Keeping your dog safe at the dog park

The Dog Park at the Rez is open for you and your dogs. Located near Old Trace Park in Ridgeland, MS, admission is charged if you drive in the park entrance ($5) but is free if you park your car and walk in to the dog park. Free parking at Madison Landing Circle.

Some tips for keeping you and your dogs safe:

1) Read and follow the rules listed at the dog park. Here are a few of them:
 
     No dogs on leash inside the dog park.
     Dogs must be up to date on rabies shots.
     No aggressive dogs allowed.

The rules are written to help everyone get along, have a good time, and be safe. If you can't manage to abide by the rules, then the dog park is probably not a good place for you and your pets to visit.

2) Be prepared for any emergency.

We all hope for the best but it's a good idea to plan ahead.What if a dog fight breaks out? What would you do to stop it?  Citronella spray, an air horn, a Pringles can filled with rocks for noise making - all of these ideas could help stop an altercation between dogs.

How would you treat an injury to your pet? Do you have a first aid kit in your car?

3) Keep your eyes on your dog!

Dog park time is not the time to catch up on Facebook or answer emails. Engage in playtime with your pet. Put the phone or tablet or iPad away!

4) Pick up after your dog. Nobody wants to step in it!

5) Know when your dog has had enough.

It's a great idea to leave when your dog is still having fun. Don't wait until they are too tired to walk back to the car.  As Kenny Rogers used to sing:

You gotta know when to hold 'em,
Know when to fold 'em,
Know when to walk away,
Know when to run.

Who calls a Professional Pet Sitter?

When people call my pet sitting business phone,
 I am hoping they are lookingfor a pet sitting service
 in the area we serve:  Jackson, MS and surrounding towns.
All too often people call and ask questions like this:

Q:  "Do you have puppies for sale?"  
 A:  No, I don't.  I am a Professional Pet Sitter,
       not a seller of pets.  Thank you for calling Priority Pets!

Q:  "How much does it cost to board my dog?"
A:   Priority Pets is a pet sitting and dog walking service.
       We do not board pets.  Call again when you need a pet sitter in your home!

Q:  "Can you take care of my dog tonight (Friday) through Sunday morning?
A:  We need to meet your pet at your home to see if pet sitting is a good fit
       for you and for us.  Sometimes we can take last minute callers, and
       sometimes we are booked.  Thanks for calling.

Q:  "How much does it cost for you to take care of my dogs?"
A:  Tell me about your dogs and their usual schedule.   We then provide a
      quote based on your needs for your pets. 

What are some of your questions about pet sitting?  We would love to answer
them!  Call us today!

How to take Perfect Holiday Photos of Your Pets

How to Take the Best Dog or Cat Photos for Holiday Cards — Infographic by Vetstreet

Pet Sitter in Madison warns about Abady frozen diet recall | Abady pet food recall

June 25, 2013--In the course of my pet sitting business I have come across several people who use raw food diets for their dogs.  For those people who may be using Abady frozen food for their pets,
I bring you this information regarding a recall of two kinds of Abady pet food on June 19, 2013.

The Robert Abady Dog and Cat Food Corporation is recalling two frozen diets due to positive Salmonella testing by FDA.

The specific foods being recalled due to possible salmonella contamination are:

1. Abady Frozen High Stress/High Performance Dog Food 3 lbs.

2.  Abady Frozen Growth Formula for Puppies of the Large & Giant Breed 3 lbs.,

For more information, click on the link below.
 From the Robert Abady Dog and Cat Food Corporation website the following recall notice:   http://therobertabadydogfoodcoltd.com/RecallLetter.pdf

Pet Sitting Rates | Jackson Pet Sitter

How much does pet sitting cost in Jackson, MS?

One of the most asked questions when people call me about pet sitting is this: How much do you charge?  And my answer is, it depends on a lot of factors.

o  How many animals do you have?  Are any of them on medication?

o  Do your pets live indoors or outdoors?

o  Do you have a pet door?

o  How many times per day is your dog used to going outside?

o  Do you have a puppy or elderly pet in your home?

And I think the underlying question that you really want to have answered is this:  how much do you charge compared to other pet sitters in Jackson area?  Or in other words, am I getting a good deal?

