Pet Friendly Guide for Summerlin Residents
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One of the most popular topics in the We Live in Summerlin Group on Facebook is pet care and pet health topics. Our pets are such a bright spot in our lives. They give us unconditional love and brighten even the darkest days. In return, we take care of them and give them the best life possible. Part of the challenge of being a pet owner is knowing where to go and who to hire when you need services. The Ballen Network understands the need for quality care and an easy to access list of pet friendly places to consider when selecting pet care services. We hope you enjoy this celebration of the animals that make our lives a bit richer.
Choosing Pet Sitters or Doggy Day Care
We want to keep our pets close to us whenever possible, but there are times when life pulls us away. Most of us have jobs that require us to be away from home for extended hours. There are events we must attend, yearly vacations, and other appointments that may not be appro
priate for our pets. When these times arise, we want to make sure that our pets are taken care of by someone who will love them just as much as we do!
In these instances, there are several choices we can make to keep pets comfortable. We can choose to have a pet sitter come to our home, take them to a pet or doggy day care, or check them in at a pet hotel. The length of time you’re going to be away will be one factor to consider when choosing the right option.
Pet sitters will come to your home and spend time with your pet. This person may stay there the entire time, or they may come and go during the assigned time. They will make sure your pet is fed and cared for properly. Duties may include walking, basic grooming, giving medications, and play-times. Some pet sitters will do small household tasks.
If you choose a pet or doggy day care, your pet will spend time in another place with caregivers who make sure they are fed, walked, and kept safe. Typically, there will be other pets at the day care. A pet hotel is much the same, but it is usually chosen for extended stays or for pets who prefer a more personalized stay.
FUN PET FACTS – The World’s Tallest Dog is Giant George. He is 43 inches tall and lives with his owner, David Nasser in Tuscon, Arizona.
Summerlin Resident – Veronica Thibodeau
Veronica Thibodeau is an active member of the We Live in Summerlin group and a strong voice when it comes to the care of pets. We were fortunate to have an opportunity to speak with Veronica about her experiences with pet sitters and her thoughts on pet care.
Veronica’s beloved greyhound, Gracie, was a spook with separation anxiety. Gracie was a loving pet and member of Veronica’s family, but she was nervous around new people, new situations, and loud noises. New schedules were difficult for Gracie. Veronica and her husband worked full-time and didn’t want to leave Gracie alone for long periods of time. Due to her anxiety, Gracie required an extra special touch when it came to finding a pet sitter.
When looking through pet sitters online, Veronica took note of those who had positive reviews. She steered clear of those with negative reviews. Once she did her research online, she set up interviews with several pet sitters. “It was important that the individual made eye contact with us, listened to our concerns without minimizing or dismissing them, and showed interest in our pets,” said Veronica. After interviewing several sitters, Veronica chose Jennifer from A Sitter for Your Critter.
Jennifer began her care for Gracie by slowly introducing herself into Gracie’s environment. For several weeks, Jennifer showed Gracie loving patience, arriving quietly and offering treats as Gracie grew more comfortable with her presence. What amazing moments they were when Gracie allowed Jennifer to brush her, pat her, and play with her!
Having a sitter that took the time to provide an extra layer of care was important to Veronica and her husband. Jennifer would send Veronica photos of Gracie during the day. At the end of the day, Jennifer would leave a note in the kitchen about the events of the day. These small things left a big imprint on Veronica’s heart.
Veronica’s Tips for Choosing Pet Sitters
- Watch for body cues and eye contact.
- Pay attention to your pet’s reaction during the initial meeting.
- Have the sitter visit several times before actually sitting with your pet.
- Do your research. Google the sitter, look at reviews, and check references.
- Insist that the pet sitter is insured and bonded.
Veronica encourage
s people to consider the importance of pet care before bringing a pet into their family. Having a healthy pet includes good nutrition, proper grooming, and regular medical care to prevent illness. She recommends that pet owners invest in getting their pet microchipped and that they place a collar or tag on their pet.
