Arnie & Grace Martinez are the owners of 2 Dogs & A Cat, LLC and are professional pet sitters dedicated to the quality of pet care by providing professional and knowledgeable pet care services that can be tailored to you and your pets’ needs.
At this time in the year, we would like to thank all of our loyal clients who have used our services. Because of you we are able to live our dream of being self-employed and fulfilled by our job. We are lucky enough to have a job that allows us to spend time with pets we care for, have a flexible schedule, and provides the income we need to live a good life.
With the addition of our third baby girl this year, we are especially thankful to our clients who gave us the flexibility to take some time off and on top of that, gave us us many warm wishes, gifts for the baby and for us. We are happy to know that we have built relationships that extend beyond pet care.
As we look onto next year, we are hoping to extend our company by hiring more employees but still providing excellent pet care. We look forward to a new year of prosperity and many welcoming wags when we visit!
Here is an interesting article on obesity and pets. 30 minutes of exercise a day is the minimum for a less destructive and healthier dog! We can help by scheduling dog walks or dog jogs on a weekly (weekdays) basis - your dog will thank you!
By Dorene Internicola
NEW YORK | Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:14am EDT
NEW YORK (Reuters) - As the obesity rate soars among Americans, their dogs are getting potbellied, too, encouraging fitness companies to come up with a range of equipment and classes to get pampered pets back into shape. From canine-tailored treadmills, to puppy pedometers and group fitness classes, there's no shortage of tools to trim and tone the sagging paunches of pooches.
As part of his fitness routine, Rocky, a rotund dachshund, traipses a mini-treadmill designed for small dogs.
"When Rocky first came to us, he looked like a small marine animal," said Dr. Dennis Arn, veterinarian at the Desert Inn Animal Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. "He's got a waistline now and his conditioning is significantly better."
Just like their owners, obesity affects pets' longevity and quality of life. About 53 percent of adult dogs are classified by their veterinarians as obese, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention.
To combat the weighty issue, Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton, Massachusetts, announced the creation of the nation's first obesity clinic last month, geared specially towards pets.
"If you can't lay your hands on them and feel the ribs pretty easily, they're obese," said Arn, adding that too many pet owners reward their charges with treats.
"As a blanket statement, a dog needs at least 30 minutes (of exercise) a day," said Geralynn Cada, who has been training dogs for more than 30 years. "A dog who is less active is less happy and has more health problems."
Cada, who is based in Nevada, teaches classes such as dog yoga, puppy Pilates, and a canine interval training course known as Retrieve and Burn.
Physical issues aside, dogs that are denied exercise often develop behavioral problems, she said. "A tired dog is a happy dog," Cada said. "If your dog gets bored, they'll search for purpose and that purpose will be to chew up your wallet."
CANINE CARDIO
To burn off her high-strung husky's extra enthusiasm as well as calories, Cada runs him regularly on his dog treadmill, dubbed the DogPACER. David Ezra, CEO of DogPACER, said he got the idea for the canine cardio machine after observing clients at his fitness centers.
"I thought, "Why not a treadmill for dogs?"" he said.
Hundreds of canine treadmills - which sell for $500 and come in regular and mini sizes - have been sold since they hit the market seven months ago.
"We've run over 1,000 dogs at this point," said Ezra, adding that 60 to 70 percent of the treadmills go to dog owners, including seniors whose health problems prevent them from exercising their animals. Others are purchased by grooming salons, veterinarians, police and government agencies, and animal rehabilitation centers.
"Grooming facilities will throw the dog on (a treadmill) to de-stress them before grooming," he said, adding that dogs must be supervised and will initially be taken aback by the equipment.
Studies have shown that people who wear pedometers routinely walk more. Perhaps in that spirit, developers of Tagg, a pet location device, developed an activity monitor that makes it possible for owners to keep tabs on their dog's exercise.
"Tagg's combination of activity monitoring and GPS location tracking puts pet parents in control of their pet's well-being," Dave Vigil, president of Snaptracs Inc. which created Tagg, said in a statement.
Cada is so devoted to keeping animals fit, she has also devised ways to stimulate her dogs mentally. "I have them doing a mental obstacle course for me," she said. "I'll have them sit down, roll over, jump on and off the bed, and do all the tricks they know in a random order." The animals will also fetch and engage in a series of rapid-fire hand-to-paw high-fives. "It's like a test," she explained, "for a treat."
This is Nominee Spotlights, a series in which the Best of Western Washington chats with local business owners to get the inside scoop on everything good.
Like so many pet owners, Arnie and Grace Martinez felt badly and worried about leaving their two dogs and cat home alone all day while they put in long hours commuting and being at the office. Eventually, they decided the long hours away from home were not going to jive with a house filled with kids and dogs. That conversation sparked the idea to open their own pet sitting business: 2 Dogs and a Cat. What started as a part-time business in 2001 is now a full time job. We caught up with Grace to get the a glimpse into the pet sitting world.
How did you get your start in the pet sitting business? I have always loved dogs and cats. As mentioned before, we were in the need for a pet sitter. We couldn't find one that would meet our needs. We knew that we had good business sense and that our love for pets and the quality of care would be a great start.
