Zoo Sitters, LLC

Adoptions - Feline Frenzy February!

2012-01-29T19:25:00.000-08:00

Cape May County Freeholder Leonard Desiderio and Sheriff Gary Schaffer invite the public to participate in the Cape May County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center 's Feline Frenzy February!

If you are interested in adopting a cat, now is the time. The Animal Shelter has over 200 cats for you to choose from to adopt during the month of February.

Freeholder Desiderio said, "The Cape May County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center needs to make room for the influx of cats and kittens that inevitably arrive at the Shelter in the Spring, so, we hope to increase cat adoptions with this promotion in February."

Throughout the month, the Shelter will be offering reduced adoption fees coinciding with various holidays.

February 1 through February 12, in honor of President Abraham Lincoln's Birthday, cat adoption fees will be $12.

February 13 through February 19 adopt your "Furry Valentine" for $14.

February 20 through February 28, in honor of President George Washington's Birthday, cat adoption fees will be $22.

On February 29, to celebrate leap year, all cats under a year old can be adopted for $29.

Sheriff Schaffer said, "As you can see, adoption fees will increase as time goes by so be sure to adopt early in the month and give a cat a home."

All cat adoptions include:

spay/neuter, vaccinations, microchipping, cat carrier, a Hartz Kitty Caster toy, PetSmart coupons worth $160 plus a free vet visit."

The Cape May County Animal Shelter & Adoption Center is located in the Crest Haven Complex at 110 Shelter Road in Cape May Court House (Exit 11 off the Garden State Parkway ).

The facility is open seven days a week for adoptions from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Also, cats from the Shelter are available for adoption at the PetSmart store in Rio Grande .

For additional information call 609-465-8923, email animalshelter@cmcsheriff.net or visit www.capemaycountygov.net .

Help Some Kitties!

2012-01-29T18:55:00.000-08:00

Alley Cat Allies Asks You to Get Involved!

Alley Cat Allies would like you to help tell Loews Hotels to help the cats near their properties.

Click here to fill out
a simple form that will help!

2012-01-25T05:38:00.000-08:00

HeartsApart.org was created to keep military families connected with their loved ones. Through the efforts of some amazing photographers, HeartsApart.org provides our soon to be deployed servicemen and women with pictures of their spouses and children.

HeartsApart.org relies on its volunteers, and the help of corporate sponsors, to keep their non-profit thriving. Please help keep military families who are far apart, together at heart.

The pictures these photographers take are truly stunning. Please take the time to check them out in the Gallery on their website.

Visit www.heartsapart.org to see how you can help!

Shelter Shindig - February 18th!

2012-01-19T17:32:00.001-08:00

Mark your calendars for February 18th from 6pm-10pm and come on out to the Shelter Shindig in support of Animal Outreach of Cape May County.

Where: Cape May VFW #386

For $20, you'll get a buffet dinner, draft beer included, cash bar, 50/50, DJ Ed McDonough and lots of great raffles!

Click HERE for information and tickets!

Benefit to Support the Zoo!

2012-01-14T05:29:00.000-08:00

Come on out for The Year of the Dragon Celebration
to benefit the
Cape May County Zoo!

When: Saturday, January 28th beginning at 6PM

Where: The Princeton

2008 Dune Dr. Avalon

609.967.3456

www.princetonbar.com

The annual Chinese New Year Celebration famous for hand-crafted Asian foods, good fun, and a great way to support the zoo!

The celebration will feature a wide assortment of traditional Asian favorites and some new appetizers; Sweet & Sour Pork Sliders and Seared Beef Roll-to name a few.

The fun starts early and the dancing goes late with live music and DJ. The Back Bay Duo plays classic rock and a great mix for dancing.

There will be a raffle, Chinese auction and door prizes!

The cost is $35 at the door. Cash Bar.

Discount tickets can be purchased on the website:

www.capemaycountyzoo.org

Give a Gift to Shelter Kitties!

2011-12-25T08:32:00.001-08:00

Last year when I attended our trade show, I ran into a booth for Imperial Cat. I was so impressed with their products that I took one of their brochures and got on their mailing list. I was so happy when Kristie contacted me about their push to help shelter cats!

Imperial Cat has generously agreed to send 20 of their cat scratchers to a shelter of your choice for only $25! They even foot the bill for the shipping! This is a great way to support the thousands of kitties awaiting forever homes.

To Order:

Call: 1-800-783-0977
(ask for Kristie)

Email: info@imperialcat.com

For more information about Imperial Cat's Give Back programs visit
www.imperialcat.com and click the "Give Back" link.

In the News..

2011-12-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

Check out our latest press releases!

Career Gone to the Dogs

The Four-Legged Tourist

Top Five Finalists for Pet Sitter of the Year

IAMS RECALL

2011-12-07T05:57:00.000-08:00

Contact:

Consumer:
866-908-1569

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 6, 2011 - – The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) has voluntarily retrieved a single production lot of dry dog food due to aflatoxin levels that were detected above the acceptable limit. This product has already been retrieved from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported in association with this production lot to date, and no other Iams pet food products are involved.

Product affected by this announcement:

Product Name	Version
Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food with Use By or Expiration Dates of February 5 or February 6, 2013	7.0 lb bag
	8.0 lb bag
	17.5 lb bag

The following UPC Codes:

1278417716
1901402305
12794177D2
12794177D3
1901410208
12794177K1
12794177K2
1901401848

The affected product lot was distributed to a limited number of retailers located in the eastern United States (AL, CT, DE, FL, GA, LA, MD, ME, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, SC, VA). These retailers have already removed this product from store shelves. No other dry dog food, dry cat food, dog or cat canned food, biscuits/treats or supplements are affected by this announcement.

While no health effects related to this product have been reported, P&G retrieved this product as a precautionary measure. Consumers who purchased the product listed should stop using the product and discard it and contact Iams at the number below for a replacement voucher. Aflatoxin is a naturally occurring by-product from the growth of Aspergillus flavus and can be harmful to pets if consumed in significant quantities. Pets which have consumed this product and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

For further information or a product replacement or refund contact P&G toll-free at 866-908-1569
(Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST) or www.iams.com.

