This year FLEW by!!!!!

October 25th, 2012

Hello all my furr guardians! I'm not even going to point out that it's been a LONG time since I've updated my blog, and for that I apologize.

BACON

This year did not start out well and I guess that kind of threw me off my game a bit. December 31st, (yes, that's right New Years Eve) I had to put my wonderful love of my life Bacon to sleep. He was SO young and it was something that even my Vet couldn't believe. He had renal failure and one night walked into my room making a horrible crying sound and when I turned on the lights his eyes were moving back and forwards very fast and he had obviously had a seizure. I hoped for the best and had him on fluids, medications pretty much anything and everything they suggested. Finally on December 31st I took him back to my Vets, (he came in just for me) and he told me that Bacon's test results were not good and that he wouldn't pull through. To say I was heartbroken would be such an understatement, (I'm crying now) he was a very special Boy and to only have him in my life for a year and half just didn't seem fair to me, but now I am just so thankful I had the privilege to have had him in my life even if it was way too short. My friends and family still tell stories about Bacon and I have him sitting on my bookshelf next to Blackjack with some of his favorite toys next to him. Just a reminder to cherish your wonderful furry friends each day because you never know when you may have to say goodbye.

 

LETTUCE AND TOMATO

 

In sadness eventually changes into happiness.  It wasn't too long after I had to say goodbye to my wonderful Bacon boy until I was introduced to two ADORABLE kittens.  Although I had never been the guardian of two kitties, (not since I lived at home with my parents) but these two were too cute to only choose one.  In memory of Bacon I decided to name them Lettuce and Tomato and they are a each a ball of energy!!!  Lettuce was SO tiny when I adopted her and could actually sit on top of my foot without falling off.  They have VERY different personalities and now that they're getting older their personalities are really coming into shape.  Lettuce is the small black kitty who is FEARLESS!  She does what she wants and doesn't care if I'm obviously not happy with her.  The other day I was making lunch and had some shredded cheddar cheese on the counter, wrapped in a paper towel with some heavy stuff on top of it just in case...well not too long after I shred the cheese I hear a "THUD" and I run into the kitchen...there I find my black kitty with orange shredded cheese covering her as she had a good old snack with the cheese that actually landed on the floor!  I was upset at first, but then couldn't help but laugh.  Tomato is a little more reserved, but he's a funny boy and seems like he non-stop talks!  They are great kitties who keep me on my toes each day.

 

HALLOWEEN IS AROUND THE CORNER!

 

Yep, it's that time of the year again...HALLOWEEN!  Although it is a ton of fun for us humans, it can be very dangerous for our beloved animal friends.  Unfortunately dogs and cats are targeted each year on Halloween for a number of bad things.  Black animals are the most targeted so you will want to make sure to keep your black kitties and pups indoors.  It's also a very good idea to keep your pets in a bedroom with the door closed...the temptation of a constantly opened door and the non-stop strangers arriving on their doorstep can be a bit too much for our furry friends.  Always remember that chocolate is poisonous to our furr friends and shouldn't be available to them at any time.  If for some reason your pet does get into chocolate you can call the ASPCA's poison hotline at (888) 426-4435.  I know it's temping to slip your friend a treat especially when they are staring at you with those "no one will know eyes" here are a couple of recipes that you can make for your furry friends that not only taste good, (to them) but are healthy and safe for them.

 

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 Fahrenheit.

Combine water, cheese, margarine and oil.

Add flour and form a dough.

Roll to 1/4 inch thick and cut with cookie cutter.

Bake at 300 degrees on an ungreased cookie sheet for 20-25 minutes or until cookies are lightly golden.

Tricky Treats for Dogs

(makes 14 treats)

 

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

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a bowl, mix water, applesauce, vanilla and egg thoroughly.

In a separate blow, combine flour, nuts, 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. Cool completely and store in a sealed container.

A TEDDY FISH TANK FOR YOUR KIDS, (THE HUMAN KIND)

I came across this ADORABLE solution for any of my furr guardians who also have children who would like to have a fish.  Fish tanks can be too big, or may not go with the theme of your children's room, or maybe your child loves plush animals AND fish this is a great combination.

A Teddy Tank - Fish bowl snuggled into a teddy bear.

Just think how much your children will love to watch their new fish swim in their cuddly Teddy Tank! If you keep fish in the tummy bowl you will be glad to know that when you remove the inner tank for cleaning, you can wash Teddy as well. Kids will get a kick out of feeding fish through Teddy’s mouth. There are other uses for the bowl as well. Store jelly beans, colored rocks or marbles, pennies or peppermints. When you purchase the Teddy Tank you will get everything you need, except the fish! Set contains an 18-inch plush Teddy Bear, 10 second voice recorder to record a personal greeting, a one gallon bowl and an LED soft glow night light. You also get 8.8 ounces of acrylic gravel, Velcro bow, a plant you can use in the fish bowl and of course the fish net. You can also choose other adorable animals if your child is more into monkeys than teddy bears.
http://www.teddytank.com/

CAT SCRATCH - DJ TURNTABLE FOR YOUR CAT TO "SCRATCH"

Now THIS is cool, not only because I have a lot of friends who enjoy playing music, but because...well...it's just cool!!!!  I think Lettuce would LOVE this...I always thought she would be a great DJ.

