About a month ago, I received an email from Stephanie Cimmarusti, the owner of Ascension Kennels in Pilot Hill, CA.   She’s been breeding dachshunds and pet sitting in her area, but was trying to build up her boarding business and wanted to get together, talk shop and see if we can help each other out.

Stephanie of Ascension Kennels

I’m always eager to help and get to know other pet sitters, so we set a date for me to come up and see her property.  Pilot Hill is almost an hour from Folsom in the hills, nestled in the Oak trees with panoramic views.

I was a little nervous about driving up there, but was comforted by my trusty travel companions, Dutch and Kaylee, and we all set out for a day in the country.

As I started down Salmon Falls Road, I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was.  It was a perfect spring day, the hills were a bright green with sprawling ranches scattered throughout the countryside, and I was groovin’ to the tunes in my car.  (Do people still say groovin’?).  I was going into that state of gratitude for being able to enjoy this wonderful adventure.

Everything was going great, but of course, being (which I now can’t deny) “direction challenged” took a wrong turn and knew that I was not going in the direction that I needed to.  The road was getting narrower and narrower and paving was hit and miss.

Me chilling on a hammock. Do I have to leave??!!

I remembered that I just got one of those new Android phones with GPS  and thought I’d give it a try.  You guessed it, there wasn’t any reception.  So I started down the road to start all over from the main highway.  I finally got reception and called Stephanie.

Two of the Doxies

She eventually had to come find me and bring me to her house as I was getting low on gas!  I’m glad she did because the dirt road to her house would have been too much for my bucket of bolts car.  BTW, Stephanie provides transportation to her house if you don’t want to brave the dirt road.

Just so you know, MapQuest was off by 4 miles which was why I couldn’t find her road.  Just thought I’d mention that.

Once we got there, we were greeted by her adorable 13 week old dachshund puppies that are for sale.  They had never seen another dog before, so Dutch and Kaylee caused quite of stir.  They soon settled down and we were able to look over the place.

My trusted travel companions - Kayee and Dutch

Stephanie, who is a licensed Vet Tech and groomer, envisions her boarding facility to be more of a rustic, back to nature environment for the dogs.  They have tons of room to run and play with plenty of shade from the big Oak trees.  She plans weekend events such as scavenger hunts, Easter egg hunts and pie eating contests!  She also provides nature walks through her wooded property.  Stephanie would like this it to be a fun, safe place for your dogs.

Where the dogs can play

Eventually, she would like to be able to board 20 dogs at a time where they will sleep in climate controlled housing and expand the amount of acreage the dogs can play in.  Since she is a Vet Tech, she can care for any medical need or physical therapy your pet may need.  She’ll even cook for your pets!!  How great is that.  In addition, she can come to your home to care for your pets provided you live in Pilot Hill, Cool, Georgetown, Auburn and the surrounding areas.   I could see that Stephanie is a loving, caring person that genuinely cares for all animals.

This is the view from Stephanie's front yard!

If you have friends in her area, please give her a call at (530)906-4334 and help her build her vision of her “dog haven in the hills”.

So, it was time to bring me to my car which was on the side of the road to start my journey back home.  She told me I could get gas in Cool which was in the opposite way back home.  I got my gas and stopped at Subway to eat and was on my way.

With my tank full , my belly full and Dutch and Kaylee chillin’ in the back seat, I was reflecting on all the emails I will need to answer when I got home and all the work that wasn’t done today.  But the way I see it, making a new friend and being able to experience a new place and beautiful scenery is good for the soul and gave me a short break to fuel my spirit.  The work will always be there!

To view all the photos, please go to my facebook page. Friend me!!

When I first started pet sitting, I used to do a lot of visits that included walking dogs.  I soon found out that I preferred to stay home and board dogs.  However, there are a handful of clients dogs that I still walk.

This is how I find Ty everytime. He can't hear me come in poor little guy!

