Merry, Merry Holidays!

Hello all my furr guardians, can you believe that Christmas is NEXT WEEK! I hope you have all finished your holiday shopping, and bought a special something for your furr kid(s). Blackjack has his stocking hanging up, and I have been getting a lot of funny comments about his 2009 holiday card photo. Believe me, it wasn't an easy task getting a good shot of him, but I think the final product represents just how mad he was during the shoot.

For all of you new furr parents who have recently joined our extended family of furr kids, here is his picture.













HOLIDAY HELP

Needless to say, we have had an avalanche of last minute holiday bookings, and I was lucky enough to bring on Nanny Samantha's Mom for some holiday help! What better person to be a SVPN Nanny than the Mom of one of our best! Her name is Kayne, (pronounced Cane) and her and Samantha will be acting as a duo this holiday season. She is a life long animal lover, and throughout the years have owned all sorts of furr kids and currently has a horse! She's awesome, and will do a fabulous job with your furr kids.

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK

I hope that some of you were able to get out to take a look at our tree at Christmas in the Park this year. We had a great time decorating it, and I think it looks awesome! If you weren't able to get a photo over to me this year, please make sure to email one to me so your furr kid can be a part of our tree next year.













TOP 10 TIPS TO KEEP PETS SAFE

Yep, it's my annual tips to keep your furr kids safe and healthy this holiday season. Make sure to make a note of these very simple tips to ensure your furr kid enjoys the holiday with you.

1. Ribbon and wrapping supplies: to cats and dogs, that snowflake ribbon you were planning on using for a gift just looks like a toy. Make sure that you designate a special closet or sealed container to place wrapping supplies. Ingested ribbon can cause intestinal obstruction or bunching of the intestine, conditions that could be fatal. If you place gifts under the tree make sure that they are ribbon-free or wait until Christmas morning to put them out. Avoid tying ribbon around your pets neck for the same reason.
2. Chocolate, coffee, tea, grapes/raisins, xylitol: Chocolate, coffee, and tea contain theobromine, an ingredient that's extremely toxic to pets. Be especially careful of dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate, which contain the highest doses of theobromine. Grapes are a common item on holiday cheese platters, while raisins often find their way into cookies and breads. Beware: both are toxic to dogs and can cause acute renal failure. Xylitol, a sugar substitute often found in chewing gum, and candies, is also toxic to dogs. As it gains popularity among the health-conscious public, it is also found in more homemade baked goods. It can cause vomiting, internal hemorrhaging, and liver failure. Be sure to place foods on tables and counters that are too high for animals to access. Likewise, don't place boxes of wrapped chocolate or food of any kind under the Christmas tree.
3. Raw dough/unbaked bread: Raw dough that contains yeast can "rise" once a pet ingests it, causing gas to build up in its digestive tract. Not only is this highly uncomfortable, but it can also cause the stomach and intestines to rupture from the pressure.
4. Antifreeze: During the cold months, antifreeze is often found dripping onto a garage floor or driveway. Just a lick or two could result in death for your pet. Although animals do find it tasty, even pets that don't "get into things" can walk through it and accidentally lick their paws. Antifreeze causes kidney failure and it only takes 1 to 2 teaspoons to kill a cat or a small dog.
5. Holly Berries and Mistletoe: All parts of the mistletoe are toxic, although the berries are especially bad for pets. Be careful that if you hang mistletoe from the ceiling that the berries do not drop on the floor. Signs that a pet may be suffering from mistletoe poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, urinating more than usual, and a fast heart/respiratory rate. The same holds true for holly berries.
6. Christmas Trees (Cedar): Pets who eat the bark may come down with a stomachache, while the sap can cause an itchy skin rash. Tinsel is a bad idea, since much like ribbon, it can become stuck in a pet's intestines.
7. Poinsettias: They're festive, but the sap can cause blistering in a pet's mouth as well as stomach irritation.
8. Turkey/Ham/Fish bones: Never share these with your pets--they can splinter and cause intestinal tearing or become stuck in the pet's throat, resulting in choking. Choose a better alternative like a piece of rawhide or chew toy that is sold especially for pet consumption.
9. The garbage can: Items like raw meat, juice-soaked string used to tie up roasts, and plastic/foil wrap can have fatal consequences for pets if ingested. Raw meat may be infected with bacteria or parasites like T. gondii, E. Coli or salmonella, while string and plastic/foil wrap can cause intestinal obstruction or choking. Make sure your trash can has a tight-fitting, secure lid and is stored in a location that cannot be accessed by pets. Furthermore, keep a close eye on pets when cleaning up after a holiday soiree. Turning your back on Fluffy, even for a second, could spell disaster if she snatches those salmon bones and runs under the bed with them.
10. Tobacco products: You may not smoke, but what about your friends and family? If ingested, tobacco products can cause pets to seize, or collapse and die from cardiac arrest. Keep all tobacco products, (including patches, nicotine gum, etc) out of their reach and empty your ashtrays often since cigarette butts contain 1/4 the amount of nicotine present in an entire cigarette.

What do you do if you pet ingests something you suspect is toxic? You will want to call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Established in 1978, the APCC is the only 24-hour, 365 day facility of its kind staffed by 30 veterinarians, 12 of who are board-certified toxicologists/veterinary toxicologists. For more information on potentially dangerous substances in the home or to reach the APCC, please call (888) 426-4435

SO HEARTWARMING

This just goes to prove that there are still some wonderful people out there in the world. We could all take something from this story.

"When family and friends announced they were hosting a bridal shower for Brynne Johnstone, 25, and fiance Andrew Salmon, 26, last month, guests asked where the couple had registered near their New Hampshire home. Their answer: Nowhere. Instead of mixing bowls and bread makers, this couple just wanted kibble...and a few more bits for needy pets.

"Between the state of the economy and our love for animals, we asked guests to bring gifts we could donate to the New Hampshire Humane Society in Laconia," Johnstone, who has volunteered there and also adopted three cats from the shelter, tells PEOPLEPets.com. "Andrew and I just built our dream house, and we have everything we could ever need. The Humane Society needs us, and it is the charity of our choice."

Johnstone and Salmon, employed by the Tilton, N.H., police department, were in awe at the response of their 55 friends during the four-hour, Nov. 28 shower. They received dog and cat beds and crates, food, toys and donations, ample supplies to help animals in need at this non-euthanizing shelter, one of the oldest facilities in the state.

"We were very excited and our friends thought the whole thing was so awesome they plan to do the same thing when they have birthdays, weddings and other occasions," says Johnstone, who shares four cats and a German Shepherd puppy with her fiance.

The positive reaction encouraged the unselfish couple to continue giving to the Humane Society. For their upcoming April 17 nuptials, Johnstone and Salmon will continue their creative pet philanthropy. Instead of spending from $300 to $500 for wedding favors, the couple will donate that money in the names of their attendants.

"There are so many better uses for money today than to buy things for people who don't need them," Johnston concludes. "I am glad others think the same way. I hope we have started a trend that will benefit animals. Helping them have a better life makes me so happy!"

WOW, I just thought that was the coolest article! I know full well how the economy has impacted most people, and we can't all contribute like the above couple, however if you have a dollar or two and would like to donate to some great animal causes I encourage you to check out these charities who are near and dear to my heart.

13th Street Cat Rescue - www.13thstcats.org

Humane Society Silicon Valley - www.hssv.org

The Cat House on the Kings - www.cathouseonthekings.com

Any donations are more than appreciated, and not just money, you can donated towels, sheets, and cat or dog food too! Just as last year, we will be donating $1.00 from every visit we do to the 13th Street Cat Rescue, and hope you may help as well.

