the industry of pet sitting. NAPPS provides valuable credibility, networking, and education to help foster the success of their members. NAPPS takes great pride in providing its members with the tools needed to succeed, but also provides the pet owning public with helpful information such as a Disaster Preparedness Plan and guidelines for selecting a pet sitter.
For more information on NAPPS or to locate a professional pet sitter, visit: www.petsitters.org.
Georgia Voters for Animal Welfare is pleased to announce that Grace’s Law has become an official bill. Sponsored By Rep. Tom Knox, R-HD 24, Georgia House Bill 606 can be viewed here. A similar bill is being sponsored in the Georgia Senate by Sen. Steve Henson, D- SD 41.
Georgia voters who want gas chambers banned statewide and with no exceptions should immediately contact their state legislators.
To locate your Georgia Assembly Representatives enter your zip code here.
You will need to add your home address to locate your local Georgia Senate and House Representatives. You can find their contact information by clicking on their names.
Then let them know how you feel about the bill. Ask for their support and tell them know how you expect them to vote. Call their offices or send them an email, they keep track of this stuff. It is their responsibility to represent us. It is our responsibility to let them know what we want.
Join the Humane Society Georgia State Director, Cheryl McAuliffe, and other local animal protection advocates, March 3rd at 7pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta as they meet to discuss current animal protection legislation that is before the Georgia State legislature. The goal of this meeting is to arm concerned citizens with lobbying techniques and ways to take action. The Grass Roots movement is growing and is a great place for each of us to start to promote change and help protect those who can not protect themselves. Please RSVP to this event by 5 PM March 2nd.
February 24, 2009 the Humane Society of the United States starts its annual campaign to encourage people to save animals lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats. Why does the Humane Society want to promote spaying and neutering? “Four million cats and dogs—about one every eight seconds—are put down in U.S. shelters each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets, even purebreds. Maybe someone’s cat or dog got out just that one time or maybe the litter was intentional, but efforts to find enough good homes failed. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats and a proven way to reduce the vast numbers of animals who are born only to die prematurely and without a family who loves them.”
Find out more about why you should spay or neuter your pet.
Find a local Spay Day USA 2009 event here.
The Canton Paw Park, a local non profit group, recently donated three pet sized oxygen masks to the Canton Fire Department. Pets are as much at risk from smoke inhalation during a house fire as humans. Firefighter’s often try to give a pet oxygen using a human mask, unfortunately since human oxygen masks do not fit pets very well and many die from smoke inhalation. The donated masks use the same type tubing and tanks as human masks, but are designed specifically for animals who are rescued from any type of fire or emergency. This donation will allow Canton Fire Department to save more pets who might otherwise succumb to smoke inhalation. Want to find out how you can help get your local fire station pet sized oxygen masks? Check out HelpAnimals.org.