One of Five Finalists for Pet Sitter of the Year!

2011-11-30T19:19:00.000-08:00

It is with great joy and humility that I announce we have been chosen as one of five finalists in the Pet Sitter of the Year award through Pet Sitters International.

This is such an honor and I wanted to personally say thank you to all the folks who nominated us and who have been supportive of us through these past 6 years.

We have such a wonderful extended family within Zoo Sitters and it means so much to all of us to be chosen as one of the top five.

Zoo Sitters - One of Five Finalists for Pet Sitter of the Year Award - Press Release

2011-11-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Dont miss Animal Outreach's 4th Annual JAZZ BRUNCH
at the Merion Inn

Hot Buffet and Cool Jazz with
George Mesterhazy and Friends

Sunday, November 27
10:30 a.m.- 1:30 p.m.

Tickets $40.

Click HERE for details and ticket purchase!

Funding Granted for AO Shelter!

2011-11-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

Animal Outreach of Cape May County, Inc., announces that the USDA Office of Rural Development will be providing a low-interest loan/grant combination package so the organization can build a no-kill animal shelter and sanctuary at its property on Bayshore Road in North Cape May. This marks a milestone in the organization's long-standing quest to build such a facility for the homeless cats and dogs in the region. Architectural designs were supplied under the volunteer efforts of James Livoti, AIA, a committed animal lover from Bridgeton, NJ. "Every one of the volunteer leaders is committed to the cause of helping cats and dogs in need," says Livoti, "and I'm just honored to be part of the mission." Livoti adds that the group is also being helped by Opalek Engineering, LLC, of Somerdale, NJ.

Until now, the non-profit organization had relied on foster homes for the care of homeless cats and dogs until they are adopted. "We're still going to rely on those foster homes," says Ellen Shaw, President of Animal Outreach. "But now we'll have a shelter and sanctuary for the cats and dogs to be a better resource for the region." Shaw says Animal Outreach remains a resource for the current municipal shelter. "The county shelter is a great help to cats and dogs here," she says, "and we're hoping this facility will be a support for them as well."

In May 2007, the volunteer group suffered a tremendous loss when the trailer that it had been using for a shelter caught fire, killing all 37 cats inside. There was an outpouring from the community which raised thousands of dollars toward the building of a new structure. "The Board has been diligent in its study of what approach to take with a new structure," says Gina Tubertini-Loefflad, Treasurer for Animal Outreach. "We looked at modular buildings and found that the expense in setting one up was comparable to what our architect had drawn up. The last thing we wanted was another trailer, and we wanted an industrial facility that would withstand the test of time and the wear and tear we know a high volume of cats and dogs can bring to a building. We have been fortunate to have such a loyal donor base, and that funding brought us to about 20% of the way there. This USDA loan/grant combo brings us the remainder of the way, which is great news for homeless cats and dogs in the region!"

Animal Outreach plans to start work on the new shelter in late 2011/early 2012, with completion scheduled for 2013. If you want to help the cause, you can visit Animal Outreach at www.aocmc.org or call 609-898-1738. You can also visit Animal Outreach at Petsmart in Rio Grande every Friday and Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. to see the animals up for adoption.

For more information or to make a donation, please click here.

The Encyclopedia on Pets.....

2011-09-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

"While a pet is generally kept for the pleasure it can give to its owner, often, especially with horses, dogs and cats as well as other animals, this pleasure appears to be mutual. Thus, pet keeping can be described as a symbiotic relationship, one that benefits both animals and human beings. As the keeping of pets has been practiced from prehistoric times to the present and as pets are found in nearly every culture and society, pet keeping apparently satisfies a deep, universal need.

Perhaps the initial steps toward domestication were taken largely through the widespread human practice of making pets of captured young wild animals. Eventually, a working relationship developed between the dog and their human captors. The dog was swifter, had stronger jaws, and was better at tracking prey; therefore, it could be of great use in hunting and guarding duties. From human beings, on the other hand, the dogs were assured of a constant supply of food as well as warmth from the fire. There is indirect evidence that the dog may have been domesticated and kept as a private pet since Paleolithic times, as can be surmised from the paintings and carvings that archeologists have found in ancient campsites and tombs. In Mesopotamia, dogs that look remarkably like the present-day Mastiff were shown participating in a lion hunt. Domestic pets were often depicted in the scenes of family life in ancient Egypt; hunting dogs of the saluki type accompany their master to the chase, and lap dogs frequently sit under the chair of their mistress..." ~ Encyclopedia Britannica

Save the Date! Mutt Strut September 17!

2011-08-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

DOG LOVERS, MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

The 5^th Annual Mutt Strut is slated for Saturday, September 17 (rain date Sunday) on Cape May's beachfront promenade. This event, popular with locals and visitors alike, brings together dog owners and their canine companions for an enjoyable beachfront strut.

Registration is required to allow dogs on the Promenade and is held near the Convention Hall site on Beach Avenue beginning at 8 am.

The event takes place from 8 am to noon.

A donation of $1 per leg ($2/person, $4/dog) helps build the planned Animal Outreach Shelter and supports area dog training and canine community programs of the event's sponsor, Cape May County Dog Obedience Training Club (CMCDOTC).

This is a fun family event with door prizes, giveaways, auction and children's activity table, along with educational materials on dog ownership, training and animal adoption.

Come ! Enjoy the fun. And if you have no paws come and support a good cause.

The Mutt Strut is being held as part of the American Kennel Club (AKC) Responsible Dog Ownership Days, with over 500 events held in the US last year. According to AKC "this nationwide initiative educates the public about the importance of being a responsible dog owner and celebrates the deep bond between humans and their canine companions."

For more information on the Mutt Strut email cmcdotc@comcast.net or visit www.cmcdotc.com. For information on the programs and activities of Animal Outreach see www.aocmc.org.