NEW YEAR CHANGES

The new year will bring some new changes for your beloved SVPN! I have finally found an AWESOME gal to service Campbell/Los Gatos, and she will even go into the Santa Cruz mountain area. Her name is Carolyn, (yep, that's right) Beck and she has done a fabulous job with her first round of furr kids...I'm SO happy to have her on board!

We are also going to be bringing on a Nanny to service the Morgan Hill/Gilroy area, which will be really great!

With the sad state of the economy I have decided to not impose a rate change for this coming year, although my rates have not changed in about 3 years. I will however be changing our overnight price from $65.00 to $70.00 which will put us in line with many of the other pet sitting agencies out there.

HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

The office will be closed on 12/24, 25th and 26th as well as the 31st and 1/1. Don't worry...we will be busy, busy, busy visiting your furr kids, but the office work will have to wait.

Well, I guess that's it for now. I hope you and your family, (furr and human) have a wonderful holiday, and a safe and happy New Year. Give your furr kids a kiss from their nannies, and we look forward to another fun filled year with them.

HERE'S TO 2010!!!!!!!

Happy November!

Hello all my furr guardians! Can you believe it's already NOVEMBER, and nearly 2010!!!! The holidays are right around the corner, so a friendly reminder to get those holiday pet sitting bookings in SOOOOOOON.

Since Thanksgiving is in a couple of weeks, I thought I would post some pet safety tips to keep your furr kids happy and healthy throughout the holiday season.

It is SO tempting to give your furr kids scraps from your holiday feast, (I'm as guilty as anyone) but I came across the following information and wanted to share it with you.

• Rich, fatty foods such as turkey skins and gravy can contribute to pancreatitis. This inflammation of the digestive gland is painful and can be serious, resulting in emergency veterinary assistance.
• Cooked bones can splinter and cause tears or obstruction in a pet's digestive tract.
• Baking strings can cause BIG trouble if ingested by your furr kid.
• Onions in holiday stuffing can lead to canine anemia.
• Grapes and raisin toxins can cause kidney failure in pets.
• Ingesting chocolate can kill your pet.
• Caffeine and alcohol are also toxic for pets.
• Make sure to keep leftover food out of reach and in tightly closed containers.
• Make sure that garbage cans are secure so our outdoor furr critters are safe from e-coli and unable to chew on leftover tinfoil.

The article suggests that pet owners should plan on providing appropriate chew toys or food occupation devices for pets during holiday activities and always keep an emergency vet clinic or hospital number handy, (just in case).

If you would like to surprise your furr kid with their own version of a Thanksgiving day feast I found the following recipes that you may want to try out.

Pumpkin Barley with Turkey

• 1 quart chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup long-grain rice
• 3/4 cup pearl barley
• Pinch of freshly grated or ground nutmeg
• 1/3 pound ground turkey or ground turkey breast
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• Salt

In a small pot, warm the chicken broth over low heat.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the rice and barley and toast for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season the grains with the nutmeg and stir in half of the warm broth. Cook until the broth bubbles, about 5 minutes, then add the turkey, crumbling it as you drop it into the skillet and cook, (about 5 minutes) until the liquid is absorbed by the grains. Stir in the remaining broth, 1/2 cup at a time, allowing the broth to be fully absorbed before adding more. Cook until the barley is tender, about 18 minutes.

Stir in the pumpkin puree. Cook over medium heat until just heated, about 1 minute. Season to "taste" with salt.

I couldn't really find an appropriate kitty turkey day dish, but this one "sounds" pretty good.

Tuna Kitty Treats,

• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk
• 1/2 can tuna in oil, or 1/2 cup cooked chicken chopped up into small pieces.
• 1 tablespoon vegetable or cod liver oil
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/4 cup water

In a large bowl mash the tuna, (or chicken). Add the flour and powdered milk, mixing well. Stir in the water, oil and egg, mixing well, (mixture will be sticky).

Shape mixture into 1/2-inch balls. Place on greased baking sheets. Press balls to flatten.
Bake at 350*F, (175*C) for 10 minutes. Remove treats from oven; let sit for 5 minutes and then turn treats over and bake another 10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack, and store in an air tight container in refrigerator.

SWINE FLU, (H1N1) HITS OUR PETS!!!!!

In Iowa, a 13 year old cat developed lethargy, decreased appetite and trouble breathing after several human members of its family became ill with H1N1 flu! It was confirmed as the first case of H1N1 flu in a cat and the cat is recovering. To date, there is no indication that this cat passed the virus to any people.

In addition to people, at this point in the United States, 2009 H1N1 has been documented in pigs, two ferrets, and now one cat. Based on evidence available at this time, all infections were spread from people to these animals. It is unknown if pets can spread the infection to people.

Other influenza viruses have been known to cross species and all pet owners should take the same hygiene precautions against spreading H1N1 flu to pets as they would with humans. In addition, pets should be monitored for any signs of illness and a veterinarian should be contacted immediately if you have concerns. There is no H1N1 flu vaccine available for pets at this time.

So, keep those hands washed furr guardians, and make sure to wipe off your pets paws after a walk in a neighborhood park.

PAUL MITCHELL FOR PETS!!!!,

I was hanging out at my new hair stylist's salon, (http://www.orangecrushstudios.com/) and as usual we began talking about pet related topics. Lonnie, (the owner) was telling me about an upcoming "dog wash" fundraiser that he's planning on hosting next year which all proceeds benefiting the Silicon Valley Humane Society. He told me that the folks at Paul Mitchell host one every year in Los Angeles which raises thousands of dollars for local pet related charities. I asked him why Paul Mitchell would do something like that, and he explained that they are HUGE animal lovers, and actually have their own line of pet grooming products!!!!! Who knew right? I sure didn't. So, I checked out their site, and WOW, what great products!!!!

All of the products are matched with the PH of dogs and cats, which will not dry their skin out like human shampoos. They are also made with natural botanical blends which compliment pet fur. And lastly they are ready to use, you don't need to water them down at all!

They offer Oatmeal, tearless kitten and puppy, Tea Tree, Calming moisturizing, Super Bright, and Waterless foam shampoos and conditioners, (as well as an instant detangling spray). They also have a line of Pet wipes, which include Body and Paw, Tooth and Gum and Ear and Eye.

I know a lot of my furr guardians use baby wipes and human shampoos, but this seems like a much better alternative for your beloved furr kids. http://www.johnpaulpet.com/

PUTTING A SMILE ON YOUR FACE!

I don't know how many of you are huge YouTube fans...but I wanted to post some videos that totally crack me up!!!! I hope these will put a smile on your face!







CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK TREE!

Another friendly reminder that if you would like to see your furr kid on our 2009 Christmas in the Park tree to please email me a photo. Here is a shot of our tree from last year so you can see what it's all about.


Well, I guess that's it for now. I hope you all have a wonderful turkey day, and remember to keep your furr kids safe and sound. Please give them a big kiss from Nanny Katy, Nanny Chandel, Nanny Laurel, Nanny Stacy, Nanny Jennifer, "Manny" Ryland, Nanny Samantha and Me, (Nanny Carolyn).

Happy Halloween!

Hello all my furr guardians, how did October treat you? Are you all prepared for Halloween? I'm SO glad it's not going to rain, but make sure to bundle up because it's going to be a chilly night!

SUNNYVALE HOWL'OWEEN PET PARADE AND FAIRE
I must admit that I wasn't too sure how this faire would turn out, but WOW was I happy with the way it did! What a blast we had, and by the end of the day my face hurt from smiling non-stop. I couldn't believe all the fun costumes, and the variety of pets that were in attendance! We saw everything from dogs and cats to chickens, snakes, goldfish and turtles! It was so great to watch the parade and to see all the furr kids and their guardians enjoying the day together.


