Tips for Keeping Pets Cool in this Heat Wave

 1.  Make sure your pets have plenty of cool fresh water.  Cool, not cold, water is best for drinking and staying hydrated.  Change the water frequently and clean the water dish.  Would you drink out of a bowl that hasn't been washed?
2.  Provide shaded shelter for your outdoor pets.  Consider putting a fan in the shelter if possible. 
3.  Consider a drinking faucet for your outdoor pets.  These supply cool fresh water when your pet licks the faucet or by a motion detector.
4.  Bring pets indoors into the air conditioning if possible.  If it's too hot for you to be outside, it is probably too hot for your pet.
5.  Take your dogs for a walk early in the morning or late in the day.   When the temperature is above 90 F. the pavement and sidewalks can heat up and burn your pets paws. 
 

Will the Cat Genie put this Jackson MS Pet Sitter out of business?

My friend Angelia was raving about her Cat Genie today.  I just HAD to see it; it was A.Maz.Ing!  The best thing since sliced bread...you get the idea.  She just knew you would love it.

In her words, Angelia said, "I don't have to buy 40 lb. containers of cat litter any more. No more litter! No more smell!  No more mess!  When we have people over, we invite them to the laundry room to watch our cat use the Cat Genie!"

                                                Being the skeptical type, I asked, "How often do you have to clean it?"  She has had the Cat Genie                                                      8 months and not had to take it apart to clean it yet.  It is self-cleaning, self-washing, self-flushing.  You have to set it up near a water supply and a drain such as a toilet drain, a sink drain, etc., and an electrical outlet.

Read the reviews on Amazon.com.  Some people love it, some people hate it.  Most of the negative reviews are for the older Cat Genie 60 model.  This product was developed by a rocket scientist for his elderly mother who loved her cats and had difficulty changing the litter.

P. S. If you don't have a Cat Genie yet, you can still call Priority Pets to take care of scooping litter and feeding your cats!   601-750-2896 

Pet Sitter's Code of Ethics | How I Take Care of Your Pets in Jackson, MS

Every pet sitter from the Priority Pets family will agree to follow this code of ethics:


  1)  We will treat every pet as though it were our own.
  2)  We will be dependable and responsible at all times.
  3)  We will have honest and trustworthy relationships with all of our clients.
  4)  We will respect and protect our clients' homes and property.
  5)  We will keep our promises and fulfill our commitments.



We believe that your pets are members of your family who play a very important part in your lives.

Adapted from Pet Sitters Associates LLC Code of Ethics

Overnight Pet Sitting in Jackson | Pawjama Party

Introducing the "Pawjama Party!"  It's bedtime and your pets are safe and sound in their own home with one of our experienced overnight pet sitters.  You can travel and leave your pets home with confidence that they will be cared for with love and affection, lots of attention, and can go outside in the middle of the night if need be.

Meet the Staff

Andrew Cranford plans to attend Holmes Community College in the fall of 2011.  He plays basketball and baseball with the Victors Homeschool Sports teams.  Andrew is an Eagle Scout--you can depend on him!  Andrew is available for dog walking, dog running, daily pet sitting, and overnight "Pawjama Parties."

A Day in the Life of a Jackson Pet Sitter

Early in the morning I roll out of bed and check the schedule.  Early morning dog visits are first on the agenda.  I have put them in order according to your time requests and the driving distance between each one.  Trying to be efficient with gasoline!

I read the details you have given me and double check to make sure I have followed each instruction.  Each pet and each home is given my full attention while I am there.  I notice things like this:  are doors open that should be closed?  Are all doors/windows locked? Is your pet behaving in his or her normal manner? I get to know your pet and can spot any abnormal behaviors that may signal a problem.


With this level of attention to detail, I was able to alert a homeowner that a TV had been stolen from his home when there were NO obvious signs of a break-in.  The homeowner was grateful and asked me to check on several other items in the home for reassurance that nothing else had been taken.

