Pets - National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

Table of Contents President’s Message
President’s Message..................................................... 1
Board of Directors......................................................... 2
Book Reviews............................................................... 3
Legislative Update........................................................ 3
Departments
Tips of the Trade........................................................... 4
Feel-Good Pet Story...................................................... 5
Conventional Medicine—Leptospirosis......................... 6
Alternative Medicine—Homeopathic Care for Cats........ 7
Promoting Your Web Site on Facebook.......................... 8
Sitter Safety................................................................ 10
Features
Member Spotlight....................................................... 12
P4P Halloween Fundraiser.......................................... 14
Self Worth = Net Worth............................................... 17
NAPPS Pages
Excerpts from NAPPS Chat.......................................... 16
About the Association................................................. 18
Committee Spotlight................................................... 19
Member Benefit Highlight........................................... 19
Board Member Spotlight............................................. 20
Committee Page......................................................... 21
NAPPS Network
Mission Statement
The mission of the NAPPS Network is to
provide tools for members to enhance their
NAPPS
business, help them expand their knowledge of
professional pet sitting, and communicate
association news and events.
Copyright 2009. The NAPPS Network is published four times
a year in March, June, September and December by NAPPS
Headquarters: 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mt. Laurel,
NJ 08054. Periodical mailing privilege pending at Mt. Laurel,
NJ and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send change
of address to the NAPPS Network c/o NAPPS Headquarters,
15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054. The
NAPPS Network is free to National Association of Professional
Pet Sitters, Inc. members. No part of this publication may be
reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
Editorial offices: 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C.
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054.
National Association of
Professional Pet Sitters, Inc.
15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (856) 439-0324 • Fax: (856) 439-0525
Email: [email protected] • www.petsitters.org
Monica Leighton, President
Hello Fellow Pet Sitters,
It has been a great year
for NAPPS! The NAPPS
leadership team and
volunteers have really
made great strides this
year in adding more
benefits for our members and looking toward
what is coming in 2010.
I think all NAPPS members will be excited
about the great things being launched next
year. The NAPPS Annual Conference will start
out the 2010 year by helping our members
capture the magic within their pet sitting
business. This year’s lineup of speakers is
outstanding and I am really looking forward
to this year’s off-site event. The members
participating in this year’s event will be transported to Epcot’s Living Seas where members will eat a great dinner in Epcot’s Living
Seas restaurant, which is truly a spectacular
experience. This restaurant is surrounded
with stunning underwater views of The Living
Sea coral reef. After dinner all members will
be escorted outside for dessert just in time to
watch Epcot’s dazzling fireworks show.
All conference attendees have the added
benefit of our conference specials including
a certification pricing special. Conference
attendees will also get a sneak peak at all the
exciting new changes and new look of NAPPS
in 2010.
As this year comes to a close I find myself
working on my taxes, preparing my business so I can travel to the conference and
of course planning my staff’s holiday party
and deciding on their bonuses and presents.
The holidays are such a fun time of the year,
but for those of us in the pet care business,
it is also a crazy busy time of the year. With
the hectic schedules of the season, it is so
important to remember to recognize your
staff and do something special for them. Everyone has their own ways of doing this—for
me, it’s a party at my home. I make a huge
dinner, we go all out on the decorations and
my staff and their families all come and have
a chance to relax and get in the holiday spirit.
I usually have this party at the beginning of
With the hectic
schedules of the
Holiday season,
it is so important
to remember to
recognize your
staff and do
something special
for them.
December since it is usually easier on the
schedules; if any scheduling conflicts arise,
we work with other sitters to cover that evening’s party-time visits. A couple of years ago
I made homemade cookies and treats and
gave them to all the staff at the party, along
with their bonus, and now that has come to
be a tradition that they love.
Whether it is a simple card or a holiday
bonus, use this time to not only thank your
staff, but also the local business from which
you gain referrals, and of course, your clients.
Don’t forget to visit the tax center on the
NAPPS Web site for help with all your yearend tax needs. I want to wish everyone a
great holiday season and hopefully it will be a
profitable season for all. n
Napps Network • 1
NAPPS 2009 Board of Directors
NAPPS Network Staff
Membership Services
President
Monica Leighton
Professional Pet Sitting
E-mail: [email protected]
Executive Editor
Steve Milano
NAPPS Headquarters
15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (856) 439-0324
Fax: (856) 439-0525
E-mail: [email protected]
www.petsitters.org
Past President
Candance Labane-Godfrey
Precious Pets In Home Services
E-mail: [email protected]
President-Elect
John D’Ariano
A Pet Sitter Plus
E-mail: [email protected]
Secretary-Treasurer
Susan Reid
Reid’s Pet Sitting Service
E-mail: [email protected]
Director
Jennifer Haralson
A Pause for Paws, Inc.
Email: [email protected]
Director
Nancy Stevens Zwerin
Ark Angels Pet Care
Email: [email protected]
Managing Editor
Felicia Lembesis, CAE
Contributing Writer/Staff Writer
Erik Caplan
NAPPS Network is published quarterly by the National
Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), a nonprofit organization, and is available through membership subscription. No portion of the magazine may be
reprinted without the written consent of the National
Association of Professional Pet Sitters. The letters and
advertisements contained in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the association. NAPPS is
not liable for validity or correctness of any claim, express
or implied, made in advertisements or writings of this
magazine.
Please send all letters to the editor:
Steve Milano, Executive Editor
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 404-969-1400
Letters should include your name,
address, and daytime telephone
number. Letters may be edited for
length or clarity. Submissions may be
mailed or emailed as a word document.
Felicia Lembesis, CAE
Executive Director
Cathe Delaney
Director of Operations
Caitlin Dougherty
Meeting and Exhibits Manager
Business Insurers of the Carolinas
PO Box 2536
Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2536
Phone: (800) 962-4611 ext. 224
www.petsitterinsurance.com
For Dishonesty Bond and/or
General Liability Insurance
The National Group Insurance Exchange
3210 Doolittle Dr.
Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (800) 955-0418
Fax: (847) 559-9499
Email: [email protected]
www.wwins.com
Contact: Alan Leafman
For Dental and Health Insurance
For pet sitting questions contact:
• Any board member
• NAPPS’ Web site: www.petsitters.org
Certification Advisory Board
Mary Cotter
House Rabbit Society
Jeffrey Lauterbach
Critters Sitters Atlanta
Arden Moore
Pet Life Radio Host
Dr. Holly Nash
Drs. Fosters & Smith
David Pearsall
Business Insurers of the Carolinas
2 • Napps Network
Book Notes
By Debra Farrington
Pets Gone Green: Live a More Eco-conscious Life with your Pets,
Eve Adamson, Bow-Tie Press, 2009
Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care,
Carol Frischmann, Howell Book House, 2009
P
ets, like people, generate lots of waste
products. By some estimates, pets in
the U.S. generate 10 million tons of
feces and urine each year. As author, wildlife
rehabilitator, and science teacher Carol
Frischmann writes, that’s enough waste to
cover 1,100 football fields five feet deep in
poop.
If you want to reduce your pet’s carbon footprint and provide ideas and suggestions to
your clients and for your own business, these
two new books are excellent resources.
Both books cover much the same territory:
pet waste, the ecology of toys and other
pet items, food issues, cleaning products,
adoption and ecology. A unique and helpful
chapter in Frishmann’s book covers the selection of ecologically sensitive pet services,
including pet sitters!
While the subjects covered are similar, the
approaches and conclusions in the two
books differ markedly. Frishmann is first and
foremost a scientist, and her book does an
amazing job of sorting through a daunting
amount of information that non-scientists
may find confusing and contradictory. She
presents her information without forcing one
set system on the reader, and without using
jargon, in hopes that readers will make decisions that are best for their own situation and
that fit their own ethical understandings.
Adamson, on the other hand, is a journalist who has written extensively on pets and
other subjects. Her primary interest is in
holistic and organic solutions to living an
eco-conscious life. She writes in an engaging and informative style, and those who are
sympathetic with her agenda will find many
useful ideas.
