Monday, July 28, 2014

Benefits Of Using A Pet Sitter

Using a professional pet sitter reaps benefits for both pets and pet parents. 
Once you experience professional pet care in your home, you'll never worry about being away from your pet again.
For the Pets:
Benefits to your pets include:
  • Staying at home in his/her safe, secure environment
  • Being surrounded by familiar sights, smells and sounds
  • Following his/her regular diet and exercise routine
  • Having play time
  • Receiving love and personal attention
  • Maintaining medical treatment, when required
  • Having someone responsible in case of an emergency
  • Eliminating the trauma of travel or an unfamiliar environment
  • Helping to ensure good health (no exposure to other animals' illness or parasites)
For the Pet Parent:
Benefits to you include:
  • Knowing that your pet is in caring, loving hands
  • Having the confidence that the pet sitter can deal with other issues - such as grooming, vet visits
  • Eliminating the trauma of having to transport and leave your pet
  • Not having to impose on family, friends or neighbors
  • Feeling your home is more secure (with someone going in and out several times a day)
Not all pet sitters are created equal, nor are they all professional.  In hiring a pet sitter, it is important to make sure you have chosen the right person to care for your beloved animal.

Why should you choose a NAPPS pet sitter? 

Because not every pet sitter is equally professional and competent.

  • NAPPS pet sitters have made an investment in their clients and their business.
  • NAPPS pet sitters who also volunteer for NAPPS show that they are taking a leadership role in the pet sitting industry.
  • NAPPS members can network with pet sitters across the country to get ideas, ask questions, and stay informed.
  • NAPPS pet sitters have free education and resources at their fingertips which they can use to take the very best care of your pets.
  • NAPPS promotes their members' professional integrity through its Pledge of Professional Conduct.
  • NAPPS also advances members' professional and business development through an Annual Conference, educational tools and a certification program.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Your Pet's Drinking Water



Most families consider tap water to be a safe source of drinking
water for their pets, and even their family members. However, there
is a dangerous chemical lurking in the tap water of most homes
in America. Fluoride is a chemical derived from fluorine, which
is found naturally in the earth, water, and minerals. It may be
harmless in its natural state; however, synthesized fluoride, which
is added to tap water, has been shown to have devastating effects to
both animals and humans when consumed.

Protecting Your Community
For those individuals who are concerned about
fluoride in your tap water, there are steps that can
be taken to protect your communities. First, research
the annual water quality report provided by your local
city water department. If fluoride is present in the
tap water in your community, speak out against it
by contacting your state and local officials as well
as your senators. Another way to raise awareness is
by educating the public about the harmful effects of
fluoride on humans and animals. Many communities
have become aware of the evidence that suggests
that fluoride in tap water is harmful and they have
moved toward fluoride free tap water. By raising
awareness, your community can do the same.

Information provided by: “What’s In Your Pet’s Water?” by
Joanne Suresh, www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com
.
Holly Sharpe is an Independent Contractor in the pet
sitting industry and lives in Arizona.
Source:
National Association Of Professional Pet Sitters

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Prepare Your Home Before You Go Away

Tips for Pet Parents - From The National Association Of Professional Pet Sitters.

If you are going to be away for a while, take steps to make sure everything is taken care of before you go.
  • Double-check your home to make sure it is pet-proofed. Bored pets can chew or destroy things that are left within reach. Make sure wires and cords are out of the way. If you have irreplaceable or fragile items, move them to a room your pets can't access.
  • If you have a fenced yard, make sure there are no holes, weak spots, or loose panels that a pet can escape through. 
  • If you do have a pet that's known to escape, let your pet sitter know!
  • Make sure doors and windows are locked before you leave, and make sure your pet sitter has the key. NEVER hide a key under the doormat or anywhere near the door. 
  • Leave a piece of clothing that you've recently worn near where your pet sleeps as a reminder of you.
  • Display the name and phone number of your vet in a prominent place.  Show it to the pet sitter before departing.
  • Place out appropriate food and water bowls for your pet's use.  Clean them beforehand.
  • Put everything needed for your pet's care in a specific area so the sitter doesn't have to search for leashes, food or medications.  Let the sitter know where these items are. And make sure they are well out of reach of your pets!
  • If the sitter will be coming in the evening, hook up a timer light so he/she will not have to come to a dark house. It will be homier for your pet as well.
  • Some pets, especially those accustomed to having people or children in the house, appreciate background noise such a s aTV or radio. It helps drown out noises from outside, and can also help deter crime.
  • It may be helpful to leave an additional key with a neighbor or close friend.  Provide their contact information to your pet sitter.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Meet The Domestic Shorthair Tuxedo

What is a Tuxedo Cat?

