Cars heat up a lot faster than we think. In the summertime heat, it is NEVER okay to leave your pet unattended in a car - windows cracked or not. Car temperatures can literally be like the inside of an oven, and that's no place you want to leave your pet.

We still have errands to do though. Here are some great alternatives to leaving your pet in a car: 
1) Drive-Thru Only - Convenient and accessible, many businesses offer a drive-thru. Instead of leaving your companion in the car, even for a second, take advantage of the opportunity to let your pet ride in comfort and style.

2) Pet Friendly Shopping - Many businesses are happy to accommodate our companions! When you can, go to businesses that have a pet friendly policy and take them shopping with you.

3) Bring a Friend - Having someone come along while you (or both of you) run errands will give your pet someone to hang out and play with while you're inside.

4) Outdoor Eating - Instead of going into a restaurant to eat, find those with outdoor seating. Shade and a little water dish make this a fun time for everyone!

5) Skip It -  Is your trip to the store really all that important? Can it wait until tomorrow or later on in the day? Let your pet stay at home where its cool and relaxing.

ID tags on collars aren't perfect. We put them on our pets in case of emergencies, but there are problems with that. Some pets are wily and crafty. They don't like their collar and will do anything to get it off! 'Break-away' collars are often ineffective for identifying pets since they will easily get lost. 'Pet-nappers' can easily take off a collar and ID tag. Microchips are an effective solution to those fears.

ID microchips, no bigger than a grain of rice, can be implanted by veterinarians into dogs, cats and even many reptiles. The procedure is relatively non-invasive and takes moments to complete - a lot like getting a shot. The device holds a number that can be scanned; this number correlates to your ownership information in a national database.

For a limited time, Washoe County Regional Animal Services is offering FREE microchipping for your pet. Although the procedure is relatively low-cost to begin with, some of us don't have the extra budget to make it happen. You can find dates and locations of this free service here: http://www.washoecounty.us/animal . 

The hot weather is returning to the Carson Valley and that's a big concern for outdoor pets. As the summer turns up, the mountain air can get sweltering in the daytime heat. Even the shade, what little there is in the high desert, is no refuge for our furry companions.

There are a few things you can do to help out any outdoor pets you might have. For long haired breeds of cats and dogs, one solution is summertime grooming - get them a haircut! But this is only a temporary solution and it doesn't address the problem for their shorter haired cousins.

One ingenious way of keeping your pets cool as a cucumber in the summertime is to invest in a kiddie pool. Yes, the same plastic pools that you can buy at the store. FiIl it up with about 3-4 inches of water to give those pets some relief! Placing it in whatever shade you can muster helps a lot as well. Dogs, and even cats, that don't like the water will get in to cool off when it gets really hot. It also becomes an additional source of water for them if they are feeling parched.

Don't forget to change it every other day or so, to keep the water fresh and clean! They'll thank you for it.

As spring returns, your companion probably wants to get out more. There are a few things to be aware of as the weather warms up. These pet tips should help with your springtime pet care.

• Allergies - Check for watery eyes and sneezing as an early warning sign that your pet may have allergies.
  
• Parasites - After a long winter hibernation, flea, tick and heartworm larvae are back for more. Protect your pets!
  
• Windows - Make sure your screens are secure. Many pets can escape through or be injured while exiting damaged screens as we air out the house.
  
• Easter - Keep your Easter chocolates and Easter grass out of reach! They are a big no-no for both dogs and cats.
  
• Flowers - Budding flowers look great, but many of them do not agree with canine or feline tummies. 
  
• Chemicals - Secure your cleaning products as you refresh your house. Uncapped cleaning agents pose a big health risk to pets.
  
• Automobiles - As the weather warms up, don't forget to crack the window before you head inside the store again!
  

If you started a pet sitting business and need help growing, getting clients, or with the day-to-day work of your business, let's set up a phone consultation! I will share my expertise and experience with you. We will talk for one hour at a time that is convenient for you. The cost is only $40.00. Contact me to set up your appointment.

Pet sitting is big business. According to the ASPCA, there are about 78 million dogs and 86 million cats owned in the United States. Approximately 62% of households have pets in them and these numbers are not on the decline. When owners want to go on vacation or have to leave for business, they don't want to send their companion and friend to a faceless kennel or shelter This is where you can come in! Bringing personal care into their homes through personalized pet care can benefit them and get your own pet sitting business off the ground!

We offer comprehensive service and support for anyone looking to open their own pet sitting business. For new pet caregivers, we can show you the ropes through phone consultations or training programs. The forms available on our website are the same ones we use every day and can you get started today. Our pet sitting business forms include:

• Contracts
• Flyers
• Marketing Brochures
• Policy and Procedures

Personalized pet care is on the move as one of the fastest growing markets in the United States. Don't waste any time and start your own pet sitting business today!  Download our forms or give us a call and get to work for yourself!

Well Dutches is weaned from her puppies, spayed and vaccinated! She is ready for a new forever home! She is approx. 18 months, Terrier Cocker mix. She loves kids and other dogs....a real snuggle bug! She uses her dog door and is a real good girl. She has had if "Ruff" being dumped in a CA high kill shelter major pregnant. Had her puppies her in foster care. Please call me at 775-265-7387 for more information.