Both authors understand there are always
trade-offs, that no action is without consequences. There is no one perfect way of disposing of pet waste, for instance. It depends
on where you live, and what’s available to
you. Frischmann helpfully rates various dis-
posal systems as good, better and best. I did
have to wonder, at times, about some of Adamson’s solutions. Though I am sympathetic
with her disliking the use of poisons (such as
Frontline and other products) to control fleas
and ticks, her suggestion that you wash the
dog every week, comb every day, remove
ticks daily by hand, vacuum every week—or
every day if you already have fleas—and
throw out the vacuum cleaner bag each time,
seems to create even more waste, use more
resources and would certainly strain my already overfull schedule. But it is a system of
trade-offs, as both authors point out regularly.
The field of pet care and ecology is a very
new one, and the lay person sorting through
all the options can get lost in all the contradictory data. These two books are an excellent start, however, for those who want to
begin to reduce their pet’s carbon footprint,
and for pet sitting businesses who would like
to do the same. n
Legislative Update - New York City May Strengthen its Animal Fighting Law
The Humane Society of the United States reports that recently, legislation has
been introduced in New York to strengthen animal fighting laws. Currently, conducting dogfighting and cockfighting are considered felonies, punishable by up to
four years of imprisonment and/or a maximum $25,000 fine; however, possessing animals for the purpose of fighting is a misdemeanor offense. Attending an
animal fight is also considered a misdemeanor and offenders receive a trafficticket style violation.
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, D-Brooklyn, and Sen. Toby Stavisky, D-Flushing
have introduced legislation, A.B. 6287a and S.B. 3926, requiring felony conviction for participating as a spectator at a dogfight or cockfight. The punishment
associated with this offense would be a maximum fine of $25,000 and/or up to
four years of imprisonment.
Napps Network • 3
Keep Your Pets Safe this Holiday Season
By Steve Milano
D
uring the holiday season, joyful events
can also pose serious risks for pets.
Below are dangers to look for during
the holiday season, and suggestions you can
make to your clients for avoiding them.
Reduce Stress
“Please don’t feed the Whiskers, or leave
food or beverages where she can reach
them.”
“Please stay with children when greeting and
playing with Dusty.”
Strangers and large groups in the home can
create excitement—and stress—for pets.
Consider these methods for reducing pet
stress during gatherings:
“Please do not let or take Sparky out of the
house without checking in with me or Bob,
so we can give you the lay of the land.”
(Unannounced walks will not let you warn the
walker about neighborhood dangers).
• Maintain regular exercise and feeding
routines during the holiday.
“Please let us know if you’re bringing a pet.”
• Exercise dogs shortly before a party.
Christmas
• Provide a private room or area where
pets can retreat.
• During a busy party or day, a pet put
outdoors (including by a well-meaning
guest), can be forgotten and freeze.
Make sure someone is assigned to each
pet to check on them during regular
intervals.
• Dogs should be trained on how to greet
guests.
General Tips
Holiday plants with berries can be toxic,
cause vomiting or worse, especially holly,
mistletoe and poinsettias.
Candles, incense and menorahs can all be
dangerous to pets. Keep them out of reach of
pets or have them supervised when lit.
Potpourri and tobacco products left out can
be toxic to pets.
Chocolates can be toxic and fatal to pets;
forego nice displays of chocolates if they will
be unattended and easily accessible to pets.
Provide healthy treats for guests to give pets.
Guests should be prepared by letting them
know you have a pet or pets, and providing a
few simple tips on invitations:
4 • Napps Network
Keep bones (especially splinter-prone poultry
bones) away from pets.
Keep lids on garbage cans and keep them
secure when no one is in the kitchen. Animals
can smell treats from the next room!
Don’t leave alcoholic beverages unattended.
Be careful how you attach costumes to pets.
Pets can choke on rubber bands, string, ropes
and ribbons. These items can also cause discomfort if put on too tight or left on too long.
Secure trees to both the floor and ceiling, if
possible, to prevent them from falling.
Pine needles can choke and puncture intestines. If you have a live tree, consider how
you deal with this common problem.
Consider what ornaments you will place on
more reachable low-hanging branches. Place
ornaments with string hangers vs. metal
hooks down low.
Food on Christmas trees can tempt your pets.
Consider whether or not hanging unwrapped
candy canes, ginger bread, popcorn or cranberries is a good idea.
Make sure pets cannot get at the water in the
tree base. Tree water can contain fertilizers
and bacteria.
Tinsel is attractive to pets and can block
intestines or choke; consider an alternative
decoration for your tree.
The holidays bring increased use of electrical cords, which can be chewed through
and cause electrocution. Tape them over, put
them under rugs, or spray them with a nontoxic, bad-tasting ingredient, such as Bitter
Apple.
Many children’s toys have small parts, which
can be seen by pets as enticing play toys.
Children should know the harm that can
come to the family pet if they don’t pick up
and put away all of the pieces of their games
and toys.
New Year’s
Noise maker’s can startle and stress pets.
Make sure pets are secured away from the
revelry at midnight (and before, if necessary).
Assume that people who have too much to
drink will not respect your request to keep
food and beverages away from pets.
Confetti and streamers can choke a pet;
consider alternate midnight festivities.
A host or hostess who has a bit too much
cheer on New Year’s may forget a pet put
outside, even if it was only attended for a
short period of time. Put a reminder on your
pillow to check on your pets before going to
sleep. n
Making the Doggone Right Choices
By Amy Abern
J
ohn made a bad decision. The 16-yearold boy bought some marijuana from an
undercover cop. As a result, John is living at the Illinois Youth Center (IYC) Chicago,
a juvenile detention facility for the next six
months. John is not a hardened criminal. And
maybe if he hadn’t been caught this early in
the game, he might still be on the streets,
perhaps now stealing to buying larger quantities of marijuana—maybe even cocaine or
crack.
But landing in IYC is perhaps the best thing
that could have happened to John and the
other 12-17-year-olds like him. They’re
receiving the discipline, training, counseling,
education and programs they’ll need to reinvent themselves once they’ve completed their
stay, via a program called Lifetime Bonds.
Created by Best Friends Safe Humane, this
program targets youth who have been involved in illegal activities. Each week, a group
of dog handlers and their dogs visit the teens.
The teams teach the young men the proper
way to approach a dog, a few commands
and a chance to socialize with the dog. By
receiving the immediate gratification of a
happy wagging tail, friendly lick on the hand,
or the roll-over request for a belly rub, these
youngsters begin to realize—sometimes for
the first time in their lives—that kindness
begets kindness. And that sets the stage for
profound behavioral change.
Best Friends Safe Humane National Director
Cynthia Bathurst believes Lifetime Bonds is
an integral component of the program in that
it aims to stop violence in its tracks before it
has a chance to grow further. “Safe Humane”
gives these young men knowledge and skills
they can use to positive advantage for the
dogs they and their friends or family members encounter in the streets, especially dogs
viewed as ‘fighting dogs,’” she says.
Changing Beliefs
Is The First Step
The young men could hardly wait for the bell
to ring, signaling it’s time for the Lifetime
Bonds program, or, as they call it, “Dog-Play
Time.” The group breaks into five smaller
groups and begins each session by learning
how to approach a friendly dog. One by one,
the boys take turns holding out the backs
of their hands for the dogs to sniff, then
gently petting the dogs on the side. Then the
boys hold treats in their hand while asking
the dogs to sit and lie down, then give the
treats—and give and receive more love.
After 20 minutes, the groups switch to new
handlers and dogs.
All the participants are anxious to spend time
with Rou, the pit bull. One boy commented
on how Rou resembled his American Staffordshire terrier. It was surprising to hear him
refer to his dog with the official breed title.
“That’s because we’ve seen all these different guys fight and we know who the best
ones are,” he says.