This cardboard cat scratcher by Suck UK would be the perfect gift for your hip-hop loving cat owner friend or a great addition to any cat's studio for that matter. Elaborate details and clever design make this a unique and humorous cardboard cat scratcher. Watch as your cat "scratches" the vinyl and play with the spinnable and posable tone-arm. Of course, for those who wish to be true to the genre of hip-hop must purchase two of them because, in hip-hop, turntables always come in 2's.
http://www.amazon.com/Suck-UK-SK-CATDECK1-Scratch/dp/B006YR6EK8/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1351205273&sr=1-1

TOILET BOWL PET WATERER

You know it's come to my attention that pets sometimes prefer drinking water out of a CLEAN toilet as opposed to a bowl of water...believe me, it's pretty common.  I thought this was a really funny alternative to the actual toilet bowl.  Not sure if your furr kid(s) would go for it, but it's still a funny and cute item.

This is one of the most unique pet waterers we have come across resulting in a rather humorous conversation piece. You can use any 2-Liter bottle as a reservoir making this waterer practical as well.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004L54F4M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=c0106-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B004L54F4M

UNDERWATER DOGS

My friend and wonderful pet photographer Seth Casteel has released an awesome book featuring his underwater pet photography.  These images are not only great, but funny at the same time.  You will see Bulldogs, Labradors, Retrievers, Boston Terriers and more taking a dip in a body of water.  This would be a great coffee table book or heck, with the holidays coming up a great holiday gift.  You should take a look at the book, it's worth it!
http://www.littlefriendsphoto.com/index2.php#!/home

PRICE INCREASE

I always hate doing this, but I haven't had a price change in a good 4 years and with gas prices increasing and just the cost of doing business sky rocketing I thought it was time for a slight price increase.  The prices for dog and cat visits will only increase $1.00, and our overnight visit price will increase to $75.00, (from $70.00).  These prices will go into effect after the 1st of the year, so your holiday bookings will be prices as usual. 

HOLIDAY BOOKINGS!!!!!!

Well my friends, it's getting to be that time of the year again...THE HOLIDAY ARE UPON US!  I just wanted to send out a friendly reminder to please book early, we fill up very quickly around the holidays and hate to turn our friends away. 

Well, I guess that is it for now, but I will try my hardest to keep these blogs going.  I want to thank you for being a part of the extended Silicon Valley Pet Nanny family and allowing us to care for your wonderful kids. Until next time give your kids a big hug from all of us and have a happy and SAFE Halloween.

FINALLY a new post!!!!!

Hello all my furr gaurdians, I hope all of you are very well and your "kids" are happy and healthy. It's been such a long time since I've sent out a blog I don't think an apology is sufficient. It's just been really busy and I guess my blogging mind decided to take a LONG vacation. But I'm back and hopefully my blogging brain is back in sync.

BIG CHANGE FOR SVPN!

First lets start with a BIG change in the way SVPN does business. We have decided to streamline our request process by only having requests from new or existing clients come in via e-mail or through my secure form on my website. With the number of sales calls we get each day it was a daily battle to make sure my landlines voicemail was cleaned out so clients could leave messages. The last time I checked my land line voicemail there were 24 calls, only 2 from clients and the box was full...that was only after a day and a half!!!! So, we have disconnected the land line in hopes that this will allow us to get your requests and reply to them in a much more timely manor. This is no way means you can't request a phone call! In the secure request form located on my website there is a section that asks how you would like to be contacted, if you choose by phone myself of Nanny Chandel will respond to you. This will also make sure that we have documentation of your request which will help us out tremendously. If you have any questions regarding this new change please feel free to email me and I will get back to you ASAP.

BACON UPDATES


It's been quite a while since I gave everyone an update on Bacon. He has turned into a BIG kitty and he has to be one of the craziest kitties I have ever been around. I'm convinced that he has his own vocabulary and will answer me when I ask him questions. Not just like a normal "meow" it's like he's saying yes or no...it's really funny!!! No matter how much I spend on him as far as kitty toys goes he still only enjoys the rings from the water bottles and random pieces of plastic from packages that he manages to find. I hung a hummingbird feeder outside my living room window and he just doesn't know what to make of the little birds that come to feed. I think he can't figure out if they are bugs or birds, but he jumps on his perch and watches them intensely with an occasional chatter. He still enjoys his cat tree that his Grandma and Grandpa bought him, but he has also decided that every laundry basket in the house belongs to him as well as my bed. Here are a couple of pictures of him in his favorite spots. Also, remember Bacon has his own Facebook page...just search under Bacon Henderson and send him a friend request, even friend requests from your furr kids!!!




HALLOWEEN PET PHOTO CONTEST


If you're anything like me you love to torture your kids once a year by dressing them up for Halloween. Well, "People Pets" is hosting a photo contest where you can submit your pets in their costumes. Not sure if there are any prizes BUT your pet will be featured on the "People Pets" website which I think is pretty cool and your pet will think it's cool too! Come on...all of our furr kids are stars in their own way and this way they can be a star world wide!!!!

http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/upload/0,,20532107,00.html

BLACK CAT PARENTS BEWARE!