I was thrilled to see my darling Penny Wenny all dressed up in her adorable Lady Bug costume. There were SO many other adorable costumes, I think two of my favorite were the "Bully Burrito" and the weenie dog that was dressed up like a Lobster being carted around in a huge Lobster pot on a wagon decorated in flames...tooooooo cute!



We were lucky enough to be set up next to a WONDERFUL animal rescue organization called GEPDA, (group education to protect and defend animals). We had a great time talking to their Vice Director MaryAnn Lima, and met the SWEETEST doggy I have ever met...who by the way is up for adoption! Her name is Crystal, and she's a 3 1/2 month old small mixed breed. I couldn't believe how mellow she was for being a puppy, and how absolutely sweet she was. All Crystal wanted to do is to give us kisses and be around people. She was even so patient while MaryAnn dressed her up in this sweet Sacajawea costume, which took quite a while to get it on. It was a surprisingly warm day, so the costume didn't stay on very long, but she looked darn cute while it was on!


If anyone is looking for a wonderful lap dog, who is great with kids and other animals and is sweet as they come you couldn't go wrong with Crystal.

If you would like information on Crystal you can contact MaryAnn Lima at (408) 309-2667, or visit http://www.gepdaus.org/.

Let's find Crystal a perfect forever home where she can love and adore her guardians and live a happy life with people who love her.

HALLOWEEN PET SAFETY TIPS

• NEVER give your pet chocolate!
• Keep your black cats/dogs INSIDE! There are sick people out there and unfortunately black animals are targets for abuse around this time.
• Watch out of candy wrappers! These can get stuck in your pets digestive track and make them ill or cause death.
• Watch your pets tails around lit Jack-O-Lanterns! Not only is this important to prevent a burned tail, but also to prevent a house fire if the pumpkin in knocked over.
• If you're having a party remember to keep your pet in a quiet room with the door closed. Even the most social pet can become stressed out and scared around a room full of dressed up strangers.
• When opening the door for trick-or-treaters make sure your pet isn't able to dart out the door.
• Remember that many people are afraid of dogs, so you may want to keep you dog away from approaching trick-or-treaters.
• And lastly, be kind to your furr kid...if you're dressing your pet up make sure the costume is comfortable, not too warm, not too confining, and not to bulky.

HALLOWEEN PET TREATS

Just because you can't give your furr kid(s) some of your yummy Halloween treats doesn't mean that you can't give them their own special treats.

TASTY CAT CLAWS

makes 18 treats

1/4 cup warm water
5 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
3 tablespoons soft margarine
1 tablespoon cod liver oil
1 cup white flour
1/4 cup soy flour

Preheat oven to 300 degrees

Combine water, cheese, margarine and oil.
Add flour and form a dough
Roll to 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cooker
Bake at 300 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 20 - 25 minutes or until the cookies are lightly golden.

TRICKY TREATS FOR DOGS
makes 14 treats

2 cups water
3/4 cup applesauce
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3 cups whole-wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup oats

Preheat oven to 350
In a bowl, mix water, applesauce, vanilla and egg thoroughly
In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, nutmeg and cinnamon stirring well.
Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well
Spoon into greased muffin tins, filling each cup completely and bake for about 1 1/4 hours.

Note: all recipes are for special-occasion treats for your pet. They should not replace meals and should be offered sparingly. If you pet has food allergies or special dietary requirements, check with your veterinarian before offering them.

CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK REMINDER
We have MANY new furr kids who have joined our family since last Christmas, and we don't have photos of the majority of them. If you are a new furr guardian please feel free to email me a photo of your furr kid(s) so they can be included on our 2009 Christmas in the Park tree.

Well, I guess that's it for now. Have a fun and SAFE Halloween, and make sure to give your furr kid(s) a big hug and kiss from their nannies. Oh, and don't forget to make your holiday reservations SOOOOOOOOOON!

Bark in the Park was a BLAST!

Hello all my furr guardians, and happy October to you all! My apologies for the lapse in time since my last blog, but there has just been so much going on!

THE BARK IN THE PARK

Well, what can I say, this years Bark in the Park was AWESOME! It seemed to be much larger this year, and the turnout, well lets just say it was amazing! I saw lots of our furr kids, which is always great and met a lot of future SVPN furr kids throughout the day! We had an exciting raffle prize worth more than $250.00, and included a ton of dog and cat treats and toys presented in a very nice pet carrier. We had more than 100 entries and after picking the winner out of a hat we ended up choosing one heck of an animal lover! The winner has two small doggies and two kitties, so the prize fit her pack perfectly! She was very excited and followed up with an email letting me know how thrilled her "kids" were and how much they enjoyed all the their new toys.

We raised close to $150.00 for 13th Street Cat Rescue by accepting donations in exchange for a pair of dog ears and nose, or a really cool paw print bracelet! We also had a hit on our hands by providing fresh water for the doggies, and couldn't have done it without Jimmy trekking across the field to refill the water container...4 TIMES!!!!! We had some thirsty visitors!

This year I was accompanied by Nanny Katy, Nanny Jennifer and Nanny Samantha, along with the honorary SVPN nannies, Nanny Linda, (my Mom) "Manny" John, (my Dad) and of course my wonderful Hubby Jimmy. Jimmy normally is in charge of taking photos, but this year we thought we would switch it up a bit and video some of the day. I hope you enjoy this short video, and hope to see you all next year!!!



BLACKJACK COSTUME CONTEST
Well, as you can probably guess I decided to "torture" my beloved kitty Blackjack with a few Halloween get ups. I was hoping that some of my furr guardians might be able to choose what costume you feel best suits my friend, and will give the winner three days of free pet sitting.!!!! Just take a lot at the photos, and send me your choice for the winner. I apologize for the quality of some of the photos...do you know how hard it is to make a kitty sit still with different outfits on!!!!!!

What do you think? I'm a bit partial to the red devil...describes him to a TEE! We put the chicken hat on him last night, and he actually wore it for quite a while...but the wigs...forget about it!

PET PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!!
While attending this years HSSV Furr Ball my Sister bid on and won a pet photography session for my "niece" Fozzy. You should SEE the final product!!!!! WOW! Talk about some wonderful shots, they even wrote a song about Fozzy which we all now sing. They are planning another trip up here from Southern California, and accepting photo session bookings. If you want some great shots of your beloved furr kid(s) please make sure to book with her early!

Saturday, November 14th
Kim Rodgers
Bark Pet Photography
http://www.barkpetphotography.com/
kim@barkpetphotography.com

HOWL'OWEEN PET PARADE & FAIRE!
Now this is going to be a BLAST!!!! This is the second year that Downtown Sunnyvale has put on this event, and I am SO excited to be participating this year! If you love Halloween, or heck even just animals you should make it a point to pop on by, (you can even take Caltrain and they drop you off a block or so away!).

Here are some of the highlights of the day:

Best Pet Costume
Best Human Costume
Best Combo Costume, (so funny)
Best Group Costumes
Best Float, (all floats must be "foot power" floats)
Pet Talent Show
Pet Lover Village
Kissing Booth, (woooo hooooo)
Dog Treat Stacking Contest

Now remember, this is for ALL pets, not just doggies and kitties! I saw a picture of someone pulling a wagon with their tarantula in it!!!!!

So, mark this on your calendar right now! Just imaging how much fun your kids, (furr or human) will have! And, after all the festivities you can also enjoy the fantastic shops and restaurants downtown Sunnyvale has to offer!

