Keeping Your Pets Safe This Fall!

As you get ready for cold weather, don’t let your pet fall victim to these fall hazards. Protect your pet all year long from unexpected accidents and illnesses with ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.

Antifreeze and pets don’t mix. Your pet may be inclined to lick up this sweet tasting, but toxic chemical. Check the ground for spills after you use antifreeze, and store it safely out of reach.

Use rodenticides carefully. Rodenticides lure mice and rats, but they can also attract your pet. Read directions carefully and take precautions to keep your pet safe from these chemicals.

Candy is a “no-no.” Halloween candy and its wrappings can make your pet sick if ingested. Also, while jack-o-lanterns and maize are relatively non-toxic, they can upset your pet’s tummy.

Human medications can be harmful. They topped the ASPCA’s list of common hazards for the past few years. Be careful—your pet can grab a bottle off a counter or eat pills dropped on the floor.

If your pet does ingest poison, the ASPCA® Poison Control Center (APCC) can help at 1-888-426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may apply, a portion of which is covered by ASPCA Pet Health Insurance.

Keep these fall tips in mind and the phone number of the APCC handy just in case. If you’d like to prepare financially for pet medical emergencies, get a free quote from ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. Poison ingestion is covered by all levels of coverage, and the ASPCA benefits from every plan that’s purchased!*

ASPCA September 2010 Newsletter

Compare this  pet insurance with the following company too.

10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker

10 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Pet Sitter or Dog Walker

The world of dog walking and pet sitting is unregulated in most areas so anyone can potentially call themselves a professional Dog Walker or Pet Sitter.   But, much like choosing the best care-givers for your children, it is essential that you make every effort to ensure you find a qualified, trustworthy and professional pet sitter and dog walker.  You are entrusting the health and well-being of your pet family members to their care so ask the following 10 questions about Pet Sitting/Dog Walking professionals before you hire them:

1. What are their Qualifications? Make sure your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker is certified to care for your pet.  Pet Sitting/Dog Walking is generally an unregulated industry but there are nationally recognized standards and professional organizations that set criteria and certify qualified professionals.  Check with the Pet Care Services Association for their 3 levels of certification; 1) Certified Pet Care Technician (CPCT); 2) Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician (CAPCT); Certified Kennel Operator (CKO).   Make sure your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker is certified with a nationally recognized organization.  Ask to see their certificate and make sure it is current. You are paying for a trained professional and that’s what you should be getting.
2. Who trains their staff?   In addition to the company’s qualifications you should ask them how they train their staff and if they have an internal certification process.  It is important to know who within the company is responsible for staff training and maintaining standards.
3. What is their Work Ethic and Professional reputation in your community? Does your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker look, dress, and act professional?   If you can, observe your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker on the job with other clients. Watch how they handle the pets in their care.  Are they on their cell phone or “texting” while they are supposed to be watching their clients at the Dog Park or are they fully attentive and interacting with the pets in their charge?
4. What are the company’s mission, values and ethics? Check the company’s website and marketing literature.  What is their vision and do they explicitly state their ethics?  If they do what they say will tell you a lot about how they view their profession and it is something you can compare their performance against.  If they do not explicitly state their values and ethics why not?
5. What is their philosophy on animal handling and care and what kind and type of equipment to they provide and use? Know what type of equipment your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker use and what they provide.  Do they use choke chains?  How many dogs are they willing to walk at once?  Many Pet Sitters/Dog Walkers will not use certain types of collars and leashes for safety reasons and they limit the number of dogs they will walk at one time.  This assures the safety and well-being of the animals they are responsible for.
6. Can they provide references? Ask the Pet Sitter/Dog Walker for references from past and current clients. Customers are usually happy to share their opinion. They will be happy to tell you their experience.
7. Do you and your pets have chemistry with the Pet Sitter/Dog Walker? You want to feel good about your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker and be able to trust them to look after your pets so personal chemistry is important.  Chemistry is also important between your pets and the Pet Sitter/Dog Walker.  Pet Sitting/Dog Walking is a personal relationship so you must hire someone you can have confidence in.  Make sure you are happy with the person who will actually be caring for your pets. They should be patient during the initial consultation and answer all of your questions.
8. Can you check their background and do they do background checks on all of their employees? Some Pet Sitters/Dog Walkers may seem great when you meet them and say all of the right things but you are entrusting them with your pets and sometimes access to your home.  You should confirm that the Pet Sitting/Dog Walking Company does background checks on their workers and you should look into the background of the company.  You can use the internet or get more detailed information by using a background check service.  Reputable Pet Sitting/Dog Walking companies will be happy to have you check their background.
9. What is their knowledge base? Does your Pet Sitting/Dog Walking Company understand animal behavior, first aid, nutrition and emergency procedures?  Ask some tough questions that will reveal their knowledge or lack of knowledge.  And how do they handle questions they don’t know?  Do they try to “snow” you are do they simply admit that they don’t’ know?
10. And finally, do they have Liability Insurance and Bonding? Hopefully, if you gone through the previous 9 steps this last step will never matter.  However, accidents do happen and you should make sure that your Pet Sitter/Dog Walker carries the appropriate Liability Insurance and that they are fully bonded.