Of all the many miles I’ve journeyed with dogs, there is one in particular that I look forward to.  It’s just on the outskirts of El Dorado Hills, CA, but it might as well be miles away in the mountains.  I walk this path with Ty, a 14 year old Queensland Healer/Border Collie mix that looks and acts like he’s 5!  He recently went deaf and I have to wake him up when I get there, but he’s always so happy to see me and ready for our walk.

Here's Ty when he's awake!

The path we walk is scattered with houses.  One has goats, horses and two very protective Bouvier des Flandres.

These are some of the horses from the house across the street

The scenery is set in the foothills with oak trees everywhere.  I relish the solitude and peaceful surroundings.  Not only is it a beautiful walk, but the path has steep inclines which gives me a good glute workout!

This is the begining of the path

After walking over a wooden bridge, there is a beautiful pond – a home sits on top of the hill overlooking the pond.

The Pond

At the end of this journey, we climb to the top of the hill where there is a spectacular vista that spans all the way to Folsom Lake and even Sacramento’s skyline in the background.  One of the homes has a vineyard and a tennis court with a large deck that faces the view.  I can only image what it must be like sitting on top of that deck looking over the magnificent view and knowing how blessed you are to have this little piece of Heaven.

Right next to the tennis courts is the lookout deck

The major glute workout is worth it to see this wonderful, peaceful, thought provoking view.

This is just part of the awesome view

Isn’t that the same with life.  There may be steep hills, rocks, bugs and whatever comes your way, but to reach for something that is your life’s desire makes it all worth it.  As they say, there can be no joy without the pain.

Another look at the view

As a woman my age, I have learned that life is too short to compromise on what brings me joy.  What else are we here for, but to experience happiness – the kind of happiness that comes from deep inside your soul.  The awareness that without this joy, you’re life is less than what it could be.

This is Ty saying good bye and ready to make the trip back home!

We all know what it is, now are you going to spend the rest of your life wishing or doing something about finding your bliss?  It’s all up to you.

Summer is a very busy time for pet sitters and this Summer is no exception so far.  We have many dogs boarding at our home and a lot of  visits to clients homes to take care of their pets.

Yesterday when I was taking care of Dakota a sweet Golden Retriever, it dawned on me just how therapeutic visits are – actually they’re Zen like.  It forces me to focus on the here and now and just enjoy being in the presence of this beautiful creature.  The business side of pet sitting can make you forget the reason you started sitting in the first place. 

I decided to make my first video for my blog with me in it.  I had to get over seeing myself on camera with my scrunched face and the sun in my eyes.  I looked like Popeye!  As Social Media Maven Ann Evanston says – you have to get over what you look like and just do it!  Ann’s this one’s for you.

I hope you enjoy this fun video and see how great my job is.

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The airline flight is booked, the hotel is waiting for your arrival and you’re all pack to go on your wonderful vacation!  In all your reveling, you look down to see your precious pup looking up at you and you suddenly realize that you forgot to get a pet sitter to watch over your pet!

At this point you have 3 options to ponder over:

Get a neighbor to come over a few times a day or have them keep them at their house.  If you don’t know that many people or don’t want to impose on your friends, this may be an undesirable option.

Put them in a kennel at the dog hotel or veterinarian’s office.  However, thinking about your pet in a cage or kennel while you’re whiling away the hours on a beach may cause stress and ruin your vacation due to excessive worrying about their well being.

Find a professional pet sitter to come watch them at your house or board them at the sitter’s home.  Personally, this is the best option for your pet.  Not only are they looked after by a professional that knows how to care for pets, but you can relax and have a great time!

However, not all pet sitters are equal.  So, how do you evaluate and choose a pet sitter?

I’m assuming that you want to hire a professional pet sitter and not a neighbors child or teenager.  This can spell disaster and not worth your peace of mind.

Start by going to the Pet Sitter’s International (PSI) or NAPPS websites and find a pet sitter in your area in their directory.  PSI and NAPPS are probably the best known pet sitter associations and offer education about pets, marketing and business practices.  They are dedicated to providing the best the industry has to offer.  I’m a member of PSI and we have to abide by a Code of Conduct for Pet Sitters.  Most pet sitters that belong to these kinds of organizations, are professional and conduct themselves as such, but there are always a few bad apples.