2009 Sunnyvale Howl'oween Pet Parade and Faire
Sunday, October 25th, Downtown Sunnyvale
Parade Hours 11:00 A.M. to 1:30 PM
Pet Faire Hours 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
http://www.downtownsunnyvale.com/petparade/

PET POISONS!
While on the ASPCA's website, (which is awesome by the way) I came across a list of the top 10 pet poisons for 2008, and to be honest...I was quite surprised by some of them!!!!! Did you know that raisins, grapes and avocado can be VERY harmful to your furr kid!!!!! And of course the
worst offender is chocolate which if ingested in significant amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in sever cases abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures!

Others include Human medications, insecticides, rodenticides, Veterinary medications, Plants, chemical hazards, household cleaners, heavy metals and fertilizer.

If you would like to read the entire article just click on this link.
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/top-10-pet-poisons-of-2008.html

GOODBYE TO A FRIEND
I wanted to send out a heart felt goodbye to our beloved friend and furr kid Oscar who passed away this morning. He was a wonderful little guy, and will be dearly missed by not only his furr guardian, but by myself, Nanny Jennifer and Nanny Samantha.

Until next time, please give your furr kid(s) a big hug and kiss from me, Nanny Katy, Nanny Chandel, Nanny Laurel, Nanny Samantha, Nanny Jennifer, Nanny Stacy, and "Manny" Ryland.

It's time to do some BARK IN THE PARK!

Hello all my furr guardians, and happy September to you all. I hope everyone had a relaxing and fun Labor Day, and surviving this strange weather!

As you can tell by the title of this blog...this Saturday, September 19th is the awesome and always fun San Jose Bark in the Park! I know I have mentioned it in past entries, but even if you're not a canine furr kid guardian you should make it a point to try to make it to this event. Not only is it the largest dog festival in the United States, it's just a big old furr kid love fest. And trust me, there are some fun things for you kitty furr parents to see too and even our friends 13th Street Cat Rescue will be there! I will have an awesome raffle prize up for grabs which will include some free pet sitting visits + tons of fun toys for both your feline and canine furr kids. We will have a booth located close to the pet first aid booth, (our booth number is B9) for those of you who visited us last year we're in the same spot. Please bring your furr kids over to say hi to us!

http://www.barksanjose.org/
Saturday, September 19th, 10:00am to 5:00pm
Williams Street Park, (at Williams and S. 16th Street).

DNA for Doggy!
One of my furr guardians told me that she invested in a doggy DNA kit to finally put the mystery of her furr kid's breed background to rest. She found out quite a lot about her furr kid, and found the whole process very cool. If you would like a DNA test run on your Heinz 57 furr kid you can visit http://www.fetchdog.com/item/A40041 If any of you do this, please let me know what you turn up...technology is coooooooool.

Old Dog Paws,
So, as you know I'm always looking for interesting pet related items to blog about and with the average human age extending far past what it was a decade ago it only makes sense that our furr kids life spans are extended as well. I came across http://www.olddogpaws.com/ which specializes in the "care and comfort of old friends". It's actually a very interesting site which contains articles about aging doggy issues, alternative medication and treatments, as well as a store that offers items that may make your old pal a bit more comfortable. I myself was on the site for well over an hour and haven't seen everything yet. Yeah for our old furr kid friends!

Dog Chefs of America!
So, check this out! There is a site called Dog Chefs of America http://www.dogchefs.com/ and it is a site dedicated to learning how to cook for your furr kid! Here is their statement from their homepage:

"Dog Chefs of America is a unique '50s diner style working kitchen that doubles as a classroom. This whimsical environment doubles as a TV set backdrop as well as a location for film and educational CD/DVD production. We are not a "cutesy" doggie bakery! Master Dog Chef Micki Voisard creates daily prepared meals of real food for dogs, and teaches future dog chefs how they can improve their dog's health through implementation of a real food diet. Sharing this novel space is the "Oh My Dog!" Fine Art Gallery that reflects all things canine. Fabulous steel sculptures, vibrantly colored paintings, and ceramic critters are all designed to make you smile!"

Now, don't get too excited about visiting this cool place...unless you're in Arizona, but they do have workshops that travel around and a great store where you can buy doggy food recipe books! So funny!

House Cat, House Calls,
So, I recently found out that there is a kitty version of the Dog Whisperer!!! I had NO idea, but they are about to enter into their 3rd season! How did this slip under my radar!?!?!?!?!?! The show is sponsored by Purina Cat Chow, and is on Animal Planet Saturdays at 10:30am and Sundays at 8:00am, (EST). This is what the show is about:

"Each week, Dr. Katrina visits cat loving families and, with the help of the Housecat Housecall Mentors, Dr. Karen Sueda and Dr. Rich Goldstein, she'll try to make some sense out of a wide range of feline puzzlers. Whether it's just a quirky behavior or something more complex, Dr. Katrina and hr team work out real solutions that help bring peace, harmony, and well-being back to the homes of cats and owners"

Let's see...I think I know a few kitties who might qualify for this...Blackjack being one of them. Check out the site and watch some of the funny videos. http://www.housecathousecall.com/

You know, I often talk about Blackjack...well, he is after all the mascot of the business, but I started to feel a bit guilty that I don't mention our other kitty Corn. So, I put together this "Corn Montage" so you can get a feeling for our other furr kid. The first part of the video is something that cracks me up no matter how many times I see it. Corn sleeps SO deep that we can lift his head, arms, legs, tail etc and he doesn't wake up!!!! I've tried this on Blackjack, but he must be a light sleeper because it's only worked on him once or twice. The second part of the video is how Corn actually likes to bundle up under "his" blanket...yes, he does this himself. He's quite the interesting kitty character and I hope you enjoy.



Well, I guess that's all for now. I hope to see many of you this Saturday...it's really the only time we get to see each other!

Give all your furr kids a big hug and kiss for us, and thank you again for being a part of the SVPN family!

(Oh...remember to book early for the Holidays!)

Andy's Pet Shop is in trouble!

Hello all my furr guardians, and a happy month of August to you all. What a strange Summer we have had this year...cold, then hot, then SUPER hot and back to cool. I hope all your furr kids have been dealing with the weather better than I have!

As you see from the title of this Blog, the beloved Andy's Pet Shop is in trouble! I'm sure some of you aren't familiar with Andy's, but it is a San Jose treasure and it would be such a loss for our community if it were to vanish. Andy's just can't compete against the corporate chains, and counting on the community to help preserve this icon on San Jose. Here is a bit of history behind Andy's:

"Andy and his wife Geraldine Camilleri opened a pet shop on The Alameda in what used to be California Highway Patrol headquarters. CHP cruisers were parked in the old garages out back. Andy's Pet Shop was known for exotic animals and customers who today are parents and grandparents recall seeing the monkeys and rare birds when they were children. Look closely at the old lighted sings out front and you'll see one that says "Monkeys". Mrs. Camilleri continued the business after her husband's death and was well-known and widely respected in the pet trade. When she passed on, the daughters sold the business in 1993 and the store changed hands a couple more times. In December 2007, Lissa Shoun and Eric Bong became the owners. Today all the pets in the shop come from a shelter, a non-profit rescue group, or are surrendered for re-homing due to foreclosure, illness, etc."