Pet First Aid Awareness Month

2011-04-06T08:18:00.000-07:00

April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and a great time for all pet owners to learn how best to handle pet accidents and emergencies. We encourage all pet owners to learn what to do if their pet becomes injured by taking a Pet First Aid course (contact zoo sitters if interested in attending a class).

Dr. Emily Pointer, DVM, at Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York City, said that the most important aspect pet owners should take away from National Pet First Aid Awareness Month is how critical it is to be prepared.

“An emergency situation can be handled much faster and more appropriately if an owner has resources like a first aid kit (if you need to purchase a kit, please visit our link to WagN Enterprises. They have the best kits around and are reasonably priced) and list of important phone numbers (veterinarian, emergency animal hospital and poison control) easily accessible,” (zoo sitters can also provide you with a copy of your Client Profile. This will contain your information, along with your detailed Pet Profile, Vet Numbers and Addresses, etc. Simply contact us if you'd like a printed out copy of your information.) Dr. Pointer said.

Just like people, most pet accidents happen in or nearby the home. Examples of the most common pet accidents include toxic ingestion, dog bites, high rise syndrome, ripped toenails, foreign body ingestions with gastrointestinal problems, eye emergencies, broken bones, trouble giving birth and being hit by a car.

Simple first-aid procedures can be the difference between life and death. Knowing how to apply pressure to a source of bleeding and place a temporary bandage is vital to your pet’s safety, and may even save the life of your pet. As a side note, all Zoo Sitters pet sitters are certified in Pet First Aid through Pet Tech so rest assured that your babies will get the best of care when we sit for you.

According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), 25 percent more pets would survive if just one pet first aid technique were applied prior to getting emergency veterinary care.

“Even after a pet owner has administered first aid, it is extremely important to seek veterinary care as soon as possible,” Dr. Pointer said. “There are many, many emergencies that cannot be managed, even in the initial period, with simple first aid.”

Another aspect of Pet First Aid Awareness Month we'd like our clients to be aware of is Emergency Planning. Unfortunately, we do live in an area that often has hurricanes, surges, and all around nasty weather. Zoo Sitters has posted some leaflets that we recommend all clients have on file in their homes in case of evacuation. These leaflets can be posted on your door should you have to leave your home, letting first responders know if you do or do not have pets left behind. Click HERE to download your Evacuation Notices from the Articles tab on our website.

Middle Township's Annual Spay and Neuter Awareness Day!

2011-04-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

Come and check out our table on Saturday, April 9th from 9am through 12pm at Middle Township's Annual Spay and Neuter Awareness Day gathering.

Check out our Events link for more information. Hope to see you there, Middle Township residents!

And the Labs Have it.... Again...

2011-03-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

For the 20th consecutive year, the Labrador Retriever is the most popular dog breed in America, according to the American Kennel Club's recently announced 2010 registration statistics.

German Shepherds and Yorkshire Terriers rounded off the top three as they did last year, coming in second and third on the AKC Top 10 List, respectively.

Although the results may seem somewhat predictable, AKC's listing did reveal some shake-ups in the line-up. The Beagle and the Golden Retriever traded places, with the Beagle beating out the Retriever for fourth place. The Bulldog, which has been steadily rising up the ranks in recent years, stole sixth place from the Boxer which dropped to seventh. This is the Bulldog's highest ranking since the early 20th century!

Other noteworthy changes are the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel jumping from 54th to 23rd and the Havanese from 86th to 31st! However, the French Bulldog holds the distinction of having made the biggest leap in the past decade soaring from 71st to 21st place!

And the list is in....

2010 Most Popular Dogs in the U.S. (according to the American Kennel Club) are:
1. Labrador Retriever
2. German Shepherd
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. Beagle
5. Golden Retriever
6. Bulldog
7. Boxer
8. Dachshund
9. Poodle
10. Shih Tzu

The Sound of Music

2011-02-24T15:09:00.000-08:00

Sound and Music Therapy can have a very powerful effect on health. It's ability to heal has been utilized for thousands of years.

It is known that certain music increases peripheral circulation while other music stimulates mental, emotional, cognitive and social needs. Music is thought to be an effective treatment to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, alleviate pain, overcome learning disabilities, improve movement and balance and promote endurance and strength, while sound can alter skin temperature and reduce muscle tension.

While the above listing has proven results in humans, healers are finding the same results in plants and animals. Environmentalists know that some music will increase plant growth. Did you know that plants will often lean toward the music? Other music has been known to kill plants. It has been documented that stabled animals will remain calmer and heal more quickly with classical music being played throughout their environment. Cows have been known to be more
receptive to milking when calming music is played. They produce more or less milk depending upon the music provided.

Is it then such a far stretch to think that our domestic animals also react with differing behavior depending upon the sounds provided? Many clients leave a TV or radio on for their babies when they can't be home with them. If you decide this is best for you and your loved ones, feel free to update your Client Profile and we'll be happy to abide by your new instructions. Want further information? Check out the Resources below :)

Resources:
Animals in Translation – Temple Grandin
Music Medicine – Ralph Spintge
Music & Miracles – Don Campbell

-info from NAPPS

A Great Stocking Stuffer

2010-12-15T17:21:00.000-08:00

I've been reading Animal Wellness Magazine for awhile now and I just realized tonight what a great stocking stuffer this would be for those in your lives who are passionate about animals.

The articles are interesting and informative with a natural and organic feel. They have a great online library as well.

Looks like there is a holiday promotion going on too!

Happy Holidays!

Click HERE to head to the Animal Wellness Magazine site.

Hartz Dog Treat Recall

2010-11-25T17:26:00.000-08:00

Hartz Mountain, Corp. of Secaucus, NJ has voluntarily recalled 74,700 bags of its Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs due to salmonella concerns.

The recalled product comes in 8-ounce bags printed with the lot code BZ0969101E and the UPC number 32700-11519.

Consumers who purchased the recalled treats are urged to discard the product and call Hartz at 800.275.1414 for reimbursement.

Jazz Brunch to Help the Animals!

