Pet Food Recall

May 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Wow, in the past few weeks there have been a series of pet food recalls. One of my colleagues is great about staying up on these recalls, especially on Friday afternoon. She calls it the Friday night dump and run. It seems that Friday nights right before 5 is when the pet food manufacturers drop the “bombshell” that your pet food might be tainted and then no one is around to answer questions from concerned pet owners. I applaud Therese Kopiwoda with PetsitUSA.com for keeping everyone informed about the recalls. She is a good source for pet related information. I highly suggest signing up for her blogs, and following her on Facebook or Twitter to stay informed. To sign up for her blog go to http://www.petsitusa.com/blog/.

I was glad to see that several of the pet food manufacturers did post on Facebook this past weekend that they were there to answer questions over the weekend.  I cannot help but believe the open letter Therese wrote opened some eyes. Unfortunately these things do happen but it is how the pet food companies respond and help is of upmost importance.     

Every time there is a recall or I hear something about a pet related product I ask myself how I can help you the pet owner. It is my job to stay on top of things pet related.  I chose this career to help pet owners give their pet’s proper care.

 I am currently using posts on Guardian Pet Sitters’ Facebook page, Twitter, and Linked-In to reach pet owners, along with this blog. The posts on Facebook or Twitter would be the quickest way to get the latest information. Here are the links if you would like to follow us:  www.facebook.com/guardianpetsitters and http://twitter.com/GuardianPetSit.

Again hats off to Therese Kopiwoda at PetsitUSA for the great job she is doing keeping  pet owners up to date on things that affect our furry family members.

Here is a list of some of the pet foods recalled:

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul

Country Value

Diamond

Diamond Naturals

Premium Edge

Professional

4Health

Taste of the Wild

Apex

Kirkland Signature

Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain

Canidae

Natural Balance’s Sweet Potato and Venison, Sweet Potato and Bison, Vegetarian, and Lamb Meal and Brown Rice dog foods

WellPet’s Complete Health and Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy foods

Filed Under: Nutrition for Pets, Pet Care Tips, Pet Food, Pet Nutrition, Pet Sitting, Pets, Rescue Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thoughts from an owner of a pet sitting company

April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I recently took a 10 day vacation/business trip and got to experience what the clients of Guardian Pet Sitters experience when they travel and leave their pets at home with one of our trained, competent pet sitters. I thought I would share my thoughts with you.

I traveled with a couple of friends on a road trip to visit my family in Kentucky. We stopped the first night in Memphis to visit Graceland. With our busy schedules we left late afternoon and arrived late evening. First thing the next morning we had breakfast and then headed to Graceland. We were at Graceland from early morning until afternoon. Then back in the car for our last leg of the journey to Kentucky. We stayed in a hotel and did a lot of sightseeing as this was the first time my friends had visited Kentucky.

I missed Chrissie, but was comforted to know she was home and being cared for while I was traveling. As a pet owner I had the thought “If I had just brought Chrissie with me.” But then I thought of how hard the trip would have been for her. Just stopping for dinner the first night would have been hard. Although it is spring, the temperature has been warm and it would have been too hot for her to stay in the car. When we arrived in Memphis she would have gotten a short potty break as it was very late and we would have gone to bed. The next morning she would have gotten a walk but then she would have been in the crate to stay in a strange room for the next 6 hours while we were out sightseeing and visiting Graceland. Then she would have been back in the car for the rest of the journey to Kentucky.

Instead she was home stretching out on her bed or favorite chair, running in her backyard letting the squirrels know the yard was hers or going for a walk in her familiar neighborhood. She was the center of attention for the pet sitter. What more could a dog want!

Once we made it to Kentucky we would be gone for hours visiting family, touring horse farms, going to Keeneland and sightseeing. My thoughts would be, “I miss Chrissie and wish she was here”.  But then I would say to myself “I am glad Chrissie is home in her familiar routine as it would not be much fun staying in this hotel room by herself.” or “Chrissie would not have liked my young nephews (she is not fond of children) and she would not have gotten much attention as I was spending long overdue time with them.”

Basically for Chrissie the trip would have been riding in the car for 12 to 14 hours and staying in hotels alone. Yes she would be with me at night (sleeping) or in the car. Yes, I missed her but overall the best place for her was “AT HOME” getting lots of attention.