For any of you who haven't been to Andy's you should make a point to drive on by. It is a throwback of what pet stores used to be, and the charm of this place will overwhelm you. My friends at 13th Street Cat Rescue, and many other local rescues depend on the adoption center set up by Andy's. Andy's will be having a Fundraiser on August 22nd, and will have live music, a raffle, a garage sale, vendors and more. Your loyal pet sitter will be donating a prize of free pet sitting along with a nice dog/cat prize basket. Please join the rest of the community in supporting Andy's Pet Shop by either attending the fundraiser, or donating via PayPal to them. For more information on Andy's Pet Shop, please visit their website at http://www.andyspetshop.com/.

I don't know, I've been feeling a bit CREEPY lately! Hahahahaha, how do you like that introduction to my newest venture. We are all familiar with our beloved dogs and cats, and how much we love to be with our furr kids, but some people prefer the company of kids that have no furr, who slither, or hiss, or spin webs! Well, this is what the new business is focused on..."alternative pets". The website is a fun with a Tim Burton twist, we will be offering "pet" sitting services to our fellow pet guardians who just so happen to have snakes, insects, reptiles, frogs, etc...if it's "creepy" we'll be there! Some of you are probably saying to yourself, "is Carolyn really going to visit them?" and the answer is NO! I have a couple of specialists who will be doing these visits, and that's the whole point of this. Many pet sitting agencies offer care for exotics, but many of them do not understand what it takes to properly care for these animals. My assistants, (Katy is one of them) have years of experience caring for these types of animals and know what type of care they need to be happy. If you get a chance, check out the new site at http://www.creepypetsit.com/ and let me know what you think!

Did you know that there is actually a SURF SCHOOL for Dogs, who also has a doggy surfing contest!!!!! It is the coolest thing, and I thought I would post this video from the competition held last month. ENJOY


So, I stumbled upon a really, really cool website, (by accident) and thought I would share it with all of you. It's called the "Animal Rescue Site" and their website is http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/. They have all sorts of cool gift, clothing and pet related items for sale which a portion goes to animal rescue organizations. I bought a really cute pair of walking shoes with a purple paw print and a small purse covered in multi-colored paw prints. I think my favorite was the photo frame that said "all my grandchildren have paws". Tooooooo cute!

I'm sure many of you enjoyed the video of Penny the Bernese Mountain dog puppy that I have the pleasure of visiting. Well, Penny is getting MUCH bigger, but her desire to play with Oliver hasn't changed. For your viewing pleasure, here is a recent Penny/Oliver encounter that I like to call "Penny tries again".



Speaking of funny video's, I just have to post one more. This is the lovely and handsome Jackson. I have been visiting with this love bug for about two years and he still remains one of my all time favorite kitties. He ADORES his cat tree and I was lucky enough to capture him playing in it. ENJOY



Mark your calendars...there is a new event coming our way! The "Adopt-a-Palooza" will be held at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds October 10th, 2009. This event is a "companion animal adopt-a-thon in the South Bay bringing homeless animals from multiple organizations together in one place to find loving homes. We'll have cats, dogs, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits and more. Have fun in teh Kid's area with great entertainment and fun for all. Kids can learn how to approach animals and about their basic care. Live shows may include Frisbee, obedience, rally and Schulzhund. Need help training your dog or dealing with behavioral issues? Come talk to professionals for FREE advice and demonstrations. Bring your dog and the whole family! You may find your next best friend waiting there for you. Dogs must be on a 6ft leash or shorter and we'd greatly appreciate a $2.00 donation or can of pet food for each dog you bring."

Sounds like a pretty good time to me! The event will go from 10:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday, October 10th at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. www.adoptapalooza.com

Well, this was a pretty long blog, so I guess I will sign off now, but until next time please give your furr kids a kiss and a hug from their pet nannies.

I LOVE what I do for a living!!!!!!

Hello all my furr guardians, how was your 4th of July? Were your furr kids okay with all the loud BANGS! My cats spent the majority of the time under our bed, but with all the M80's that were being set off I wish I could have fit under there too!

So, as you can see from the title of this blog...I LOVE WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING! I just wanted to introduce all of you to my newest furr kid, and what a doll she is! Her name is Penny, and she's a 10 week old Bernese Mountain Dog. She is the new Sister to Oliver and Autumn, (kitties) and just arrived Monday. She is a sweetheart, who loves her Brother and Sister, (although the feeling is not mutual at this time) and adores her guardians, (and me too). She is so cute that I had to post two videos of her...I hope you don't mind.





Now, how CUTE was that!!!!!! She is also quite the people magnet, and makes everyone who runs into her smile...what an awesome talent to have. We're still working on the potty training, but she is SO smart, and is taking to it very quickly.

We have had quite the strange Summer so far...cold, hot, SUPER hot, cool, and cold again. Well, according to the news it's supposed to warm up again and I thought I would include a couple of cool doggy treats that you can whip up for your furr kid.

Blend a couple of spoons of peanut butter with mashed banana, add a spoonful of honey and mix in about a half cup of water to make a better freezing consistency. For optional extra crunch, throw in a few unsalted peanuts...and FREEEEEZE.

If you want to be a bit creative, try mixing and matching various fruit juices with your dog's favorite fruit such as apple bits or canned peaches along with plain yogurt before freezing into cubes. You may even want to go all out and blend smoothies or slushes for your dog to lap up or crunch in frozen cubes. However, stick to fruit juices and water for liquid as many dogs cannot easily digest milk. Creamy treats can be made by mixing half cottage cheese and half water and freezing into cubes.

For dogs who prefer meaty tastes, freeze chicken or beef broth, or even thin unsalted gravies into cubes. For an extra surprise, add a chunk of baby food meat, a piece of milkbone, or a cheese bit into each cube before freezing.

If you're not feeling particularly "Martha Stewart" you can also go with something like this:
http://www.kooldogz.biz/

And of course there is always:
http://www.chillow.com/chillow.html

The Chillow works for kitties too, although Blackjack wasn't fond of his he prefers the cold floor in the bathroom.

I haven't forgotten about my feline furr kids, (although they aren't fans of super cold things). I found these awesome kitty treat recipes and thought I would share them with you!

Crispy Trout Pieces
1 egg yolk
1 small trout fillet
3 tbsp oatmeal
1 tbsp vegetable oil

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Beat the egg, dip the fish in it, and then coat it with the oatmeal. Put the oil in a small baking pan and lay the fillet in it, turning it over once or twice. Bake for 15 minutes, turn over and back for another 15 minutes. Remove the fish to a dish, allow to cool and cut into bite-sized pieces. If it looks a little dry, add a dash of cream.

Chicken Cheeseburger
2 oz finely ground beef
2 oz finely ground chicken
1 tsp canned thick chicken soup
2 oz whole grain bread crumbs or oatmeal
1 baby carrot, cooked until soft
1 egg
1/2 cup grated cheese

Mash the meat and chicken with the soup, then add the bread crumbs or oatmeal, mushy carrot and egg. Make into two small burgers and broil (leaving much rare than you would for yourself). Sprinkle with grated cheese and broil again until the cheese is melted. Allow to cool until warm to the touch and serve.

I often think "ahhhhhh, I would love to be some of the furr kids I watch...what a life"...and this video explains it sooooooo well!



Many of you have sent me emails asking how Blackjack is doing, which I think is SO wonderful and thoughtful! He's doing much better, although Corn is still hissing at him which hurts his feelings. His hair is starting to grow out a bit, and he's looking a bit more black than silver. The good news is that he hasn't thrown up ONE hairball!!!!! That is cause for celebration!!!!

Well, I guess that's it for now, but I wanted to mention that the annual Obon Festival is going on this weekend in Japantown so if you want to experience a lot of fun and culture you should make plans to visit...you just might run into your loyal petsitter! http://www.sjbetsuin.com/Events/HomePage

Poor Blackjack

Hello all my furr guardians, how has this awful hot weather been treating you??? I wanted to make sure to wish all my Canadian furr guardians a very happy Canada day, and hope you celebrated it in the true spirit of a Canuck!