Recently, Veronica applied to be a doggy foster home. She and her husband are active when it comes to animal rescue and adoption. Veronica said, “I think pets are such an added value to our lives. To be frank, pets made me a better person. They taught me to be selfless, and they taught me patience. They made the world right on a bad day.”
Pet Sitters Spotlight – A Sitter for Your Critter
Jennifer grew up with a heart for animals. In her younger years, she had her own pets and helped to care for the pets of her neighbors. It’s no surprise that her passion for animals led her to establish her business, A Sitter for Your Critter, in 2013.
Jennifer’s clients sometimes work long hours, but she has clients that hire her to walk their dog a few times a week. Most of her clients need her services for vacations and business travel. She is available to work 365 days a year. In fact, Jennifer enjoys working on holidays. “My favorite holiday to work is Thanksgiving. My husband and kids get to do all the cooking and cleaning,” said Jennifer. She has taken care of dogs, cats, frogs, turtles, fish, birds, hamsters, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, and lizards. So far, she has not been asked to sit for a snake or spider.
When asked what tasks she performs for the pets for which she cares, Jennifer said, “Everything your pet is used to doing. No request is too strange. Yes, I will tuck Fido in and read them bedtime story. Don’t laugh, I’ve been asked! I have learned that no two pets are the same. Each one has different needs and wants and that keeps my job exciting! What I offer and/or suggest include daily visits and play time, overnights, walks, or hourly visits. I can also administer medications, trim nails, give them a bath, and/or be a pet taxi for groomers or vet visits. I have some pets that are very active and need to play fetch and go swimming and some babies that just need a cuddle on the couch. I cater to your pets’ and your needs. Whatever they may be.”
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A bonus to having Jennifer sit for your pets is that she will do things like bring in the mail, deliver packages, open or close blinds, and things that make it look like someone is home. This is done as a courtesy with no additional fee. Jennifer’s advice on choosing a pet sitter includes asking to see their license and insurance paperwork and making sure all fees are listed and itemized before signing contract.
A Sitter for Your Critters is a licensed, bonded, and insured business. For more information about Jennifer’s fees, please visit her website at www.asitterforyourcritters.com. She offers free consultations and suggests a free trail run of her services while you are still in town, if that makes you more comfortable. Give her a call at 702-501-8217 with any questions or to schedule a consultation. If you are a new client, mention this article when you inquire, and you’ll get an extra 30% off.
Pet Sitters in Summerlin
Safe Doggy can be reached at 702-685-7200. Pet sitters on staff include Annette, Carolyn, Cindy, Jenny, Linda, Michele, Paul, and Rhonda. They offer pet sitting, dog walking, daily visits, hotel sitting, overnight pet stays, and pet transportation. They are bonded, licensed, and insured.
A Sitter for Your Critters can be reached at 702-501-8217. Jennifer is the pet sitter who owns this business. Jennifer offers daily visits, walks, feedings, vacation care, overnight care, and house sitting services. Jennifer is licensed, bonded, and insured.
Loving Touch Pet Message LLC can be reached at 702-715-4071. Jeanna is the pet sitter who owns this business. Jeanna offers pet sitting, dog walking, dog park visits, pet taxi, pooper scooping, nail grinding, and IPTouch animal massage. Jeanna is licensed, bonded, and insured.
PurrFurred Pet Care Service can be reached at 702-375-7230. This pet sitting business is owned and operated by Pam. They offer pet sitting for dogs and cats, pet taxi, supplies pickup, dog walking, hotel sitting, and animal reiki. Pam is licensed, bonded, and insured.
Lisa’s Pet Care Services can be reached at 702-292-4950. Lisa is the pet sitter who owns this business. Lisa offers pet sitting, overnight stays, dog walking, medication administration, transportation, house sitting, and special needs care. Lisa is licensed, bonded, and insured.
FUN PET FACTS: The World’s Smallest Living Dog is Boo Boo. Boo Boo is a long haired Chihuahua that is 4 inches tall and weighs 2 pounds. Boo Boo lives in Raceland, KY with owner Lana Elswick.
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