Describe your role at the business We are a co-owner operation. I handle all the A/R, A/P, marketing, advertising, scheduling, communication with clients, and some pet sitting. My husband Arnie, does most of the visits.
How would you describe your clientele? Some clients have become dear friends and we are thankful for meeting them and their furry friends. We appreciate all of our clients and know that without them we couldn't be living our dream.
What about you - do you have any pets yourself? Of course! When we initially started we had two dogs & a cat. About two years ago, both of our original dogs passed. We were heartbroken. Luckily, our kids taught us the value of moving on and we opened our hearts to our newest dog Bentley. Our 14 year old cat, Katie is still with us. But unfortunately, due to her old age, she doesn't like change and refuses to like Bentley!
How do new customers find you? Referrals, word of mouth, social media, and church advertisement.
Do you offer any special services to specific types of animals? We tend to cater to pets that don't do well in boarding situations, aggressive, shy, elderly, and in need of medication.
Is there a time of year that is busier than others? End-of-the-year holidays tend to be the busiest for us. We are extremely booked during that time-frame.
What is your favorite animal that you have ever sat for? There are a few dogs that I look forward to visiting whenever there is a need because we have been visiting them for so long. They are a part of our extended furry family.
What's the best part of owning your own business? Even though we have been in business for almost 12 years, we are still learning. We are always trying to better serve our clients and their furry family by addressing issues as they come up and offering new services. We truly appreciate that we are self-employed, able to provide for our family, and doing something we truly love.
Dog and cat owners don’t pay the same amount for their four-legged family members. The ASPCA did a study on the average cost of owning a dog or a cat. Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
Small dog – $1,314 the first year, $580 per year after
Medium dog – $1,580 the first year, $695 per year after
Large dog – $1,843 the first year, $875 per year after
Cat – $1,035 the first year, $670 per year after
These totals include the following first-year costs: spay/neuter, other initial medical, collar/leash, litter box/scratching post for cats, cage/crate for large dogs, carrier bag for small dogs/cats, and training class for dogs. Annual expenses include food, recurring medical, litter for cats, licenses for dogs, toys/treats, health insurance, and miscellaneous.
Of course, those are averages – the ASPCA says, “You shouldn’t expect to pay less than this, and you should definitely be prepared to pay more. Don’t forget to factor in the costs of unexpected veterinary care, as well as boarding facilities, pet sitters and dog walkers, if you plan to use them.”
But what the ASPCA doesn’t mention is ways to trim expenses.
1. Vet bills
The ASPCA says cats and dogs should see a vet at least once a year. The first year (when they usually require the most shots) is slightly more expensive. For example, they say vet bills for a medium-size dog break down like this:
Recurring medical – $235
Other initial medicine – $70
Spaying or neutering – $200
TOTAL – $505
You might reduce some of those costs by comparison shopping for vets. B be sure to compare the costs of both regular visits and emergency ones.
You can also reduce your costs by shopping around for cheaper medicines. Target and Kroger offer $4 generic pet meds.
Some owners use pet health insurance to save money on their vet bills – both expected and unexpected – but it’s not cheap. The ASPCA says health insurance for a cat runs about $175 a year.
2. Food and supplies
The ASPCA says that the average yearly cost of food and supplies for a large dog like mine breaks down like this:
Food – $235
Toys and treats – $75
TOTAL – $310
Try shopping online for discounts.
3. Grooming and training
According to the ASPCA, training and grooming for a small dog breaks down like this:
Long hair grooming – $264
Training class – $110
TOTAL - $374
WebMD Pets has great one-minute training videos featuring a certified dog trainer. You won’t learn everything you need to know, but it’s helpful to watch the techniques in action.
Petfinder has a training section that covers everything from behavioral problems to basic dog tricks.
If you’re looking for grooming advice, check out:
Grooming FAQ from the ASPCA
How to Groom a Dog from Beneful
Grooming Your Dog’s Hair with Clippers from Dummies.com
Bottom line? Animals aren’t cheap, but as with two-legged family members, where there’s a will to save, there’s a way. But even if your dog or cat does end up costing a little more than expected, they’ll still do something no other purchase will: pay you back a thousandfold in companionship, loyalty, devotion, and fun.
Here is a great article on helping kids cope with pet loss (excerpts only):
Whether expected or not, the death of a beloved family pet often leaves families feeling sad and unprepared. For families with young kids, a pet’s passing may be the first time parents discuss death with their children.
Few parents know how to approach this challenging topic, particularly with very young children. “Developmentally, children of this age do not understand the finality or permanence of death,” says Kate Munson, a Seattle counselor whose specialties include pet loss.
Munson urges parents to use straightforward and simple language when a pet dies. Parents can tell children, for example, “The pet’s body stopped working.” They should use concrete words like “dead, died or dying,” Munson says.
It’s not their fault
Even with simple, direct, to-the-point information, parents can expect misunderstandings. Preschool-age children are still learning the forces of cause and effect, and may believe they’re responsible for their pet’s death. “If anything happens to a pet and it dies, the child may very well think that he or she did something wrong,” says Wallace Sife, Ph.D., a Brooklyn-based psychotherapist, author of The Loss of a Pet, and founder of the Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement . Reassure children they did nothing wrong, he stresses.