Halloween is a fun time of the year where witches and goblins come out and roam the streets looking for treats, but it's can also be a scary time for you beloved black kitties. The SPCA puts out yearly warnings for all guardians of black cats and even dogs to keep them inside during the week of Halloween. These animals are more at risk of being taken and tortured than any other color of animal. Your kitty might put up a fuss if he/she is used to being outdoors, but it's better that they are safe than at risk.

MMMMM, HALLOWEENIE STOUP



I always try to throw in a holiday recipe that you may try for your pooch or kitty, and who better to get the recipe from than Rachel Ray! She posted this recipe that I'm sure your pups will love during the cold, (well, maybe cold) days closer to Halloween.

Ingredients

1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1/4 head green cabbage, shredded
1 - 2 carrots, grated
1/3 cup green beans, (a generous handful) coarsely chopped
1 pinch ground turmeric
1 beef frank, sliced
2 cups chicken stock or water
1 cup cooked rice

Preparation

In a medium, deep skillet, heat the olive oil, one turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the cabbage, carrots and green beans and cook until slightly softened, 4-6 minutes. Add the turmeric and cook for another minute. Add the frank and cook until heated through; add 1 cup chicken stock and cook for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice and the remaining 1 cup chicken stock.

Voila your pup has a lovely Halloween feast that...well...we would probably eat!!!

FIDEAUX PET BOUTIQUE


Time for a shameless but earned plug! My Cousin and his wife own two pet boutiques and have recently created an online store!!! I couldn't be more happy for them, and wanted to pass along their information to all my furr guardians. They have a great selection of dog and cat toys along with unusual gifts that you might not have ever seen! If you're looking for a gift for your "kid(s)" this Christmas season please take a moment and look at their site. http://fideaux.myshopify.com/collections/dog-toys


OOGY "THE DOG ONLY A FAMILY COULD LOVE"



I stumbled upon this wonderful and inspirational book by accident. Just the cover caught my attention and I immediately picked it up and read the inside cover. It's a story about an Argentine Dogo who was used as a bait dog in a dog fighting ring. He was discovered and left at a local animal shelter where he was taken in and cared for. The dogs had ripped his face apart and left him without a left ear and half of his left jaw. A family happened to walk into the shelter and fell in love with Oogy and adopted him. It was the best thing they have ever did in their lives. Here is a clip from the owner and I hope you're able to purchase or download this book because it is truly heartwarming.

http://www.amazon.com/Oogy-Only-Family-Could-Love/dp/0446546305/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319151365&sr=1-1

There is also a YouTube video on Oogy:

http://youtu.be/Yfvxk_n6lgA

GOODBYE MY FRIENDS

We have lost a lot of good friends over the past couple of months and I wanted to send a heartfelt goodbye to two of them. Cisco and Gershwin were two wonderful pups who had been a part of the SVPN family for many years. Gershwin was blind from a very young age, but that never stopped him. He could get around just like he had 20/20 vision and loved his spider stuffed animal. Cisco was cared for by Nanny Chandel and she said he was such a sweet old guy and she misses him very much. Unfortunately this is the part of being in the pet care business that is the hardest...losing a friend, but we are also happy that we had the opportunity to know these wonderful kids and to care for them when their parents were at work or out of town. If your furr kid has taken the trip over the rainbow bridge and you would like me to mention them in upcoming blogs please send me an email and I will make sure to mention them. I unfortunately do not have a picture of Cisco, but here is a picture of the lovely Gershwin sporting his smile.

HOLIDAY BOOKINGS

The time is upon us my furr guardians where the holiday booking requests are starting to flood in. If you need visits over Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years please make sure to book as soon as possible. We hate having to turn our family members away, and unfortunately we cannot clone ourselves, so if you have plans...even if they are tentative please call and reserve your spot.


Well, I guess that's all for now...I think I need to get my blogging chops back up!!! I wanted to thank you all for being apart of the SVPN family and allowing us to care for your wonderful kids. Until next time give your kids a hug from all of us, and we hope you have a happy and SAFE Halloween!

Where has the time gone?????

Hello all my furr guardians out there! I must apologize for the HORRIBLE lapse in my blogging...I just don't know where the time goes sometimes! WHEW! Well I wanted to make sure to at least get out a Christmas blog if for nothing else to thank all of you for allowing us to care for your beloved furr kids for another wonderful year. I wanted to also send my deepest sympathies to you furr guardians who lost your friends during 2010...as most of you know I was among you in this and know how hard it is to lose such an important part of your life.

Well, it's nearly 2011 and so much has happened this year for your loyal pet sitters. I'm pleased to announce that in 2011 we will be doing one more expansion into the Los Gatos/Santa Cruz area. I have a crack team of pet sitters raring to go and we will be marketing to those areas in January.