And this offers the perfect segue to talk
about dogfighting. “Do you think the dogs
like fighting?” asks
Triptow. Most of the
boys nod. “Do you
think the dogs like
being stroked?” All
the boys nod. “Do
you like the feeling
of being hurt when
someone hits you?”
All the boys shake
their head. “Do you
think dogs like the
feeling of being
hurt, like when
another dog bites
them?” Tentative
shakes all around.
“So think about
it—if you don’t like
getting hurt and
the dog doesn’t like
getting hurt, do you
really think the dogs
like going into a
situation like fighting where they most
certainly will get
hurt?” Definite head
shakes all around.
The teens have only participated in the
Lifetime Bonds program for two months, but
already, changes in thought, attitude and
behavior are evident. Nikki Robinson, Assistant Superintendent/Programs IYC Chicago,
observes the boys not only look forward to
the sessions because they’re enjoyable, but
that they really “get” why the program is
important.
How You Can Help
Best Friends Safe Humane relies on donations and in-kind services from local businesses and individuals. If you’d like to make
a donation to the Safe Humane Lifetime
Bonds program, send a check payable to:
Safe Humane P.O. Box 7342 Chicago, IL
60680-7342. If you’d like to learn more about
volunteer opportunities with Safe Humane,
call 312-409-4790. Fore more information
on Best Friends, visit their Web site at www.
bestfriends.org. n
Napps Network • 5
Leptospirosis: How It Can Affect Your Pet Sitting Business
By Monica Leighton
L
eptospirosis is a potentially fatal bacterial disease of worldwide significance
that damages the liver and kidney of
both animals and humans.
There are many serovars (strains) of leptospira, with more than 200 currently recognized worldwide. There are certain strains
which have been reported as more common
among cats and dogs. These include Grippotyyphosa, Pomona, Bratislava, Autumnalis,
Icterohaemorrhagiae, Canicola, Bataviae and
Hatdjo. While cats can be infected, they rarely
show signs of the disease.
Most leptospiral strains affect wild mammals,
which reinfect domestic populations. Lepto
affects at least 160 mammalian species, with
the most predominant species affected in
the United States including dogs, livestock,
rodents, wild animals and cats.
Bacteria known as leptospires are found in
the fluids (e.g., urine, saliva, blood and milk)
of infected animals and can be transmitted by
direct contact with the fluids or the infected
animal, as well as indirect contact such as
food, water, soil, bedding materials and contamination of vegetation. Leptospires enter
the body through mucous membranes as well
as abraded skin.
The disease may be carried for years in
animals that serve as hosts without the
animal showing any clinical signs. Since
leptospirosis is a disease that can pass from
animals to humans, this makes the infection
an occupational hazard for people who work
with animals.
What are the symptoms
of Leptospirosis?
In dogs, leptospirosis commonly affects
the liver and kidneys, and sometimes both
simultaneously. Symptoms include weight
loss, fever, lack of appetite, vomiting, nausea,
lethargy, depression, muscle or joint pain,
diarrhea, bloody urine, excessive thirst, jaundice (yellowing of gums, skin and mucous
membranes), uveitis (changes in the eye) and
excessive bleeding. In humans, the exposure
to a contaminated source and becoming sick
can range from two days to four weeks. The
6 • Napps Network
illness occurs in two stages: during the first
stage, an abrupt fever with the possibility of
other symptoms such as chills, headache,
muscle aches, vomiting or diarrhea may
occur. The person may recover for a time but
become ill again. When the second stage
occurs, it is more severe and may lead to
kidney failure, liver failure or meningitis.
How do you diagnose and
treat Leptospirosis?
A positive diagnosis can be made from running a blood test which tests for individual
strains of lepto and the amount of antibodies
produced (titer) in response to these strains.
Based on these tests, a diagnosis for each
specific strain tested can be made; however, the results may come back negative
in the first 10 days after the initial infection,
and previous vaccination should be taken
into consideration as some may provide an
elevated titer. It is also possible to culture and
test a urine sample from chronically infected
dogs and get a positive diagnosis, although
this is not the best way to diagnose because
of intermittent shedding and bacterial contamination.
Treatments consist mainly of antibiotics and
fluid therapy. It is vital that humans who
show symptoms, inform their physician that
they work with animals and ask for a lepto
test to avoid severe illness. With proper
diagnosing and quick treatment this disease
is often curable.
What types of animals
should I be concerned
with as potential hosts?
Many common animals can potentially be
infected with some strain of leptospirosis.
Some of these include rats, pigs, horses, cow,
mice, raccoons, opossum, vole, fox, skunk,
squirrels, sheep, goats, rabbit, hedgehog,
armadillo, shrew, wolf, woodchuck, deer, wild
bovidae, bobcat, muskrat, weasel, dogs and
cats.
How can you prevent
your pet from getting
Leptospirosis?
Vaccination of pets six weeks or older is
available for certain strains of leptospirosis. Initially, two doses are administered
3-4 weeks apart. Annual revaccination is
suggested. The risk is greatly reduced by
avoiding swimming or wading in or drinking
water which may be contaminated by other
animals. Any standing outdoor water can
hold a potential for contamination, so always
be cautious. I recommend only letting pets
drink from their own travel bowl (even at
dog parks) from where no other wild animals
could have drunk previously.
How does this affect my pet sitting business?
Any pet in your care can get leptospirosis.
Taking proper precautions, such as wearing
gloves for cleaning any litter boxes, urine, feces and vomit, are necessary to reduce your
risk of exposure, and hand sanitizer should
always be used after any contact with saliva
as well. Occupational exposure accounts for
30-50 percent of human cases; however, recreational activities such as traveling to tropic
areas, canoeing, hiking, kayaking, fishing,
windsurfing, swimming, waterskiing, wading,
riding trail bikes through puddles, whitewater
rafting and other sports which take place
in contaminated water have been sources
of human infection. Camping in endemic
areas adds to the risk of exposure. Recently,
athletes have been increasingly infected resulting from many races being held in parks
and areas open to wildlife, as well as areas
that have had flooding issues.
Protect yourself and your business by following the precautions listed above. Your pets,
your clients and their pets will be grateful you
did. n
Homeopathic Care for Cats
By Susan Livingstone
I
f your kitty is subject to recurring urinary
tract infections (UTIs), you may be considering exploring homeopathic care for your
cat - but aren’t sure if it’s a better option than
the standard care with which you’re familiar.
• You’ll save time by not taking your kitty to
the vet as frequently. With homeopathic
care, you treat the source of the urinary
infection, not merely the symptoms, which
may help prevent new bladder infections.
What Is Homeopathic
Care for Cats?
• You will save cash over the long term by
avoiding costly products that only create
more health issues for your cat.
Homeopathic, or holistic, medicine is an
alternative way of viewing illness. While conventional pharmaceuticals treat the symptoms of cat urinary problems, they neglect to
address the reasons your pet is contracting
UTIs. Unlike standard vet care, homeopathic
practitioners look at the cat as a complete
system, not just as a urinary tract. Holistic pet
care operates on the principle that your cat’s
body is intended to maintain a balance that
protects her from illness, helping her to cure
herself. If an imbalance occurs, your cat gets
sick. The holistic approach is employed in an
effort to restore the lost balance.
Our cats are exposed to several poisons in
their food, not only from the environment, but
even in the grooming products you may be
using on them. Selecting only natural food
and supplies is your best defense against
illness, and will keep kitty healthy and safeguard her from a feline urinary tract infection.
Advantages to
Homeopathics for Cats
• Homeopathic cat care will enhance your
feline friend’s standard of living by maintaining a higher standard of health.
• If your kitty should suffer an injury or sickness, she’ll heal more quickly.
• Natural ingredients are absorbed more
readily, helping in the healing process.
• By using homeopathic products for cats,
you may cut back your exposure to
poisons. You and your family are just as
exposed to ingredients in products you use
on your cat as your kitty is.
• Natural products are significantly more
eco-friendly than conventional cures. They
break down quickly, and do not leave
dangerous residue.
