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!

WANTED: Dogs to walk in Madison MS

Is your dog getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day?
Is your dog bored with being home alone all day while you work and getting into trouble because of it? 
Could you use your lunch hour to actually eat lunch with coworkers rather than driving home to let the dog out?
Priority Pets has the solution! Daily dog walks are just what your pet needs to stay active, to let out some of their energy, and to keep them happy and healthy.  Just like humans, our dogs need daily exercise to stay fit. 

Call us today to get on our daily dog walking schedule.   We can set you up for mid-day visits or late afternoon visits, depending on your scheduling needs.
Call today! 601-750-2896

Andrew Cranford with Drake

Hotel Pet Sitter Jackson | Hotel Pet Sitter Madison

Welcome to Mississippi!  If this is your first visit to central Mississippi, then you are in for a treat. Southern hospitality can't be beat.  If you've been here before, then you know what I mean about the Magnolia State.

Need a hotel pet sitter in Jackson? You have come to the right place.  Priority Pets provides pet sitting and dog walking services in your location--home, office, apartment, or hotel.  We come to you to take care of your fur babies while you take in the sights or eat at one of our delightful restaurants.

Just call us at 601-750-2896 and we'll be right there when you need us.

Not sure?  Look over to the right and see what some of our other clients have to say.

Pet Sitter with cat in arms

Whether you are here for a day or for a lifetime, Priority Pets wants to meet your pet sitting needs.
Your pets are our priority!

How does pet sitting work? | Pet Sitting Jackson MS

Many pet owners call and ask, "How does pet sitting work?"  Here's the scoop!

1) Contact Priority Pets by phone or by the contact form on this website.

2) We will visit you in your home, meet your pets, get all of your instructions written down, and collect your payment for your upcoming reservations and two keys.

3) You are all set! Have fun on your trip and relax knowing that your pets are being cared for by
reliable, trustworthy professional pet sitters.

Dog Walker with Boxer by pool

And then the next time you want to leave town, all you have to do is call with dates and times.
Your keys are safely kept in our files.

What could be easier?  Call us today!   601-750-2896

Jackson Pet Sitter wants you to play with your dog!

Have you ever read studies about animals and wondered, "Where do they get all those statistics? They have never seen MY pet!"  Well, now you can be included. We just heard about a citizen science survey where you can be involved.  Here are the details from the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab in New York.

“Our latest study investigates all the different ways people and dogs play together, and we need your help — well, you and your dog’s help! For the first time, we are crowdsourcing, asking dog owners to submit short videos of themselves playing with their dog.
Here’s a brief summary of what the study entails (the full details are at www.DogHumanPlay.com):

• Find or make a 30-60 second video of you and your dog playing in whatever way you like, and then upload the video to our website and complete a short survey. The video must capture both you and your dog playing together onscreen.
• You are also invited to add a picture of you and your dog to our growing Wall of Contributors.
• Submit your video by March 31, 2013.

Project: Play with Your Dog is entirely online and is open to anyone, in any country. If you live with a dog, we want to see you play!

Do you know other people (and their dogs) who would want to participate? Please spread the word! 

Want to know more? Here are some links to previous media coverage of the study:

• Scientific American: How Do You Play With Your Dog?

• Citizen Science: Call to Participate

• The Bark: Playing with Our Pups

Thank you for playing!

Cheers,  Julie,  Lab Manager, Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab”

Wow! How cool is that?!! And while you are uploading your video, feel free to post it on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PriorityPets   We would LOVE to see how you play with your dog!

Pet Sitting vs. Dog Boarding | Pet Sitter Madison MS

Pet sitting or dog boarding? Which is better for my pets when I am out of town? Not every pet owner has the same needs.  This article is written to help you decide which is best for you.

Dog boarding or kenneling may be the best choice for you if ...

1) Your dog chews up furniture when you are out of the house.  If you've seen Marley in the movie, Marley and Me, then you know what I'm talking about.
2) Your dog's separation anxiety causes him or her to howl incessantly when you are away.
3) Your dog may enjoy the company of lots of other dogs.  If the boarding facility you choose offers doggy daycare, this may be an option for you.
4) You have only one dog and it is ok that he is kept in a cage most of the time with potty breaks outside several times a day.  The barking of other dogs doesn't bother him.

Pet sitting may be the best fit for you if...

1) You have multiple pets in your home.  Kennels have a fee per each pet.  Pet sitters, on the other hand, have a fee per each visit to your home.  A pet sitter in your home may actually SAVE you money if you have multiple pets.
2) You enjoy the convenience of having someone visit your pets in your own home. You don't have to load them up, drive to drop them off, and pick them up during kennel hours.
3)  You want to avoid your animals being exposed to other viruses that are going around.
4)  You know your pets would be happier sleeping at home in their own beds.
5)  You believe your home would be more secure with someone coming and going or staying overnight with your pets.
6) Your dog does not play well with other dogs that are not part of his family.

Call us with any questions you may have about pet sitting versus dog boarding in Madison, MS.

How Often does my Cat need to be Visited | Cat Sitter Madison MS

People tell me all the time, "My cats will be ok if you come by every other day."

Really?!!

Cats can get into all kinds of precarious situations. My grand-cat, Sebastian, is famous for climbing on top of open doors.  I don't know how he gets up there! But this is where he was sitting when his mom came home.

And then there is Jackson, a beautiful Ragdoll kitten who is very loving.  His litter box is in a little storage closet.  One night after I left his home, he closed the door to his "bathroom." The next morning he was so glad that I was there to open it!  His owner has us coming by twice a day to take care of Jackson.  Good thing, otherwise he would have had a lot of cleanup and deodorizing to do.  I propped the door open to prevent this from  happening again during this trip.  

Cats can contract urinary tract infections that can make them very ill very fast.  If there is a urinary tract blockage, this can become life threatening for your cat very quickly.

I recommend that your cat be visited at least once every 24 hours while you are away.  What could be more important than your peace of mind about the health of your cat?