Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Pet Parent Post

New Website for Paws & Kisses

2012-01-01T13:13:00.000-05:00

We finally took the time over the holidays to redesign and update the Paws & Kisses website. We think it looks good, even if we do say so ourselves! New features include a 'Resources' page, which provides information and links to various pet care and pet adoption sites that we have found useful. Also, there is now a Smilebox slideshow of some of the Paws & Kisses clients and our own PAK spokesdogs. Check it out and let us know what you think.

The domain name remains the same: http://www.pawsandkissessitting.com/

Dog of the Month for January 2012

2011-12-22T00:02:00.002-05:00

While we were visiting a local animal shelter to drop off some Presents 4 Pets donations, we ran into this adorable senior pug. She was sitting in a cage looking lost and lonely. Poor Winnie found herself at the shelter for the second time in her life. She was found as a stray when she was about 3 years old. Then she was adopted by a nice man who gave her a good home for 7 years, until he lost his home. Then Winnie found herself at the shelter for a second time. Now 10 years old, poor Winnie did not stand much of a chance of adoption, as it is difficult to place senior dogs. Well, we fell in love with her at first sight and just could not bear to leave her there for one minute longer, so she came home with us that evening! She is now enjoying her golden years in a loving home with her three other furry siblings. She has already commandered the most comfortable spot on the couch - and says she has no plans to give it up!

Check out the slideshow of Winnie the Rescue Dog!

Create your own free digital slideshow

Presents 4 Pets Campaign Slideshow

2011-12-21T23:04:00.001-05:00

Check out the slideshow of our 2011 Presents 4 Pets campaign!

Click here to learn how to support the 2012 P4P campaign.

This free slideshow design made with Smilebox

Presents 4 Pets Campaign Success!

2011-12-06T11:07:00.002-05:00

A big thank you to all PAK clients and the local community for helping us to collect over $ 4,500.00 worth of pet care products for donation to local animal shelters and rescue groups during the 2011 Presents 4 Pets campaign !

Items collected include over 500 lbs of dry dog food, 200 lbs of cat litter, over 250 dog toys, over 50 boxes of treats, more than 100 cans of dog and cat food and dozens and dozens of collars, leashes, grooming products, beds, towels, blankets and more.

With pet populations at local shelters at an all time high, and funding falling, it is harder and harder for shelters to meet the needs of all the pets that need new homes. That is where we (and you) help out. Each year, our donations are gladly received and used to help homeless animals have a more comfortable life.

I received a letter from a small municipal shelter after last year's campaign thanking me for providing over 150 lbs of dry dog food in November. The shelter manager said that they had run out of funding in September and wouldn't get any additional money from the city until January. The shelter staff had been buying food to feed the dogs from their own pockets! Needless to say, they were also very grateful for the treats, toys, bedding, collars and leashes that we provided, as well, as they were having enough trouble just feeding the animals, let alone having any left over for 'extras'!

We have disbursed about 40 % of the donated items and plan to distribute the rest in the coming weeks. Thanks again to all who so generously contributed, helping make life a little brighter at the holiday season for homeless animals and their dedicated care givers working at local shelters and with animal rescue groups.

Pet of the Month - November

2011-11-09T16:06:00.001-05:00

The Pet of the Month for November is Olivia. Olivia is a little firebrand who is the 'spoiled little sister' of her family. She gets her way - always. She loves to tease the other dogs, who are older than her. Much of the time, they give her weary looks as if to say, "Please leave me alone and find something to do to amuse yourself - I am not going to play with you all the time!" She loves to lay on the arms or backs of the furniture, which is OK most of the time. Once in a while, if she moves while deep asleep and forgets she is on such a narrow perch, she slides off! Then she looks around as if to say, "I meant to do that!" She loves to share a Chai with her mom in the morning. In fact, if mom is a little slow in putting some in a bowl for her, she will give a little growl to remind her not to forget and drink it all before giving her some. Such a sweetie!

Professional Pet Photography

2011-11-09T15:47:00.004-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Rick DelVecchio, an avid animal lover and professional pet photographer. I was impressed with his dedication to animals and the quality of his work, so I asked him if he would be interested in a plug on this blog, so here goes . . .

Rick DelVecchio Photography specializes in on-location pet photography and dog show photography in Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. For most of my professional career, pets have been my ONLY business. That unique dedication to one photographic subject has helped me develop a unique style and bond with animals. As a lifelong animal lover, professional photographer since 1999, and the current owner of two crazy Golden Retrievers, I understand the special love all owners have for their "furry family members". I will work with you and your pet to capture an image you can treasure. For your pet portrait sessions you can choose natural light, candid, indoor or outdoor portraits or in-home studio style portraits designed to best capture your pet's personality. I bring the studio to you in CT, NY or MA! I am also available for special breeder sessions (at your location or during competitions) and pet product commercial photography, to create powerful advertising and promotional images.

To reach Rick call (203) 583-1440 or email him at rick@delvecchiophotography.com

To check out more samples of his work, visit his website http://www.delvecchiophotography.com/

Mention you were referred by Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting and receive a discount!