2010-11-18T16:36:00.000-08:00

The Merion Inn is hosting the 3rd Annual Jazz Brunch for Animal Outreach this Sunday, Nov. 21, 10:30 am-1:00 pm

Join jazz lovers (and animal lovers!) from across Cape May County as they enjoy a hot southern-style brunch and cool jazz at the Merion Inn.

It's all to help local no-kill animal foster/adoption service, Animal Outreach.

George Mesterhazy, Paula Johns, and friends will join celebrity bartenders and some of the most compassionate people in Cape May county!

Tickets cost $35 and are available by visiting www.animaloutreachofcmc.org!

The Perfect Pet Picture

2010-10-15T22:47:00.001-07:00

Here are some tips to getting the purrrfect pet picture!

1. Get Vertical! Most people hold a camera in the conventional way - horizontally. This works if you are taking pictures of multiple animals in one shot. If you are shooting individual animals, position your camera vertically. Make the subject the main focus of your print, not the background.

2. Fill the entire frame with your pet. Move or zoom in and fill the frame with your subject. Don't be afraid to get in close.

3. Use natural lighting whenever possible. Try to avoid using a flash as this can be frightening for your pets.

4. Go Digital. Cropping tools can turn a mediocre picture into a stunning photo!

4. Have Patience. Your pets may not see the value in sitting still for you to get the perfect shot. Take your time and shoot multiple pictures. You are bound to get one you will love and cherish.

Heat Alert Leaflet!

2010-07-28T16:43:00.000-07:00

The wonderful folks at Wag'N Enterprise have sent us some sample Pet In Distress Flyers.

We're happy to send these leaflets out to anyone interested in keeping a few in their car in case they see a pet locked inside a vehicle.

If you wish for us to send some flyers your way, drop us an e-mail at admin@zoositters.com.

Recall: Merrick, Feline's Pride and Pro-Pet

2010-07-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

Several recalls for pet food were issued this weekend, one of them by a company that last recalled a pet-food product only six months ago.

The following manufacturers recalled pet-food products:

-- Merrick Pet Care Inc. recalled one lot of 10-ounce bags of Beef Filet Squares for Dogs. The treats could be contaminated with salmonella. The treats were sold in 10-ounce plastic bags marked with the best by date of March 24, 2012, and the lot number 10084TL7. Consumers can call 800-664-7387. The company recalled the same product in January, for the same reason.

-- Feline’s Pride announced a voluntary recall of Feline’s Pride Raw food with ground bone for cats and kittens, Natural Chicken Formula, Net Wt. 2.5 lbs., produced on June 10, because it may be contaminated with salmonella. The product is packaged in uncoded plastic containers and sold frozen to private customers nationwide. This recall affects only those orders placed and shipped from June 10-17. Consumers can call 716-580-3096.

-- United Pet Group is voluntarily expanding its recent recall of Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement tablets for Dogs to include additional supplements for dogs and cats, due to possible salmonella contamination. A list of recalled products is provided on the Web site of the Food and Drug Administration. The affected products are those with expiration dates from "01/2013"to "06/2013."

As of Sunday, none of the products listed here had caused illness in pets or people.

Pets with salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

People who handle these products can become infected with salmonella, especially if they don't thoroughly wash their hands after touching these products.

~oregonlive.com

P&G Recalls Iams Canned Cat Food

2010-06-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Subject: PRODUCT RECALL – Specific Iams Canned Cat Foods Due to Low Levels of Vitamin B1

The Procter & Gamble Company is voluntarily recalling all Iams canned wet cat food in North America as a precautionary measure. Some of this product does not meet quality standards due to low levels of vitamin B1.

This recall is limited to only Iams canned wet cat food in North America. Health concerns would be limited primarily to cases where pet owners have been feeding only canned wet food. This recall does not affect any other Iams products.

At this time we are asking customers to pull all Iams Cat canned products from the shelf.

Consumers may contact the Consumer Care group at (877) 340-8826 or via our website www.iams.com.

Iams 3 oz Can – Filets with Chicken in Gravy 84831291 000 19014 02582 4 0 19014 02493 3

Iams 3 oz Can – Filets with Salmon in Sauce 84831301 000 19014 02581 7 0 19014 02492 6

Iams 3 oz Can – Filets with Skipjack Tuna in Sauce 84831297 000 19014 02580 0 0 19014 02491 9

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate Kitten with Gourmet Chicken 84831058 000 19014 19733 0 0 19014 29733 7

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Chicken and Liver 84831070 000 19014 02578 7 0 19014 02502 2

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Gourmet Chicken 84831320 000 19014 19633 3 0 19014 29633 0

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Lamb and Rice 84831075 000 19014 19673 9 0 19014 29673 6

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Pacific Salmon 84831071 000 19014 02579 4 0 19014 02503 9

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Seafood Sampler 84831065 000 19014 02577 0 0 19014 02501 5

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Select Ocean Fish 84831329 000 19014 19613 5 0 19014 29613 2

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Tender Beef 84831304 000 19014 19623 4 0 19014 29623 1

Iams 3 oz Can – Pate with Country Style Turkey and Giblets 84831333 000 19014 19653 1 0 19014 29653 8

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Filets with Chicken in Gravy 84831450 000 19014 02596 1 0 19014 02597 8

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Filets with Salmon in Sauce 84831336 000 19014 02593 0 0 19014 02594 7

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Filets with Skipjack Tuna in Sauce 84831447 000 19014 02598 5 0 19014 02595 4

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Pate with Tender Beef 84831338 000 19014 02583 1 0 19014 02504 6

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Pate with Gourmet Chicken 84831319 000 19014 02584 8 0 19014 02505 3

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Pate with Lamb and Rice 84831332 000 19014 02585 5 0 19014 02506 0

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Pate with Pacific Salmon 84831346 000 19014 02588 6 0 19014 02509 1

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Pate with Select Ocean Fish 84831337 000 19014 02586 2 0 19014 02507 7

Iams 5.5 oz Can – Pate with Country Style Turkey and Giblets 84831448 000 19014 02587 9 0 19014 02508 4

Iams 3 oz Can 24ct Variety Pack– Chicken & Beef Pate 84831352 000 19014 02511 1 0 19014 02511 4

Iams 3 oz Can 24ct Variety Pack – Filets w/Salmon w/SJ Tuna 84831349 000 19014 02510 4 0 19014 02510 7

Iams 3 oz Can 24ct Variety Pack – Pate Oc. Fish & Pac Salm 84831353 000 19014 02512 8 0 19014 02512 1

Iams 3 oz Can 14+2 Bon. Pack – Gourmet Chck, Lamb & Rice 84834382 000 19014 03801 2 0 19014 03801 5

Zoo Sitters CLOSED 7.29 - 8.8

2010-05-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Zoo Sitters will be closed from Thursday, July 29th through Sunday, August 8th.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause but hope that by providing more than two months notice clients can make other pet sitting arrangements if necessary.