THE BACON CHRONICLES

Bacon to say the least keeps me on my toes...that little boy is a riot! He has decided that my Christmas tree is his favorite jungle gym and has flattened the bottom of the tree. While I don't want to encourage this behavior I have to admit that it's difficult not to laugh. Here's a picture of him looking VERY guilty as he continues to trash my lovely Christmas tree. We discovered that if we throw his toy monkey it would get him out of the tree but then he decided that it would be MORE fun to attack the tree WITH his monkey in his mouth, so now we find his monkey hanging out in the tree. It was REALLY funny to watch the FIRST time! My poor battered tree, I thought I might be able to get one more year out of it, but Bacon had a different opinion.







He has also decided that when the bed is being made HAS GOT to be a game, and not I find it difficult...no, more like impossible to make the bed without having to make it with him in it. He is getting so big now...where did my little baby go and who is this big BEAST of a cat who replaced him. He's actually one of the coolest kitties I've ever encountered and keeps the laugh riot at an all time high around my apartment.

He also has his own Facebook page now and he would LOVE to be friends with all his SVPN furr guardians. You can find him under Bacon Henderson and he's sure you will enjoy his status updates and photos.

REMEMBER THE LESS FORTUNATE FURR KIDS

As always Silicon Valley Pet Nanny will be making a donation to 13th Street Cat Rescue at the end of this year, and it made me think about all the furr kids who don't have forever homes. I wanted to thank all of you who have made a conscience effort to adopt homeless furr kids and to truly thank all of the wonderful people who donate their time and efforts to help place these homeless furr kids and keep them warm and fed until they find their forever homes. I know the economy is hurting nearly everyone right now, and donating money is tough, but please remember that you can also donate towels, unused food, and of course your time to any of these wonderful non-profits.

http://www.13thstcats.org/
http://www.hssv.org/howtohelp.html

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated by these and other non-profit agencies.

DOES YOUR KITTY HAVE A DRINKING PROBLEM?

Many of my clients have expressed worry regarding their kitties not drinking enough water. Domestic cats need two cups of water a day, on average to stay properly hydrated. The moisture in canned food provides some water, however cats who consume strictly kibble diets may not drink enough water and are at risk of developing lower urinary tract disease, including bladder stones or crystals. Room-temperature water lingering in bowls may be ignored by some indoor cats. In response, pet product companies have designed pet fountains and faucet-mounted units that deliver fresh, flowing water to encourage cats to drink. Bacon has a water fountain and is always drinking from it.

8 ways to encourage cats to drink water:

• Working with your veterinarian, consider switching to a canned food best suited for your cat's age, health and activity level.
• Provide at least two water bowls in different locations.
• Change the water in the bowls daily to keep it fresh.
• Fill the bowl with refrigerated water.
• Put an ice cube in the bowl.
• Put a few drops of tuna water, chicken broth or clam juice in one water bowl.
• Place a few drops of tuna, clam or salmon juice or chicken broth in water in ice cube trays and freeze. Put one of these ice cubes in your cat's water bowl.
• Position the water bowl away from the litter pan.

FUN HOLIDAY STUFF

Well, I know this is probably too late for most of you who are on the ball as far as sending out holiday cards, but I thought this was really cool and heck you can always save it for next year.

Crunchy cards - "developed by vets, devoured by pets" is the tagline for Crunch Cards, a newly patented line of edible greeting cards for dogs! YES EDIBLE! Each 4-3/8" x 6-3/8" "greeting card" is made from a flat rawhide panel imprinted with non-toxic, water based ink. And, they come with a brightly colored envelope so you can send a bit of holiday cheer to all of your favorite hounds. $4.95 each. http://www.crunchkins.com/

Crafting for Canines - Crafting has gone to the dogs. Bowwowmeow offers a cleaver line of dog and cat themed crafts such as scrapbooking, met ornaments and kits to design your own collar, leash or bowl. The kits are fun and easy to use with kids or any dog/cat lover who wants to express their love through a home made gift. Prices start at $14.99. http://www.bowwowmeowstuff.com/

Lazybonezz - An innovative bunk-bed for multiple pets. Great for the city life, but also very functional and fun for any home. A set of three stairs with a textured surface on each makes this a source of entertainment as well as one of the most unique and beautiful products on the pet market. $499.00 at www.lazybonezz.com

WANNA GO GREEN?

I stumbled upon a website that I thought was pretty darn cool and with so many people trying to go green I thought it was interesting that there isn't much in the way of making our furr kids green too. This is what they write: "Hip Green Pet" is the first of its kind business, ALL (and only) USA made GREEN Pet Products. Every purchase supports animal and earth causes! In business not just because but for a cause, (many of them actually). Trying to do something better exclusively for Pets, people, the planet and peace. You can feel great about shopping at Hip Green Pet because not only are you reducing your pet's carbon pawprint but all products are non-toxic and completely safe for your pet, you and the earth. Each purchase gives back to great causes and supports other USA small businesses and families." I took a few minutes to look through their products and they have some COOL stuff! If you want to make sure even your furr kid is green check out this site, you'll be happy you did.

http://www.hipgreenpet.com/hgp/

IS YOUR POOCH BORED?