I started this business 21 years ago because of my own needs when I traveled for business and had to leave “Precious”, my feisty Shih Tzu at home. It was because of her that I started Guardian Pet Sitters. I found out today the reason has not changed. Pets do like staying at home. I can travel without stress and worry! If you would like to travel without stress and worry about your furry companion, contact me. I know a great company who provides the kind of service I want for my pets!

Filed Under: Business, Family, Home, Pet Sitting, Pets, Vacation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thinking about adding a rabbit to your family?

April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Let’s continue our research on rabbits. There is a lot to learn about rabbits! We are giving you a snapshot of what it takes to care for a rabbit.

For housing needs you want to have a roomy cage, resting board, running space and bunny proofed room(s). You might want to have a fenced patio/porch or playpen for outdoors when the weather permits.

Some items you will need are a litter box, pellet bowl or feeder, water bottle or crock, pet carrier, and toys. You want to have both chew and toss toys.

Rabbits eat pellets, hay/straw, fresh salad veggies and fruits, barley/oats, and they will need multiple enzymes for digestive aids. They also need wood for chewing recreation and a petroleum laxative to help in passing hair from grooming.

Rabbits need to be groomed regularly.  You’ll want to have a brush, flea comb and toenail clippers. You’ll also want to have a flea product safe for rabbits.

Other supplies needed are dust free litter and a pooper scooper. Having a hand vacuum and a whiskbroom/dustpan would be a good idea. You can use white vinegar for cleaning up urine accidents.

Caring for your rabbit means having lots of interaction, play and being aware of how your rabbit is acting or behaving. Seek veterinarian treatment if you see these danger signs:

Diarrhea with listlessness

Sudden loss of appetite with bloat or abdominal gurgling

Loss of appetite with labored breathing

Loss of appetite with runny nose

Head Tilt

Incontinence (urine soaked rear legs)

Abscesses, lumps or swelling anywhere

Sudden change in behavior

Rabbits groom themselves constantly and they get furballs just as a cat does. However unlike cats, rabbits cannot vomit and so the excessive hair swallowed can cause a fatal blockage. Keeping your rabbit brushed is the best solution.

Rabbits need at least 30 hours a week in exercise time/space. They do get along with cats and dogs and if you want to add another rabbit it is easiest if the rabbits are neutered or spayed adults of the opposite sex. Rabbits do not tolerate the heat well. Teeth grow continually throughout life so you want to be sure that their teeth align properly to aid in keeping the teeth normal length and shape.

Rabbits don’t like to be held and hugged. They like staying on the ground. They can get hurt if they jump out of your arms.

The average life span of a rabbit is 7-12 years. There are many breeds of rabbits such as the Netherland dwarf, Rex, Himalayan, New Zealand, Lop Eared, Lionhead, and Polish.

This a brief overview on the care of rabbits. I hope this helps you in determining if a rabbit is the pet for you. If you do think a rabbit is the right companion for you—consider adopting.

Filed Under: Family, Home, Pet Care Tips, Pet Sitting, Pets, Rabbits, Rescue Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Give chocolate or stuffed rabbits for Easter gifts!

April 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Easter is here! Many of us give gifts to celebrate the gift of life. In the spring our focus turns to baby rabbits and chickens as gifts. Although they are adorable they do grow up into mature rabbits and chickens. As with any pet, they require special attention and have special needs of their own regarding their diet and housing. Let’s explore the needs of rabbits so you can make a wise decision on whether this is a pet for you and your family.

You never want to rush into purchasing any type of pet! Why not give chocolate or stuffed bunnies or chickens until you research if a live rabbit is right for you and your family.

Rabbits are social animals that need affection and can be wonderful companion animals. They are intelligent and can be litter box trained and taught to walk on a leash. Rabbits need to be kept inside (especially in Texas during the summer).

The benefits of spayed or neutered rabbits are many. Like other pets their hormones can cause them to “mark territory”. By spaying or neutering your rabbit, this improves litter box habits, decreases territorial aggression, lessens chewing behavior, and helps your rabbit have a happier and longer life.

Rabbits can have free run of the home but it is best for most rabbits to start with a cage.  To litter box train your rabbit, start by fastening a litter box in the corner of the cage that the rabbit uses for a “bathroom.”  As soon as she uses the box consistently you can give her more freedom. Use only positive reinforcement (treats and praises)—never punishment.