Local Dog Parks - Shelton & Stratford

2011-11-09T15:40:00.002-05:00

I recently attended the very first meeting of the Friends of Stratford Dog Park as a guest speaker to talk about the success of the Shelton Dog Park. As a committee member on the Shelton city dog park planning committee and current chairperson of The Friends of Shelton Dog Park, I was asked by the Stratford Friends to provide a perspective concerning the planning and implementation of a successful dog park project.

I was impressed with this enthusiastic group, which is actively working to gain approval for a dog park in Stratford. I wish them the best of luck!

For more information about the Shelton Dog Park, please visit the Friends website at http://www.fosdogpark.org/.

For more information about the efforts regarding obtaining a dog park in Stratford, contact Carissa at 203-685-6756 or email her at carissa.mason@yahoo.com.

Pet of the Month - October

2011-10-06T18:06:00.001-04:00

Minnie is our Pet of the Month for October. Minnie is a rescue from Puerto Rico. She was found living under a trailer on a construction site near the beach with her five puppies. She and all of the puppies were rescued by a dedicated group of volunteers to fostered them, got them the veterinary treatment they needed, and then arranged for them to travel to New England to find new homes.

Minnie is your typical 'beach bum'. She likes to lay around and sleep, then get up to eat, then lay around and sleep some more. Preferrably in a sunbeam, if not in direct sunlight. There is no such thing as 'too hot' for Minnie. Minnie has been 'in country' for over three years, but I don't think she is used to the cold yet. Nor will she ever be. The fall finds her sporting a range of t-shirts to help keep her warm. When the winter arrives, she has a full range of sweaters and fleeces to help hold in body heat - even in the house!

Business Facebook Page

2011-09-26T18:44:00.000-04:00

Paws and Kisses now has a business Facebook page. We have posted lots of pictures, events, etc. to this page and will continue to do so. Please take the time to 'Like' us on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/Pawsandkisses

Emergency Planning

2011-08-31T14:08:00.001-04:00

To all Paws & Kisses Clients:

Hurricane Irene has us all thinking of natural distasters and other emergency events and wondering what would happen to our pets in the event that the worst happens. I have attached a link to the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, of which Paws & Kisses is a member, which contains two great documents to help pet owners make emergency plans for their pets. Both documents can be found on their home page. I encourage you to take the time to read and print the documents and make contingency plans for your pets in the event of a natural disaster.

Also, before traveling and leaving your pets in our care, please take the time to let us know of your emergency planning strategy. Rest assured that we will do our best to care for your pets while you are away, whatever the weather, and will work to ensure that your pets are safe and cared for until your return. However, there are some things we ask you to consider and plan for when traveling.

Prepare an emergency kit containing the following: pet food and water to last for 14 days, a pet carrier, a leash and collar (dogs only), 14 days supply of your pet's medications, copies of your pet's current vaccinations, a form providing all of your pet's vital information, feeding schedule, routine, disposition, pet photo and your contact information, etc. Please let Paws & Kisses know the location of your emergency kit, in case an emergency occurs while you are away and we are caring for your pets. Please note: It is adviseable to create and maintain a pet emergency kit whether or not your are traveling, as you never know when an emergency can happen.
Please ensure that your pets are properly vaccinated, so that in the event your home is uninhabitable due to a natural disaster, they will be accepted into a local pet boarding, vet, or other emergency shelter location. Dogs must be current on rabies, distemper and bordatella vaccines, while cats must be current on rabies and distember. Proof of vaccination is required.

Alternatively, please ensure you have made arrangements for an alternate pet guardian to take your pets into their home until you return. This can be a friend, neighbor or family member. Please ensure that Paws and Kisses has their names and contact information.

Please ensure your pets carry ID. A collar tag is acceptable, however, these can get lost or broken, especially in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency situtation, so a microchip is recommended, for both cats and dogs. If you do have your pet microchipped, please ensure the chip number is located in your emergency kit.
In the event of a snowstorm occurring while you are away on vacation, Paws & Kisses staff must be able to park in your driveway and be able to safely navigate the path to your house. Please plan ahead and engage the services of a neighbor or snow removal company to plough your drive and shovel your walks while you are away.
Please make a list containing the names and contact information of the companies you wish contacted in the event of a household emergency such as frozen pipes or a failed heating system.

We hope that the above information helps you in your emergency planning efforts. Rest assured, Paws & Kisses stands ready to assist our clients to care for their pets in any emergency situation, and will work with you to ensure they are happy, healthy and safe.

Sincerely,

Paws & Kisses

Pet of the Month - September

2011-08-31T13:35:00.001-04:00

This month, we are celebrating the birthday of our Office Manager and Spokesdog, Gizmo, so we made an executive decision to make him the Paws and Kisses Pet of the Month. Of course, Gizmo was barking his approval of this idea at the time . . .

Gizmo is now a venerable 12 years old, but he hasn't yet started to slow down too much! His eyes are still bright, there is a bounce in his step, and he handles his Paws and Kisses duties (and general canine duties) just fine, thank you very much!

He is definitely the alpha dog in our canine family and he maintains his position with a firm paw (or a well-placed growl). He loves his sibling dogs, though, and would do anything for them . . . except share his chewie . . .

He loves to go for walks in the neighborhood. He leaves his 'calling card' on every tree, bush, telephone pole, etc. that he can find, just so everydog in the neighborhood knows that 'Gizmo was here'.