We appreciate your understanding.

Another One Bites the Dust

2010-05-07T14:15:00.001-07:00

It has been announced that Natura is being bought out by Procter and Gamble.

Natura currently produces brands such as Innova, Evo, California Natural, Healthwise, Mother Nature and Karma. These foods will all now be produced by this large company.

While P&G has assured Natura that nothing will change, keep in mind that both Iams and Eukanuba who are also owned by P&G!

Something to think about....

Keep in mind what kind of company Procter and Gamble is! Below is a list of their top selling items, considered their "Billion Dollar Brands"

Ariel is a brand of laundry detergent/liquid available in numerous forms and scents.
Bounty is a brand of paper towel sold in the United States and Canada.
Braun is a small-appliances manufacturer specializing in electric shavers, epilators, hair care appliances and blenders.
Crest is a brand of toothpaste and teeth whitening products.
Dawn is a brand of dishwashing detergent.^[10]
Downy/Lenor is a brand of fabric softener.
Duracell is a brand of batteries and flashlights.
Fusion is a brand of men's wet shave razors and is the quickest P&G brand to have reached $1 billion in annual sales.
Gain is a brand of laundry detergent and fabric softeners.
Gillette is a brand of safety razor and male grooming products.
Head & Shoulders is a brand of shampoo and conditioners.
Old Spice is a brand of aftershave, Deodorants, Soaps and Bodywash.
Ivory is a soap.
Nice 'n Easy is a hair coloring product.
Olay is a brand of women's skin care products.
Oral-B is a brand of toothbrush, and oral care products.
Pampers is a brand of disposable diaper and other baby care products.
Pantene is a brand of hair care products (conditioners/styling aids).
Prilosec OTC is a brand of heartburn medicine co-marketed by AstraZeneca.
Pringles is a brand of potato chips.
Puffs is a brand of facial tissue.
Secret is a brand of antiperspirant and deodorant.
TAG is a deodorant and body spray.
Tide is a brand of laundry detergent.
Vicks is a brand name of over-the-counter medicines (Formula 44, Sinex, NyQuil/DayQuil)
Wella is a brand name of hair care products (shampoo, conditioner, styling, and hair color).
Whisper is a brand of pantyliners sold primarily in Asian markets.

Do I want these folks in charge of my pet's food!? No way.

For those of you currently feeding these foods who want to move off of them, head into The Wagging Tail down in Erma (337 Route 9, Erma - 609.886.5999) and talk to the staff there. They will be happy to counsel you on the changes taking place and help you find a comparable diet for your babies. Carol is always wonderful to deal with there but any member of their staff can help you out.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help Arthritic Dogs

2010-04-19T15:16:00.000-07:00

The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) has published a series of three studies showing that dogs who ate foods with Omega-3 fatty acids experienced less pain associated with osteoarthritis and had more mobility.

The studies, published in the Jan. 1, 2010 and March 1, 2010 JAVMA issues, include 274 dogs with osteoarthritis that took part at dozens of privately owned veterinary clinics and two university veterinary clinics.

Help Shelters When You Buy Stamps!

2010-04-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

Starting April 30, you can help animal rescue operations nationwide by just buying stamps!

Visit the USPS website for more details!

The post office will be hosting special events to introduce these stamps on April 30 so keep an eye out!

How We Got From Costa Rica to Zoo Sitters

2010-03-30T19:31:00.001-07:00

For those of you who have asked about our adventures living in Costa Rica and what made us want to come back to the States to open up Zoo Sitters, I figured our old blog would help. Enjoy!

Options

2010-03-26T07:01:00.000-07:00

You've asked for it and we've listened!

While some clients have loved our online walk through guide, others have felt it was a bit overwhelming with its "click here" "this means this", etc.

We've taken your feedback and are happy to offer clients another option!

If you have not yet accessed your account, you can simply go to our website and REGISTER. This option is what we use for new clients. It will walk you through the system but will ask you to enter in all your information, care instructions, etc. just like a new client. It will also have you electronically accept the Policy Agreement and Vet Release so this is a great option for those who have not yet sent in their paperwork.

As always, we are happy to walk any client through the system over the phone if need be.

Why the push to the online system:

-Reduces risk of missed sits.

-Client instructions are direct from the client in a format sitters can easily read and locate.

-No middle man potentially miskeying instructions or sitting dates/times.

-Client Profile is our contract with you used at every sit.

-System allows you to communicate automatically with all of your sitters at once. Regardless of who does your sit, the contract with you is the same.

-No more billing errors. The system creates the bill directly from your sit.

-No more waiting for answers. The request queue is processed regularly throughout the day providing you with quick answers so you can continue your travel plans. Since we are often out on sits, calling and emailing often took some time for us to get back with you with definite answers.

-The reduction of administrative work on our end means more open sitting slots for our clients. We are more likely to be able to accommodate your sit if we have more open slots.

While we know change is never easy, we do appreciate your support and understanding as we move to a more eco-friendly process meant to greatly reduce risk. Our goal is to provide you with the best sitting services around and the online system will allow us to be even more confident when caring for your babies.

2010-03-19T04:30:00.000-07:00

Animal Outreach is in need of volunteers Saturdays or/and Sundays - 1 a month from 12-4 (adoption center rio grande petsmart).