The Best Homeopathic
Cures for Cats
Feeding your cat a natural, additive-free diet
decreases her exposure to unnatural substances which can upset her delicate system.
Better nourishment will help her to withstand
feline urinary tract infections. A top-quality
natural diet will also stop health problems
like allergies and digestive problems. Buy
products specifically formulated for cats.
Less stress in your cat’s life will help her to
remain healthy. Try to identify any stressors
your cat may be
experiencing. Is
she having territorial disputes with
another cat? Is she
lonely? Exercise
contributes to lower
stress levels as well
as keeping her in
tip-top shape.
If you’ve decided (as millions have) that turning to homeopathic care for cats is the best
decision, you’ll be thrilled to find out how
easy it is to find products that cover every
need, from food to furball control. At CatUrinary.com, see a selection of only the best
quality holistic products for your cat’s comfort
and health. Got a cat with recurring UTIs?
That’s our specialty! Visit CatUrinary.com and
bring some comfy to your kitty.
Susan Livingstone is the creator of The Cat
Bladder Blog (http://caturinary.com). She
offers products, information, advice and help
to cat owners everywhere—specifically those
who need resources for dealing with cat urinary tract infections. You can visit her site to
find many more articles on feline urinary tract
health, natural, herbal, organic and homeopathic remedies for the prevention of cat UTI,
the best cat urinary tract food, and links to
other information on cat medicine and common feline disease prevention. n
With wonderful
holistic products,
your kitty will live
a long, happy life.
If she doesn’t feel
well, her standard
of life will not be
as good. Once you
have started to use
homeopathics for
cats, you will see a
dazzling improvement in your cat’s
health, as well as
relief from continuing feline urinary
tract infections and
countless other
health concerns.
Napps Network • 7
Promoting Your Pet Sitting Web Site on Facebook
By Mike Schmidt, 401 Labs
T
he number of new marketing avenues
on the Internet these days is enough to
make a pet sitter’s head spin! As a pet
sitter, how do you know where to spend your
time to get the most out of your online marketing efforts? Twitter? Facebook? Yelp? YouTube? In this article, we attempt to demystify
the Social Networking landscape on the Web
today and give you some help promoting
your pet sitting business on the largest social
networking site of them all: Facebook.
What is Social Networking?
Social Networking is the process by which
people connect with one another on the Internet. Much as people build relationships and
interact in the real world, the same thing is
going on online! You can think of your e-mail
contact list as the most basic social networking mechanism. You have a list of people with
whom you are 'connected’ via e-mail. There
are, however, more sophisticated ways of
connecting online socially.
Social Networking sites exist for pretty
much any niche you can think of, connecting groups of people with common interests.
These sites focus on building online communities of people who share interests and/
or activities. Social Networking has encouraged new ways to communicate and share
information and can be a great way for small
businesses to stay in touch with existing
customers as well as find new ones.
As a pet sitter, you may be wondering how
you can take advantage of online social networks. Let's take a closer look at one of the
most popular sites in this category, Facebook,
and see how we can tap in to it to promote
your business online.
Overview of Facebook
With more than 300 million active users,
Facebook is the 300 lb. gorilla in the room.
Facebook has been around for more than five
years and is currently the most popular social
networking Web site today. This would be the
first place to start with your social networking
efforts and likely where you want to spend
most of your time.
8 • Napps Network
Social networking has encouraged new
ways to communicate and share information
and can be a great way for small businesses
to stay in touch with existing customers as
well as find new ones. On Facebook, people sign up for an account
and then make connections with friends. You
can add co-workers, old classmates, family
and clients as your friends. Each connection
made builds your social network. The bigger
your network of connections, the bigger your
reach is. Each connection you make is a pair
of eyes reading what you have to write about
your business, special deals and more. The
great news here is with that with more than
300 million members, there is great potential
to acquire clients, promote your business and
drive traffic to your Web site. Let's jump into
some of the details here with a tutorial.
'How to' Tutorial
The first step in your Facebook adventure is
to create a profile for yourself. You can start
the profile creation process by visiting www.
facebook.com and completing the signup
form on the homepage. Creating a page just
for yourself allows you to generate a network
of friends, clients and colleagues to be your
friends. Use this first profile for your personal
life, not related to your business.
Secondly, create a business page for your
pet sitting business. By creating a separate
page for your business, you to generate a
network around your business by inviting
your colleagues and clients to be fans of your
business. This page will be strictly for your
pet sitting business so always keep your
business page professional. In order to create
your business page, click on the 'Create a
Page' link. You’ll want to choose a local business, probably in the 'Pets' category. Make
sure to complete your profile by providing the
following:
• Your business name
• A short description of your business
• Location and contact information
• The URL of your Web site
• Upload your logo
• Add pictures of yourself, your facilities
and your clients
Once your business profile is created, make
sure to become the first 'fan' of it!
Having a business page on Facebook is not
as simple as creating a profile with some
information and then being done. There are
daily/weekly activities you should make sure
to maintain on your Facebook page. The most
important of these is keeping your Wall up to
date with new items. Your Wall is where you
post what you are doing or any news. Those
messages then appear so that friends and
fans can see them. Some Wall post ideas
might include:
• What have you been up to lately?
• Specials event you may have conducted
related to your business
• Pet related news/tips
• Products relevant to your business,
product reviews
• Pictures of you with your clients pets
Now that your Wall is up to date with the
latest information, you need to keep building
new connections. If you meet someone in
person, make sure to see if you can connect on Facebook with them. When you have
friends on Facebook, try and connect with
friends of friends or ask for referrals. The
more friends you have the louder your voice
is and the farther your reach is.
Benefits of
Marketing on Facebook
The benefits of creating and maintaining
a Facebook profile for your business are
abundant:
• Keeping in touch with existing clients
• Finding new clients
• Driving traffic to your Web site
• Appearing more professional
• Showing your dedication
• Buildinging lasting relationships
• Giving you the online edge over the
competition
Using all that Facebook has to offer can
greatly boost your pet sitting opportunities.
Many pet sitters have found Facebook to be
an essential addition to their business. It is
important to remember however, that while
your Facebook page is a great avenue to
drive business, you should still have a dedicated Web site just for your business.
In Conclusion
More and more people are making connections via social networks on the Internet. As a
small business owner, you are missing out on
those connections if you are not participating
on sites like Facebook. So get your Facebook
profile created and start making some connections, because your competition is.
Mike Schmidt is the owner of 401 Labs,
which created the myNAPPS Web site
program for NAPPS members. NAPPS knows
how difficult it can be to find a Web designer
for your pet sitter Web site, which is why we
created myNAPPS, an all-in-one specialized
tool for Pet Sitters. myNAPPS lets you create
your own Pet Sitter Web site with no technical knowledge, starting at just $9.99/month.
myNAPPS allows your pet sitting business
to get online with a Web site, domain name
and e-mail accounts without the hassle and
costs of trying to do everything yourself. You
can read more about myNAPPS at mynapps.
com. n
Napps Network • 9
Turn On and Tune In
By Marcia Breithaupt, NAPPS Emergency Planning Committee Chair
R
arely a day goes by without one U.S.
state being affected by weather or
natural disasters. Check the FEMA
clickable map for your state at http://www.
fema.gov/kids/whatnow. Although conventional radio, TV and the Internet may inform
us after the fact, few tools are available
to quickly or efficiently warn us of sudden
problems.
The NOAA Weather
Radio System
A hidden “jewel” provided by the federal
government, with remarkable value and reliability, is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio
System. The NOAA is our climate oversight
and reporting facility for all weather and
climate quality information.
What began as simple weather reporting
transmitters for boaters along our coasts in
the 1960’s evolved into a system of weather
and alert mechanisms for the general public.
This radio and alert system is able to not only
inform us of pending weather problems, but
also supplies updates and status and may
give safety directions before, during, and
after such incidents.
Most people have either owned a small desktop radio or heard the computerized voice
repeating the local weather on these five
minute loops, but there is much more to this
system than a “talking weatherman.”