Your home needs to be bunny proofed! It is natural for rabbits to chew on furniture, rugs, drapes and electrical cords. The electrical cords must be concealed so that the rabbit can not reach them. For cords that you can not conceal you can encase them in vinyl tubing.

Give your rabbit lots of attention along with safe chewables and toys. This will distract her from chewing the rugs and furniture. A wonderful play box is a cardboard box stuffed with hay.

Some major health problems rabbits can have are intestinal blockages, bacterial imbalances with the stomach, and infectious bacteria that causes colds.

You want to have an experienced rabbit doctor as they will know the needs of your pet. You want to regularly check eyes, nose, ears, teeth, weight, appetite and droppings for signs of illness.

This is the beginning of our information on rabbits. Watch for more regarding caring for a rabbit in the next blog. We will cover danger signs to watch for, housing, feeding, grooming and supplies needed.

Filed Under: Business, Easter, Pet Care Tips, Pet Sitting, Pets, Rabbits, Rescue Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guinea Pigs as Pets

March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

March is “Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month” and in honor of this we are going to talk about having a guinea pig as part of the family.  Guinea pigs are social animals and you should consider keeping a same sex pair so they have company. Their life span is 5-7 years but they can live up to 10 which would not be unusual. They need a large cage to live in. They are usually quiet but can call out loudly and can be active both day and night. Guinea pigs make good family pets.

Guinea pigs are approximately 10 inches long and weigh around 2-3 pounds. They have a rounded stout body with no visible tail. There is a variety of breeds such as the American, Abyssinian, and Peruvian. You can find them in a wide variety of colors.

When choosing a guinea pig you have several sources—pet stores, breeders (caviary) and shelters. Make sure the guinea pig(s) are in good health and condition, and well socialized and easy to handle. Sometimes those found in  shelters might be skittish if they were not handled when young,  but it should not take long for them to settle down in a routine environment.

Some steps in choosing a guinea pig:

Look for one that relaxes quickly when handled, and does not panic. Be careful if one is overly quiet and calm as this might be a sign of illness.

Choose one that is alert and active.

Guinea pigs should not be overly skinny or grossly overweight; the body should be firm and rounded.

Nose, eyes, ears and rear end should be clean and free of discharge. The coat should be full and soft. Skin should not be flaky or red. Be on the lookout for any signs of parasites such as lice.

Some top reasons guinea pigs end up in shelters are:

No matter how much time you spend with a guinea pig you can not replace the companionship of another guinea pig. Be ready to bring home two; per one article I read this is a deal breaker. If you don’t have the space, budget or time to support a pair then it is not the right pick for this stage in your life.

Here are some tips on caring for your guinea pig:

Roomy cage

If you get one with sides so they don’t kick out their food and bedding be sure it is kept clean as this type of cage restricts the airflow. Keeping it clean prevents ammonia and odors from building up inside.

Bedding

Guinea pigs use their bedding as a soft place to sleep and as their bathroom. Shredded paper or pine chips work well.

Food

Food dishes and hay racks need to be checked daily. Water needs changing daily. They should receive daily fresh veggies (dark leafy greens included) and fruits. Have timothy and grass hay available at all times. Guinea pig pellets should be fed in small amounts. Guinea pigs are dependent on high Vitamin C, low-fat low-calcium and low-sugar food choices to maintain good health.

Every other day you should clean food dishes and water bottles with hot water.

Appearance

Long hair guinea pigs need daily brushing, short haired ones less frequently; all breeds need brushing during shedding season. You want to trim the long hair guinea pigs every few weeks to keep their fur from dragging in their bedding.

Nails need to be trimmed once or twice a month depending on how fast they grow.

Activity

An untreated wooden block to chew on will satisfy the guinea pig’s desire to chew and keep its teeth worn down. The teeth continuously grow so this is essential.

Let your guinea pig out of its enclosure to play for exercise and change of scenery. Be sure it is safe! Have large well ventilated rolling ball for them to use but keep them from stairs and direct sunshine.

You can take your guinea pig outside if you have a well fitting harness and leash.

Even if you have two guinea pigs they need daily socializing and snuggling with humans.

Veterinary care

Guinea pigs do not require vaccines but preventive care is very important. Dental problems are very common in guinea pigs. Schedule annual wellness visits so the veterinarian can perform a physical and oral exam and to discuss husbandry.  