And don’t lie. “Resist the temptation to say the pet went to live with a family in the country,” says Ann R. Howie, a Lacey-area counselor with expertise in human-animal interaction. Concocting tall tales can create even more problems. Let’s say the child wants to visit the pet or asks why another family gets to keep it. Euphemisms such as “went to sleep” or “put to sleep” don’t work well, either. They can confuse kids (what does that really mean, after all?) and can cause them to fear going to sleep, Munson says.
What to share
While experts favor honesty and openness, pet euthanasia presents an exceptionally difficult challenge for parents. Some parents may choose not to go into detail with their children, but simply say that a pet died.
“Euthanasia is a difficult concept for adults to grasp, let alone young children,” Howie says. A child’s age and maturity level, as well as the pet’s health status, may dictate how much parents decide to share.
First experience with death
The way parents handle the death of a family pet can have lasting effects.
“The first experience with death is usually with a pet,” Sife says. “It could be a turtle, it could be a goldfish, or it could be a dog or a cat.” And this first encounter “shapes how we will approach and view future deaths,” says Munson.
Helping kids deal with the grief from the death of a pet
• Don’t feel you need to hide your own sadness; children learn from and model adults’ emotions.
• Be open to providing comfort and answering questions about the pet’s death; these needs may pop up at any time, even long after the pet has died.
• If children show interest, help them draw pictures of their
• pet or make a scrapbook of memories. Talk with them during the process.
• Establish a family remembrance of your pet; a specific place, a special time or something you do together as a family to memorialize your lost friend.
• Take it slowly when considering a new pet; make sure everyone is ready. http://www.parentmap.com/article/when-a-pet-dies-helping-your-child-cope
Our 14 year old cat taught us a very important lesson...never change her cat litter! She had begun going outside of her litter box & we finally realized it was because of the new litter. Once we ran out & changed it back, she no longer did that! Ergh. Lesson learned cat, lesson learned.
1.We
are hosting a new Meetup Group for walkers, joggers, runners with or without
dogs! First Meetup is this Saturday, 7/21/12 at Lowell Riverfront Park
at 9:30am (show up with or without your dog, families welcomed). Check
it out: http://www.meetup.com/Paws-itive-Fitness-for-Dogs-Humans/
2.We
are the new PARK AMBASSADORS for Cavalero Hill Off-Leash Park! Our first
work party will be the weekend of 7/28/12. Please let us know if you can
help that weekend (we are also scheduled for another work party the weekend of
8/11/12). We are looking for donated items for the park such as dog poop
bag holders OR if you have any suggestions on what would make the park area,
please let us know.
Although dogs sweat, they do it much differently than their human counterparts. Most of their perspiration comes through their paw pads.
The dog’s tongue and the lining of their lungs are the primary locations where their body heat is transferred to the air. Rather than relying upon sweat, the principal mechanism that a dog uses to cool himself involves panting with his mouth open. This allows the moisture on his tongue to evaporate, and the heavy breathing also allows the moist lining of their lungs to serve as a surface from which moisture can evaporate. In this way the dog can manage a significant cooling of his body temperature.
Dogs also dissipate some body heat by the expanding blood vessels in their face and ears. If it is not too hot outside, this helps to cool the dog's blood by causing it to flow closer to the surface of the skin. This mechanism works best if the overheating is due to exercise, rather than a high outside temperature.
All three methods of cooling help keep your dog from overheating but are not enough by themselves. Below are some helpful hints that you can take to ensure your dog does not overheat, stays cool, and remains healthy during these hot summer months.
Use spray bottle or mister for periodically spraying dog's body.
Avoid excessive play on hot days.
Provide fresh cool water to keep your dog well hydrated.
Avoid leaving your dog in the car.
If your dog does become overheated, contact your vet immediately.
You might guess that another reason why dogs might not deal well with heat is because they are covered in fur, which could make their bodies quite hot in the summer. This is only partially the case since fur is actually an insulator that serves as a barrier between the outside environment and the dog's interior. It acts much like the vacuum barrier in a thermos. Thus in the winter the fur preserves the body heat and serves as a barrier to keep the cold out. In the summer it is a barrier to the outside heat. Unfortunately, in a continuously hot environment, once there is a temperature build up in the body, the fur then serves as an impediment to cooling since the heat then has a hard time dissipating through it.
We are celebrating our 11 years in the pet sitting business. Time flies when you are having fun! Looking back at the relationships we have made with our furry friends and their human counterparts makes it all worthwhile.
It's funny that when we tell people what we do, they either never heard of such a thing or can't believe we get paid to do what we do. To us that means that at-large the pet sitting industry is not growing as it should be. We constantly get confused with boarding facilities. It does surprise us that people simply do not know what pet sitting is. This year we will be making it our goal to become more active within our community and at a larger-scale if possible to bring pet sitting to the light. This time next year, we hope to find less confusion about what we do as for a living!
Finally, pet sitting is a rewarding career and we are thankful for the opportunities to do what we love.
Helping kids deal with the grief from the death of a pet