How it Works
Spaced around the U.S. are more than 1,000
transmitting stations strategically located to
cover all major cities and counties. These
100-1,000 watt stations broadcast with
roughly the same range as a local FM radio
of a 30-50 mile radius, depending on the
terrain.
Weather for a particular area is updated
hourly from the National Weather Service, but
should emergencies arise, weather updates
can be made immediately. During nonemergency periods, you will hear a collection
of standard tape loops for the various current
and forecast conditions.
10 • Napps Network
Special All-Hazard Alerts
NOAA provides additional alerts deemed “AllHazards” Alerts. Each station is a conventional transmitting radio station but piggybacked
on top of the normal weather audio is the
recently added Emergency Alert Signal (EAS)
digital signal. This secondary signal is not
only a “wake-up” signal to turn the radio on
but is also a data stream placing text on the
front of the radio to read as well as special
audio statements.
These alerts may not be weather related and
include earthquakes, chemical spills, train
wrecks, Amber alerts, fires, nuclear, landslide
or any warning that may affect entire communities.
“SAME” County Codes
About 10 years ago the Emergency Broadcast
System updated the ability to selectively
broadcast by county using a digital system
of codes that can tell the radio where it is
and how to respond to a prescribed code if
it receives it. These codes are broadcast via
the Specific Area Message Encoding system
(SAME). Every county in the 50 states and
territories is assigned a SAME code you can
program into your weather radio.
This code does two things. First, it tells the
radio where it is located which helps set the
frequency of the receiver for the weather
radio. Second, it tells the radio to remain
in a silent mode until a special emergency
broadcast is received for that county.
The radio will automatically turn on with a
shrill, attention-getting tone and broadcast
a vocal emergency statement. Additional
information may be shown on an optional
radio display showing simple text such as,
“Tornado Warning,” “Earthquake,” or “Amber
Alert.”
NOAA Coverage Maps
There are seven frequencies to choose from
to avoid radio collision with nearby transmitters on the same frequency. These “cells”
often overlap, so you may be able to pick up
weather for your county but also one or two
stations in neighboring counties.
The map provided is a good example of the
coverage of various signals for the Boston
area. It is important to understand such a
map since you may be receiving a distant
signal for a station that is not the correct local signal specifically addressing your county.
First notice the white area which is the signal
coverage area for that station. Most weather
radios in homes will pick up a signal within
this white region.
Next, notice the “hashed” area which indicates the counties directly under control of
this local station. If there is an emergency in
these counties, information will be transmitted over this station only for these counties.
If you are listening on a weather radio station
in Boston but live in Connecticut for example,
you will not hear emergency updates for your
home area but only the Boston area. You
must be tuned to the station specifically assigned to your county for proper updates.
How to Set up and
Use Your Radio
1.Immediately after purchasing an NOAA
radio, be sure to locate the “SAME” code
for emergency broadcast in your county.
Program this in per the instructions.
2.Test the radio to make sure it is receiving a good, strong audio signal. Most
units include a “weather” button you can
instantly check for the local broadcast. n
Napps Network • 11
Mucho Gusta
G
usta "Gus" Elfving is not your traditional
pet sitter.
He doesn't take cash or checks.
He doesn't own a car.
He doesn't operate from a business plan.
Yet, the Washington, DC pet sitter is enjoying rapidly escalating success after years of
looking for his life's calling.
Photos by Luke Eshleman Photography.
"I'm not a ‘business’ person," says the
39-year-old owner of Pet Peeps, LLC. "I do
not have a business plan. I am more of an
entrepreneurial spirit—I did not start out
to build a pet sitting business . . . it started
me!," he jokes.
told him he was leaving his part-time job as
a dog walker and asked Gus if he would like
to take over his job. Gus agreed and took his
first steps into the pet care profession.
As a military brat, Gus spent most of his
youth moving around the world with his
family. At age 12, he settled with his mother
and younger siblings in rural Oklahoma. The
family had a rabbit, two barn cats, an outdoor
dog, and a calf that Gus bottle fed. While his
family had always owned dogs, it was here
that Gus developed and deepened his understanding of and respect for all animals.
Initially, Gus was not comfortable with the
idea of dogs being kept in apartments in a
city, where they could not roam free, as had
his pets on his farm in Oklahoma. "I didn't
think dogs should be kept cooped up indoors
all day. I thought it unfair to the pets and
couldn't take that seriously." After spending
time with his big city charges, however, he
soon found his attitudes changed. He began
to see that pet ownership in the city was not
just possible, it was also extremely viable.
After high school, Gus enlisted and spent
two years in the U.S. Navy, then became a
non-traditional student, taking breaks to earn
money in part-time jobs, pursue an acting career and try to find himself. After finishing his
undergraduate degree in Communications,
Legal Institutions, Economic and Government
at American University, Gus continued to live
and work in D.C. while trying to figure out
what to do with his life. While his hospitality
and retail jobs paid the bills, none offered
personal fulfillment.
During this period, Gus was dating a pet sitter
who did overnights at a boarding facility. Gus
ended up taking the overnights himself and
he began to realize how much he missed
having pets in his life. Not much later, a friend
12 • Napps Network
Upon leaving the dog walking company for
which he worked for about a year, he was
allowed to keep two of his clients. Soon, he
began to be approached by new clients. He
printed inexpensive business cards and began putting up flyers in the neighborhood. He
put an ad on Craigslist and hit up his friends
with pets.
As word of mouth began to send more clients
his way, he continued to work retail. “I had a
great part-time job with benefits. I was afraid
to leave that security,” Gus explains. "One
day, I got a call from the retail store where
I was working part-time and they told me
I hadn't worked a shift in two months and
wanted to know if I was still working there!,"
he laughs. "Up until that point, I had been
afraid to commit to pet sitting. I lacked the
self-confidence to start my own business and
I hadn’t considered pet sitting as a serious
career or business opportunity." Gus realized
his calling had found him and that pet sitting
was not only a financially viable business opportunity, but a fulfilling one, as well.
Gus continued to learn that pet sitting in a
large city has different challenges than in the
suburbs or rural areas. Traffic and parking
are significant problems. Pet sitters must use
bikes, walking, buses, the subway and car
sharing. Many pet owners live in apartments
and hotels with a concierge, who may not
be cooperative or wish to give keys to pet
sitters, so each visit requires the pet sitter to
wait until the concierge is free to meet with
them.
Another challenge for Gus is the transient
nature of the city's residents. Gus estimates
he can lose and have to replace as many as
one-quarter of his clients annually.
"We cater to mostly busy younger professionals, like lawyers and political staffers,
who are only in DC for two or three years
while they advance their careers," he said.
"It’s rare to build lifelong relationships with
our clients. I am constantly mining for new
clients to replace the ones who will be leaving," he says.
Pet Peeps business model is to service the
pet in the home, and offers overnight stays,
daily visits, and mid-day dog walks.
Pet Peeps does not take cash or checks, only
credit cards, another unique pet sitting business practice.
"We do all of our scheduling and billing
online, and the person I work with at the
software development company said, 'That
will never work,'" he says. "While it probably
would not fly in a suburban environment,
it works for me and my clients who find it
extremely convenient.”
Another against-the-grain business practice
Gus follows is eschewing the use of service
contracts.
"I have found that, by and large, by practicing good customer service, I haven’t really
needed a service agreement—especially
when I was just getting started. We have
policies on billing, late fees, cancellations,
etc., but we just state them.
“When I started, I had no idea that I was
even ‘supposed’ to have one. I didn’t have
any policies. When something came up, I just
tried to do the right thing,” Gus explains. “I
actually think it helped me create my own
approach and policies instead of mimicking
someone else’s.
"In some ways, service agreements create an
adversarial relationship, which is counter to
my whole concept of customer service," he
says. "But as the business grows, I can see
the need, too. Before I just said it verbally or
it was on the Web site or we just did the right
thing regardless of what the policy was. I still
do that, but I need everyone at Pet Peeps to
do it, too."