I thought this was really interesting...there is a product called "the DogBrick" which encourages your pooch, (or kitty) to strengthen their minds by "solving" complex puzzles. Basically it's a plastic board with sliding discs and by placing treats in the depressions under the discs your pup or kitty will look for the goodies by trying to pull the discs to the side with its nose or paw. Maybe I should get Bacon one of those because I'm convinced he's bored!

http://www.nina-ottosson.com/.

Well, I guess I will wrap this blog up and get ready for my day of visiting all my furr kids. Thank you again for being a part of the Silicon Valley Pet Nanny family and allowing us the special opportunity to care for your beloved furr kids. We wish you and your family a very happy holiday season and can't wait for 2011!!!

Make sure to give your furr kids a hug and a kiss from their loyal pet sitters!

It's been a WHILE!

Hello all my furr guardians...BOY-OH-BOY your loyal pet sitter must apologize for the awful absence of my blogs! There is a lot going on in my world including a NEW MASCOT! Yep, I decided to bring on a new SVPN mascot and his name is Bacon. Bacon you ask? Well, here is the story on my new best friend. He was found at 2 weeks old in a box abandoned on the street. He was COVERED in fleas, his poor little paws were burned, (from the heat in the box) and all he had in the box with him was crumbled up bacon...hence the name. His rescuer didn't have much faith that he would make it, but he's a strong feisty boy and he pulled through just fine! He is an absolute LOVE BUG...well and of course a monster because he's a kitten. He has bunny like fur, seriously it's the most incredibly soft fur I've ever felt and I'm convinced he is part Maine Coon. He also FETCHES! Yep...I've never had a cat that played fetch, but Bacon does! I got to bring him home on my Birthday in June and he is now enjoying his life with me.




BISCUITS IN JAPANTOWN!

There is a new pet boutique in Japantown called "Biscuits". I popped in there this morning and not only is the store ADORABLE, but they are the ONLY place in San Jose who sells the "orijen" line of dog food (http://www.orijen.ca/orijen/about/) which they write "6 star organic dog food that probably trumps the fillet mignon you had last night" so it MUST be good stuff. They have an assortment of dog and cat toys and OF COURSE a line of Sharks gear for your favorite hockey loving furr kid! They have specialty pastries and always has a box of treats on their counter just waiting to be scarfed up by your furr kid. This is an AWESOME addition to the Japantown community and of course they will have a stack of our cards and brochures waiting for all their visiting furr guardians.

http://shopbiscuits.com/index.php
223 Jackson Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Tuesday - Friday 11am to 7pm
Saturday - Sunday 10am to 6pm

HOMELESS DOGS SAVE THE DAY!

Just another reason why animals are so special and even though they may be homeless they never let that dampen their love for people.

"When Georgia National Guardsman Chris Duke was serving in Afghanistan, he made friends with the locals - stray dogs Sasha, Target and Rufus. "A lot of us used the three of them as an escape when you're homesick," Duke said. But, as CBS News national correspondent Jeff Glor reports, the dogs did much more than keep him company. "I firmly believe I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for him," Duke said.

On a February night, a suicide bomber tried to get into Duke's barracks, but the dogs began barking and biting the intruder. The attacker blew himself up before he could kill 50 soldiers inside. Sasha was severely injured and had to be put down, but Rufus and Target were both nursed back to health. Duke returned home a month later - the dogs had to stay behind.

As another soldier kept an eye on the dogs, Duke wrote a letter to a veterans assistance group called "Hope for the Warriors." In the letter, Duke requested bringing the dogs home to him. "This was going to mean a lot to him," said Robin Kelleher, President of Hope for the Warriors. "So whatever we needed to do to get this wish done we were going to do that." Other organizations heard about this story, too. A Facebook page went up, and raised $21,000 in less than 3 months - enough for the dogs to leave Afghanistan.

This week, Rufus and Target finally arrived in the U.S. Today, in Atlanta they were reunited for the first time with Duke and his wife. Target will live in Arizona with another soldier, while Rufus will stay with the Dukes. "To think that I'm going to have him for the rest of my life - it's exciting," Duke said. Exciting because he knows he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the dogs. Now they wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Duke."

What an absolutely LOVELY story...good going Rufus, Target and Sasha...you're true hero's!

YOUR PUP WANTS TO BE A GANGSTER!

There is this company that I stumbled upon that offers custom collars and harnesses for your pup. The company is called "Gangs Of New Yorkie" and they will create a leather collar or harness with your pups name on it, you can even pick from four different types of fonts titled "Notorious, Shine, Ice and Pound" and 19 different leather colors. If nothing else you should take a minute to read their story...it cracked me up.

http://www.gangsofnewyorkie.com/shop/

SEND A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT TO HELP HOMELESS ANIMALS.

Freekibble and Tails Media Group are partnering up to ask their fans to log on and send out a pre-written letter addressed to President Obama. This is what the letter says, and I'm encouraging all of you to take a second and be apart of this letter writing campaign.

"Dear President Obama,

Too many homeless animals in the U.S. live out most of their lives in shelters without even knowing the love of a family of their own. According to national studies, 6 to 8 million cats and dogs make their way into shelters each year, and 3 to 4 million of these innocent creatures are euthanized annually, losing their chance for human affection forever.

