Pet sitters who get it.

Not just anyone gets to care for my babies.  

Looking for a Pet Sitter?  It is not an easy task, that is unless you are willing to settle.  Settling for mediocre is not something that I am willing to do with the care of Elsa when I need to be away.  

I am a Grandma again, yep.  Two Grandsons a week apart so needless to say I needed someone to watch over Elsa for several days and I have that.  I feel extremely lucky to have found a wonderful woman whom Elsa adores.  

When I knew that my daughters would be having babies close together; I worried about a sitter.  You can't book a time slot for a baby arrival; they come when they want to come and you hope that you can get someone.  Of course the better the sitter the more booked up they are so I hoped and crossed my fingers and anything else I could do that she'd be available, and she was.  

Having my sitter available for the births of my first and second Grandson was HUGE.  It allowed me to focus on the task at hand and leave the care and love of Elsa with my sitter.  Being able to take that worry out of the equation is priceless.  When my sitter arrives and Elsa comes unglued, I know that she is in good hands.  

When you are away, the last thing you need to be doing is worrying.  I don't know about you all, but I worry a great deal if I'm not happy with where my dogs are or who they are with.  If I'm worrying, I'm not focusing on what I should be focusing on; whether that is babies, a conference, business or just plain fun.  

I try to tell and show my sitter just how much we appreciate her.  It means the world to me to have someone that I trust to leave Elsa with.  If I did not have her I could not relax when I am away.  Stepping out of my daily roll as caregiver and allowing her to step in is a big statement in itself.  I'm sure you can all imagine.  

I have interviewed handfuls of sitters who have not made it past the interview process.  I have had to say "thank you but no," to many.  It does not take me long to decide through the interview process if I trust the person to put Elsa first.  I am always looking for new sitters.  Like I said when someone is good they are busy and not always available.  So having a couple of great sitters to call on is essential.

There are sitters and then there are sitters out there.  Finding the ones who mesh with you and your dog/dogs is not easy.  I am looking for the ones that are the elite caregivers; basically myself in a sitter.  Not an easy task but doable if you do your research and go through the process.  

If you have an amazing sitter, let them know just how much you appreciate them.  It truly is wonderful to have someone who cares as much as you do.    

A Retirement Party

I have been cooking and baking for a couple of days.  Yesterday was my Pet Sitters (Joan) retirement party at our house.  We had a celebration for an amazing woman; one who has taken care of my dogs for years.  She turned 80 this year at my house with Luke and Elsa to celebrate with.  When we left for our trip I left a bag full of chocolate for her to enjoy while I was gone for her Birthday.  She is one in a million.  Never in all the years that she has cared for my dogs, did I ever have a worry or concern when I am away.  I have been spoiled now for sure; having that type of care for your dogs is an amazing thing.  When you find someone that cares so much about your dogs, you want them to be available forever. 

Luke resting his head on Joan's lap.

                                            One hand opening gifts, the other on Luke.  Priceless. 

I'm sure that Luke and especially Elsa thought the party was for them.  Elsa was beyond excited; a house full of new throwers!!!!! She brought her ball to everyone and anyone who would throw.  Once it was put away she got another and then another until she'd run out of balls and started on her stuffed toys.  Luke made the rounds, he is so very social and loves having friends over.  

Joan has always described herself as "over the top," but over the top is what I want in a sitter.  I want someone to care for my dogs like their own, and more.  I do not want someone just popping in and checking that they are alive; I want compassion, love and real care given to my dogs.  Joan gave us this and more.  Joan sat for Jessie, Tilley and Luke and when that changed she welcomed Elsa to the family and cared for Luke and Elsa.  Most recently after Luke's bad fall; Joan cared for him while I had to be away.  I would have not gone if it were not for Joan.  She was there around the clock to care for my old man; it was all about Luke all weekend. 

So last night we celebrated a wonderful pet sitter, my pet sitter and the others who attended the party.  Joan LOVES chocolate so I made the party a chocolate theme.  We had pasta with chocolate, cocoa roasted brussell sprouts, chocolate dinner rolls, chocolate cheesecake and chocolate coconut cake.  We talked about all of our dogs and the years that Joan has cared for them.  She shared stories from over the years and her love and care for all of our dogs. 

When someone cares for your family like this; they are family themselves.  To the best pet sitter EVER; Joan, may you enjoy every moment of your retirement.  Of course petting and talking to as many dogs as you can.  We love you. 

Can you watch her?

We sat down to enjoy our Mexican food.  I hadn't had a chicken taco in a while and I was really looking forward to digging in.  The weather was beautiful; a bit warm but with a nearly hidden cool breeze hinting of cooler temperatures this week.  My husband and I sat outside on the patio as a gentleman walked by with his little minpin mix.  I said immediately "she looks older" as I noticed her cloudy eyes.  I am drawn to old dogs; there is something very special about them and their story.