Gus recently had an attorney create a service
contract specifically for his business, but he
hasn’t implemented it, yet.
"I know people may call me naïve or stupid
for not having a service agreement, but it
works for me and my clients rarely mind,”
Gus says.
Gus now has 300 regular clients and 20
contractors. He recently hired his first office
assistant, who he expects be a full-time
employee within the year. He also uses parttimer contractors as backups.
Potential staff members must provide four
references: two professional, one personal,
and one pet-related. Gus has general liability
insurance, but also feels it's important to
have insurance that includes care, custody,
and control, despite the added cost.
Another unique aspect of his pet sitting
philosophy is that Gus doesn’t like to give too
much advice to clients. “Although I feel I'm a
repository of general and useful knowledge,
I tread lightly when offering specific advice,”
he says. "I try to defer to the vets, groomers, trainers and behaviorsts. I don't want
to be held liable for giving bad veterinary or
training advice. I have a high regard for those
professionals’ expertise. I love being a pet
sitter and that’s enough. At least, for now,”
Gus says.
After four years of running his business 365
days a year, with round-the-clock availability,
meeting every client and every pet, Gus is
beginning to feel the effects of burnout.
"I'm starting to get irritated when the phone
rings, even before I know who the client is,"
he says. "I work insane hours, from 8:00 a.m.
to 11:00 p.m. I don't have the one-on-one
relationship as much with new clients."
"I haven't had a life the last few years, which
I now desperately want. I need to start pulling
back. Hopefully, our new terms of service will
help with that."
"I do not have a business background,
but I’ve had a lot of success. In hindsight,
although I didn’t really plan my business, I
wish I had developed a business plan,” he
admits. "We started as a dog walking business and evolved into a pet sitting company.
We've adjusted our vision and approach. I
would recommend to others starting out to
put some forethought into your business.
Jump in and worry about the minutia later,"
he recommends. "I still don't have a business
plan, but I now have a clearer vision."
As his business began to be viable and continued to grow, Gus wanted to become more
involved in and give back to the profession.
He became involved the Proactive Pet Sitters
Association, a national, eco-friendly organi
zation. PPSA members follow earth-friendly
business practices, such as using recycled
paper, participating in car-sharing, reusing
materials where/whenever possible, etc.
Members also support local animal welfare
organizations.
After attending a Red Cross Pet First-Aid
class, Gus heard about and joined Pet Sitters
International. Soon after, he was told about
NAPPS and joined.
"I really wanted to be part of, and actively
involved in, a national association," he said.
"I wanted to be a member who could make a
difference in my profession and in my community."
After attending his first NAPPS Annual
Conference in 2009, Gus was asked to serve
on the NAPPS Member Benefits Committee
and accepted. "We want to make sure we're
providing something of value to our members. We want to give our members the same
attention they give their charges," he says of
his work with the committee. In addition, he
has recently joined the NAPPS Membership
Committee, where he looks forward to the
prospect of helping the Association grow.
NAPPS appeals to Gus because it offers
members an active voice in the profession
and an opportunity to serve the association,
instead of just being served by it. He hopes to
remain involved and be active in NAPPS for
many years to come.
Gus may joke about flying by the seat of
his pants as he runs his business, but his
good nature towards and trust in clients
has allowed him to finally find and pursue
something about which he’s passionate. His
success has also offered him the opportunity
to bring a pet back into his life, a rescue
bichon frise named Gia he recently adopted.
"Pet sitting is a noble calling," says Gus.
"How much more useful can you be to your
fellow man than caring for one of God's other
sentient creatures, taking care of what some
people consider their children? I didn't pursue the business, it pursued me," he says.
For Gus Elfving, operating from the heart and
gut has more than made up for not operating
from a business plan, and helped him build a
financially successful, personally fulfilling pet
sitting business.
The opinions in this article are solely those
of the person profiled and may or may not
express the views or opinions of NAPPS. n
Napps Network • 13
Howl-oween Charity Event Culminates
Successul Presents 4 Pets Campaign
More than 500 people, accompanied by more than 200 dogs, attended
NAPPS member Many Oram’s second annual Howl-oween Charity Event.
Mandy, owner of Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Service in Shelton, CT, concluded her annual Presents 4 Pets (P4) campaign this year by hosting the
event, which was a big hit with humans and canines alike.
Everyone browsed rows of vendors offering dog-related products and services as they enjoyed favorites songs such as Hound Dog and Rescue Me,
provided by a professional DJ.
The main attraction of the event was the dog costume contest and fun
match, which provided opportunities for canines of all shapes and sizes
to compete for ribbons and prizes in categories such as Best Costume,
Waggiest Tail and Cutest Dog. The event also included a silent auction, door
prizes, pet photos with Raffi the Rescue Dog and a Snack Shack, which
provided food to hungry humans throughout the event.
The event was a huge success, with more $1,000.00 worth of items donated on the day of the event. Including the funds raised at the event, Mandy’s
2009 Presents 4 Pets collection campaign total was well over $5,000.00!
In order to reach her collection goal this year, Mandy involved both her pet
sitting clients and the local community in her efforts. She notified all her
clients via her quarterly newsletter of her P4P campaign, encouraging them
to leave items for donation for their pet sitter to collect. She involved the
local community by placing P4P donation boxes in more than half a dozen
businesses throughout the area, including pet stores, banks and even her
hairdresser’s salon. The donation boxes were emptied weekly as they filled
up with donated items. Local businesses were also encouraged to participate by donating products or services to support the Howl-oween Charity
Event. Businesses which supported the event by donating products or services included Giove’s Pizza (pizza to sell at the event), the Mobile DJ’s (DJ
services), Wellness and Merrick Pet Foods (treats for prizes), Kong (toys for
prizes), H3 Pet Supply (pet products and services for prizes) and Fred Dray
Photography (professional event photography), to name just a few.
Mandy feels hosting a Presents 4 Pets campaign is a win-win proposition
for all NAPPS members. A campaign is able to collect and donate muchneeded pet care items to local animal shelters, while at the same time raising the profile of a sitter’s business. Mandy’s press releases about her P4P
campaign and Howl-oween Charity Event appeared in all her local papers
and even on the radio! Each newspaper article featured information about
her P4P charity campaign efforts, as well as her name, her business name,
and all of her contact information, including her Web address. You can’t buy
advertising like that!
Mandy Oram owns Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Service, LLC, based in Shelton, CT. She is the NAPPS Presents 4 Pets Committee Chair and the winner
of the NAPPS 2010 Members in Action Award. She can be reached via
e-mail at [email protected]. If you would like to learn more
about hosting a Presents 4 Pets campaign next year, visit the NAPPS Web
site for details. n
14 • Napps Network
The following thread has been edited from
NAPPSChat on the NAPPS Annual Conference.
Post #1
Hello All,
I'm considering attending the NAPPS conference in January. Have the room booked, but
still shopping for air fare. Obviously, as any
conference, I know this would be beneficial,
but now it's looking like a $2,000 weekend.
Can I get any feedback from someone who
attended last year's conference? And maybe
previous other conferences? Thanks for any
feedback.
Tim
Post #2
Hi to All,
As a part-time pet sitter back in 2008, I was
eager to do more with pet sitting. I attended
the NAPPS conference in Orlando.
1)If you can afford it;
2)If you are somewhat new to the business
and/or have the need for much more
elaboration than NAPPSchat can provide
on certain questions, as well as education on a variety of relevant topics;
3)If you want to get REALLY motivated by
meeting/networking with other pet sitters, many board/committee/other members, all of whom are very approachable
and eager to share;
4)If you want seminars/workshops that go
from early a.m. until late afternoon (there
are NO FILLERS here);
Well, then I’d go!! From my point of view, the
conference is outstanding!
Jane
16 • Napps Network
Post #3
I too have been weighing the cost of the
conference vs. the value. I decided to vote in
favor of attending, based on the fact that the
ROI for the cost of my NAPPS membership
was returned to me in my first 30 days. This
is my first year of operation. I have the same
expectations (ROI) for the $300.00 cost to
attend the conference.