Well, before any of you worry about our kitty mascot, Blackjack is just fine, but the hot weather lead me to try something that I never had before...yes, I had Blackjack shaved. The utter embarrassment and humiliation in his face was absolutely heartbreaking for your loyal pet sitter, and although I tried to reassure him that he will be MUCH happier without his thick black coat he just looked at me with this pathetic "I'm ruined" face. It was quite the traumatizing experience for him, as he had to be sedated...well, it was either that or the tech who gave him his trim would have been walking with a sever limp. Blackjack is not one to go for a car ride quietly, in fact he yowled the entire way to Fremont, (yes, my Vet is in Fremont, but he's the best in the world...in my opinion that is) and a few times it was quite the ear piercing howl. My Mom went with me for moral support, so we both chuckled at some of his very strange howls...under our breath of course not to make him feel bad. Not surprisingly he was absolutely quiet on the way home, probably a mixture of the drugs and being exhausted after his horrible day, (he was there for nearly 6 hours). When we got home he was wobbly, but quick to escape the HORRIBLE cat carrier. I'm sure he was feeling so embarrassed, but it was made worse when our other cat Corn hissed at him!!!! We're not sure if it was the Vet smell, or maybe Corn just didn't recognize this no furr kitty in front of him. So, Blackjack wondered the house looking for somewhere, ANYWHERE to hide. He seems a bit better today, but still staying clear of Corn and looking uncomfortable with his new haircut...believe me, I know how he feels! But as you can see in the first photo, he still doesn't mind showing off his gut, and although the Vet said he was "chunky" I still tell him "no you're not, your just "big boned" like your Mom".

I have heard many of my furr guardians complain about the lack of options for pet travel via air, and how most airlines are being super difficult regarding arrangements and most of all fee's for our beloved furr kids to fly with us. Well, I came across a very cool new service that offers furr kids first class air travel! It is SO cool, your furr kid flies in the front cabin, (in a kennel for their safety) which has temperature control and fresh air pumped in. They are monitored by an attendant and get this...NO HUMANS ON BOARD, (well besides the flight staff of course). This is all about your furr kid!!!! You can go online and track your pet, they have a "MyPaws" club that will save you money on flights and pet friendly hotels, and a bunch of great information regarding traveling with your pets! Unfortunately the closest "hub" is Los Angeles, but who knows it might be worth the drive down!

As you all well know, 4th of July can be such a blast for us Humans, but can be HORRIBLE for our furr kids. Here are some tips on how to keep your furr kids safe this coming 4th of July, (supplied by the wonderful Humane Society of the United States.

• Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays.
• Do NOT leave your pet in the car! With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects - even death - in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows DO NOT provide sufficient air, but they DO provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
• Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him/her company while you're attending 4th of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.
• If you know that your pet is seriously distressed by loud noises like thunder, consult with your veterinarian before July 4th for ways to help alleviate the fear and anxiety he or she will experience during fireworks displays.
• Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.
• Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

Remember, taking precautions can help your furr kid get through the loud 4th of July without too much anxiety. Fireworks are fun for us, but not so much for our furr kids...especially when you get the M-80's exploding outside!!!!

Well, many of you have been asking, and now we have the answer...YES, we will be doing Bark in the Park 2009! We look forward to this every year, so how could we NOT! So, mark the date because this is one doggy fest you DON'T want to miss! Saturday, September 19th! It will be a blast, and make sure to bring your furr pups to visit their loyal pet sitters.

Well, I guess that's it for now! I hope you all have a wonderful, and SAFE 4th of July. Nanny Carolyn, Katy, Allison, Chandel, Stacy, Maria and Jennifer all sends hugs and kisses to your wonderful furr kids, and we thank you for being a part of the SVPN family!

Where did May go?????

Hello all my furr guardians, how did the month of May treat you? I can't believe how fast the month flew by, and it's going to be June in a few short days!!!!! Did you receive any good Mothers Day gifts for your furr kids? I personally didn't, but Blackjack made sure to wish me a happy day, and that's a great gift in my eyes. :o)

Your loyal pet sitters had one heck of a busy month, and welcome all our new furr kids and guardians. We had a great time at the 13th Street Cat Rescues annual open house, and was very pleased with the turnout! Hershey the chocolate lab kept everyone entertained weaving in and out of all the attendees with her favorite tennis ball in her mouth with eyes beaming with hope that someone would take the slobber injected ball and play with her. Our dear Coco was in his run because he's not as well behaved as his Sister Hershey, but everyone made their way out there to say hello to him.

I was looking at one of my favorite sites, (http://www.cathouseonthekings.com/) and after watching their informational video, (for the millionth time) checked out some of the other information that was mentioned. These are really, REALLY cool sites and ones that I think anyone who is a furr guardian or for that matter just an animal lover should be made aware of.

freekibblekat.com such a great idea, and can you believe it that a 12 YEAR OLD founded it!!! This is her story...

"Mimi Ausland, a 12 year old girl from Bend, Oregon, wanted to help feed the hungry animals at her local animal shelter. "There are 10's of thousands of dogs and cats in animal shelters across the country, all needing to be fed a good meal". Say hello to freekibble.com and freekibblekat.com!

Freekibble.com's primary mission is to provide good, healthy food to dogs and cats to those shelters who are working so hard to see that none of them go hungry - they need our help. In addition to providing free kibble to the Humane Society of Central Oregon, we've added 13 new shelters to the program (from Oregon to Florida!) and plan to expand the program to many more! Thanks to everyone for supporting freekibble by playing the trivia game - every piece of kibble counts!

We're happy to say that we're partnering with Castor and Pollux to feed these hungry dogs and cats a very high quality, all natural kibble - a very decent dinner! We also want to make it easy and fun for you to help provide free kibble by playing Meow Trivia - and we hope you learn a few interesting things about dogs and cats along the way. Thanks and enjoy!"

So, basically you go to http://www.freekibblekat.com/, (for cats) or http://www.freekibble.com/, (for dogs) and answer their daily trivia question. This is a daily question, and right or wrong they will still donate 10 pieces of kibble to animal shelters. It takes like one second and you can sign up for daily trivia reminders. I'm always thrilled when children take an active interest in helping out our furr friends, good for you Mimi!

The next site which I found very cool and wonderful is http://www.goodsearch.com/. The following info is edited due to the amount, but it should give you a good understanding what this site is all about.

"We all have a cause we care about - whether it's finding a cure for cancer, saving the environment, finding homes for abandoned pets or so many other worthwhile endeavors. But what we don't all have is the time or money to support these efforts as much as we'd like. So, what if we could raise money for our favorite charities and schools by doing something we do every day - searching the Internet?

GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50-percent of it's revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. It's a simple and compelling concept. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers - the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!

In 2007, GoodSearch was expanded to include GoodShop, an online shipping mall of world-class merchants dedicated to helping fund worthy causes across the country. Each purchase made via the GoodShop mall results in a donation to the user's designated charity or school - averaging approximately 3% of the sale, but going up to 20% or even more."

How totally cool is that! I mean, most of us are on the computer all day long looking up information, shopping, chatting, and we could be using it to help our beloved furr kids, (or any other charity of course).

