In this day and age using the term Professional can get dismissed or set aside.  That's is unfortunate when it comes to Contractors and Pet Sitters.  Being Professional is a distinction well worth the honor and respect it is intended to elevate in consideration.  Unlicensed usually means 'cheaper than' and a risky gamble.  Slick packaging of services can entice even the most discerning clients.  Professionals have ethics, accountability and responsibility for their work and pay taxes for the privilege to work for you.  They operate by a different code of conduct.

Sedition I say!
I will not stand by without exposing the recklessness of those wanting and willing to take your money on the premise of helping you....Today there was an Ad for Dog Sitting on a local site. The emotional hook jumped off the page at me!  'I'm a stay at home Mom here to help out my neighbors who don't want to pay the kennel rates'.Hmmm, who is this and what's the business?  So I contacted her to inquire about her services and standards, etc.  (Its always nice to meet other Pros to network with).

I had to ask her if she was bonded and insured to protect the Dog Boarders.... Her reply was No; her home owners insurance doesn't cover Dog Boarding.... Ahh, really?  Now the bells and whistles are going off.   So no insurance, no bonding, taking in other people's Family Pets and taking them off leash on hiking trails....  I could of had a choral bell brigade ringing in my gut by this time....red flags went off as  not a  'Professional'...Beware....

What separates a Professional from a 'Stay at Home Mom' with a big heart? 
#1 No distractions of Laundry, Dr Appointments, Extra-Curricular Activities, Shopping, etc.  A Professional has one focus, and that's to spend quality time with your Pet to the standard and routine they are accustom to. 
#2 Responsibility  - We sign an agreement to the terms, task and timing on the scope of services.  We don't toss your Dog into the mix,  in a Kennel (or the family room) and say 'adjust big guy' .  Where is my commitment to keep your Pet Safe?
#3 Accountability! The world recognizes me as Reliable and Accountable through my Bonding and Liability Insurance, I've promised I will take great care of your Pet and I can back it up!  If something happens with the 'Stay at home Mom' you are S-O-L not to mention broken hearted.

Being response-able, by being trained in Pet CPR & 1st Aid with a dedication every day to put your Pet before any other consideration is what a Professional Pet Sitter does with a big  heart, so full of love, and a very big concern for you and your Pet's comfort and joy.   Great care and consideration is made to meet the consistent  walk patterns, meal times, special needs (whatever medications are required and administered) as well as play for your Pet while your away! Knowing your Pet is safe and happy in its own home, in his familiar surroundings with familiar smells make a huge difference in their experience while you are apart.  Creating Calm and Fun bring Peace of mind. That's priceless.

There is no recourse for Recklessness in the case of a 'Stay at Home Mom' helping you save money! Taking a Dog on a Hiking trail loaded with ticks and rattle snakes is not my idea of good judgement while caring for someone's family Pet!  Without clear and specific perimeters of service and scope....anything can and will occur.

As a  Professional Pet Sitter, I am trained to look out for the unseen surprises and be prepared to handle them.  Meeting a pack of loose Dogs...what do you do?  Snake bite, are you prepared to transport and communicate  with the Vet immediately?  Each and every situation outside (and inside) the home is that can go south are in my mind every minute...no exceptions.  I'm not watching the Kids and chasing Dogs off Leash 'hoping' nothing will happen.

Are you willing to risk the life of your  beloved Family Pet with someone Casual and Busy with other things? Too busy to put their word on the line?  Your Paws deserve the highest level of service in your absence. 

Professional Pet Sitters are licensed, bonded, insured and pay taxes as well as being committed to CEU's to bring you the Leash that Leads to your Peace Of Mind & Satisfaction...

Tails Up, Paws Forward.....And we walk with confidence we can care for your loyal furry friend, in every situation that arises.

We all want to send a beautiful floral bouquet to Mom on Mother's Day.  We do because nothing on the planet says 'I love you Mom' like a beautiful bouquet of fragrant flowers! 

But when sending flowers to Pet Owners there are plants that are toxic to both cats and dogs. Tulips, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Aloe, Begonias, Baby's Breath, and Amaryllis. Members of the Lilium genus, including Easter and stargazer Lilies, can cause serious kidney problems if ingested by cats and usually cause death. So, when sending a bouquet or plant as a gift to a pet owner, it is always best to seek out (or create) a "pet friendly" bouquet.

Roses, African daisies, and orchids and plants such as bromeliads, African violets and Christmas cactus are non-toxic (although any ingested plant material might occasionally cause mild, self-limited vomiting) and would be suitable as to have in households with pets.

The best choice for a non-toxic bouquet for Mother's Day is to contact your local CSA Farmer,yes, your local farmer.  They use the 'buddy system' in planting and usually have a beautiful selection of Flowers that are Pesticide Free and full of fragrant scents that will send any Mom into a heady joy unlike the store bought flowers that are flown in from South America and while they may look pretty...they don't last and they don't smell enchanting...why bother...they show up as imposters...

Locally, we use Seabreeze Organic Farm to pick a beautiful bouquet for Mom and delight her and keep the Paws safe...this is a Pet Friendly Farm for Organic Veges, Flowers and Eggs......they also ship anywhere in the us...

Keep your Pets safe this year...review the list and don't assume all Flowers are a good mix with the Paws...let's be safe this Mother's Day .....share the love :)

We've all been there.....oh gawd, that's awful! Who tooted? Doggy Farts are the worst silent but deadly stench to wrestle your nose while winding down at the end of a busy day. Those SBD (silent but deadly) farts (you know those really stinky ones) are a wake up call for a dietary change for Tubbs!

I've scoured the internet seeking various (organic, healthy) solutions to the problem to recommend solid advice for my Paw Clients in a short and concise solution (always seek medical advise from a Vet if your Pet shows signs of illness) .  Here are the top 3 recommendations I've found and used  combination  resolve the condition completely.

Bad Gas, Flatulence, Farts Solutions that work:

 1.  Change the diet.  Most Food based gas is from a poor quality diet.  I know what your thinking...but the label says best, natural ingredients...here's what to avoid when reading the fine print on the Food Ingredient list: Corn and Soy, and Fillers.  Junk in, Junk out as the saying goes.  Feed your Dog the highest quality Dog Food you can afford.  The less ingredients on the list the better. Organic, high quality food will  reduce the amount of waste product, meaning less gas, and less smell too. The goal is a healthy digestive tract for Tubbs and less stink!!

 2.  Probiotics for Dogs. Probiotics for Dogs help to reduce the 'bad bacteria' in the gastrointestinal tract and restore the balance in microfloral.  Probiotics are the good, friendly bacteria for Pets and People alike. The results will be a clean and more efficient digestive system. It's a good thing and you can get them in the refrigerator section of the store. Probiotics are live bacteria.....

 3.  Yogurt.  Organic Yogurt has the good bacteria in it and has been very helpful reducing the excessive gas. Yes it's a milk product but it has been 'cultured' which creates the good bacteria making it digestible with different properties than Milk or Cheese per say.  You won't get the good bacteria from Milk or Cheese and in fact many Dogs are lactose intolerant so make sure to stick to Organic Yogurt.  I've read giving 3 tablespoons a day will do the trick. 

If the condition doesn't improve with these public recommendations I'd consult your Vet.  We love our Dogs and want to hang out with them and snuggle...Stinky Butts and Farts are not warm and fuzzy and may be indicative to a bigger problem. Do your Dog a favor and make the changes for cleaner air between you.  The goal is Happy Tails and Smells. Let me know how these work for you...Sharing is Caring. Leave a note, I'd love to hear your success stories.