The man tied her leash around a chair and noticed us looking at his little dog.  "Could you watch her while I go in?" he asked.  "Of course" we assured him.  He explained that he'd just be a minute so if we could just keep an eye on her.  We smiled and nodded "no problem."  As he opened the door he turned and asked "do you have dogs?"  I smiled thinking "do we have dogs?"  My husband let him know that we do indeed have dogs and the man smiled.  He'd given himself a little extra reassurance that his little girl would be fine under our watch.  Smart. 

I see dogs left out in public all the time.  Tied to a pole somewhere outside a store or restaurant and it actually horrifies me.   So many things can go wrong by leaving a dog just tied alone.  Someone can steal your dog; can you imagine if you came out and your dog was just gone?  What if someone walks up with a little child and the child hugs your dog tight?  What if your dog is not okay with strangers hugging them?  Anything can happen and you have left your dog tied, to deal with it.  Not okay, dogs should NEVER, EVER be tied to a post and left alone. 

This man was very wise to ask us to keep an eye on his dog.  Even though he could still see his little dog through the restaurant window, he added extra protection to had given her extra protection.   By asking us, he instilled a protective cloak over all of us; we felt like it was our job to watch and protect her.  He also had others watching her because of our discussion; everyone around was watching the little dog.  He had a patio full of volunteer watchers that he had unknowingly enlisted.  So when the door of the restaurant closed behind him and she started barking, no one minded.  Everyone was now involved in the watchful eye over her.  Smart. 

She soon stopped barking and just sat frozen; she wasn't taking her eyes off the door.  We ate our meal and watched her; no one was taking this little cutie, not under our watch.    He had asked the right people to watch his little dog; we would protect her like our own while she was under our watch.  He soon came out to her great joy.  He unhooked her leash and brought her to our table to thank us.  She was sweet and he shared her story.  He'd had her only four years; but in those four short years you could see the love and devotion shared between them.  She had been adopted from a hoarding situation where she had lived with  many other dogs who were all very overweight.  He told us how he'd got the weight off her and how they exercise together.  Her cloudy eyes were twelve years old; but if she remains healthy they have many years to share.  I told him "she's lucky to have found you" and he smiled saying "I'm the lucky one."  I love stories like this. 

They moved to a table further away and enjoyed their lunch together.  We finished our meal and said our good-byes as we head out.  I smiled at the connection they shared.  I love great dog relationships and stories. 

No call back

The other day I was reading an article that triggered a memory.  It was a long time ago; close to twenty years I would imagine.  I applied for a job at a big new Pet Store, PetSmart.  The big box pet store had come to our little town.  It was a first and I decided that it was the place that I should work.  Much excitement swirled around the idea of having a huge store open; which was devoted to animals.  Before construction was complete an advertisement was placed in the local newspaper; they were looking to hire.

My application was filled out, mailed in and I got the call.  The day finally arrived for my interview and I was stoked.  Being already very involved with dogs; as far as training, grooming and owning a dog walking service; I was a shoe in for the job.  Right?  I sat down in a dark room; across the table from a man who was younger than I was, wearing a suite and tie.  He wanted to know what I had to offer PetSmart; so I answered the questions that I was asked.  

But it didn't take long for  the interview to turn around.  I wanted to know what PetSmart had to offer my dogs and others dogs.  Before long I was interviewing PetSmart about their products, protocols and establishment in general.  I wanted to know, so I asked.  The guy in the suit who started out interviewing me was now back peddling and skirting my questions.  I asked questions that were important to me.  "Do you pull a product once you know that it is dangerous for dogs?"  "Does PetSmart use only positive training methods?"  "What sort of dog food did they carry?"  I didn't get many questions in before I was thanked; told I'd be contacted, and sent on my way. 

Needless to say I did not get the job; I never even got a call to tell me I wasn't hired.  But I was happy that I'd pushed.  You see I cannot sell bad or dangerous products to unsuspecting people for any amount of money, I just can't do it.   Plus I could not stand by and watch dogs be yanked around; even if I was just a bystander, not knowing what I know.  Of course this was a long time ago and I know that PetSmart now uses positive training methods which I am very happy about.  Not all training places do though so make sure you know the difference before trusting someone with your dog.  

Funny, I had completely forgotten about that interview.  Much has changed in almost twenty years.  Memories can stay buried until a trigger brings them out for us to ponder on.  I thought about the interview for sometime and laughed.  I wondered where that guy was now.  Is he a big mucky muck at PetSmart or did he move onto another large corporation?  Who knows.  

Sometimes no call back is good, evolution.