Best Flower Mound and Lewisville Pet Sitting Business!

This blog has been inactive for a few years for several reasons. The main reason is because I'm really not that great at being consistent at blogging but i hope to change that! Another reason is that Covid hit. Covid really hurt the business a lot. I really thought that I have to go out of business. the thought of losing my business sent me into a depression like i've never felt. I didn't know what else I would do. Animals are my passion and not being able to see them hurt a lot. Thankfully, covid doesn't put so much strain on the business these days. In fact, when people started traveling again, there seemed to be a lack of professional pet care. As a pet sitting business owner since 2006, I have never seen anything like it. My husband, Jerry and I hit the ground running. We are almost ready to start hiring. We do have a good friend who does boarding for the business. We hope to add a few more to our team. We have come back highly motivated and aiming to be the best pet sittinf business in Flower Mound and Lewisville area! In the next couple of blogs, I will reintroduce everyone to our current team.

How Do You Get Your Cat to Play?

Play is very important for a happy and healty cat. "But my cat doesn't play" you say? Here is a great article with tips on how to get your cat to play.

Should you get a pet rabbit?

Did you know that rabbits are the third most dumped pet in the shelters? Many people get rabbits thinking that they will be easy pets, but rabbits require as much, if not more attention than cats and dogs. Read this article to see of a pet rabbit may be right for you. https://www.facebook.com/113688237747/posts/10158706769382748/?d=n

Back to School Blues?

Next week, children are going back to the classroom. Our pets have gotten used to having their humans around for a much longer time than normal. This can be very confusing for pets, especially if your family is one of the many families that have adopted dogs during this pandemic. Now might be a great time to consider hiring a dog walker. Pet Pampering Plus can stop in during the day to give your pets some company while your family is busy at work and school. A long walk can not only provide a dog exercise, but is good for mental health too. We can also provide play activities in the back yard. Contact us for a free consult! Together we can come up witn a plan to help keep your pets happy.

Why Hire a Professional Pet Sitter?

The concept of professional pet sitting is still relatively new. The first pet sitter's association to my knowledge was the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters founded in 1989. Today, there are several national and local associations and industry standards are very high. We used to know our neighbors, but these days, that is very rare. Even if you do, they have their own schedules as well. Although there are many pet sitters that charge for pet sitting, Pet Pampering Plus networks with other businesses and only refers to companies that have similar standards. Here is what you should expect from a professional pet sitting company:

Reliability: You can count on your pet sitter to be there and if they can't make it, they will have a back up ready. Your pet will be the first priority and your pet sitter will try to stick as close to their current schedule as possible. Professional pet sitting is not a side job where your pet sitter will just fit your pet in when it is convenient.

Love and attention: You are paying for your pet sitter to give your pet care. Your pet sitter won't just come in for five minutes, refill the food and leave. Your pet sitter will offer dog walking, playtime, and lots of affection.

Convenience and familiarity: Leaving your pet at home saves you a trip before you have to head out. Pets are able to stay in the comfort of their own home, reducing the possibility of stress or illness. While pet sitters can carry germs on their clothes such as kennel cough, a professional should, and will, take all precautions to avoid bringing outside germs into your home.

Security: Your pet sitter will rotate lights and blinds, bring in mail and newspapers and give your home a lived in look. Having somebody visit the home multiple times will give criminals a message that somebody is watching. Your pet sitter will do a house check to be sure everything looks secure.

Emergency preparedness: Your pet sitter will be trained in pet first aid so that they know how to handle emergency situations. They will note if anything seems off with your pet including bowel movements and appetite. Your pet sitter will also be prepared to handle emergency house situations in case your house floods, has a gas leak, etc

Insurance: Accidents happen. Your pet sitter is human and sometimes accidents can't be prevented. Your pet sitter should have insurance in case a toilet floods, a pet's leash breaks, or any other unexpected events that might occur.

If you are looking for a pet sitter in Flower Mound or Lewisville, Pet Pampering Plus would love to make you part of our family. We do have a small service area and don't service all of either city, but we network with members of the Denton County Pet Sitters Association and are happy to refer you to other insured professionals!

Acorns are toxic to Dogs!

With the arrival of Fall, we would like to remind you that acorns are toxic to dogs. Squirt is obsessed with acorns but luckily, she doesn't eat them. She just wants to play. We watch her carefully because at her size, just a couple of acorns can make her very sick. However, not all dogs are as sensitive to the toxins in acorns. We have clients that said their dogs have eaten acorns for years with no problem and they are surprised to find out they are toxic. We have had other clients get very sick to their stomach from eating them. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. For more info, read this article http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-information/dog-vet-geller-dvm/acorns-and-dogs-dont-mix.aspx

$200 For a Rescue Dog or Cat??? Are They Crazy???

Just what exactly does that cover? Well, you would be suprised that it doesn't cover enough. When I started my business, I started it because of my love of all animals. Once I started getting busy and feeling that my business was a success, I really started to miss my volunteer work, but I just didn't have the time that I used to have to dedicate to it. I decided to start a page called "Lewisville Dog Lovers". Each day, I share a "Dog of the Day" from a shelter or rescue. I started to notice that a lot of rescue pages commenting that the adoption fees were ridiculous. I have realized that people just don't get it. The adoption fees, usually $200 to $400 do not even cover all of the costs of rescuing a shelter pet. Rescues aren't in it to make a profit. Many people in rescue have full time jobs and THEN spend all of their spare time in the rescue. I have to admit, I couldn't do it.

So, what DOES the adoption fee cover? Here is just a partial list:

-Physical exam

-Vaccines

-Deworming medication

-Spay/neuter

-Microchip implant

This list does not include the many other expenses that rescues come across or the blood, sweat and tears they put into rescuing the animal. Rescuing from a shelter requires rescuers to go into shelters frequently to evaluate the pets and decide which ones to pull. Once they pull the pets, they have to go to the vet for a thorough check up. These pets have often come from bad situations and may need a lot more help than just the regular shots and neuter. Many times teeth need work, heartworm treatment is need, etc. Once the animal is all clear, they can go to adoption events. Adoption events often take up a half of the rescuers weekend. All of these responsiblities take up time and gas that the rescuer could have used to just go have fun.

Why bother? It's just a pound puppy right? Aren't they a lot of trouble anyway? Actually, the dogs and cats that I sit for that have come from the shelter are some of the best pets I know! I think they know how much they are loved and appreciate all the help. Sure, some have some training issues, but many learn very quickly and are eager to please.

As the admin of "Lewisville Dog Lovers", I try to network with and share as many rescues and rescue events in the area as I can. I have met many of the rescues in the area and they do such amazing work. I can't thank them enough for all they do. Please remember to thank the animal rescuers you meet. Who knows? They may save your next best friend!