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!!

Meet Raider, an 8 year old Lab/Border Collie Mix with Stage 4 Lymphoma . He was only expected to live for 6-8 weeks when diagnosed and it’s been 2 1/2 months.  The owners consider this a miracle and are showering him with love until he passes.

Raider

Due to his Lymph nodes being swollen, his eyes and back side are very red and bulgy and he’s lost 50 pounds in the last 2 months.  He lives on 5 acres and is used to controlling the wildlife on his property.  He can still do all that, but at a much slower pace.

Barring his appearance, you’d never know that he has a terminal illness.  He has a big appetite, still wags his tail all the time and follows me around the house.  He was even trying to get “frisky” with Libby when she came to stay with us.

Raider getting "frisky" with Libby

What really impresses me are the owners two young children and how they accept his illness with grace and love him unconditionally.

Fortunately for Raider, he doesn’t know that the end is near.  Some people may debate that dogs know when their time is coming and I do believe that, but at this stage, I don’t think he’s there yet.

Humans are a very different story.  If we find ourselves in the unfortunate situation to be diagnosed with a terminal illness, we are face with having to deal with that reality and what it would mean to our lives and how we conduct ourselves.

SHOWTIME has a new series called, “The Big C” starring Laura Linney and Oliver Platt in which she is a school teacher diagnosed with terminal Melanoma.  She’s healthy now, but knows that she doesn’t have long on this Earth.  So, she decides not to tell her family and lives life completely on her terms and does whatever she wants.  She kicks her needy husband out of the house and lives life to the fullest.  She does some crazy stuff, but it’s the subtleties of her life that take on new meaning such as the flowers in her garden and spending time with her cranky teenage son. She is joyous and willing to try new things that she dared not do before.  Wouldn’t it be great if we can live that all the time?

Why do we wait until something like a terminal illness wakes us up to live our lives the way we want to?  It’s like the Kris Allen’s song, “Live like you’re dying”. “We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to turn it all around or we throw it all away”.

Raider Relaxing

I believe that we are here to live our truth and to achieve pure joy and love and live in alignment with that truth.  There are many paths to reach this place, but they all are going to the same destination – Spirit, God, Source, Nirvana, Infinite Intelligence, The Universe and for you Star Wars fans, The Force.  Whatever you call it, to reach this destination you must live in accordance with your true and higher self – your divine self.

Think about it, are you living in alignment with your true self??

Are you with the person you truly want to be with?

Are you in the profession or job that you can’t wait to get up for everyday?

Do you treat people with kindness and can you forgive them?

Do you sweat the small stuff?

Do you argue when it just doesn’t matter?

Do you love your friends and family deeply and openly?

Have you put off someone or something waiting for the perfect time that never comes?

I’m still working on all this, but I know that the choices in front of me are limitless – we only have to make the decision to create our amazing life!

What’s the first thing you would do if you knew your time was limited??

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.

Zoey, the Beautiful Springer

At 2:30, I decided to go for a walk with Zoey the beautiful Springer Spaniel, Stella, the cute and feisty Beagle and Roxie the sweet, loving German Shepherd.  After I “saddled” them all up and put in my ear buds, I set out the door for a nice leisurely walk.

Stella, the very protective (of me) Beagle

I was in a peaceful mood and all the dogs were easy walkers.  Believe me, that’s a wonderful thing!  The music that was playing mirrored my mood.  Have you ever noticed  that music has a way of doing that.

A few minutes into our walk, the sun bursts through the clouds and I could feel it beating down on my skin.

Folsom is very well known for its beautiful trails throughout the city, and my home backs up to one of the trails that winds this way through the wetlands.  I decided to cut through the Elementary School field to get to the shadier areas of our walk.

Besides Zoey sniffing at every bush, blade of grass and tree, everything was going great.  All of a sudden the batteries in my radio pooped out and I had to take off my ear buds.  Thank God because there was a gentle breeze blowing through the leaves of the trees which is my absolute favorite sound in the world.  Something about that sound gives me a sense of peace and all is well with the world.