He also loves to go for rides in the car. Several of our friends own shops in the local area, and Gizmo is always welcome. In fact, he gets treated like a rock star when he arrives . . . leaving me feeling like his 'roadie'! He has a leather motorcycle jacket that he loves to wear on our jaunts, and he really struts his stuff when he is wearing it (and even when he isn't)!

Gizmo is a rescue, whom we adopted when he was about 4 years old. He was found wandering the streets of Brooklyn and taken to a high-kill shelter in the city, where he was rescued by a dedicated team from ARF (Animal Rescue Force), an all-volunteer rescue group based in New Jersey. We adopted Gizmo from ARF after he was returned by another adopter due to behavior issues. We worked with him and he overcame those issues and is now just the best behaved boy in the world (in our biased opinion).

Happy Birthday Gizmo!

Paws & Kisses is Excited to Announce a New Staff Member

2011-08-17T22:48:00.000-04:00

Lisa Spinelli has lived in the Valley her whole life, and has had dogs for as long as she can remember. As a child, Lisa would often bring home stray dogs and other animals. Lisa is currently the proud pet parent to six dogs, including an English Springer Spaniel, a Pug/Chihuahua mix and 4 Dachshunds. Lisa also shares her home with two birds: a Yellow Nape Amazon and a Cockatiel.

Sharing her home with multiple pets all her life has given Lisa a breadth of experience in caring for furred and feathered beings. Lisa's friends and family often turn to her for help and advice on pet care issues. She has helped several rescue dogs stay in their adopted homes by providing behavioral training to both the dogs and their humans.

Lisa and her family own several local businesses, including Valley Floor Service, LLC and VP Printing, both based in Ansonia. However, Lisa's passion lies with her furred and feathered friends. She is extremely excited to begin a career in pet-sitting and cannot wait to share her compassion for animals with others.

Shelton Dog Park Update

2011-08-12T10:49:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone, Just a few updates on happenings at the Shelton Dog Park.

The Pug Party has resumed and meets each Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the small dog park. Pugs and other pug-size dogs are welcome to come along and socialize - and to bring their human companions, who can do the same!
The next Learn to Speak Dog Workshop will be held Sunday, August 28th at 2 p.m. in the large dog park. Come along for this great workshop, facilitated by certified animal trainer Peg Demaine, of Training for the Polite Pooch. Peg will help you to understand what your dog is saying with his body language and vocalizations.
The Friends of Shelton Dog Park have an information table at the Concerts on the Huntington Green each Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Bring your family (human and canine) along to meet us and to listen to some great music! The Friends is offering face painting for the kids, as well!
The next Work Party will be held Saturday, August 20th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers are needed to help us maintain and improve the park. At this work party, we will be spreading mulch, gardening, cleaning and improving the memorial bricks and more. Tools needed to make this work party a success include: rakes, shovels and a wheelbarrow.
The next Friends meeting will be held on Thursday, August 18th at 7:00 p.m. at the Shelton Rec Center. Please join us as we discuss current and future plans.

For more information about the Dog Park and the Friends volunteers that work to support it, please visit the website at fosdogpark.org

Staff Changes

2011-08-01T12:51:00.001-04:00

Paws & Kisses announces the departure of Mae Elliott as a staff member. Mae loved our animal clients and did a great job with them all. We will miss her and wish her will in her future endeavors. Good luck, Mae!

Pet of the Month - August

2011-07-29T19:54:00.001-04:00

Ozzie and Jovi are two of the cutest dogs you have ever seen. They are so friendly and loving and just a joy to be around!

Ozzie, who is an American Eskimo, is a dignified gentleman. He is a good listener and just loves to be petted.

Jovi is a bouncy Siberian Husky puppy with lots of energy, who just loves to play and run! You have to hold on tight to her leash, or she will be off running the first chance she gets!

They are lovely dogs and very popular with the Paws & Kisses staff.

Pet of the Month - July

2011-06-22T11:42:00.000-04:00

Gucci is a very sweet dog. He is a Cocker Spaniel who is always very well turned out and impeccably groomed, just as you would expect of someone with such a fashionable name! He is very affectionate and just LOVES to have his belly rubbed. He has great manners and loves his walks. He is a rather picky eater, although treats go down well at any time. All the staff at Paws and Kisses think Gucci is a real gentleman!

Pet of the Month - June

2011-06-03T11:37:00.000-04:00

Gus and Gidget are two little cuties. They are brother and sister and are really inseparable. Gidget is the 'brains' of the operation, and Gus usually just goes along with her plans.

They both love to spend time outside. They get along very well with other dogs, and just adore to run and play with them - and, if no other dogs are around, with each other!

Friends of Shelton Dog Park First Work Party

2011-05-12T00:46:00.000-04:00

Make a photo slideshow

Check out the slideshow of the very first work party of The Friends of Shelton Dog Park! We had more than a dozen volunteers all working hard to help maintain and beautify the park. If you haven't visited the park yet, bring your dog for a barking good time! The park is located on the corner of Nells Rock Road and Route 108 in Shelton, CT. Visit the Friends on the web.