Remember if you make an effort to learn about your pet sitting/dog walking professional you will be rewarded with a reliable and trustworthy Pet Sitter for your beloved pet family members.  For more information visit  www.DogSmith.com.

Play Fetch, Get Fit!

News Release

Contact:    Rick Ingram

DogSmith Franchise Services

RickIngram@DogSmith.com

1-888-Dog-Smith (364-7648)

Playing is essential to a dogs mental health

The DogSmith National Dog Training and Pet Care Franchise joins the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the AVMA Auxiliary in celebrating National Pet Week May 2-8, 2010.

Florida, May 1, 2010 – National Pet Week was jointly founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the AVMA Auxiliary with a goal to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine.  National Pet Week has become widely celebrated throughout the United States and this year’s theme is “Pets and People—Healthy Together.” As rates of obesity in the U.S. continues to rise so has the obesity rates for our dogs and cats so this theme was chosen to promote the importance of exercise for people and pets.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 44% of dogs and 57% of cats in the United States are overweight or obese.  Animal and human obesity come with the same health risks.  Obesity among companion animals can lead to osteoarthritis, Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and various cancers.

The DogSmith National Dog Training and Pet Care Franchise is committed to improving the lives of our pets and their human companions through the life they share and recognizes the physical and emotional health benefits that companion animals and their owners provide each other every day.

Niki Tudge, founder of the DogSmith, says “National Pet Week” is an excellent opportunity to call upon your community and partner organizations to celebrate with appropriate ceremonies to acknowledge the importance of “Pets and People-Healthy Together.”

Tudge says, “Our pets provide us with so much joy and unconditional love we need to return their love by making sure they lead happy and healthy lives by properly training them, ensuring they get ample exercise and feeding them a quality diet.  Remember, if your dog is overweight, you need more exercise.  Keeping your dog fit can be great fun, anything from walks along the beach chasing a Frisbee™ or tennis ball to participating in organized fly-ball, agility or rally competitions.”

For tips on how you can participate in National Pet Week visit http://petweek.org/index.cfm or contact your local DogSmith Certified Pet Care Expert.

About The DogSmith – The DogSmith Franchise Services Inc. is a Florida based company whose mission is to enhance the lives of pets and their owners by improving their relationship, and the quality of the life they share, through providing professional support and training to pet dog owners, supporting and assisting animal shelters and rescue organizations to minimize the number of unwanted animals and offering affordable and professional care to family pets so that pet ownership is never a burden. To learn more about The DogSmith or to become a DogSmith Dog Trainer, visit http://www.DogSmith.com or call 1-888-364-7648.

What DogSmith Customers Say About Our Service

Are you interested in opening a Dog Training Business and enjoying the benefits of being part of a small team of professional business owners who only offer unrivaled pet care services?

DogSmith’s offer a range of exception pet care services to pet care owners. DogSmith’s are trained proficiently in the use of scientifically proven dog training methods and DogSmith’s have a true understanding of how important your pets are to you.

These are the kind of testimonials DogSmith customers send to local DogSmith business owners.

“A Note of Thanks” to Rachel Williams – “The Dogsmith” Dog Trainer and Pet Care Expert in Jupiter Beach Florida
I have to write to thank you for taking care of my Golden Retriever, Abbey (2 yrs. Old), over a four day weekend while I was busy with my Catering Company.
I did consider boarding Abbey with a local vet. Wow… what a mistake as I thought about it. Being confined in a kennel, maybe exposed to unhealthy animals, and bombarded by multiple handlers, in a hectic business environment that is closed and empty at 6 pm.
What an extreme contrast I found in your care. Abbey was in a family environment, introduced to your home and family pet (Chloe), protected, exercised, loved, and handled by a professional dog TRAINER!!!
I can say with great confidence, that my decision to leave Abbey in your care during a busy time with my business was calming to me and an absolute “adventure” for Abbey.
I was impressed at your level of attention, care, and great communication with me over the time that you were caring for Abbey. It was a bonus to receive phone text msgs. and even a quick photo to keep me informed of what she was doing. The caring service you provided extended beyond the treatment of my puppy. I was impressed with your careful attention to activity, any diet concerns, and importance of making a comfortable environment for Abbey by suggesting her favorite toy and her bed.
Lastly, I appreciate you delivering Abbey to my home at the end of her stay with you… I was amazed that you were thoughtful enough to give her a bath. I actually teach “Customer Service” in the Hospitality Industry and I feel that your level of care far exceeded all my expectations and felt compelled to write this note to recommend your business to anyone that is searching for outstanding care and thoughtful training of their family pet.
Sincerely,
John Carlino