A Tuxedo cat is any domestic cat that has a solid black body with white paws, a white underbelly and a white chest.

Even if the markings are less precise, there is still kind of a formal, fancy-pants look to a Tuxedo cat.

 Add a mustache and you have the ultimate Tuxedo cat, and, of course, when it comes to moustaches on cats you have the choice of white face/black moustache...or the even more dashing black face/white moustache affair...

- See more at: http://www.cat-breeds-encyclopedia.com/Tuxedo-cat.html#sthash.5FCeX2RE.dpuf

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Meet The Bearded Dragon


Bearded Dragons Bearded dragons are lizards indigenous to Australia, and are commonly kept as pets. These reptiles get their name because of a behavior where they can puff out and darken the skin under their throats, which looks like a beard. They are omnivorous, as they eat both greens and insects. Bearded dragons are one of the most popular of reptile pets.

These gentle beasts are from Australia but are now readily available due to their willingness to breed in captivity. Bearded Dragons make a wonderful pet for both beginners and advanced reptile keepers.

Source: https://www.beardeddragon.org/articles/caresheet/

Atticus is my 10 year old Bearded Dragon. When we brought him home, he was a baby and the size of a Chameleon.  He resides in a very spacious habitat and enjoys a diet of fruits, veggies and purchased insects.

Thursday, July 17, 2014

From The Book Green Dog, Good Dog

Safety Is Always Green.

It won't matter how eco-friendly your yard is for your dog if he is not kept safely in it.  An enclosure is only as trustworthy as the people who come in and out of it ( consider a self-closing contraption on the door or a gate that closes off your yard, especially if you have children), and the only way your dog can be reunited with you if he escapes is if he is properly identified.  Therefore:

1) Make sure your fencing is secure and that the gate people pass through into your yard closes properly.

2) Make sure your dog always has his collar on when he is out, and that there is an identification tag on it that gives his name, and your home and cell numbers.

By Dominique De Vito

Monday, July 14, 2014

Pet Fire Safety Day

Tuesday,  July 15. 2014 is National Pet Fire Safety Day

Visit The National Volunteer Fire Council website:  www.nvfc.org for important information.
In the search bar - type "pet fire safety day" and check exact search.  The link to this website can be found under Our Favorite Websites.

Saturday, July 5, 2014

If Disaster Strikes - Be Prepared!


          The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters
                                               provides an
                     Emergency Planning Guide for Pet Owners

Visit:  The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters link at Our Favorite Websites and click the Pet Parent link to view this guide.

Meet The Green-Cheeked Conure

Green-Cheeked Conure Species Profile


Traits:  A green-cheeked conure’s comical and affectionate nature has made it a popular pet bird, but it can be shier than other conures. Although they are less inclined to gnawing or chewing than most conures, green-cheeked conures still enjoy chewing. Often described as being a big bird in a small bird’s body, this pet bird is a good choice for owners with limited space because of its small size. In effort to attract their owner’s attention, green-cheeked conures often hang upside down, hide under papers and dance around on their perches. While the owner is away, the green-cheecked conure can happily entertain itself if provided with plenty of toys in the cage, but once the owner is home, this conure needs plenty of time interacting with its human companion.Behavior/Health Concerns:  Green-cheeked Conures need interesting entertainment and interaction. Feather picking and susceptibility to psittacine diseases are problems owners may encounter with this species of pet bird. Both breeders and pet owners favor the green-cheeked conure because it is typically a less expensive and quieter pet bird that is a successful breeder in captivity. Green-cheeked conures are also known for being gutsy. Some owners have witnessed them fearlessly taunting larger pet birds in the house, which means a green cheek's owner must be attentive when the birds are out of their cages. The green-cheeked conure species has three color mutations that have made it a popular pet bird. Cinnamon and yellow-side colors are growing in popularity, and the blue mutation is the newest, imported from Europe.

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Celebrate The Fourth of July

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Fourth of July, 2014.  May your celebration include family and friends, great food and excellent weather.  Remember to take pet precautions this Holiday weekend.  As the weather reports call for continued hot temperatures, keep all pets well hydrated, cool and away from the loud noise of parades and fireworks.

This Month I begin my tenth year in pet care.  I am grateful for all the "family members" who have blessed my life.  I thank you, the pet parents, for your continued trust in me.  It has been a pleasure.

Sincerely,
Julie