The weather is getting WARM outside and I wanted to make sure that you have some tips on keeping your furr kids safe and healthy during the scorching summer months:

• Always have a supply of cool, fresh water available for pets.
• Add a few ice cubes to a dish of water for a cool, refreshing treat.
• When on the go, keep a water bottle filled with cold, fresh water for your pet.
• Wait 30 - 60 minutes after meals before taking a pet for its run.
• Walk your dog in grass or keep pavement walks brief. Sensitive paws can quickly burn on hot asphalt; consider paw protectors such as shoes or booties.
• No doggy days at the beach! During extremely hot temperatures, your pet would prefer shade to sunshine. Excessive panting, raspy breath and discolored gums are signs of heatstroke. To treat, get the animal in a shady place, cool it with wet towels and call a veterinarian.
• NEVER leave your animal in a vehicle! Even with the windows open, the temperature in a parked vehicle can reach more than 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.
• Coolant/antifreeze leaks are sweet tasting and attractive to animals. But drinking coolant can be fatal. Use animal-friendly propylene glycol coolant rather than ethylene glycol in your vehicles. Never let your pet drink out of strange puddles.

HELP ON YELP...many of you use Yelp in reviewing local eateries, business, etc, but did you know that your loyal petsitters are on Yelp, and would LOVE more happy reviews! If you're a Yelp, (or Angies List) user please leave a review for us...your furr kids would want you too! :o)

I thought I'd leave you with a "little Nomi" the adorable Yorkie that I'm fortunate enough to visit with twice a week. Until next time, hug your furr kids for me, Nanny Katy, Nanny Chandel, Nanny Allison, Nanny Stacy, Nanny Jennifer and Nanny Maria and we thank you for being part of our family.

Sad month

Hello all my furr guardians, I hope this post finds you all very well. You know, you're probably really tired of hearing me apologize for the delay in getting up a new post, but I feel that this time it is totally warranted. WOW, over a month has past...needless to say I'm very embarrassed by this and really have no excuse besides the fact that it was tax month and I was in an accounting frenzy! Uuuuuugh, taxes...the ONE bad thing about being in business for yourself...at least it only comes once a year!

Besides the tax horror, this was a very sad month, (well April) for your loyal pet sitter having lost three of my furr kids. My lovely Boy Smush who has a video on one of my past blogs moved back to Los Angeles with his guardians...I'm broken hearted since I have been watching him since he was a tiny pup, (see photo). Yes, it was a teared filled last visit which intensified when I opened the gift from his guardians and it was a beautiful full color picture of him in a lovely frame. I wish there was a clause in my contract that restricts my furr guardians from moving away...or at least gives me visitation rights, (one week out of every summer?) but since that's not going to happen I had to say goodbye to my Smushie Wushie, Smushtah Wooshtah, Mushie Mushie, Little Licker, Mushta Mush and it was awful! Not only was it horrible losing my Smush Boy, but I adored his guardians and will totally miss them too. I was lucky enough to be able to get together with his furr Mom for some coffee, (well tea) the day before they left, but it was still sad. I wish Smush and his furr guardians all the luck in the world, and hope the pop by every now and then to say hi.

This was also a sad month for losing two more of my furr kids, and unfortunately not from a move. My furr kid Sidney passed away in April after a very long life with his furr guardian. Sidney was a wonderful quirky Boy who always entertained me! After our visit he would wait for a treat while I wrote his guardian a note and if I took too long he would make this strange sneezing noise! He also wouldn't walk on certain surfaces, so he would jump over the entrance to their elevator, and jump over rail road tracks. He totally hated the rain, and I would have to leave my umbrella outside so he didn't see it, (he knew umbrella = rain). He would always be upstairs on his guardians bed when I would show up, and it was always fun to hear the "thump" after I called him, and then the "thump, thump, thump" and he jolted down the stairs to meet me. He was such a wonderful old Boy and I was lucky enough to be his friend till the very end.

My girl Maya also passed away in April, and FAR too soon for this sweet wonderful girl. She was the funniest Bully Bull I have ever met, and kept me laughing while she rolled around on her back while her big Bulldog lips flapped around. She was SUCH a bulldog...she wasn't thrilled about leaving the comforts of her own chair, and when she didn't want to walk...she didn't walk! I'm telling you, although she was probably only around 40 pounds it was ALL muscle and she was strong! Her guardian loved her SO much and so did Katy and myself, (we were both nannies for Maya). She will always live in our memories as our My-oh-my, myaloo, and maya-angeloooo, and maya-looinski. This was such a shock to hear since Maya was only 5 years old, so make sure you give your furr kids a big hug and kiss every chance you get.
WOW, what a complete buzz kill this blog is! I'm so sorry! I just wanted to make sure to mention these friends of mine and how much I will miss them all! We really become part of your family and truly care about your furr kids so much, and when they "leave" it really effects us quite a lot.

Well, let's try to lighten the mood a bit shall we and nothing lightens the mood like the topic of SHOPPING! This is kind of an exciting thing that I'm planning on launching! My Cousin and his wife own a couple of super awesome doggy boutiques in Healdsburg and Saint Helena, and during our recent visit out there I came across some REALLY cool, very unique items in their store! So, I am going to start featuring about 3 to 4 original items on my website that you can purchase for your furr kids! I have never seen these items in any other store, and when I saw them I actually said "this is the coolest thing I have ever seen". So, hopefully within a month or so you will be able to shop for some unique items that will make all your furr guardian friends will be green with envy!

The next shopping item is something that is near and dear to not only my heart, but the majority of my family, (my Sister, Dad, Brother-in-law, and of course my Husband). I have decided to offer a line of items designed by San Jose State University Art Students. This is in the works now, and we should be offering everything from t-shirts to skate board decks. All of the designs will feature a pet related topic, but it could be anything from a dog collar to a cat dish...who knows, I am giving them the freedom to use their creativity and surprise me! I'm not sure exactly when this will be up and running, but keep an eye out for it.

As most of you have probably noticed I have stopped sending out my newsletter. Although this is heartbreaking for me, and many of you have expressed your sadness on this decision, it was one of necessity. For one, I am trying to reduce my footprint and since my furr guardian count is expanding I was using a lot of paper. So, I tried signing up for Constant Contact, (the e-newsletter service) and I'm telling you, you have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out! So, I will try to keep up with my blogs to let you know all the new news with us. I apologize for the disappointment that some of you have experienced.

One of my wonderful furr guardians sent me the link to the Best of Silicon Valley, and although there isn't a pet section focused on "pet care" it would be awesome if all of my furr guardians could vote for us in the "best pet daycare" section. I know that we're not really a pet daycare, however since there isn't a best pet sitting category I feel it's completely appropriate to nominate us. Maybe next year they will have an actual pet sitting category...who knows.

Anyway, I guess that is all for now...I promise that I will be much more diligent on getting my postings up and apologize again for the delay. Give all your furr kids a big smooch and hug for us and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Bad Rap is a GOOD thing!

Hello all my wonderful furr guardians, have you all "dried out" by now? I must say that I have really been enjoying this beautiful weather and your kids have too! It seems that there are so many good smells in the air for them to smell and sunny places for them to bask in...oh, to be a furr kid with a great furr guardian! Maybe in my next life...you can only hope.