These four-legged citizens cannot ask for your protection, so I am asking for them. Please declare April 30th, National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day as a way of giving homeless animals the national recognition and caring homes they deserve.

Thank you for all that you do for this nation's animals.

Best regards,

Betsy Saul"

Freekibble also received a donation from Halo, Purely for Pets, where they will donate a nutritious meal to shelter dogs and cats for each email - up to 50,000 meals!

Thank you Freekibble, Tails Media Group, Halo and Betsy Saul for caring so deeply for our four legged furr friends and for all of you that take a minute to be a part of this campaign.

http://www.freekibble.com/lettersforpets/

THE TOP 25 PET RELATED WEBSITES!

I don't know how I stumbled upon this, but I thought it was pretty cool. This is a collection of the top 25 pet related websites that are floating around out there in cyberspace.

Photo Sites

BirdCinema.com - A site for bird enthusiasts to upload and share videos.
CuteOverload.com - As the name implies, nothing but cuteness resides here.
FunEPets.com - Share photos and videos of your pets for others to enjoy
Icanhascheezburger.com - One of the most popular blogs on the web right now.

Social Sites

Aquariphiles.com - An online meeting place for owners of all types of fish
Catster.com - Post pictures and facts of your favorite cats, find adoption agencies and more.
DoggySnaps.com - Upload, share, and comment on photos of dogs
Dogster.com - A dog blog, pet of the week up for adoption, send messages and more.
Fuzzster.com - The place for people to create profiles for their pets and for the owners to meet.
MyCatSpace.com - A social site for cats of all shapes, sizes and breeds.
MyDogSpace.com - Upload pictures of your dogs, meet other dog pals, start a doggy blog.
PetOwnr.com - Post pictures of your pets, share information, browse others.
Vivapets.com - Create pages for your pets of all kinds dogs, cats, birds, more.
Zooclub.de - Create a website for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish, horses and more.

Voting Sites

Pikapet.com - Vote for cutest pet pictures and videos.
Puppywar.com - Vote on which picture is the cuter dog and disgrace the loser.
Unitedcats.com - Upload photos of your cat, make a page for them, let people "pat them."
Uniteddogs.com - Make web pages for your dog, upload up to 50 pictures, let people vote on them.
Worldwidefido.com - Upload photos and videos of your dogs for people the world over to vote on the cutest and funniest.

Miscellaneous sites

DateMyPet.com - Online dating site for people who want to be upfront about "date me, date my pet."
MatchMyPet.com - A site for matching pet breeders, finding pet communities, pet listings and more.
Equilink.com - Search engine for all kinds of equine information.
MedHelp.org - A place to ask questions and get medical advice on your pet.
PawSpot.com - Exchange pet sitting services with other users.
PugSpot.com - A site specific to all things related to the Pug breed.
Sittercity.com - Site for helping you locate pet sitters for when you're away.

I had fun checking these sites out, (well, I haven't gotten to all of them yet) and thought my furr guardians would too.

BECOME OUR FACEBOOK FRIEND

Well, okay, it's not much of a page YET...but hey, I'm working on it. Well, I take that back...my "Manny" Ryland will be working on it, and I'm sure he will do a bang up job!

Just do a search for Silicon Valley Pet Nanny and BAM...you're not only one of our beloved furr guardians, but also our Facebook friend! You're welcome to post photos of your furr kids, non-furr kids, leave messages...really anything you would like us to know.

Well, I guess that's all for now...I have to go exhaust some of Bacon's energy so I can actually SLEEP tonight. :o)

I apologize to you all yet again for the time lapse in my blogging...it won't happen again! Thank you for being part of our extended furr family, give your furr kids a kiss from us, and I hope you and your family are enjoying the Summer.

Goodbye my friend

Hello all my furr guardians, my apologies for the skipped month in my blog entries. May has been a very sad month for your loyal pet sitter. My beloved friend and SVPN mascot Blackjack had to be put to sleep on May 15th. It was a complete shock, as so many animals do he didn't exhibit any signs of illness until it was too late. He had severe kidney failure and unfortunately it was past the point of any kind of treatment. I was able to say goodbye to him and thank him for being such a good friend and loyal companion for the past 13 years. I know all of you will miss his sweet face on the holiday cards I send out, and I want to thank him again for putting up with that over the years. I know it brought a lot of joy to many of you. So, remember to hug your furr kids daily and give them extra treats and love because you never know when it will be your last day with them. I have been asked by many of you if there is an organization that you can donate to in memory of Blackjack, and although this is not necessary if you choose to honor him with a donation I would love for it to go to either 13th Street Cat Rescue or the Humane Society of Silicon Valley. Thank you for all your support, and although he's gone he will always be my mascot. Goodbye Blackjack, I will miss you always!

Did we have a February?????

Hello all my furr guardians, how is your March treating you so far? Are you just as confused by this wacky weather as your loyal pet sitters are???? I don't know what happened to February! I had this entire Valentines Day blog planned with recipes and fun gifts for your beloved furr kid(s), but I guess I blinked and the month disappeared! Sorry about the missing month...darn those 28 day months anyway!