Paws and Kisses Receives Award

2011-05-03T14:11:00.001-04:00

Paws and Kisses is proud to announce that they are the recipient of the Gold Level Award for their 2010 Presents 4 Pets (P4P) campaign. This award is presented each year by The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), the sponsors of the Presents 4 Pets campaign.

By the end of their 2010 P4P campaign, Paws and Kisses had collected pet care items totaling over $ 7,000.00 and distributed them to over a dozen local animal shelters and rescue groups.

This was the highest total of any pet sitting company that participated in the P4P campaign. There were over 50 companies participating in the event, spread across the country.

Paws and Kisses is proud to continue to support this worthy cause and is honored to recieve this award. Thanks to all clients and members of the community who donated and worked to make our local P4P campaign such a success!

Stay tuned for details of the 2011 campaign . . .

Pet of the Month - May

2011-05-03T13:59:00.002-04:00

Frisbee-loving Sam is our pet of the month for May. Sam is beautiful Golden Retriever, who just LOVES to play - with just about any toy, but especially Frisbees!

He lives with his two furry siblings in a great house, with a large back yard - great for chasing Frisbees . . .

He also loves his treats - and sometimes they are the only thing that will get him to come inside, if he is having too much fun with (you guessed it) his Frisbee.

The Paws and Kisses staff all love Sam and his furry companions, as they are all such sweet, loving and playful dogs.

Staff News

2011-04-18T16:37:00.002-04:00

The Paws and Kisses family is undergoing both change and growth (in more ways than one)...

Sarah Murrell, one of our dedicated staff members, is due to deliver her own (human) baby in just 3 weeks. We congratulate her and wish her the best of luck with her very first non-fur baby! Sarah says she will miss the PAK clients and plans on coming back to work on a limited basis in a couple of months, or sooner, if all goes well.

We welcome a new staff member, Mary Anne Elliott (known as Mae) to the PAK staff. Mae will not only be taking over Sarah's sits, but also helping us with new clients, as PAK continues to grow. If you ask anyone who knows Mae, they will tell you they call her the 'dog lady'. This is not only because she has a dozen of her own dogs, but also because of her experience with rescue dogs, both fostering those who need homes, and volunteering at a number of area animal shelters. Mae says that she loves working with dogs and when the opportunity arises she attends seminars and lectures pertaining to dog behavior and training. She has been doing dog rescue since 1998. She is a past board member of the rescue group, "For the Love of Dog". She still volunteers with this group, which focuses on Rotties and Pit Bulls. Mae currently volunteers with the New Haven Animal Shelter and is also a member of and involved with Bernese Mountain Dog rescue through the New England area club. Mae is also a certified dog trainer. She uses her skills to help teach volunteers at local animal shelters how to control and train the animals in their care. Mae is also certified in Pet First Aid and CPR by the Pet Tech Institute.

We welcome Mae to the PAK staff and feel that she will be a huge asset the business. As always, Mae will be thoroughly trained with each individual client prior to completing sits on her own.

If you are a current daily walk client and would like to meet Mae, please give us a call and we will arrange for her to visit with you and your pups.

Pet of the Month - April

2011-04-18T16:20:00.000-04:00

Bailey is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and just the sweetest boy you ever want to meet! He is a favorite of the PAK staff, and he loves them right back.

Bailey is a big boy and very strong, too, but he loves his belly rubs, just like dogs of any size.

Long walks are a favorite with Bailey - rain or shine, he doesn't care, as long as gets to sniff his way around the neighborhood. Like most dogs, Bailey loves his treats (and his food) and is not shy about asking for them. He will put his head on the kitchen counter (yes, he is tall enough to do this) and just stare at the treat box inches from his nose. It is as if he is saying "Hey, dumb human, how about shaking some treats out of this box for me? Like now?! So cute!

Paws and Kisses Going Green

2011-03-29T19:17:00.005-04:00

Effective April 1st, Paws and Kisses will endeavor to help the environment by no longer automatically printing paper copies of client invoices. Clients will continue to get a full and complete copy of their invoice via e-mail, as always. However, unless requested, paper copies will no longer be supplied. This will not only help to save some trees, but also help to save time and energy, as it will negate the need to print new invoices each time a service is added or changed.

If you wish to continue to receive a paper copy of your invoice, please give us a call at 203-922-2643 or e-mail Mandy atarianowl@yahoo.com and we will be happy to provide one.

Thanks for your continued help and understanding!

Sincerely,

Paws and Kisses Staff

An Eco-Friendly Tip: An ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will save about $30 over its lifetime and pay for itself in about 6 months. One CFL bulb uses 75 percent less energy and lasts about 10 times longer than an average incandescent bulb.

Spring Has Sprung!

2011-03-24T19:16:00.001-04:00

Fleas and Ticks . . . oh My!

The warmer weather brings with it a spike in the fleas and tick populations. Now is the time to resume applications a good quality flea and tick preventative. A topically applied product such as Frontline, Biospot or Advantix is a good choice. Frontline is available by prescription only, from your vet, while Biospot and Advantix can be purchased at most pet shops, including H3 Pet Supply, located at 350 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton.