 

Filed Under: Family, Pet Care Tips, Pet Sitting, Pets, Rescue Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Is your pet care fail safe?

March 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Are your arrangements for your pet’s care failsafe?

Why do I ask this question? Recently we have had several situations where pet owners found they did not have pet care they could depend upon. Here are a few of the scenarios:

  1. A call for service starting the same day. The person was leaving in a few hours. The person calling had two individual pet sitters but neither pet sitter was available- one was out of town and the other had surgery.
  2. Another call for service for the weekend from a person whose friend was going to watch the pets but got sick and couldn’t.
  3. While talking with someone at a networking meeting, she told me this story that happened to her over Christmas time. She had just moved to the area. There was a death in the family and she could not find a boarding facility for her dogs as they were all booked  nor did she know anyone to care for her pets.

If these had been Guardian Pet Sitter’s clients they would have had pet care.

If you are new to an area one of the first things you want to establish is pet care. It is good to have an in-home pet care company as you never know if you will be able to board your pets when you need to. Even if your pets would do better boarding for extended periods, most pet care companies will offer transportation to and from the kennels so that could be arranged.

Weekends are busy for pet sitters. We allocate our time and resources to the clients who have booked us. If possible we try to help people at the last minute but Guardian Pet Sitters will not compromise our service for the clients who have booked us in advance.

  • A client of Guardian Pet Sitters had a father who was in his final days of life. The client called Guardian Pet Sitters and she had pet coverage for as long as she needed.
  • A client of Guardian Pet Sitters had moved from one community to another and had not gotten set up in her new home. She became ill and was hospitalized. We were able to meet with a friend and get keys to the new home and provide service.  We are there for our clients!

As a Guardian Pet Sitter’s client you would not have to worry about your pet care as we have a backup system to ensure our clients have coverage when needed. After all you don’t know when you could have an emergency or need to leave town.

Guardian Pet Sitters offers:

  • Bonded and insured for your protection
  • Clients are kept confidential
  • “Peace of Mind” program (ask about our program when you call or talk to us)
  • Our backup system enables us to give our clients the attention needed in an emergency.
  • Being available to our clients 365 days a year however our pet sitters are given time off to be refreshed and ready to give their best to each client.

Don’t delay in getting setup as a client of Guardian Pet Sitters!

If you don’t live in our service area find an in-home pet sitting company in your area that will be there!

 

Filed Under: Business, Family, Healthcare, Pet Care Tips, Pet Sitting, Pets, Vacation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Now is the time to make plans for your pets!

February 29, 2012 By 4 Comments

Have you started making plans for spring and summer vacation? There are many questions to answer during the planning especially when you have pets involved. Are you traveling to visit family, friends or are you staying in a hotel? Are you going out of the country? Are your pets going to be welcomed at your family or friends? Are you going to be leaving your pet in the hotel room for periods of time while you are out having fun sightseeing and enjoying the attractions? Is there a quarantine period for pets for the country you are traveling to? Does you pet travel well in the car or by plane? Will the airlines fly your pet?

The biggest question you must ask yourself is what is best for my pet? Everyone enjoys their pets and wants to be with them but in reality is it best for your pet? If your decision is not to travel with your pet, then your next step is to decide what type of arrangement is best for your pet. Today the pet owner has many options for pet care. You need to choose the one that best suits your family and your pet’s needs.

Why not make plans for your pet(s) to stay in the comfort of their own home? There are many options but the one most pets prefer is staying at home. The benefits you receive – knowing your pets are happy because they are in their favorite spot (home), sleeping on their favorite bed, eating out of their own bowls, playing with their toys, napping in their favorite spot, playing in their own yard and taking the familiar route for their walk. It is the best way to keep your pets on the routine you have established. An added bonus is your home will be getting the attention it needs as your mail, newspaper and flyers will be brought in, lights alternated, blinds open and closed, giving your home a lived in look.

Now is the time to choose who you are going to hire to care for your pets and home. There are numerous pet sitting services, so how do you choose? We know there are many questions you need to ask about the service you pick. We have made sure that when you ask those questions, we can say,” Yes we have that.” or “Yes we offer that.” After being in business for over 20 years we believe that our company model gives us the edge over many.

