How Cats Drink

Who Knew?  How cats drink

Great Article by Cesar Milan

Animal, Species, Breed, Name


As usual, Cesar's ideas very much resonate with the way I think of those wonderful creatures we call animal. Click on the link above for a short, readable article on how he understands canine psyche. 

National Hairball Awareness Day

National Hairball Awareness Day

This is a nice article about hairballs. I have two long hairs, and learned a lot by reading this. The most important information is that hairballs are not a natural occurance and there is a lot I can do to keep them from  occurring.

Easily Entertained

I recently changed my newest cat's name from Charlie to "Sparky". It suits him much better now that I have gotten to know him.

Sparky has been entertaining himself with a "toy" for the last hour as I've been catching up on computer work. What is interesting is that, although I have lots of little mice & bird like toys lying around, Sparky decided that an old left over, green stubbed carrot top is the best invention since sliced turkey.

He has been batting it around and anticipating its fight or flight as Miso watches the drama unfold. I sometimes wonder if he isn't imagining small, voluntary movements coming from it.

Miso is a creative warrior, as well. All it takes is the sound of a crumpling sticky note to illicit her killer instict. She is often seen abrubtly flying across the room in the middle of a good snooze as soon as the paper crumpling concludes in an escaping wad, springing overhead.

Once the crumpled transgressor is caught,  I've seen Miso staring over it daring it to move. If I didn't know better, I'd testify that it moves on its own for her pure pleasure. After staring at it for a few seconds, she bats at it, seemingly to keep it in line and force it to do something, anything, so she can respond in that cute cat way.

My cats are spending me out of house and home with their feeding habits of prepared raw food. So far this year, I've spent more on their care than on my own groceries. I guess that is fair since there are two of them. I'm thankful that, they are at least low maintenance in regard to "toys".

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Dogs & Emotions - Cesar Millan

Puppy Love: Do Dogs Have Emotions?


There's no doubt in my mind that dogs have emotions. They feel joy after a job well done. They feel sad when a pack member passes away. And they feel love for their family members – their pack.

However, it's important to remember that those emotions are different from our own. The feelings that dogs experience aren't connected to complex thoughts. They don't have ulterior motives or doubt. Their emotions are pure and honest. Your dog isn't lying to you when he communicates that he loves you.

The more you fulfill your dog's needs, the more this connection will develop between you. There's nothing better than coming home from a bad day and having your dog there to support you. No judgment. No questions. Just love!

But remember, how we feel affects our dogs. If you are upset after a long day of work, your dog won't understand why, but he will pick up on your energy and body language. He will interpret this as unbalanced energy, and if you don't have your leadership down pat, it can lead to behavior issues. Make sure you are fulfilling your dog's needs first.

Our dogs give us so much and ask so little. If we provide them with exercise, discipline, then affection, we can really appreciate man (or woman's) best friend and the love they have to offer.

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan
Dogs & Emotions - Cesar Millan

Raising the Bar

I've reprinted PSI's pet sitting standards below. I'm happy to be associated with other local animal services who also adhere to these principles.

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The mission of Pet Sitters International is to serve as the educational and support organization for professional pet sitters. That is what our Recommended Quality Standards for Excellence in Pet Sitting are all about. This inventory of values and principles sets the benchmark for professional pet sitters and serves as a set of guidelines for every PSI member to use in making decisions that will lead to improved business practices, increased professionalism, a high standard of ethics and, ultimately, to loyal clients who will contribute to a successful pet-sitting business.

* The sitter exhibits courtesy and professionalism in all dealings with customers, staff and industry colleagues to positively represent the pet sitter and the pet-sitting industry.

* The sitter is bonded and insured.

* The sitter provides references.

* The sitter visits the client’s home before the first pet-sitting assignment to meet the pets and get detailed information about their care.

* The sitter displays a positive attitude during the initial meeting and is comfortable and competent in dealing with the animals.

* The sitter is courteous, interested and well informed.

* The sitter provides literature to describe services and communicate fees.

* The sitter provides a service contract that specifies services, fees and time allocated per visit.

* The sitter wants to learn as much as possible about the animals in his or her care.

* The sitter has adequate knowledge and experience in caring for pets and is clearly mindful of their safety and well-being.

* The sitter takes precautions to make sure a client’s absence from home is not detectable because of any careless actions or disclosures by the sitter.

* The sitter phones to confirm or has the client phone to confirm that the client has returned home.

* The sitter provides a service rating form for clients.

* The sitter conducts business with honesty and integrity and observes all federal, state and local laws pertaining to business operations and animal care.

* The sitter keeps regular office hours and responds to client inquiries and complaints promptly.

* The sitter has a veterinarian on call for emergency service.

* The sitter has a contingency plan for pet care in case of inclement weather or personal illness.

* The sitter refrains from criticizing competitors.

* The sitting service screens applicants for employment carefully.

* The sitting service provides initial and ongoing training for its sitters.
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How Fortunate Am I

Back in 1993, an acquaintance of mine invited me to her home to discuss a Community Television Network project we were working on as a community service, getting the word out about our Toastmasters meetings. I was more interested in playing with her animals than the business at hand but we did manage to eventually get a nice peice to CTN which was called "Community Cable Access" at the time.

Nancy was impressed with how well her 3 cats and little dog took to me. She later asked if I would be willing to stay at her home while she travelled to care for Bandit and friends until she returned.

At the time I shared housing with 5 other vegans and I was happy about the prospect of having a little privacy for a change.  Nancy wouldn't have needed to, but she compensated me financially for my work.

At the time I did not know this but my calling had found me. It took awhile to sink in, and it would be over 10 years later that I was to start my own full time service.

There has been and continues to be a large demand for dependable, skilled pet sitters in the Ann Arbor area. I naturally bumped into pet owners along the way as I went about my life. Many needed  my service and were more than willing to pay me for it. I continually built up clients without ever having to advertise.

It wasn't until 2003 that I placed my 1st advertisement in the Ann Arbor Observer. I only placed one ad for one month, but that yeilded me 2 repeat customers. By the time I started my full time service in 2008, I already had about 15 clients who called me regularly when they left for vacations.

In  2005, one of my overnight clients talked me into walking her dogs 3 times a week.  I reluctantly took this on but committing to this work was one of the best decisions I have ever made. The regular income made it possible for me to eventually leave my part time administrative job and work soley for myself.

Having and depending on my own business is a lot of work (another subject for a good blog entry). But I wouldn't trade my work with animals for anything. It is amazing to be appreciated for what I love to do.
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