Renee
Post #4
I attended the 2008 and 2009 NAPPS conferences. My business would never have grown
this large, this quickly, without the knowledge, support and encouragement I received
at these invaluable events. Both years, I came
home with over 30 pages of notes taken during the seminars. The notes consist of quotes,
ideas of better practices, policies, marketing
ideas and more. To make sure these needed
improvements didn’t stay sleeping away in
that notebook, I listed each “action item” on
an index card. As the year has progressed, I
pull out action item cards, one at a time, so
I can implement these changes as my time
allows: 1hour, 4 hours, a whole day?
As of today, I have completed 21 implementations to improve the way I do business, the
ways in which I market, and the rate at which
I improved profits. Many of these activities
will also qualify for my Certification Continuing Education Units (CEUs). I have 14 ideas/
policies I’d still like to put in place before the
end of the year. My Annual Conference event
experience has proven that:
• The pets benefit, in everyday and emergency situations.
• The clients benefit in that their homes,
keys and pets are more secure and better cared for.
• My staff benefits with the improved
dissemination of knowledge and better
inter-company communications.
• My community benefits from my
Emergency Planning training and our
participation in Presents4Pets.
• My company benefits with growth AND
higher profits in a year where very few
can say so.
• I benefit from the opportunity to meet so
many wonderful pet sitters from across
the country, and creating friends for life.
Christi
Post #6
I am a solo pet sitter, too, but in 2008 I
decided I wanted AND needed to go to the
Conference. I notified my clients I was going
and told them what it was about and how it
would benefit them and their animal families.
When some of my clients said they would
DELAY THEIR VACATIONS just so I could go...
AND told me how much they appreciate me
in addition...it was a huge pat on the back
for me, and made me feel doubly good that
I decided to go. By doing this, it is one more
way in which you let your clients know how
committed you are to your business. The
Conference was wonderful. When I came
back home I was full of energy, enthusiasm
and just plain old get-down-and-dirty-readyto-rule-the-world attitude. There is nothing
like it. I'm getting excited right now just
thinking about it. Think about going to the
Conference in January.
Janda
NAPPSChat is the online member forum
located at NAPPS Chat Yahoo Forum, located at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
NAPPSchat/ where members can share
opinions, give advice and offer support
to fellow NAPPS members. If you don’t
already participate, join today. n
Self-Worth = Net Worth
By Kristin Morrison
A
few weeks ago I had a pet sitter call
me to ask if I could do an emergency
coaching session with her.
She started her session by letting me know
she was completely burned out and she
had called wanting to know exactly what it
took for me to get from ‘there’ (frustration,
burnout, working a ton but not making a
ton of money) to ‘here’ (ease and joy in my
work life, working three-to-four days a week,
making a lot of money without doing a lot of
work, etc.).
I walked her through the various changes I
had made in my business and exactly what
I do differently now, that I didn’t do then. We
talked about the nuts and bolts of running a
business—from spreadsheets to marketing
to time management.
Then we hit on the most important business
tool of all—self-worth.
Discovering that place that is deep within
ourselves that really knows we deserve to
make a lot of money without a lot of stress
and strife.
Out of that awareness comes the self-worth
to raise client prices, market the heck out of
our county, have the phone ringing off the
hook and to not take difficult and superchallenging clients simply because they are
paying us green stuff.
Have I been at the place of low self-worth?
You bet. And yes, it is challenging. It absolutely affected the way I ran (or didn’t run) my
business and it absolutely affected my profits.
How did I get to the place of high self-worth?
Well, it has come from the various little and
big changes I made in my business life. Some
of them include:
• Having the willingness to say no to
clients no matter the amount of money
they were willing to pay because I knew
that, should I take them on, they’d suck
my energy dry.
• Raising my pet sitting prices even when I
was scared.
• Realizing that I don’t want to work 40+
hours a week and having it be okay
that I work much less than most of the
American population!
• Allowing myself to have the desire
to make a lot of money and not to be
ashamed that I wanted to make a lot
of money. That one took a long time to
break free from and sometimes I still
struggle with the “okay-ness” of wanting
to be wealthy.
Self-worth often came when I had the courage to run my life and my business in a way
that was congruent with those inner parts of
me that desire a really great life—one with
meaning, purpose, ease and profit. Managing my life and business in a way that isn’t
always congruent with the way society says I
should manage my life or my business.
Noticing is a first step to changing behavior.
And if the current way you run your business
is not working for you, begin the process of
changing the way you run your business.
Making those changes will increase your
self-worth which will, in turn, increase your
profit.
Kristin Morrison is a pet sitting business
owner and a business coach for pet sitters as
well as the founder of Six-Figure Pet Sitting
Academy.™ Kristin is a firm believer in working smarter (not harder) and has created a
six-figure pet sitting business while working
three-to-four days a week. She coaches other
pet sitting business owners on the art of creating a successful pet sitting business while
maintaining a fun and successful life. You can
email Kristin at:[email protected] n
As I stay true to my
own inner course
in business and my
life, my profits have
continued to rise,
rise, rise. And yours
can too.
Today I encourage
you to: 1) Notice
the areas where
you are saying ‘yes’
when really you
want to say ‘no’;
2) Notice when
you are charging a
client too little and
feeling resentful for
the amount of time
a particular pet sitting/dog walking job
is taking you.
Are you feeling
totally stressed out
in the area of time
and/or money? If
so, what you can do
to give yourself a
little breathing room
today?
Napps Network • 17
Association News
Strategic Planning for Future Success
By Felicia Lembesis, NAPPS Executive Director
E
ach year in the fall, the NAPPS Board
of Directors meets for a retreat. At the
retreat, newly-elected board members
are provided with a board orientation to learn
about the importance of their roles in representing the organization, described in the fall
issue of the NAPPS Network, the duties of
care, loyalty and obedience. In addition, goals
for the coming year are set and a budget is
reviewed that encompasses any expenses
needed to meet the goals.
At the September 2008 board retreat a
strategic planning session was conducted.
Following the lead of the business community, associations have adopted the concept
of strategic planning. Unlike the business
world, whose focus is on profits, associations
Vision Statement:
To be the most respected authority
in professional pet sitting.
(with more limited resources and concerns
other than profit) focus on providing services
to their membership and other relevant communities.,
During the strategic planning session,
through a systematic process, the organization examines both organizational and
environmental factors that can affect the
future success of the association. Firstly, the
mission statement was reviewed and determined to be appropriate:
• Provide tools
and support to
foster the success
of members’ businesses
• Promote the
value of pet sitting
to the public
• Promote the
welfare of animals
Next, a need for a
vision statement
was determined to
be important and an
exercise was completed to develop a
mission statement.
To be the most respected authority
in professional pet
sitting.
Following the
development of the
mission statement, NAPPS’
mega-issues were
discussed. These
18 • Napps Network
were determined to be: (1) the economy and
(2) educational issues necessary to support
members in their success. Although megaissues are not intended to be resolved during
the session, they are issues that will be
considered for future strategic thinking.
A Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
Threats analysis was conducted resulting in
group consensus that NAPPS should focus
on:
(1) Marketing and Communication - by
integrating marketing and communication
to deliver a cohesive message to the NAPPS
community.
(2) Leadership and Volunteerism - ensure
NAPPS is effectively structured to meet the
needs of the association, the needs of the
members, and to achieve the mission.
These goals provide a clear direction for the
organization and are documented to provide
an outline for specific actions required to
achieve the goals.
At the recent 2009 board retreat, the goals
derived at the 2008 board retreat were
reviewed to determine their continued
relevance and to develop the tasks associated with the achievement of the goals for
2010. NAPPS will continue its marketing
efforts “to be the most respected authority
in professional pet sitting” and continue to
grow the volunteer base for future leadership
of NAPPS. In 2010, in support of these goals,
look for a redesigned Web site and the development of the “Excellence in Governance”
program to be incorporated into the NAPPS
Certification program. n
Public Relations Tools
Marketing and publications should be an
essential element in growing your business.