Some quick facts:

Make sure the preventative you choose works to kill fleas during each stage of their life cycle. Cheaper products only kill adult fleas. If fleas are present, they will most likely be in all life stages, so in order to break the cycle, they must all be killed.
Do not use a dog flea medication (or shampoo) on a cat or vice versa. The formulations and chemicals used for dogs and cats are very different. Using the wrong one can cause serious illness to your pet!
When you come in from a walk with your dog, check him (and yourself) thoroughly for ticks. It usually takes 24 or more hours of attachment for a tick to transmit most of the common tick-bourne illnesses, so vigilance and early removal will reduce the risk.
The ticks that transmit Lyme Disease are small deer ticks, about the size of the head of a pin. If you detect one and pull it off (of yourself or your pet), you can bring it to your vet for testing. This way, you can take proactive measures if the tick is found to have the disease.
Even cats that do not have access to the outside can get fleas. This is especially true if you also have dogs, as the dogs can bring them in from the outside, where they can transfer to your kitties. Humans can also bring fleas and ticks into the household on their cloths.
Now is also the time to ensure your pets are current with their Heartworm preventative. Heartworm medication should be administered monthly and is available from your vet. Several local cases of this serious illness have recently been diagnosed, so please ensure to protect your furry friend from this illness by administering preventative medication.

Dog Biscuit Party a Success!

2011-03-15T18:17:00.000-04:00

Thanks to everyone, both human and canine, who attended the Dog Biscuit Party on March 12, 2011 at H3 Pet Supply! The event was a huge success. We gave away over 100 bags of dog biscuits, totaling almost 40 lbs. We also had two very excited winners of gift baskets, valued at over $ 75.00 each. Several of our regular client dogs visited with us (with their pet parents, of course). We also met lots of great new friends (both human and canine). Thanks again for joining us as we celebrated our third anniversary in business.

Paws and Kisses Celebrates its 3rd Anniversary With a Dog Biscuit Party!

2011-03-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

The month of March 2011 marks the 3rd anniversary of Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting Service, LLC. A local, family-owned business, Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting proudly celebrates this special occasion and honors the past three years of challenges, growth and community support.

As a thank you to the pet loving community for their support over the past 3 years, Paws & Kisses will be hosting a Dog Biscuit Party on Saturday, March 12^th, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at H3 Pet Supply, located at 350 Bridgeport Avenue, Shelton, CT. There will be a ‘Biscuit Bag’ giveaway, along with refreshments for both humans and canines. The 25^th person to collect a Biscuit Bag will receive a Pet Care Gift Basket valued at over $ 40.00. Join us for this fun event!

Services include: pet sitting for dogs, cats, birds, fish, reptiles and small animals, dog walking and exercising, pet taxi services for trips to the vet, groomer, etc., overnight stays, plant watering, mail collection, holiday or vacation care, and special care for young, elderly and sick animals. Paws & Kisses is licensed and is fully bonded and insured for all services offered. All Paws & Kisses staff are knowledgeable, trained professionals and are certified in Pet First Aid & CPR. Paws & Kisses is also a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, Inc.

“Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting, LLC is committed to offering top-notch service to families and their beloved pets,” said Mandy Oram, owner of Paws & Kisses. “We offer customized care designed to meet the needs of both humans and their animal companions.”

“Mandy and her staff do an amazing job of taking care of your little ones. We feel they enjoy her visits and it gives us great peace of mind. We would highly and unquestionably recommend her.” cited one current client. Others provide similar glowing references to the quality and professionalism of Paws & Kisses staff.

The owners and staff at Paws and Kisses are grateful for the support of the pet loving community in the local area. Over the past 3 years, you have helped us to grow from 1 to 5 employees, serving almost 200 furry clients. We look forward to providing our top-notch services to even more furry clients (and their humans) in the future!

Pet of the Month - March 2011

2011-02-24T17:06:00.001-05:00

Molly is a very cute kitty, who just loves to give and receive affection! It took her a little while to decide that we were OK, as she can be a bit shy. Once she discovered that we are happy to provide lots of pets . . . and treats, she quickly warmed up!

She now comes out right away whenever we arrive, looking for her attention. She tolerates us taking the time to do the chores, such as cleaning the litterbox and putting down fresh food and water, but then 'demands' her 'pet me' time!

We love all our kittie clients, but Mollie holds a special place in our hearts.

Visit Us on Yelp!

2011-02-24T16:45:00.001-05:00

Paws & Kisses is now listed on Yelp!, the social networking site for businesses and those who use them. It is a great site with information about and reviews of thousands of businesses, both local and national.

We would love to hear from our clients on Yelp! about how Paws & Kisses benefits them. Please take the time to visit us on Yelp! and to write a review of our services. Thanks!

Pets of the Month - February 2011

2011-01-31T17:18:00.001-05:00

HARRY & FRANKIE

Harry & Frankie, aka 'The Babies' are two of our very favorite doggie friends. The PAK staff all love them, as well. Bill and I have known them since they were puppies and consider ourselves their Dog-Aunt and Uncle. In fact 'Uncle' Bill is just about Harry's favorite person in the whole world! Harry gives Bill a real 'rock star' greeting whenever he visits and he will even sleep on Bill's lap in the evening - not an honor he bestows freely. When I told Bill that Harry won't usually sleep on my lap, Bill asked me if I sing to him. I said no. He said, well, there you go - Harry loves to have someone sing to him! I'll have to remember that . . . Frankie just LOVES to have her belly rubbed and is quick to roll over whenever she sees you - on the off chance that a belly rub is coming her way. They both love treats and will come running and then sit and wait (relatively) patiently whenever a treat is on the way. They are both such characters . . . and so cute!