Also in need of foster parents for cats/kittens/dogs/puppies!

If you can help, please contact me at vanessa@zoositters.com

Join us on Facebook!

2010-03-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

To the right of the home page on our blog, you'll see a way for you to Become A Fan of Zoo Sitters on Facebook!

While we'd love to simply have your support, we've also been using our Facebook page to communicate with our clients! It's an easy way to get the most out of our services, providing you with updates, special events, pet information (we just posted a listing of the dog friendly beaches in cape may!), etc.

We have a Review Tab and Discussion Board as well so feel free to be active and communicate with us too! We'd also love to have your friends as fans! Have someone you know who would be interested in pet information, latest products, etc? Feel free to let them know about becoming a fan as well!

Steps Forward

2010-02-24T05:06:00.000-08:00

Zoo Sitters, LLC is officially up and running with online reservations and account management!

You can now make your sitting reservations online right in our system anytime of day! Changes to your schedule, additions and cancellations can also be done at your convenience right online!

You can also update your pets care instructions, vet information, upload new pictures of your pet and inform us of any behavioral changes.

You can even leave notes for your sitter on a particular day of your sit. For example, if you know the roofers will be working on the house on a certain day, you could inform your sitter that this is to be expected by placing a note on that day of the sit. You don't have to know if your primary or secondary sitter will be visiting your pet that day. The notes and updates go to all sitters linked to your account and notes print directly on our schedules!

We did work with a group of clients who agreed to test the system before allowing it to go live for all clients and we got some wonderful, positive feedback! We often heard how user friendly it was and many clients liked the idea that they could easily update their pet care instructions, even on a sit by sit basis if necessary.

If you don't yet have your login information and want access to our online system just email the office and we'll get you set up with our easy to follow, step-by-step guide. Online reservations will be given priority when processing and we don't want anyone to miss out! As you know, we are working owners and can't always get to your phoned in requests quickly when we are out on rounds.

Our website has also undergone a major overhaul. We've added two convenient ways for you to login to your account in case you forget our online system website. There is now a button on our home page called "existing clients" as well as a tab. These links will take you right to our online system website.

We've added a brand new tab for New Clients that walks them through our new process. New clients no longer have to sit through hours of paperwork when getting set up with us. They too will be able to use our online system to provide all the necessary information for us up front before our In-Home Client Meeting. This allows us to evaluate the sit to determine the right sitter and ensure what the client wants, fits with our services. Now when we arrive for the In-Home Client Meeting, we can truly spend time with our new your pet(s) and allow a new client the time to get to know us as well!

The website now contains a Q&A page that we hope will not only list out some of our policies and procedures but will also explain what our clients can expect from Zoo Sitters, LLC. These have been some of our more frequently asked questions and we wanted to share them with everyone.

We hope you all enjoy and utilize the new features to their fullest. As always, we are here to answer any questions you may have and look forward to providing you with continued excellent pet care!

A Star is Among Us!

2010-02-16T07:35:00.000-08:00

All of us at Zoo Sitters would like to wish our fabulous client, Oliver Stone, the best of luck as he competes THIS Friday in The View's 2nd Annual Mutt Show!

That's right! One of our own is going to be on TV! Friday, February 19th, The View will present its 2nd Annual Mutt Show along with tons of doggie-directed content!

There will also be reporting from the Westminter Dog Show while The View presents its own version of the well-known canine competition.

Oliver has been selected to be one of five pups to compete for this prestigious honor and we hope he knows he has all of us behind him wishing him the best!

He is competing for the renowned Pedigree Dogs Rule Award!

The View will also be showcasing pups up for adoption so don't miss out! This is a great opportunity for us to support our local guy and send the ratings through the roof in the hopes of making networks see the benefit to holding events such as this!

So join the co-hosts, plus celebrity guest Bernadette Peters (and her dog!) as they celebrate dogs and dog adoptions on Friday, February 19th. The View airs on ABC at 11am Eastern Time!

Best of Luck, Oliver! We are all rooting for you!

Another Step Toward Re-Certification!

2010-02-06T22:16:00.000-08:00

Zoo Sitters, LLC holds certifications as a professional pet sitting business through both PSI (Pet Sitters International) and NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters). We are also certified in Pet First Aid through the American Red Cross.

We take these certifications very seriously but what does this mean to our clients?

Pet Sitters International explains, "when you engage the services of a PSI Accredited Pet Sitter, you are also gaining the in-depth knowledge and skills for in-home pet care she or he has mastered about caring for companion animals of all kinds. The coursework was designed to promote high industry standards and provide a continuing education curriculum to keep accredited pet sitters at the forefront of modern pet-care practices."

Pet Sitters International is considered one of the most respected authorities on professional pet sitters throughout the world. With nearly 8,000 independent pet sitting business members in the United States, Canada and abroad, they require a higher standard of pet sitting from their members and provide a professional platform for us to grow, network and learn, keeping us on the cutting edge of the latest practices and techniques.

A certified professional pet sitting business is not a group of folks providing pet sitting services on the side between their "real" jobs. Our full time dedication is to our clients and their pets. That dedication can be seen as we strive to renew our certifications every three years. We work on our continuing education units throughout the three year period in the hopes of continuing to be accredited.

Part of this process took Betty and me to Pet Sitters International Quest Conference this past week. We enjoyed lectures on Holistic Pet Care, Animal Accupressure, Caring for Geriatric Pets, Bird Care, Cat Care and Self Defense to name a few!

We are very excited about the information we received and cant wait to share this information with our other sitters. We appreciate all the clients who adjusted their schedules to help accommodate the two of us being out of town for this conference. It allows us to be better sitters, providing you and your pets with the best care possible. Thank You!

Become a Fan of Zoo Sitters, LLC!

2010-01-18T06:40:00.001-08:00

We've done it! We've moved to Facebook!

Become a fan of Zoo Sitters, LLC on Facebook and show your support.

You can simply click on the link on our blog page or do a search for us when you log into Facebook.

See status updates and follow our day! We'd love to have you as a fan!