KENNEL COUGH! Everyone hates to hear those words, especially kennels, boarding facilities and grooming shops. The main reason I picked this topic was because several days ago I received a call from a lady that told me she was interested in adopting one of the puppies I am fostering. She explained to me that she was a single parent of two children and they had "adopted a sick puppy from a Reno Shelter that had to go back"....I did not ask what Reno Shelter it was, but I did ask what was wrong with the puppy. She said they had had the puppy almost 2 weeks-and her and the children loved him, he was just perfect- then it began to cough and not really eat....they took it to the vet and it was diagnosed with "Bordetella bronchiseptica"(Kennel Cough)...she was upset that the shelter had sold her a sick dog!! 
 So here is where my frustration comes in. In this day of the internet, why do people not educate themselves! Why do we always assume that someone did "something wrong" or tried to "screw us over".... 
I felt bad for her children who fell in love with this dog, just to have it "Returned". and what does that teach our children? Then I felt bad for the puppy. I bet it was sitting at the shelter wondering what it had done wrong? Why did his new family return him?
So I took some time to explain some of the facts about kennel cough to the women and suggested, that not only for the poor puppy but as a good example to her kids, to GO BACK AND GET THAT PUPPY and care for it as your own!! Because it is-YOUR OWN!! Then I decided to post this as well, because maybe others do not understand as well.
Several viruses and bacteria can cause kennel cough. It is usually a mild disease, but the cough may be chronic, lasting for several weeks. The loud cough is usually described as a "goose honk". It is very contagious and can be spread by casual contact such as sniffing while on a walk, playing, sharing bowls etc. The "spores" from the cough can travel-especially in cold weather.....so is seen more in winter. It is also seen more in "groups of dogs" like in kennels, dog parks, groomers etc. The hardest thing is a dog can carry it, spread it and have NO SIGNS OF HAVING IT FOR UP TO 15 days....so what does that mean...??? Well a dog could have it, go to the dog park or kennel or groomer or on a walk or..............and be spreading it and no one knows....then in about 2 weeks, the cough begins and you have to go get antibiotics from the vet.
So you see....the shelter did not KNOWINGLY sell a sick dog. If the family would have just got the medication, gave it and waited a few days, all would be well and there would be one less sick dog at the shelter. To me it is like "The dog flu". Put a group of kids or people together and some get the flu, some do not. If your child got the flu and went to daycare, would we fire the daycare and worse yet RETURN THE CHILD!!
Best advice is to vaccinate your dogs....but-like the flu- the vaccine does not protect against all strains..and after that my advice would be to lighten up!! Life has bumps in the road and well, "STUFF HAPPENS"...relax and enjoy your pet-some times there is no one to blame.....it just is what it is.....

Thanksgiving of course is all about being thankful. One thing I am thankful for is all my animals. Horses, Goats, Dogs and Cats. Love them all. They bring peace and stability to my life. With that thought we all must remember they are work. Extra work in the winter. We need to provide for them. Fresh food and water. Proper vet care. Shelter and of course lots of love. But many animals don't have that. They live on the street and search daily for food, water and shelter. Our animal shelters and rescues are full, and they cant save them all. THEY NEED HELP. How can you help? Many ways. The first way is to make sure your pets are spayed and neutered. Don't breed when shelter animals are dieing. Then next way, would be to adopt. Go to your local shelters and rescues and adopt a pet, giving them there forever home. There is a perfect pet out there for everyone. Can not adopt, well then foster. Fostering SAVES LIVES. The pic here shows two of four puppies and momma dog came from the shelter, from death row, pregnant!! I fostered her, she had her pups and now we foster all five. Soon we will be finding new home for all of them. Now not everyone can foster a pregnant dog and soon to be puppies, but there are older dogs, younger dogs, big dog and little dogs......AND cats!! Kittens and adults, big and small. They need a temporary home to settle them in while a forever home is found. Maybe you could help? Cant foster, well how about volunteer? The shelters and rescue always need help-AND IT IS FUN!! Go sit in there cat rooms, and love and brush a kitty. Walk a dog so it not only gets exercise but gets out and about and receives some much needed one on one love and time. If none of these things are doable for you, then donate. Donate money or food or toys, blankets etc.....just show up and drop them off, or mail a check to your local favorite group or shelter... Happy Thanksgiving everyone!    

Halloween is a very fun time for kids and adults alike....but might not be very fun for your pets. Follow some simple rules and common sense to keep your pet safe and happy. Keep all candy and chocolate up and away from pets....it can end up being a deadly mistake if a pet eats treats. Costumes.....make sure if you are going to dress up your pet that the costume is safe & fits well so it does not trap, strangle or hurt your pet. Maybe also put the pet in a safe room during the time you have trick or treaters....you do not want your pet to escape and you do not know if a costume scares your dog, they could bite, trying to protect you or out of fear. October 31 is a good time to keep all pets secure, safe and if possible, inside, especially black cats...it is sad to say they could fall prey to a not so nice human who has some not so nice Halloween plans for them...If you are planning a party at your house, maybe find a friend or a pet sitter who can care for your pet during the party. If you are going out and returning late have a pet sitter stop by to potty and play a little with your pet and then tuck them in, safe and sound for you. Well everyone have a great Halloween.....and remember....adopt!! If you cannot adopt then foster!! If you can not foster, then volunteer!!! If you can not volunteer then show your financial support to a local shelter...