Winter Weather

2011-01-31T17:05:00.000-05:00

As everyone knows, we are experiencing the worst winter weather we have seen in decades. This has created difficulties for everyone - and their pets! My poor dogs have pathways all around our yard that we have shovelled out for them, but they want to run free! Not possible when the snow is way over their heads. The weather also affects our clients, as well as our pet sitters. If we all work together, we can get through this and the spring will come . . . I hope! Please know that, in the event of severe weather, we will always make every effort to visit all our pet clients. However, we must also consider the safety of our pet sitters and the pets themselves. Having said this, here are some PAK weather policies:

ACCESS - Please ensure that your driveway and paths are ploughed/shoveled, so that our pet sitters can safely access your house.
ICE - Please ensure that all icy drives and paths are treated with pet safe de-icer, or cat litter/sand to help reduce the risk of slipping.
ALTERNATE ENTRANCE - If there is a shorter and/or safer way to access your house during poor weather, please let us know and provide us with access to it (keys, code, etc.).
DOG POTTIES - Dogs will need a place to do their business. Please clear an area in close proximity to the house for our sitters to walk your dogs.
VACATION CLIENTS - Please plan ahead and make arrangements with your plough company or a neighbor to plough/shovel your driveway and paths in the event of snow. If our sitters must shovel to either leave or gain access to your pets, there will be an additional charge.

Above all, lets all try to stay safe, warm and dry during this record-breaking winter!

Sincerely,

The Paws & Kisses Team

January Pet of the Month

2011-01-02T16:14:00.000-05:00

The Paws and Kisses Pet of the Month for January is Charlie. Charlie is a 5 month old puppy with a truly great personality! He just loves everyone he meets and is so full of life and energy it can be hard to keep up with him!

He is a very smart boy and learns new games and training commands very quickly. Of course . . . he would rather play ball than 'work' on training!

All of the staff at Paws and Kisses have a special place in their hearts for Charlie!

Presents 4 Pets 2010 Campaign Success!

2011-01-02T16:06:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Paws and Kisses clients and the local community, the Southern CT Presents 4 Pets Campaign collected over $ 7,000 worth of pet care items for donation to local animal shelters and rescue groups in 2010! Items donated included over 500 lbs of dog food, over 350 lbs of cat food, almost 300 lbs of cat litter, over 250 pet toys, over 400 towels and blankets and many more items, such as crates and carriers, grooming supplies, collars and leashes, treats, beds, coats, etc., etc.! The items were donated to local shelters, including: the Shelton, Stratford, Ansonia, Milford and Bridgeport Animal Control Facilities, SARAH Handicapped Animal Rescue, Bridgeport Avenue Cat Rescue, Stratford Cat Project and more. All of the shelters and rescue groups were extremely grateful and said that the donations would help them ensure the animals in their care have an extra-special holiday season. We created a slideshow of the campaign! Click the Play button below to view it.

This free slideshow customized with Smilebox

Festival of Trees

2010-12-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

Paws & Kisses was a proud participant in the 2010 Festival of Trees, held in support of the Echo Hose Fire Department.

There were over 30 trees and a multitude of other prizes at the event, all donated by local businesses and civic organizations. The donations were raffled off on Saturday, December 4th, at a well-attended and well-received Open House, held at Apple Rehab - Shelton Lakes in Shelton.

The Paws & Kisses tree had pride of place as the only tree at the entrance to the event, right next to Santa! The event organizer told Mandy that the Paws & Kisses tree was just so beautiful that he didn't want to spoil the effect by adding another tree next to it!

The Paws & Kisses tree was decorated with a dog and cat them, with dog bones, toys and treats, as well as cat toys all over it. There were also several pet related presents under the tree, including a dog toy gift bag and a cat scratching post. Altogether a great tree for an animal lover! The bidding on the tree was intense and a very happy winner took the tree and presents home at the end of the day.

Presents 4 Pets Campaign

2010-12-08T16:40:00.005-05:00

This year's Presents 4 Pets Campaign concluded with a bang last week, as we made the final deliveries of pet care items to the animal shelters and rescue groups chosen as recipients of this year's collection. Donations of pet care items and/or a monetary amount were made to the following shelters and rescue groups: the Stratford, Milford, Ansonia, Shelton and Bridgeport Animal Control Facilities, Pups Without Parters (greyhound rescue), SARAH (handicapped dog rescue), Our Companions Domestic Animal Shelter, Pound Hounds Shelter, 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue, Stratford Cat Project, Bridgeport Avenune Cat Project and Pet Protectors.

Thanks to our clients and the involvement of the local community, we were able to collect pet care items valued at over $ 7,000.00 during the 2010 campaign. Items collected included over 1,000 lbs of dog food, about 200 lbs of cat food, 300 lbs of cat litter, more than 250 pet toys, at least 100 collars and leashes, and a multitude of treats, litterboxes, crates, grooming tools, towels, blankets and pet beds. It took a total of 6 full Honda Element loads to deliver all of the donated items! And that's not including the items given to rescue groups who collected the donations from our storage area. Amazing!