Don't Throw Out That Christmas Tree!

2010-01-08T14:41:00.000-08:00

Before you retire your Christmas tree to the local landfill, please consider donating it to the zoo. The zoo then uses these trees as enrichment materials for all sorts of animals!

As a former zoo keeper, I can't express to you the joy it brings to watch your animals immerse themselves in a day of enrichment. I always considered my zoo babies ambassadors for the animal kingdom. It's because of them that the public gets to know about their species and hopefully through that education, people will be more inclined to help protect these creatures in the wild. The sacrifice these animals make for their kin is enormous and anything we can do to help their lives in captivity be fulfilling and exciting is our duty.

With that in mind, the wonderful volunteers at Animal Outreach have again agreed to collect trees for the animals at the Cape May County Zoo. There can be NO TINSEL on the trees as this can be a serious choking hazard.

If you are willing to donate your tree, please call Animal Outreach at 609.898.1pet(1738) or send an email to tomhsims@aol.com to schedule a pick up on either January 10 or January 17. You do not have to be home and trees can simply be placed outside for pick up. Please provide your full address.

For those zoo babies who can't say thank you, I will say it for them..

THANK YOU!

Shelter Shindig

2010-01-05T18:18:00.000-08:00

Animal Outreach of Cape May County, Inc is asking for your support!

Come join the Shelter Shindig on February 13th from 6-10pm at the Cape May VFW #386!

Buffet dinner includes draft beer, cash bar, DJ Ed McDonough, 50/50, Raffles and great Door Prizes!

Tickets are $20 per person in advance. $25 at the door.

For tickets, please call 898-1738 or visit their website at www.animaloutreachofcmc.org

If you own a business that would like to donate gift cards, merchandise or cash to help offset the cost of the event, please email me at vanessa@zoositters.com and I will get you in contact with the right person.

As always, thank you for supporting our local shelters. There is not thanks enough for what they do!

Zoo Sitters Provides Certified Pet Sitters

2009-11-26T19:02:00.000-08:00

At Zoo Sitters, LLC we believe in providing our clients with the highest quality of service. This includes hiring quality pet sitters that come to the table with professionalism, experience and a passion for animals.

In an effort to continue the education of our sitters, we are proud to announce that all sitters employed by Zoo Sitters, LLC have completed their certification in Pet First Aid provided by the American Red Cross! While we hope we never have to use these skills, we realize that they can be invaluable in emergency situations.

Zoo Sitters, LLC is also certified as a professional pet sitting business through The National Association for Professional Pet Sitters as well as Pet Sitters International. We are working on keeping our certifications current and will be attending classes toward our re-certification in the upcoming months. These include classes in Animal Acupressure, Handling Pet Emergencies, Cat and Dog Behavior, Exotic Bird Care, Holistic Pet Care, and Caring for Geriatric Pets.

We are excited about being part of the cutting edge of this profession and bringing our clients the latest in information, care techniques, products, etc. We are committed to the professionalism of the industry and will continue to provide our clients with top notch service in the new year.

Product Review: Winga!

2009-11-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

We have been so lucky to be able to test out multiple types of retrieval toys this month and I have to say the Winga was one of my favorite! We really had a blast with this one.

The Winga is a disc/mini-frisbee type of toy put out by Kurgo that comes with a launcher AND a replacement disc. You can also purchase a separate pack of 2 replacement discs as well.

I had such a great experience with the Winga! I used it with 4 different dogs, every one absolutely loved it! The launcher is very easy to use and boy does it LAUNCH the disc (up to 200 feet)! My first test sailed clear
over the fence of the pup I was sitting, landing quietly in the neighbor's leaf pile. My second attempt flew straight in the air over the fence and so far into the woods that neither the pup nor myself could locate it. Talk about a flier!

If you are "challenged" with throwing Frisbees as I am, this toy is for you. I had no trouble enjoying the Frisbee experience with the pups and the dogs loved it considering I usually can't throw any type of Frisbee to save my life.

Another pleasant surprise was the durability of the discs themselves. I used the Winga with two pups that have some of the strongest jaws of all the pups we visit. If it can be splintered or torn, these are the guys to do it. When they first picked up the disc and decided to attempt to take it from each other, I thought for sure it would have punctures all over it or would perhaps be torn in half. I couldn't believe it when there was not one mark on the disc. These guys are chewers and will chew on the toy before bringing it back and the disc didn't have a scratch on it!

The only issue I had with the Winga was when it first came out of the packaging. I couldn't get the disc to come out of the launcher. It was like the launcher was too tight and the disc wouldn't fly out. Nowhere on the packaging did it explain how to fix this issue and in an effort not to waste time, I simply put the launcher aside and threw the discs by hand, which worked well too!

I did call the rep at Kurgo to see if I was doing something wrong. He did explain that a new launcher will be tight to ensure the included disc does not fall out of the packaging and so that the launcher isn't too lose once its used a bit. He told me to stretch it open a bit and that it should be fine. It was! I was afraid at first I may break it but found with a few simple stretches, it was good to go.

I definitely would recommend the Winga. It was really a fun toy and had minimal "slime factor" compared to tennis balls and the Go-Frrr ball. The plastic disc doesn't really hold slime the way other toys do. The other great feature is that this baby floats! It's really a perfect beach toy as well!

If you are using this in a wooded area or at the beach, I do recommend purchasing the replacement discs as my day of fun would have been over after losing a disc on the very first day. The package does come with one additional disc but I think having some replacements on hand wouldn't be a bad idea.

All around great product!
Special thanks to Mike from Kurgo for letting us test this toy and being wonderful to deal with. Kurgo also makes safety harnesses for pups in cars which we are in the process of testing out as well.

Help Dogs by Using IGive

2009-11-21T15:16:00.000-08:00

A client of ours recently forwarded me an email explaining how we can help the Boxer Rescue where she got her amazing pup! The information was great and the website very easy to use. I thought I'd pass along the info to all of you.