How is Guardian Pet Sitters different from most pet sitting companies?

  • We are not a one man operation and if something were to happen to one of us our service continues.
  • We have a team of pet sitters! They are employees and have been carefully selected and thoroughly screened.
  • Each client has a primary pet sitter but with our team we have a backup in case there was an emergency.
  • Clients work with their pet sitter on each assignment to ensure there is no miscommunication with the details.
  • We do not overbook our pet sitters as quality of service is our upmost goal (we have heard of pet sitters doing 25-30 visits a day during busy seasons). Our pet sitters typically do 12 visits max, but most are 7-8 visits or less.
  • We have pet sitters living in the areas they service and typically they do not have to drive long distances between jobs.
  • We have built our company to benefit our customers. We understand you want consistency in who is taking care of your pets and we provide this by assigning a primary and a back up pet sitter to each client. However, if your particular pet sitter is not available then you know you have a trained knowledgeable pet sitter taking over and providing the same quality service.

Guardian Pet Sitters has been providing “Peace of Mind” since 1992. Our track record proves we have been there for our clients and we will be there for you.

Don’t delay on making plans for your pets!

Filed Under: Business, Family, Pet Sitting, Pets, Vacation Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Pet Owners’ Responsibility to Stop Overpopulation of Pets

February 6, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Puppies left at shelter 2-2012

A day doesn’t pass by that I don’t read something regarding pet over-population. We even have a day designated to spaying your pet. This year February 28, 2012 is Spay Day USA! Spay Day USA was started by the Doris Day Animal League. From my investigzation this is the 17th year for Spay Day USA and the overpopulation problem still is epidemic proportions. Over one million animals have been spayed or neutered yet that is not enough to curb the overpopulation of pets.

It is up to us as pet lovers and owners to do what is needed to stop this over-population of pets. This doesn’t mean we go after the reputable breeders who give us our purebred dogs and cats; it means we stop the over-population of pets by spaying and neutering all dogs and cats that make wonderful family pets. It means we don’t let our dog or cat have a litter of puppies or kittens just so our children can have the experience. It means we take proper care of our pets by spaying and neutering. We adopt from shelters and rescues to give homes for all the unwanted dogs and cats. You want a certain breed of dog? Every breed of dog has a rescue group-check there for your next family member. 

If we don’t stop the overpopulating of animals what is going to happen? We are going to continue to hear about the “litter of puppies dropped off at the local shelter”, or the euthanasia of another dog or cat because there is no more room to keep them. Or we are going to see dogs and cats living in cages with the overworked staff at the rescue group or shelter trying to give them attention when it is taking everything they have just to get them all fed and fresh water. We are going to continue to hear about the hoarding of animals and the horrific stories of them not getting food and laying in their own feces.

This problem is an economic issue; we don’t have enough resources to take care of all the animals as it is now.   

Spaying and neutering your pet has many benefits:

  • Spaying females can prevent uterine infections such as pyometra and mammary or uterine cancer.
  • Neutering males prevents testicular cancer and reduces the risk for perianal tumors.
  • Spaying and neutering reduces the urge to roam. When pets are roaming they are subject to getting hit by a car, or attacked by another animal. Did you know that 80% of pets hit by cars are unneutered males?
  • Pet owner saves $$ on pet care.
  • Society will not have to spend time and resources caring for animals that will never get a home. 

We the pet loving people are the ones who are responsible to stop the overpopulation. Educating your family and friends on spaying and neutering their pets is a step to the solution, adopting from rescue or shelters is another step and finally help keep the message going to spay and neuter our pets. If you can spare the $$ to pay to have a pet spayed or neutered there are numerous organizations that can use your financial support. The more animals that get “fixed” means fewer will die at the end of the needle.

 I think Donn Esmonde says it best when it comes to the solution: “It’s pet owners finding their Inner Adult, landing on Planet Responsibility and getting their animals spayed or neutered.

 

Filed Under: Pet Care Tips, Pet Sitting, Rescue Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Guidelines for Pet Ownership

January 19, 2012 By 4 Comments

Recently I was reading a blog from a veterinarian and she was addressing questions I ask myself a lot. What are people thinking when they “collect” animals but cannot afford to feed or properly take care of them? What are people thinking when they let their pets reproduce irresponsibly because they want their children to experience the dog or cat having a litter of puppies or kittens? What makes people choose a huge dog for a senior citizen and a toy dog for a child or choose a herding dog for an apartment and a yorkie for the farm? 