PENNY "HAPPINESS" THE PUPPY

So, I guess I will start this blog off by sharing some totally adorable Penny the puppy stories...although she's not such a puppy anymore! Penny's number one nickname from me, (she has many) is happiness because she literally is one of the happiest dogs I have ever been around. I asked her guardians if it would be okay for me to take Penny for a ride in my car on nice days, and they said "sure, she would love that". So, Penny and I took a ride around downtown last month, and she just sat in her seat "smiling" at every passing car or pedestrian. She made SO many people smile, and I told her "Penny, if only we could bottle your joy the world would be a better place".

She adores everyone and pretty much everything! She seems to melt the hearts of big burly construction workers and even makes little kids stop crying when they have fallen.

I took this video of how absolutely sweet and happy this girl is, and although I was talking to her while filming, this is pretty much how she is on a daily basis. Yeah...I HATE my job! :o)



FOR THE FASHIONISTA IN US ALL

It never ceases to amaze me when it comes to all the new pet products that come out, and of course I feel it's my duty to share them with all my SVPN furr guardians! So, check out these products for the "fashionista" in us all.

Yes, you can have hands-free fashion while you and your pup strut around in this:

http://www.theshabbydog.com/catalog/category/collarsLeads

Feeling a bit "goth", or want your furr kid(s) to be the hipster that they always wanted to be, well then check these tags out:

http://www.theshabbydog.com/catalog/category/collarsLeads

Although I'm not a huge fan of dressing our beloved pups up, I did think this was kind of cute, especially for going out on the town for Sushi!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=41419050

Would you like your pet to sport a Benz? Well check out the plush "Furcedes" dog bed. Your furr kid(s) should always ride in style:

http://www.trixieandpeanut.com/product-45805-Fab-Furcedes-Pet-Bed

And of course, no self respecting furr kid would be caught dead without their pearls!

http://www.trixieandpeanut.com/product-67039-Big-Bling-Bone-Necklace

PET AMBER ALERTS

You never think in a million years that one day your beloved furr kid(s) may go missing, but if there is one thing I have learned after my 5 years being in business is that cats and dogs can be VERY crafty when it comes to taking a stroll on their own. Dogs can jump over or dig under fences, cats can squeeze out of TINY openings in windows or claw through screens and before you know it their gone. Most animals are terrified when they do get out and will normally stay close to home, but sometimes they are adventurers or are picked up by good Samaritans and returned home. But, what do you do if your beloved furr kid(s) go missing???? Well, did you know there is actually an "Amber alert" for pets???? I thought this was a really cool thing, and wanted to make sure to mention it.

http://www.amberalertforpets.com/

And if you're looking for something that is a bit more "high tech" I thought this was really cool.

http://www.blanketid.com/

This came up due to the heartbreaking signs that are covering the downtown/Japan Town area from a family looking for their kitty "Baby" who pushed out their screen and has been missing since February 6th. Please keep your eyes open when in the downtown area for "Baby"...her guardians are so sad and desperately want her back.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/laf/1635057602.html

13TH STREET CAT RESCUES ANNUAL TEA

My friends at 13th Street cat rescue are hosting their annual "Tea" on May 1st and 2nd. It is a really fun event which includes a full afternoon tea at a historic private residence & San Jose landmark. The tickets are $25.00 each, and go FAST! Myself and nanny Katy will be there, as well as a auction including items donated by the friends of 13th Street Cat Rescue. It would be great to see some of you there!

http://www.13thstcats.org/info/display?PageID=8434

THE FUR BALL IS COMING!

Each year the wonderful Humane Society of Silicon Valley puts on the Fur Ball, a black tie event which goes to help the HSSV. It is a really great event, and you can even bring your pup!!!! The theme this year is "Top Hat and Tails" and will be held on April 17th. You can get more information by contacting Robert at (408) 262-2133 3xt 131, or rarmbrust@hssv.org. What an awesome opportunity to put on your best Hollywood style while supporting one of the best organizations around!

OSCAR THE BOXER

Some of you may have seen my past video posts of my favorite YouTube Boxer dogs; "Oscar" and I have been very sad that there has been a absence of new videos on his channel. Well, it seems that Oscar has a new baby Brother...of the human kind, and they finally posted a new video which I thought I would share with all of you.



SIMON'S CAT

And I leave you with the newest and always hilarious "Simon's cat" cartoon.



I guess that's it for now, and I will try very hard not to miss another month! Until next time, please give a kiss and hug to your furr kid(s) from myself, nanny Katy, nanny Chandel, nanny Jennifer, nanny Stacy, "manny" Ryland, nanny Laurel, and nanny Samantha.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Hello all my furr guardians, and happy new year to you all! WOW, can you believe it's 2010!!! I'm really looking forward to this next decade, and excited about all the possibilities it brings with it.

I wanted to make sure I send out my deepest sorrow for any of you with family or friends in Haiti, and to let you know that Silicon Valley Pet Nanny has made a contribution to the Red Cross to help it's efforts in helping the Haitian people recover from this devastating event.