We felt like Santa 'Paws' as we made the deliveries . . . and the shelter staff at each shelter certainly agreed! The shelter staff were so grateful for the donations and asked me to pass along their thanks to all who donated, as the donations will help them to make the lives of the homeless animals in their care a bit brighter this holiday season. Thanks again to all who participated in this year's Presents 4 Pets Campaign! Stay tuned for details of the 2011 campaign, to be distributed in early 2011!

Dogs of the Month

2010-11-12T09:39:00.000-05:00

Gus & Gidget are two of the cutest little dogs you can imagine. They are Shih Tzu's and are brother and sister. The sister, Gidget, is, of course, the brains of the operation. Gus does what she tells him to (which sometimes keeps him out of trouble, but other times get him in it!).

They are very well behaved (except when they aren't . . . .). They love to play with each other and with other dogs. They will run and tussle with even the biggest dogs. The staff at Paws and Kisses just loves these two sweethearts!

Howl-oween Charity Event

2010-10-28T18:45:00.000-04:00

The 2010 Howl-oween Charity Event, held in support of Presents 4 Pets, was a HUGE success! We had over 900 human and over 250 canine attendees, who all enjoyed the activities and wonderful fall weather.

The dog shows were very popular, and the judge tells me he had a really hard time choosing the winners in each category! The vendors had great displays of products and pet care information, the food, provided by FireDog and Mama's Peirogies, was great and the Chinese Auction was extremely popular!

With the support of the Howl-oween Charity Event Attendees and the local community, the 2010 Presents 4 Pets campaign collected donations and pet care items totaling over $ 7,000.00 for donation to local animal shelters and rescue groups. A BIG THANK YOU TO PAK CLIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN HELPING US TO HELP HOMELESS ANIMALS IN OUR COMMUNITY!

Renowned Local Artist Captures the Essence of Companion Animals in His Pet Portraits

2010-09-21T11:28:00.006-04:00

Would you like to have a professional portrait painting of your beloved pets? Then the man for you is Howard Aaron, a local artist and animal lover with a great skill in capturing the essence and personality of pets in his artwork.

An Easton resident, Aaron discovered the joy of painting in watercolors at the age of 50. Although Mr. Aaron is primarily self-taught, he has taken watercolor, landscape, and advanced painting courses at The Silvermine Guild School of Art. His commissioned portraits and landscapes, both watercolor and graphite, are represented in private, corporate, and institutional collections in 9 states.

He is a member of the Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists, the Fairfield Arts Council, the Fairfield County Arts Association, the Art Society of Old Greenwich, and is a founding member of the Easton Arts Council.

In August 2010 his entry was awarded first prize for watercolor by juror/judge Simon Dinnerstein NA at the Art Society of Old Greenwich open juried show. In May 2009 his entry received an Honorable Mention award at the Bradley-Hubbell House Regional Juried show. His portraits received the Peoples Choice Award, by vote of show attendees, at both the 2007 CSOPA Faces of Spring and the 2004 CSOPA Faces of Summer shows. In September 2005 his entry was the recipient of the blue ribbon Dowling Group Ltd Purchase Award from the Old Greenwich Art Society, a choice from over 570 entries. In September 2006 the same group awarded his landscape third prize for watercolor.

To view more of his work, please visit his website at http://www.aaron-art.com/. You can contact Howard Aaron to discuss your pet portrait, by calling him at 203-374-0705 or via e-mail at portrait@aaron-art.com.

If you decide to commission a painting from Mr. Aaron, please mention the Paws and Kisses blog as your referral source. Thanks!

Our Office Manager - Gizmo

2010-09-09T20:14:00.001-04:00

This is Gizmo, the Paws and Kisses 'Office Manager'. Gizmo is the 'star' of the operation, even if he does say so himself! He runs a tight ship and ensures that we all provide the highest level of service to our furry clients. Gizmo personally 'paw tests' all Paws and Kisses pet care services, to ensure they meet his high quality standards. He is not shy about 'barking' to us about improvements to our services! He is a great 'Office Manager' and the best furry companion in the world (his words - but we tend to agree . . . ). Please feel free to contact Paws and Kisses and ask to speak with Gizmo with any suggestions, improvements or ideas for additions to our service offerings.

Pet of the Month

2010-09-01T11:47:00.003-04:00

PAK DOG

Meet Toby, one of the Paws and Kisses (PAK) dogs. Toby's pet parents are Mandy and Bill Oram, owners of Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Service, LLC. Toby is about 4 years old and is a spaniel mix rescued from Bridgeport Animal Control by way of the Humane Society in Westport. When we met Toby two years ago, he was in sad shape. It appeared that he had never been groomed in his life. He had very long, very matted fur all over his body and face. Due to the matting and to severe food allergies, he had been scratching his skin raw under the mats. He was just a big furry mat - but a very friendly and sweet furry mat, nonetheless! You could see that he felt awful and was depressed from the loss of his family and from being in a kennel, but he still wagged his tail when he saw us. My goal had been just to volunteer to groom him, to make him easier to place, but I fell in love with him and he 'followed me home' and joined our other three dogs in the Oram pack. He is the biggest dog we have (at 32 lbs), but he is the gentlest, and he was quickly accepted by the other members of the pack. He quickly learned he was at the bottom of the totem pole pack-wise, but he doesn't care, he is now allergy-free, nicely groomed, well fed and happy, happy, happy! He is a joy to have as a member of our fur-family.