With the holiday season just around the corner, now is the perfect time to get the word
out to potential clients about your business
and its services.
For a sample holiday press release template,
visit the “Building Your Business” section of
the Member Center of the NAPPS Web site.
In addition to this customizable release you
will find various press release templates and
information on how to develop your PR plan
to market yourself, your company and its
services. n
Youth Education
Teaching Future Pet Parents and Sitters
The NAPPS Youth Education
committee was developed as a
way to reach out to future pet
parents and instill in them the
love and care needed to become
responsible pet parents. In addition, the committee initiatives
provide a way to promote pet
sitting in the community. A variety of lessons for youth, for tots
to teens is being developing.
When complete, the program
will have developed specific lessons for four age groups:
Pre-school • Grades 2-5 •
Middle School • High School
One of lessons for the youngest
age group Pets are Family Too!
includes general health and
safety. Children will learn about
proper pet care and pet safety.
The lesson plans developed by
the committee can be conducted
at schools, churches and day
care facilities or presented to
scout troops and other community groups.
Programs for pre-schoolers
and for grades 2-5 are being
finalized. Programs for middle
school and high school aged
adolescents are in the works,
with an expected roll-out in the
spring of 2010.
The committee is currently
chaired by Yvette Gonzales of As
You Wish Pet Sitters of Highlands
Ranch, Colo. For more information, or to participate on the task
forces creating the curricula,
please contact Yvette at [email protected]. n
Napps Network • 19
Jennifer Haralson, owner,
A Pause for Paws, Inc.
I
grew up in Columbus, Neb., a
small agricultural community. My
parents were both self employed
and I learned from a very early age
about the benefits, the insecurity,
the roller coaster of emotions and
the hard work that self employment
takes to be successful.
Like most pet sitters, I have always
loved animals. I grew up with a dog
or cat always present in our family.
As a young adult, my personal pet
experience consisted of hamsters,
hedgehogs, ferrets, fish, dogs and
cats.
I became a teacher knowing it
would always be a “back-up plan”
for security once I found out what I
really wanted to do with my life. My
husband, Perry, was a U.S. Marine,
so we traveled when we were first
married. We lived without pets in apartments
as we attended college until 1998 when we
settled in San Diego, Calif.
It was in San Diego that I found pet sitting
as I was searching for someone to sit for our
dog and ferrets while we were in Nebraska
to see family. I remember feeling excited and
reading everything I could get my hands on
about this industry. I knew in my heart this
was the career I had been looking for and
that my life experiences would benefit me in
making this a success.
The industry was very new at that point and
there were a limited number of pet sitting
businesses, even in San Diego. I know now
that God put us there, so far away from my
roots and family, so I could find the biggest
pleasure of my life. Pet sitting was totally
unknown in the agricultural communities of
the Midwest, and so I needed to leave there
in order to pursue it.
I started Jennifers’ Pet Sitting with a partner,
Jennifer Arrieta, in 1999. We initially got into
pet sitting because we loved to surround
our lives with pets and wanted to be self
20 • Napps Network
employed. After nine months in business,
Jennifer was able to quit her full-time job as
a veterinary technician to focus on our business. I pet-sat part time and taught school
part time, and was able to become a full-time
about three years after starting our service.
When my husband and I decided to move to
Lincoln, Neb., Jennifer and I sold our business. Using the profits from the sale, I started
A Pause for Paws in Lincoln. After growing
the business on my own and hiring a few
employees, I wanted to share my dream of
self employment with others.
I changed A Pause for Paws into an SCorporation. Being an S-Corporation allows
me to sell shares of the business to others
with a love of pet sitting. Currently A Pause
for Paws, Inc. has five owners. My husband
and I own 55 percent of the shares, Tonia
Tauke owns 25 percent, and Jana and Andy
Childress own 20 percent. This diversity adds
to shared workloads and tons of ideas and
experiences which makes our business rich
with customer service and personal connections. I believe this model is different than
any other pet sitting business in the country.
It also gives us opportunities to expand our
services beyond pet sitting into in-home
boarding for dogs, dog training, overnights,
house-sitting and mid-day dog walks.
I have been a member of NAPPS since 2000
and am finishing my second year as a director on the NAPPS board. I have served on the
Youth Education Program and Certification
committees. I have learned an immeasurable
amount of information to help my business
by serving with NAPPS in these ways. The
annual conferences, NAPPSChat and the
committees have all helped me grow my
professional pet sitting network across the
nation. NAPPS is an invaluable resource for
all pet sitters who get involved.
In addition to my love for pet sitting and
running my own business, I am a wife and a
mother of two young boys. I am a pet parent
to a boxer, Tobey and a cat, Miss Diego, volunteer with the Missouri Valley Boxer Rescue
and serve as the leader for a local networking group SWELL (Successful Women Entrepreneurs of Lincoln and Lancaster County).
You can follow me on twitter at http://twitter.
com/jharalson or visit my Web site at www.
LoveYourPetSitter.com. n
NAPPS COMMITTEES
As a member of NAPPS, you play a part in the exciting growth of the in-home professional pet care industry, and you have a voice
in the association’s affairs and governance. You can help shape your association by becoming more involved in the programs and
activities that NAPPS offers. Your time commitment is up to you. You can be involved as little or as much as you like. By serving on a
Committee, you learn new skills and network with your peers. Get involved today by visiting www.petsitters.org!
BENEFITS
GOVERNANCE
The mission of the NAPPS Member Benefits Committee is to
enhance the value of NAPPS membership by developing and
providing access to education, resources, tools and materials to
foster the growth and success of member businesses.
The mission of the NAPPS Governance Committee is to formally
establish an annual strategic planning system, identify, educate
and position future leaders and help the board assess and improve its operations.
Volunteer Needs: The Benefits committee brings our members all of
the great benefits. The committee is tasked to research and implement
new benefits for our membership and review and improve current
benefits. Average committee member time is estimated at one to two
hours per week based on the project and your availability.
Volunteer Needs: This is a new committee that will keep current on
the association’s governance issues as well as provide research on
legislative issues relevant to our industry. Ideal committee members
are individuals with background in governance or legislation but that is
not required. Average committee member time is estimated at one to
two hours per week based on the project and your availability.
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 2nd Wednesday of every month
at 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 3rd Wednesday of the month
at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
Chair: Jerry Wentz, [email protected]
Chair: Monica Leighton, [email protected]
Certification Subcommittee
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 2nd Thursday of every month
at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Chair: Christie Fries, [email protected]
Legislative Subcommittee
Monthly Meeting Dates: To Be Determined
Chair: Candance Labane-Godfrey
Disaster Preparedness Subcommittee
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 3rd Wednesday of every month
at 4:00 PM Eastern Time
Chair: Marcia Breithaupt, [email protected]
MARKETING
The mission of the NAPPS Marketing is to build awareness about
NAPPS, NAPPS programs and the pet sitting profession. NAPPS
has several marketing committees.
Annual Conference Subcommittee
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 2nd Wednesday of every month
at 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Chair: Monica Leighton, [email protected]
Presents 4 Pets Subcommittee
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 2nd Thursday of every month
at 8:00 PM Eastern Time
Chair: Mandy Oram, [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP
The mission of the NAPPS Membership Committee is to serve
NAPPS by developing strategies to increase membership, retain
existing membership and provide a resource for existing members.
Volunteer Needs: Creative, innovative people are needed to assist in
planning and implementing programs to stimulate and sustain NAPPS
membership growth. We anticipate the time commitment to be four to
five hours per month.
Monthly Meeting Dates: 3rd Thursday of each month at
4:00 PM Eastern Time.
Chair: Sherry Suhosky, [email protected]
Youth Education Subcommittee
Monthly Meeting Dates: The 2nd Thursday of every month
at 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Chair: Jennifer Haralson, [email protected]