I play with your pets and pay special attention to their food and medications.  There is no extra charge for giving a pet a pill!

At the end of my visit I leave a Pet Report Card for you so you will know all the details.   And you can be sure that I love your pet!

Pet Sitting vs. Boarding

Imagine, if you will, a store front in a strip mall shopping center filled with dog crates behind the store's front room. One person owns this grooming/boarding shop and a teenager sits at the desk welcoming customers. When you board your pet here, your pet stays in the crate MOST of the time that you are out of town, day and night, for the duration of your trip. 

The dogs begin to bark loudly as soon as anyone enters the door of the shop. At night the store owner/groomer is at his home, not at his store. You are told NOT to bring toys, throw rugs, or special food treats because "we don't have room for all that here." (This scenario is taken from several boarding facilities in my area--a composite of several different facilities--your experience may be different.)

Even with the best care, boarding can be stressful because your pet is in a new environment, away from home. Pet's routines and habits are interrupted. Common problems encountered while boarding include:

• Decreased appetite
• Constipation
• Weight loss
• Stress diarrhea

Now picture this: your pet is at home in their favorite room in your house. The tv or radio may be on, if you wish. Your pet has favorite toys strewn about the room. Your pet sitter visits your pet in your home up to four times a day to play with them, let them out, feed, water, walk, whatever you desire for your pet. This is a picture of personalized pet sitting, which is what Priority Pets offers.

If you were a pet, which would you prefer? Which do you prefer for your fur-baby?

If personalized pet sitting sounds right for you, call now to schedule your "Meet the Pet" visit.  You'll be glad you did!  601-750-2896

Clean Home with Pets

 I visit lots of homes as a pet sitter.  Some homes have no animal odor; others smell like a kennel.  What's the difference?  Below are some tips to keep your pet friendly home smelling fresh.

1. Bathing your pets:  at least once a month, or more often as needed.

• If you have dogs, give them a bath. This will help remove loose hair from their coats before it gets on your furniture. Brush your cats with a pet brush such as the Furminator two or three times a week.

2. Furniture:  at least once a week.

• Use your vacuum cleaner attachment to remove hair from furniture. A lint roller can also be helpful.

3. Floors: at least once a week.

• Vacuum: Make sure vacuum is empty before beginning.  Using a crisscross pattern cover each area of the carpeting at least twice.
• Hard flooring: Sweep well then apply regular house hold bleach (diluted) and mop. Rinse well, as bleach left on floor can burn your pet's paws.

4.  AC/Furnace: At least once monthly.

• Change out your home's air filter once a month.  Write the date on the filter with a Sharpie marker and also on the following month's calendar.

5. Disinfect:  daily.

• Use a sanitizer such as  Shaklee Basic G to sanitize surfaces in your home.

6. Air fresheners:  daily.

• Use a good air sanitizer to kill bacteria and leave your home smelling fresh and clean.

7. Urine: Clean as needed.

•  Bissell® Pawsitively Clean™ Ewww™ enzyme-powered pet stain & odor remover is great for all urine odors. Also use it to clean cages for small animals.

8. Pet Bedding:  at least twice a month.

• If washable, wash in hot water then spray for a fresh, clean scent.

9. Cat Litter Box:  scoop daily, change out at least weekly.

•  A good scoopable cat litter needs to be scooped daily.  Completely empty and put in new litter at least once a week.  Clean the cat litter box when it is empty with soap and water. Rinse well with clear water.  Harsh smelling disinfectants can make your cat reject the litter box.  I recommend having one more litter box than cats in your home.  Keep a dustbuster near the litter box for quick cleanup of scattered litter.

10 New Year's Resolutions for our pets

Happy New Year, Pet Lovers!

It's the time of year that we contemplate turning over a new leaf.  Getting rid of bad habits, adopting some good habits.  In thinking about New Year's resolutions for yourself, have you thought about making some resolutions for your pets?

I was going to write this, but I found an article online.  The article is found below!  Enjoy!

Ten New Year's Resolutions for our Pets