RICOCHET TOUCHES MANY HEARTS

This is a truly amazing story, and reminds me that we should always try to find the positive in things that we wished would have went another way.



WE LOVE BOB BARKER!

Just another reason to adore the fabulous animal lover Bob Barker. Bob Barker recently donated 5 million dollars to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which named its new 1,200 ton anti-whaling ship The Bob Barker. Barker, a longtime animal activist, stepped up his efforts even more after retiring from his 35-year gig hosting "The Price Is Right". He met Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson through a fellow animal activist and was instantly impressed. "He said he thought he could put the Japanese whaling fleet out of business if he had $5 million," Barker recalled. "I said, I think you do have the skills to do that, and I have $5 million, so let's get it on,' so that's what we did." Barker, 86, said he was "genuinely proud" to be associated with Sea Shepherd. And while the TV Studio where "The Price Is Right" is filmed is officially called the Bob Barker Studio, the veteran broadcaster said he's never had a ship named after him. So, in honor of the wonderful Bob Barker "please remember to spay and neuter your pets".

YEAH SETH!!!!!!

I am SO proud to say that our good friend Seth Casteel of Little Friends Pet Photography is making quite the splash in the Hollywood circuit! Not only has he had a couple of segments on the TV show Extra, but also finished a photo shoot of Perez Hilton's pup Teddy, (not to mention a hand full of other Hollywood stars).

I am talking with Seth about potentially making another visit to San Jose to take Blackjack's professional photos, (good luck Seth) and he may be open to taking on other photo sessions for some of my furr guardians...I will keep you up to date on this.

Seth is one of the most awesome people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing, and I can't think of anyone more deserving than he to make such an impact.

In case some of you haven't seen his heart touching volunteer work with Los Angeles animal shelters here is the video.



www.littlefriendsphoto.com
www.perezhilton.com

COOL RIDE!

I know a lot of you furr guardians like to travel with your furr kids, and many times it's via the air. Although we would love for you to leave your furr kids at home where their nanny's can visit them I thought this new product was pretty cool if you need to fly with your furr kid.

"Worrying about buying a carrier that will not fit under a plane seat is a thing of the past. Our patent pending folding system allows pets to travel in the largest space possible while the airplane is in the air, yet still allows for stowage under an airline seat turning takeoff and landing. When the captain says you can recline your seat, rotate the Sleepypod Air so it is between your feet and expand the ends so both you and your little friend can stretch out comfortably for the duration of the flight."

Pretty cool stuff if you ask me, and it's got all sorts of cool features like a car seat belt system that can work with lap and shoulder belts, a "trolley" pocket to secure onto other luggage, and large side pockets for travel documents. It also comes in some pretty swanky colors, so you can match your furr kids flight "hotel" with your own luggage.

Personally Blackjack would rather stroll into a room full of dogs than to fly, but they also have a line of other cool stuff that even He might be interested in, (I'm not holding my breath).

www.sleepypod.com

GIVING FEELS GOOD, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S $1 MILLION DOLLARS!

I constantly hear and read stories about animal loving people who do extraordinary things...some of them are hard to believe, but this is one of them that really took me by surprise.
A Denver-area dermatologist Leslie Capin set out to win the "all American Pet Brands' Cutest Dog Competition by entering her Chihuahua "Dr. Papidies". Her intentions was to win the $1 million dollar grand prize...no, not for herself, but with the intent of donating the prize to charity. She campaigned to patients, lobbied through Facebook and Twitter, and even faced allegations that she was lying about her charitable goal. "A lot of people got online and said, 'It's not true, she's going to buy a Mercedes'," she says. "But I answered them all and insisted it was true."

Well she went up against 60,000 other entries, and WON! After toasting the win with family and friends, Capin took the steps to set up a charitable trust to protect the funds. "There's an addendum that basically says should something happen to me, the trust will continue to give $33,000.00 a year for the next 29 years to the shelters I've chosen to help," she says. "Even if I change my mind in 10 years, I can't get that money!"

I must wonder how many people would do something like this, and just how absolutely wonderful Dr. Papidies and his furr guardian Dr. Leslie Capin is! You make this world a better place Dr. Capin!

I KNOW THE HOLIDAYS ARE OVER, BUT....



COOL POOP PICK-UP!

So, after nearly 5 years I think I have seen every gimmick, product, trend, etc and I rarely buy into them, but when I came across this product at PetSmart I took notice. I actually ended up buying two of these for for holiday gifts for my two weekly dog walking clients, and realized that I really liked the idea! Not only are they cool looking, but you can hook them onto your leash or belt loop, (like I do). The bags are also super great, probably the best I've ever used...and believe me I have used A LOT of poopy bags over the years. I personally have the Skull and Crossbones and the Pink Diamond bags, but there are so many fun and funky options...who knows I may have one for every day of the week! Check them out....

www.dogbag.com

Well, I guess that's it for now. I hope you all have a wonderful January, and try to stay DRY! To all my "new to California" furr guardians, I hope you enjoyed your first California earthquake!

Please give all your furr kids a big kiss from their nannies, and we look forward to seeing them soon!