Because we all want to get a good deal.

Average pet sitting rates

When you are comparing pet sitting rates from various pet care providers, be sure you are comparing apples to apples.  And remember the old saying, you get what you pay for.

I have surveyed pet sitting rates across the U. S. and here is what I have found for the basic 30 minute visit to your home to care for your pets.

1) Lowest cost   (friend, neighbor, or relative)  $0  FREE*
* But for this favor, you then OWE them a favor in return.  So it's not really free.  Think of it as bartering services. 

2) Modest rate  (hobby sitter, neighborhood kid)  ranges from $10 to $15 per visit.  These are people who need a little extra cash and are willing to do the bare minimum of pet care to get the cash.  They typically make less than $600 per year pet sitting and therefore don't have to pay income taxes on their pet sitting money.  They may live very near you and be able to walk or bicycle to your home, thus they have no gasoline expenditures in order to take care of your pets.

3)  Average rates for professional pet sitter for the basic 30 minute visit:
     Here are some of my findings from researching around the country.
     San Diego, CA   $47 per visit to care for your cats
     Phoenix, AZ area  $33 per visit to care for dogs or cats
     Jackson, MS  ranges from $18 per visit to $25 per visit
  
Did you know that many pet sitting companies fold within their first two years of business?  When their prices are too low, they cannot make a profit and won't be around for years to come.
The professional pet sitter has to charge enough to stay in business and cover overhead expenses like insurance, bonding, office equipment, marketing materials, and staff, as well as automobile expenses incurred while traveling to your home.

Priority Pets has been serving the Jackson MS metro area since 2010. 

Madison Pet Sitter warns about latest pet food recall

Priority Pets is the only Madison pet sitting company bringing you breaking news from the Natura Company:
Pet food recall due to possible salmonella contamination.  Check your pet food labels.  If you have any of the following brands, please discard them.  There is potential risk for your pets who eat the food and for the people who handle the food.

The affected products are: BRAND	LOT CODE/UPC/SIZES	EXPIRATION
Innova Dry dog and cat food and biscuits/bars/treats	All Lot Codes, All UPC’s, All package sizes	All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
EVO dry dog, cat and ferret food and biscuits/bars/treats	All Lot Codes, All UPC’s, All package sizes	All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
California Natural dry dog and cat foods and biscuits/bars/treats	All Lot Codes, All UPC’s, All package sizes	All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
Healthwise dry dog and cat foods	All Lot Codes, All UPC’s, All package sizes	All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
Karma dry dog foods	All Lot Codes, All UPC’s, All package sizes	All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014
Mother Nature biscuits/bars/treats	All Lot Codes, All UPC’s, All package sizes	All expiration dates prior to 6-10-2014

Read more details and how to get a refund for discarded food  here: http://www.californianaturalpet.com/voluntary_recall/Natura%20FINAL%20Press%20Release%20061813.pdf

 

Doggie Daycare vs. Dog Walker | Jackson Dog Walker

So you have a new puppy? Congratulations! Now I know you want to take care of the puppy's physical needs for food, water, and exercise.  And you want to make sure that the puppy gets plenty of mental stimulation for brain development.  So how best to take care of these needs?

If you work all day, there are a couple of options to help you with your puppy.  Dog day care is one; crate training with a dog walker coming to your home several times per day is another.  How do you decide which one is right for you?

Choose dog day care if:
1) your dog has destructive behaviors such as excessive chewing or barking when left home alone.
2) your puppy gets along well with other dogs.
3) your puppy has been fully vaccinated (usually by about 4 months old).
4) your dog comes  home happy from the dog day care experience.

A professional pet sitter or dog walker might be better for you if:
1) you prefer your pet to remain in your home in their familiar environment.
2) your dog has not been fully vaccinated yet or you prefer to delay vaccinations for health reasons.
3) you want your puppy to have individual attention and play time at regular intervals throughout the day without the distraction of other dogs.
4)  you want your puppy to learn good behaviors through positive reinforcement and not to pick up bad habits from other dogs in a large group setting.
5)  you want the benefits of crate training as part of your pup's house training routine.

Priority Pets offers dog walking in Jackson, MS metro area as well as pet sitting while you are on vacation.  Have more questions? Call or contact us today!