I'm sure you were probably wondering what the heck I am talking about in my title...well, let me introduce the newest non-profit that I'm in love with. The organization is called Bad Rap, (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls) and they are SO fabulous! I know many of you may have mixed feelings about American Pit Bull Terriers, but the bad publicity that this breed gets is really unfair. Silicon Valley Pet Nanny has NEVER discriminated against "bully breeds" and to be honest two of the absolute BEST furr kids that we visit are APBTs! Let me tell you about Samson...the big old goof ball that we were lucky enough to have been chosen to be his nanny back in 2007. Usually when furr guardians call us and have a APBT, they immediately say "do you accept pit bulls", but meeting Samson was a bit of a surprise because his guardian did not let me know prior to our first meeting. I walked into this very, very cute house in Willow Glen, met the guardian and then here came Samson with a huge "smile" on his face. I said "is he a pit bull" and his owner looked at me with a worried face and said "yes, will this be a problem" and my reply..."absolutely not". We sat down in her lovely kitchen and what did Samson do...he put his HUGE cow head right in my lap and looked at me with the most loving look I have ever seen. His guardian then began to tell me the story on how she became Samson's guardian, and it nearly brought tears to my eyes. She said that she went to the Humane Society to adopt a "small lap dog" but as she walked by all the well deserving furr kids she locked eyes on the big galoot with the name tag "Samson". She said that she walked away from him thinking "ugh, it's a pit bull, he's HUGE, and I want a dog that can sit in my lap" but the image of Samson, (Sammy Wammers) was burned into her subconscious...so, what did she do...what do you think, she scraped the small lap dog and brought Samson home.

Bad Rap's home page reads, "Welcome to one of the most "Pit Bull Friendly" spots in the San Francisco Bay Area! This site was created to help American Pit Bull Terriers (APBTs) and their people find the support they need to enjoy the best bully experience our home by the bay can offer" and they are NOT KIDDING! Their site is full of wonderful information about the breed, dispelling a lot of the "myths" surrounding APBT's and educating the public on them. They have a wonderful adoption gallery, and some really, really cool branded items you can buy! I knew about this organization, but it was really brought to my attention by one of my furr guardians who recently lost her beloved Boxer Cognac and decided to bring a new furr kid into her pack. After spending nearly an hour on their site, I made a small donation and contacted them to see if there was anything I can do as a business owner to support them. If you get a second, you should really take a look at their site, http://www.badrap.org/ Not only do they seem to be a cool bunch of people, but they are also doing wonderful work! Thank you Bad Rap!

As most of you know, I am always in search of really cool pet related items that I can pass on to all my furr guardians...well, the most recent one blew my mind!!!! Being in this industry I am bombarded with solicitations from start up pet industry companies, and for the most part I'm underwhelmed to say the least, but get a load of this!

http://www.dogpoweredscooter.com/Home_Page.html

Yep, that's right...now you can kick back and have your pooch take you for a ride! I have so many furr guardians who would love to bike with their dogs, but it's just too much of a challenge to keep a good hold on the leash, and hope that a squirrel doesn't dart in front of you to temp your kid to take off after it. Now, you have the best of both worlds!!!! Take a look at this video!

How totally cool is that! I wonder if my cat would be good at this...nah, probably not. The cool thing is that they also have skateboards, folding bikes, BMX bikes and a Trike that will work with this too!!!!! I think the BMX bike idea would be perfect for your "human kids" to exercise them...that way they are BOTH tired at the end of the day!

This is a sad subject for me to bring up, and I'm still getting used to the change. Many of your furr kids have been cared for by Nanny Samantha, and over the past two + years has been one heck of a furr kid care provider. Well, unfortunately for us, Nanny Sam has decided to hang up her nanny hat and will be going back to school full time to complete her degree. This was a horrible shock for me, but after it wore off I realized that this was an awesome opportunity for Sam, and will do nothing more than really help her in her future. "You can always come back to pet sitting" I said, and she replied "you never know, I may miss my furr kids so much I may have to". I want to wish Sam all the luck in the world, and for you furr guardians who have loved and trusted her over the years, don't worry...I have hired on Nanny Stacy and Nanny Maria who will be taking over for her. They both have 5+ years of pet sitting experience, and BOY do they know their stuff!

Well, I guess that's it for now...some happy, some sad, some really cool information and I hope you enjoyed reading this edition. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and give your furr kids a kiss from their nannies!

Here comes the sun...or is it?

Hello all my furr guardians, how are you staying afloat with all of this rainy weather? I lucked out today and found a break in the rain for me to visit my daily dog walks...phew, it was a close one! I wanted to first wish my friend Sidney a heartfelt "get well soon", and I'm looking forward to starting up our walks again very soon! I also wanted to wish Nanny Katy a very wonderful Birthday today, (I'm blowing an imaginary party horn).

You know, sometimes I read about things that I just can't believe and recently I read a HORRIBLE story about a 14 year old Boy who was filmed, (by his Brother) abusing his own family cat "Dusty". He set up the "scene" by appearing with a covered face, and as he walked into his bathroom said "the topic of the day is animal abuse". The video was posted on YouTube and thankfully taken down almost immediately. www.kenny-glenn.net And as I glanced over at my beloved Blackjack sitting on his very own office chair, (see photo) it got me thinking about how absolutely important it is to educate young people, (really from birth) to be kind to our fellow earth roamers, and came across an educational opportunity offered by the WONDERFUL Silicon Valley Humane Society. They offer a variety of programs for children, teens and adults which are highly interactive, student-centered and age-appropriate. They also have a "Compassion in Action" program which allows middle and high school students to explore animal welfare subjects impacting their community, and the "Animal Pals Club" allows 8 to 13 year olds the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of animals. On top of this, they also offer "Caring Communities" classes to Santa Clara County teachers, and K-12 education presentations are also available by request. So, even if you do not have children you should pass this information on to any family members, or even teachers that you think may be interested in this. We really must take an active interest as a community to ensure that our furr friends are respected and well taken care of.

On the topic of the Silicon Valley Humane Society, I also wanted to make sure you all knew that the 2009 "Fur Ball" is being held on Saturday, April 25th. This is a great event that benefits the Humane Society, and yes...it's black tie...and YES...you can bring your canine furr kid!!!! The tickets are $250.00 which includes dinner, desert and some other fun surprises. You can also sponsor a "Top Dog" Table of 10 for $5,000.00. This includes VIP parking, table sponsor name included in the program and The Fur Ball 2009 web site and your table guests receive a special gift! Last years event grossed more than $400,000 for the shelters animals!!! How totally awesome is that! Not to mention that there is a fabulous silent auction that goes on throughout the night. You may just see a great gift package from your friends at SVPN.

The pet sitter NEMESIS is back!!!! Yes my furr guardians, your loyal pet sitters do have a nemesis...no, it's not fleas, no, it's not the squirrels that run in front of us when we walk your pups...it's ANTS! Each year we do battle with these pesky little work horses, and sometimes they win! Ants are one of those inevitable things that none of us can effectively prevent...they live in our walls, in the ground outside, pretty much everywhere and BOY-OH-BOY do they LOVE pet food! It really helps your loyal pet sitters to make sure you have some type of ant bait, spray, etc around just in case as well as either a swiffer wet jet or paper towels for us to clean up their little carcases. If you find yourself doing battle with these little dudes a great tip that your loyal pet sitters us is to place your pets food dishes in a shallow pan of water. The ants cannot swim, so they cannot get into your pets food. Another good thing to do is to make sure your pet food is in a sealed container so they can't get into extra food. I had one situation where one of my clients had a 50 pound bag of dog food left out in the open and I am not kidding...ants were EVERYWHERE even at the bottom of this huge bag...it was the most ants I have ever seen in one setting and took nearly 2 hours to clean up. Your furr kids do not like ant appetizers so they may go a full day without food...a little prevention goes a long way. Don't worry...your loyal pet sitters are always ready to do battle and will fight off these pesky little dudes with all the gusto we have!

Well, I guess that's it for now...I hope you all have a wonderful evening and hopefully enjoy some sun for a change. Give all your furr kids a big kiss from their beloved pet sitters!