Roxy the Sweet and humanlike Shepherd

About that time, Roxie decides that she wants to stop and rest.  She lays down and I wait for her.  After a while, I join her and sit down on the trail.  Zoey sat down snuggled right beside me and Stella, having to be center of attention, tried to climb on my lap.  So, there we sat – all four of us, in the shade in the middle of the trail just quietly resting and listening to the wind blowing through the trees.  What a site we must have been.

I closed my eyes and said a grateful thank you to the powers that be.

If it wasn’t for my batteries going out, I would have missed this awesome moment.

Zen comes at the most unexpected times.

Have you had a perfect moment of Zen with your best furry buddy?

Road trips can be a fantastic source of fun, recreation, and education, for the entire clan, including Rover.  Most camping facilities accommodate our four-legged family members, and more and more hotels are happy to serve your dog, as well.  If staying at a hotel or motel, you may have restrictions on the size of animal they accept.  And, be prepared to pay an extra fee, or a larger deposit.

For those of you planning to get away even further from home, you may, or may not want to bring Fido along.  Airline restrictions are…well…strict, when it comes to your pet’s travel.  Plus, there are dangers to subjecting your pet to air travel.

For dogs larger than a hamster (ok, I exaggerate a little), they are required to fly in the cargo hold.  This can be an anxiety provoking experience, for even the most well adjusted, and calm animal.  Sedatives are not recommended (and some airlines prohibit their use), because the changes in temperature and elevation, can cause your animal, when sedated, to become disoriented and disabled.   And, in the extreme, can lead to deaths.

Dogs in Cargo Hold

The ASPCA and The Human Society, do not recommend air travel for pets, and airplane travel for some breeds, can be deadly.  This is most prevalent in brachycephalic animals (short-snouted breeds).  Many carriers do not even allow these breeds to travel with them.  Please refer to Trips with pets for more information.

In addition to the stress of a cargo hold, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100.00 (JetBlue) to $250.00 (United) for your pet.  If your pet is small enough to be in the plane with you, that’ll cost you an extra $100.00 – $200.00, depending on airline.  These are base prices, and can increase with dog’s size.

Even if money is no worry, and your pet is not short-snouted, problems arise with dogs in cargo holds.  The most famous story of dog air travel gone wrong, is the escape (and permanent loss) of Vivi, the Westminster Dog Show winning Whippet.  While every airline has statistics of pets lost, Continental Airlines has, by far, the worst record for delivering your pets safely.

Rufus the Boxer

Instead of stressing your pet (and yourself), with the worry of safe air travel, your pet would most certainly be safer and happier with a professional pet sitter.  If your dog is a homebody (or agoraphobic!), you may choose to have a sitter come to your home twice a day, or opt for a live-in pet sitter while you travel.  If Fido is more of a social being, boarding, in an open environment (not caged), is ideal.  Whatever your needs, there is a pet sitter in your area that can meet your needs.

Do you have any travel adventures with the airlines?  We’d love to hear them.  Happy Traveling.

After his heart grew

From the arthritic limp to the sad eyes that are turning white due to cataracts, they bring out the best in me.  Though they may be slower and can’t hear very well, my memories float back to just how feisty she was, or the times I came through the door and she jumped up and down like I was the most awesome person in the world.

Or  the time we took her to the snow and the ice was sticking to her legs, but she just kept running and having a great time.  And all those times when she looked at me with so much love and devotion that I swear I could see into her soul.

It’s these kinds of memories that make me want to give back as much as she gave me.  If I wasn’t boarding dogs, I’d love to foster senior dogs and care for them until they go over the Rainbow Bridge (Get your tissues handy.) It would take a lot of strength to see them pass, and I applaud those wonderful people that care for senior dogs every day.  They are the best of us.

Next time you find yourself wanting to add a new dog to your family, please consider a senior dog.  Click on Senior Dog Rescues to find information and a rescue group near you.