If you plan on doing any of your holiday shopping online please try and use the IGive site. There are dozens of participating retailers and Adopt a Boxer Rescue gets a donation when you go through the IGive site. Sometimes they get donations when you just do a search through the site! The link is below. It's easy and and means a lot in the way of support for the dogs.

Below is the email that was sent from Adopt A Boxer Rescue:

Hi Friend of Adopt A Boxer Rescue,

We wanted to let you know that iGive.com has sent a donation check to Adopt A Boxer Rescue,
thanks to you and your fellow supporters using iGive.com and iSearchiGive.com.

Tell your friends about this easy and free way to help ... each new iGive.com shopper means an extra
$5 donation for Adopt A Boxer Rescue... that's on top of money raised by searching or shopping!

Until November 30, donations from searching are doubled, to $.02 a search.

Just have supporters click the link below to get started::
I Give Help for Boxer Rescue

Product Review: Go-Frrr Ball

2009-11-15T14:43:00.001-08:00

We are often looking for new and innovative products to get in the hands of our clients and their furry babies.

There are so many interesting toys and gadgets that are released every month and it's always a pleasure when vendors allow us to test their products for our clients.

The blog will be a great way for us to get this information out to everyone!

This month we tested the Proball Go-Frrr ball ~ A sling-shot type of retrieval toy that can be launched approximately 150 feet!

The Go-Frrr ball comes with an attached elastic band that can be stretched over the thumb while being pulled back like a sling-shot and released. There is also a separate launcher that can be purchased which we did not test.

So what did we find? We really do like this idea. Both Mike and I tested the product on three different pups and they seemed to like it as well.

While we couldn't get the ball to fly as far as we can with a Chuck-It, it still went a decent distance. I was told by the vendor that the launcher would not have made it go any further so perhaps this was merely user error. Mike seemed to have more luck with it but I was afraid the band was going to snap back at me... as I said, user error no doubt.

The main drawback we found was the ball gets super slimy like regular tennis balls. That's the main reason we all love the Chuck It -we don't have to touch the ball.

What we did find however was that the three dogs we tested the Go-Frrr on ALL preferred the texture of the Go-Frrr ball over regular tennis balls that come with the Chuck-It. When both were thrown, they went for the Go-Frrr every time... I personally decided my hands had gotten dirty enough for one day, went back to the Chuck It and the tennis ball and one dog I was exercising didn't even go after the ball when thrown. He just sat there staring at me and the Go-Frrr that was at my feet.

I did break down and used the Chuck-It WITH the Go-Frrr ball as the ball is the same size as a tennis ball and fit into the contraption perfectly so I suppose it was a nice blend of the two toys for both us sitters and the dog.

The rep for Go-Frrr Ball did explain to me that many owners with shoulder problems love the Go-Frrr ball as it does not aggravate their shoulder conditions as the Chuck-It would. Folks who have trouble simply throwing a tennis ball have also had great success with the Go-Frrr. Folks in wheel chairs also are easily able to manage the Go-Frrr and some have mounted the launcher to their decks. We also liked the fact that it floats and is a great retreival toy for the water!

We wanted to thank Glen Bevan of Proball, Go-Frrr Ball for allowing us to test his product. Our pups really did enjoy themselves! If you want more information on where to get the Go-Frrr ball feel free to contact me at vanessa@zoositters.com.

Enjoy some Jazz and Help Some Animals

2009-11-13T13:44:00.000-08:00

Animal Outreach is holding their 2nd Annual Jazz Brunch at the Merion Inn in Cape May on November 29th. Join George Mesterhazy, the "Coolest Jazz Cat in Cape May" and enjoy some fabulous food to boot!

When: November 29
Time: 10:30am - 1:30pm
Where: Merion Inn: 106 Decatur Street, Cape May

Animal Outreach (a 501c3 non profit charity) has helped find loving families for more than 2300 cats and dogs since 1998. They are looking forward to rebuilding their shelter and are working on keeping families together by helping owners who are having trouble caring for their pets.

Tickets for the brunch are $35 and can be ordered online or by phone at 609.898.1738. You can email them directly as well at adoptnow@animaloutreachofcmc.org. There are only limited tickets at the door so don't wait! It's for a wonderful cause.

Newsletters Are Back!

2009-11-05T13:31:00.001-08:00

It's been such a long time since we've put out a newsletter. We are far overdue! Please feel free to check out our latest on the website at www.zoositters.com under the Newsletters link!

Our latest issue covers items such as Bloat, Pet Dander, Dog Training and even discussed pet names!

Enjoy!

A Blog?!

2009-11-03T10:26:00.000-08:00

It's always been important to me to be a certified professional pet sitter. I feel strongly that it provides our clients with a sense of security in our knowledge, experience and skill. It sets standards our clients can depend on, ensuring they are getting the highest quality service for their babies.

Our certifications through Pet Sitters International and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters expire every three years. During those three years, we are expected to continue our education gaining credits toward re-certification when the three year period is up. There are many ways for pet sitters to gain re-certification credits but this one really caught my attention... a blog!?

What would I write about? Who would even read it? I decided to take some time to think about it...

What came to me was how important communication is in this profession. Sitters and clients who are able to effectively communicate with each other tend to have the most successful relationships. I suppose its much like any other type of relationship in that regard.

Every day our sitters communicate with me as they move through their daily pet sits. They let me know when their sits are completed, let me know of any issues on the sit, pass along any notes left by the client, etc. Information is shared constantly so we can update our database ensuring our clients files always contain the latest information. That information is then shared with all sitters responsible for that particular pet. Communication has always been a key to success for us.

With that in mind, the idea of a blog became even more appealing. I try to be mindful of what I send directly to clients emails knowing how bombarded everyone's inboxes are these days. A blog however would allow me to get information out to our clients without adding excess traffic to their email! Product reviews, interesting articles, information about the business and our direction in general, could all be shared with a simple blog that our clients could go to when THEY want.

And so this is our first blog.. a blog about how our blog came about to begin with..Going forward, I think I'll address our blogs to our readers ~ you, the client. It's for YOU that this blog exists and I do hope you find it helpful.