Make sure they are licensed, insured and bonded. In my city, there really isn’t a “pet sitting license”, but I do have a business license to run my pet sitting business.  Insurance is a must.  If anything happens to your pets or home while you’re away and it’s the sitters fault, they can file a claim with their insurance company and reimburse you.  Bonding is really more for peace of mind to the client.  The bonding protects the pet sitter and you from loss as a result of theft committed by the sitter, it’s employees or independent contractors.

Do they have a website that you can look at to read testimonials, check out their services and prices and generally get a feel for what they’re like.

Once you’ve chosen a sitter, give them a call.  If you have to leave a message, how long did it take to call you back? They should return your call within 24 hours or less.  If they don’t, move on.  This could be a red flag for disorganization and things can fall through the cracks.

Are they upbeat and positive when you connect on the phone?  Don’t use them if you even sense that they are, what I call, “drama people”.  They should be willing and happy to help you with your pet’s care. 

Do they have established service fees and length of time for the pet care?

If the sitter is a sole proprietor, what is their back up plan if they get sick or can’t get to your home?

How much experience does the sitters have with your type of pet?  I was talking to a potential client about watching her horses.  I’m sure I could have done the job, but I referred her to another sitter that I know does farm animals.  The reason I turned it down was in case the horse had a medical problem that I wasn’t able to detect because I’m not familiar with equine medical issues.

Do they have proper contracts and forms to get all the information they need to care for your pets properly?  They should have forms for Client Information, Pet Information, Vet Release Forms (discuss what happens if your pet has a medical emergency), Contracts spelling out what is and is not expected, and Emergency Contact Information in case the sitter cannot get a hold of you for guidance in making medical or emergency decisions.  They should also leave a report card to let you know how things went.

Most sitters insist on a consultation before the service to meet you and your pets.  To me this is crucial.  This is the point when you can evaluate how the potential sitter interacts with your pets.  If they come in and barely acknowledge your pets, don’t use them.  Sitters are true animal lovers and they should be paying a lot of attention to them.  This also establishes a rapport with your pets so that they feel comfortable with the sitter as well.

They should be willing to give you references. Check them!  Don’t just assume because they give you a few names that they are legit.

Just remember that until you actually hire the sitter, you are under no obligation to use them.  If after meeting them you feel even the least bit unsure, don’t hire them.  This is where you really need to use your gut.  It’s usually right and your pets are relying on you to find a caring sitter to take care of them.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Smart Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting Service

The last two posts about the pet sitting business, educated you about the pros of dog boarding and cons of dog boarding.  Now it’s time to discuss pet services in the clients home.  In home pet services are when the pet sitter goes to the client’s home to take care of their pets and home.  This may include walks, feeding and changing their water, cleaning out the litter box, administering medication and/or injections, playing with them, picking up waste, and anything else the owner wants.  It can also include watering plants, taking in the mail, garbage, turning blinds etc.

Overnight pet services are also included in this category.  Overnight pet services are when the sitter goes to a clients home in the evening and spends the night with their pets. Usually, the owner will let you sleep in a guest bedroom or their own.  If you feel uncomfortable about sleeping in someone’s bed, you can always bring a sleeping bag and sleep on top of the bed.

Phantom lounging on his mommy's bed

For my pet sitting business, I choose to board dogs in my home and do very few in home pet visits.  I prefer to stay at home and not drive all around town.  The only pet visits I do now are ones that I’ve been doing for years as it’s very hard to say no and not to mention that you get attached to the animals.

When I first started out, I tried everything and weeded out what I didn’t like to do.  However, if you decide you don’t want to do a specific service, it’s hard to say no to a client you’ve been servicing for a while.  Getting yourself clear at the beginning will alleviate a lot of stress later.