Owning a pet is a privilege and we are to provide for the pet or pets responsibly. Since Guardian Pet Sitters started in 1992 we have taught proper pet care and believe that is one of our responsibilities as an in-home pet and home care company.

 We want to help pet owners to choose the right pet and be responsible by providing proper pet care. People fall in love when they see the pet but then don’t know what to do. If we help the pet owner learn proper pet care we are helping the pet have a good life. There is a lot to know about pet(s) and if we can help people be great pet owners then we have done our job.

 We thought we would share with you the new guidelines for responsible pet ownership approved by The American Veterinary Medical Association’s Executive Board.

  •  Committing to the relationship for the life of the pet(s). 
  • Avoiding impulsive decisions about obtaining pet(s), and carefully selecting pet(s) suited to your home and lifestyle. 
  • Recognizing that ownership of pet(s) requires an investment of time and money.     
  • Keeping only the type and number of pets for which an appropriate and safe environment can be provided, including appropriate food, water, shelter, health care and companionship. 
  • Ensuring pets are properly identified (i.e., tags, microchips, or tattoos) and that registration information in associated databases is kept up-to-date. 
  • Adherence to local ordinances, including licensing and leash requirements. 
  • Controlling pet(s) reproduction through managed breeding, containment, or spay/neuter, thereby helping to address animal control and overpopulation problems. 
  • Establishing and maintaining a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
  • Providing preventive (e.g., vaccinations, parasite control) and therapeutic health care for the life of pet(s) in consultation with and as recommended by its veterinarian. 
  • Socialization and appropriate training for pet(s) which facilitates their well being and the well being of other animals and people.
  • Preventing pet(s) from negatively impacting other people, animals and the environment, including proper waste disposal, noise control, and not allowing pt(s) to stray or become feral. 
  • Providing exercise and mental stimulation appropriate to the pet(s) age, breed, and health status. 
  • Advance preparation to ensure the pet(s) well-being in the case of an emergency or disaster, including assembling an evacuation kit. 
  • Making alternative arrangements if caring for the pet is no longer possible. 
  • Recognizing declines in the pet(s) quality of life and making decisions in consultation with a veterinarian regarding appropriate end-of-life care (e.g., palliative care, hospice, euthanasia. 

A lot of good points have been made in the guidelines. It addresses many of the problems we see today such as overpopulation and pet(s) out of control. Remember it is you the pet owner who is responsible for the life of the pet(s) you choose.

Filed Under: Pet Care Tips, Pet Sitting, Rescue Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

What does being #1 really mean?

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

In December we received emails from the Dallas A-List that it was time for their contest! What was the contest—who can be named one of the best local businesses in the DFW area! Guardian Pet Sitters® participated in this several years ago and when it was over we placed in the top five. Not bad considering we didn’t follow through with the campaign. I learned a very valuable lesson which is what this blog is about.

During the campaign I saw how others in the running got their votes-they solicited on yahoo groups for pet sitters (and I am sure other lists they may have been on) and sent out massive emails almost daily (I was on one or more of the email lists). I fell into some of these gimmicks also. I sent out an email to our newsletter list asking for votes, and I personally sent out emails and even got business cards that I passed out when I attended meetings, asking for votes. 

I recently was throwing out the business cards (we had a lot left as I didn’t hand out many) and the idea of the topic for this blog “What does it mean to me and Guardian Pet Sitters® to be the #1 in-home pet sitting company in the DFW area?”  Once I received the email that the voting had begun I knew it was time for me to write this blog. 

When we participated in this campaign I didn’t feel comfortable asking people to vote for us. Why? I want us to deliver our customers the most excellent service and a great experience that they naturally want to tell others about. 

I did enjoy what people said about us and was glad they wanted to comment when voting but it is not the same as when we get an email saying how glad they are to have found Guardian Pet Sitters®. 

Until they come up with a #1 in-home pet sitting contest in which a high list of standards needs to be attained, we will bow out of the contest and work to be #1 with the clients who choose us because of our high standards. 

For us we will not be soliciting your votes for #1 Dallas A-List but will cherish every time we hear from you that our service exceeded your expectations! 

 

Filed Under: Business, Pet Sitting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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