Since they tend to have more medical problems, you can avoid unnecessary Veterinarian bills by feeding them holistic pet food as nutrition is the key to keeping them healthy and happy for years to come.  

My dog Nikki in her last years

Of course you have to be prepared for what medically comes with an older dog such as:

Arthritis

Cataracts or losing their site

Loss of hearing

Graying and coat may become dull

Muscle mass loss

Slowing down,

and other medical conditions.

However, the good far outweigh the bad.  You just needs a little more patience and a whole lot of love.

Please view this video from the Petfinder Foundation to see all the wonderful qualities senior dogs have and they are just waiting for you to take them into your heart!

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.

If you like this blog, please sign up to get new posts as soon as they come out.

My family on vacation in Montana a couple of years ago

What about those pets that can’t board and need  a pet sitter to visit them at their house? Having a plan will save the pet sitter a lot time which gives them more time to have fun with your pets.

Here’s  a few suggestions that can help you prepare your pets and your home.  Most of these topics should be covered in the pet sitting forms you filled out

Planning for your pooch and other creatures

Call your vet ahead of time and leave a credit card number with them just in case of an emergency.  Most reputable pet sitters will have a Vet Release form for you to sign.  The pet sitter will bring this form to the Vet if something should happen to one of your pets.  The Release informs the vet that the sitter has authorization to care for your pets.

Let your pet sitter know where all the shut off valves are for gas, water etc.  If you have a water pipe burst, at least they can shut it off and reduce the damage.

Give the sitter a list of important phone numbers. For instances, a neighbor  – leaving a key with the neighbor is also a good idea, Vet ( this should be with the paperwork), maybe a name of a handyman or electrician, locksmith, and the name of your “emergency contact” should the sitter not be able to get a hold of you.  This too, should be in the paperwork.

Have their favorite toys handy

Provide towels or rags to wipe dirty paws

If your pets are crated, have extra bedding or blankets in case they have an accident.

Put lights on a timer and please leave the front light on. Reptile lights should be on a timer.  The most important light for your sitter is the front porch light.  This is a must for a few reasons:  1) Safety of the sitter.  It makes it harder for “would be” criminals to hide, 2) so the sitter can see the keyhole and not have to fumble with the keys, and 3) it’s really scary to go up to a dark house!  I’ve been freaked out a couple of times.

Leave supplies in one general area. Your kitchen counter is a good place to leave your supplies. This can include a leash, medications (unless they have to be refrigerated), any additional notes, mailbox key, can opener, food and treats, etc.

Have extra supplies on hand.  Sometimes flights are delayed or canceled.  There’s a million reasons why you  may not be able to return when expected.  Always have enough food for the entire service and then a little more.  Same goes for treats and medications.

Make sure the extra key works. Usually when a pet sitter comes to your home, you need to give them a  key to get in.  You don’t want the sitter going to your home and finding out that they can’t get in and the dogs can’t get out!    That’s why you leave a number of a good locksmith – preferably one that works 24/7.

Have caged pet supplies nearby.  If you have a hamster, guinea pig, mouse, bird or any other pet that needs to have their cages cleaned, please have all the bedding, scoops and waste bags near their cage.

Leave cleaning supplies in plain sight.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve searched high and low for either a vacuum cleaner, broom or dust pan.  Please put them where your sitter can easily find them.  If you’re hiring a professional pet sitter all this should be covered in the paperwork.

Notify your alarm company and tell them your pet sitter’s name and the duration they’ll be coming to your home.  Also let your sitter know the password in case the alarm goes off.  The alarm company will call your home to ask for a password to reset the system.  I know this because it’s happened to me.

Make sure your outside sprinklers are properly adjusted and on a timer. If you want your sitter to water potted plants, put them in one area so that the sitter doesn’t have to go around the yard watering.  Remember, this is all time taken away from your pets.

Make sure your pets are wearing all their identification. If you’re using a Citronella bark collar or an electronic collar, make sure they have fresh batteries.