So, if your still on the fence, here’s the pros and cons of Pet Services and Overnight Pet Visits in the clients home:

Pro’s:

• You get to play with animals all day!  Each home you go to has different animals with all new adventures.

• In home pet visits can be very profitable.  Depending on your rates, you can make hundreds of dollars a day.  For instances, if you charge $20 a visit and have 12 visits a day, that’s $240 a day.  Of course it take years to have a regular clientele that can afford you this many visits.

• You will get plenty of exercising walking dogs and being outdoors is a plus.  9 times out of 10, they will want their dogs walked and that could be a lot of walking!  Of course cats don’t need to be walked.  If you are unable to walk this much, then pet sitting is not for you.

• You can make your own hours.  You establish how early and how late you are willing to perform your duties.

• Variety.  In addition to sitting dogs and cats, there are a number of other animals – Rabbits, birds, hamsters and the other rodent varieties.  Let not forget those reptiles!  If you’re lucky enough to live in a rural area, you can visit farm animals. Of course if you’re afraid of reptiles, you don’t have to do the job.  They are so few and far between, that it won’t affect your bottom.

That's me with a Boa!!

• For Overnight visits you can think of them as mini-vacations.  There’s no laundry or errands to do – Just keep their pets happy.

Con’s:

• Pet Sitting is not for late morning risers.  Depending on the dog’s access to the outside to go potty, you may need to be at your clients home, usually no later than 7:00 am, and let them out at night for a last potty break in the evening around 8:00 or 9:00 pm.  These times will be worked out with the owner at the initial consultation.

• However, many dogs have access to the back yard and cats can be visited at any designated time during the day.  The most common times that people need pet visits is in the morning, sometimes mid day and evening.  Depending on how many visits you have, you’ll have free time in between

• If getting up early in the morning doesn’t appeal to you, you can always specialize in cats or mid day walks, but keep in mind this will limit the amount of your income.

• You will have to do a lot of driving around town.  Know how far you will be willing to drive before you market yourself to a certain area.  You don’t want to drive 20-30 minutes for a 30 minute visit.  That just doesn’t make sense unless you charge a service fee for out of area clients.  This may not apply if you live in rural areas and the homes are spread out.

Whitey the super predator cat!

• Pet sitters work 24/7.  People go on vacation all the time and will need their pets to be looked after on the weekends too.  I have been at social functions and had to leave for ½ hour to do a visit.  It’s only for a short time and people may not even miss that you’re gone, but it’s hard to leave. Once you are with the animals, however, all is well with the world.  They’ll put a smile on your face every time and you won’t miss being somewhere else.  But, if you go away for the weekend a lot, or your children need to travel for sports, this may not work for you.

• If you have an infant or toddler children, you will not be able to take them to the clients homes.  The likely hood for injury is just too great and it would be very unprofessional.  You are there for the clients animals and small children are just too distracting.  You should be the only person entering the clients home.  It’s a business just like any other.

• Exhaustion.  If you’re that busy, hire an employee or Independent Contractor to take up the slack or learn to say NO!  Remember, you got into this because you love animals.  If you’re exhausted, you won’t be able to enjoy yourself.  Pet Sitting has a high burn out rate, so you need to construct your business to your life.  Believe me, it can take over your life in an instant!

• Overnights can be hard if you have children or choose to board dogs in your home.  Seriously talk this over with your significant other to decide if this is something you can live with.  Some overnight assignments can be a week or more.  An overnight here or there may be all you’re willing to do.

I realize that pet sitting sounds like the most fun, awesome job in the world, but it is a business with pros and cons.  Think very carefully before you dive in.  Do you have the time it takes to market yourself?  Do you want to work weekends and holidays?  Talk to other pet sitters (out of your area) and get the real scoop from them.  I’ve had a few calls from people thinking about getting into the business.  We love to help other animal lovers!

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

Waggy’s Eco Pet Products

Waggy’s Pet Sitting Service

Waggy’s Pet Tips and Tales Blog

Holistic Pet Food