New Pet Professional Joins the Team

2010-08-19T10:49:00.002-04:00

Sarah Murrell has been an animal lover her whole life. Growing up with dogs, and saving stray cats when she was younger, has grown into a professional passion. She recently moved to Connecticut from San Francisco, California where she worked as a professional dog walker.

Sarah has a B.S. degree in Environmental Science from Southern CT State University and a professional certificate in "Leadership in Sustainability and Environmental Management" from U.C. Berkeley. She is also a graduate of the dogTEC Dog Walking Academy and certified in Pet CPR and First Aid.

While working in San Francisco, Sarah managed dog playgroups with 6-8 dogs in an off-leash environment. She assessed dogs on their personalities, social skills and overall demeanor's in order to place them in a group that fits their needs. Sarah trained her groups to respond to specific commands to keep them safe and enjoying their playtime. Sarah is excited to work with our dogs in CT.

Sarah has devoted time to stray animal shelters, volunteered for rescue organizations, and fostered rescues. Sarah and her fiance, Nick, adopted two rescues last year who have added a whole new dimension to their lives. Thelma and Louise are energetiic pug mixes who have truly distinct personalities.

Sarah is extremely excited to continue her dog walking/pet sitting career in CT and to make a whole bunch of new four-legged friends.

Sarah will begin training with Mandy and working with Paws and Kisses clients at the end of August. If you wish to meet her before she conducts a 'solo' pet sit for your fur family, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 203-922-2643 and we can arrange for her to stop by your home so you can meet her.

Flea & Tick Treatment

2010-08-11T01:00:00.000-04:00

Fleas and ticks are just loving this hot, humid weather, and are experiencing a population explosion here in Connecticut this summer. Both fleas and ticks not only cause uncomfortable itching and rashes, both for pets and their humans, but can cause even more insidious health issues. For instance, here in Connecticut, we live in a 'hot spot' for Lyme Disease, which is carried by deer ticks. Deer ticks are found not only on deer, but also many other wild creatures, including raccoons, skunks and even field mice. Lyme Disease is often not diagnosed in dogs until the disease is advanced, causing joint pain and lameness. In some cases, it can lead to kidney and heart problems, both of which are usually fatal. Deer ticks are very small, abut the size of the head of a pin, and so easily go undetected. In order to reduce the risk of Lyme Disease and other conditions and diseases caused by an fleas and ticks, it is very important to treat your pets with a good, topical flea and tick treatment on a monthly basis. Ensure that you choose a treatment that treats ALL the life cycles of fleas and ticks. I recommend either Frontline (available from your vet) or BioSpot (available from most good pet stores). Both are effective on all life cycles of fleas and ticks. I personally use and recommend BioSpot, for a number of reasons: (1) it seems to have a more gentle formulation, and is thus less likely to cause an adverse reaction when applied to your pet (2) it is available 'over the counter', without a visit to your vet and (3) it is substantially lower in cost. It is very important to remember that fleas and ticks are very hardy creatures, and their eggs can lie dormant for many months. This means that there is no 'off season' for fleas and ticks. Even in the colder months, if your dog has access to the outside (even your own yard) or goes on walks/trips outside your yard, he or she can pick up flea or tick eggs that will hatch once in the warmer environment of your home. This means that it is adviseable to treat for fleas and ticks on a monthly basis year round, rather than just during the warmer months. If you take your dog for walks in (or even near) wooded areas, check him AND yourself all over for ticks upon your return. Lyme Disease affects humans, as well as canines! In the event that your pet does become infested with fleas, you will need to take a multi-faceted approach to rid your pet AND your house of these pesky (and very hardy) creatures. Steps to take: (1) Give your pet a bath with a good flea and tick shampoo. Don't miss any areas, and ensure you leave it on the coat for the recommended amount of time. (2) Check your pet all over for ticks and remove any that you find. Be careful to remove the whole tick, not just the outer body. (3) Wash all pet bedding, area rugs, sheets, etc. (4) Treat all carpeting and upholstery with a flea and tick killer. (5) Apply topical flea and tick treatment to your pet, and reapply monthly. I hope this information helps pet parents to keep their pets and their homes flea and tick free!

Welcome to the Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting Blog!

2010-08-09T23:55:00.000-04:00

Hello and welcome to the Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting Blog! This is a first for our staff, and we will be learning how to do this as we go along, so bear with us. Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting provides premium pet care services to clients in Fairfield County, Connecticut. We are a family-owned and run company, with a small staff of trained and dedicated animal lovers. We are available for daily walks (to relieve your dog's boredom . . . and bladder!) while you are at work and for vacation pet sits (to care for your pets and your home while you are away). We are licensed, bonded and insured and have great references! (P.S. Current Clients - we would love it if you would post some comments about your experience with Paws and Kisses.) We will use this blog both to inform the public about our services and to keep in touch with our current clients. Please join our blog and/or check back as we join the blog community!