Secure all outside gates and fences. If your pets have access to the backyard, they might get itchy to escape.  Check your fences for holes and make sure the gates are closed and secured properly.

Other little extra tips for your home

Adjust your thermostat to a comfortable temperature for your pets.

Empty all your indoor trash and put in the outside bins.  Your pet sitter should put out the bins on the appropriate trash pickup days.

Put your toilet lids down.  Just saying.

Close all the doors to rooms that are off limits.  It’s also a good idea to close cabinet doors.

Empty out your refrigerator of food that will spoil

If you’re going away for a long period of time, have the Post Office hold the mail for you.  However your pet sitter can get the mail if you chose not to put it on hold.

Have checks ready for your sitter, housekeeper and/or gardener if appropriate.

Close and lock doors and windows

Clean your house and mow the lawn.  I love coming home to a clean home.  A good pet sitter will clean up after herself and pick up your “doggies presents” before she leaves.

I’m sure there are a thousand other things that could be done, but I think this is a good start.  Now that you have a plan, you can have a stress and worry free vacation!

We need your help!

You know that saying by St. Francis of Assisi, “For it is in the giving that we receive”.  Of course I know what that means on the surface, but I never really felt it in my heart until I saw an episode of “Undercover Boss”.  The premise of the show is the CEO of a big corporation goes undercover and takes a job with the everyday people working in the trenches.  While doing this, he gets to know them and what their dreams are and their ideas to make the company and their jobs better.

In the end, he reveals himself to the employees.  There was one man that had always wanted to go to a certain school (I can’t exactly remember the school), but was too financially strapped to ever imagine this could come true.  The CEO surprised him with a leave of absence and a full ride to that school.  Not only that, his job would be waiting for him when he returned.  The look of pure gratitude, happiness and relief brought me to tears in a wonderful, happy way.  It was as if he was drowning and was thrown a lifesaver.

In that moment, I really grasped what St. Francis was saying to us.  That awesome feeling of bringing so much joy to another human being felt so good that it’s almost like a selfish act.

Why am I telling you this story?  Because I want to encourage you to pay it forward to our animals in need.  Helping those that have no voice,  the beaten, the battered and the neglected.

My own dream for the future is to create a foundation to raise funds for animal shelters and rescues.  Right now a portion of the proceeds from Waggy’s online store will go to this effort.

If you feel deeply about animals, here’s how you can help:

Volunteer your time to an animal organization that you feel strongly about.  Get involved and help with fundraising efforts, walk dogs, clean out kennels – anything that helps out their cause.

Connect on Facebook and other social media outlets.  There are thousands of people working night and day to help out rescue animals.  Google for media sites that are specifically geared toward animals.

Get involved in animal advocacy or legislation. Get people to sign petitions offline and online, campaign for causes, make phone calls.  If you pick a cause that you really feel strong about, it will be easy to explain your side to people and get them to join your cause.

Start your own non-profit.  2 Hands 4 Paws (her website was hacked, so this URL is from Volunteer Match) was started by Maureen Gendron in Rhode Island to give temporary housing to pets that have been affected by the housing crisis.  She is looking for families to house these pets while their owners get back on their feet and find a permanent home.  In my pet sitting business, I get many calls asking for this very thing, but we’re not set up to do that and it would cost the owner too much.  However, I’d love to start something like 2 Hands 4 Paws.

Donate your money.  If times doesn’t allow you to volunteer for the organization of your choice or cause, I’m sure they will gladly accept your money.

Become a pet sitter.  Of course this isn’t like volunteering for a shelter, but you are helping pets feel safe, secure and loved while their owners are away.  You can’t imagine how much unconditional love you get sitting dogs and cats.  Basically, that’s my selfish pleasure.

If you’re looking for something more globally, check out Charity Navigator to find just the right cause that’s dear to your heart.

You’ll never get more as when you give of your heart.

Chris L Wagner

From One Pet Lover to Another

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

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