Old Dog Haven Charity Event

2 Dogs & A Cat and Run 2 Be Fit hosted a fundraising event for Old Dog Haven on 3/29/14 in Everett, WA. 

There were 118 registered donors.  We raised over $1865! 
Thanks to everyone who came out despite the cold & rain to support this wonderful charity!

Arnie & Grace Martinez
2 Dogs & A Cat

Christmas Tree Tips

It's that time of the year when you start putting up the Christmas Tree.  .

Christmas Tree Tips:

1. Place your Christmas tree in a corner, preferably blocked from your pet. Try putting something at the bottom of the tree that will create noise if they jump on the tree.

2. Make sure to hang tinsel out of your pet's reach.  Ingesting tinsel can potentially block their intestines.  .

3. Do not put lights on the tree's lower branches to avoid having your pet get tangled in the lights or get shocked by biting through the wire.

4. Ornaments should also be kept out of reach to avoid possible chocking or injury from broken ornaments. 

5. Clean up after pine needles that have fallen, they could puncture your pet's intestines if ingested. 

Dog Obesity

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."

(Editing by Patricia Reaney and Bernadette Baum)

Best of Western Washington Interview

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.



2 Dogs & a Cat, on Facebook

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.

Are cats cheaper than dogs?

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.

Please don't leave your dog in the car...

Animals can suffer brain damage or death from heatstroke in just 15 minutes.

August 2012 E-Newsletter

Summer is finally here! (We think?!)

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.

(http://www1.co.snohomish.wa.us/Departments/Parks/Park_Information/Park_Directory/CavaleroHillOff-LeashPark.htm)



3.       Save the date for the annual Mutt Strut on 8/25/12 10-2pm at Langus Riverfront Park.  Check it out:  http://www.everettwa.org/default.aspx?ID=1054

4.       Do a favorable YELP review and receive one FREE visit (limited amount of free visits available).

 

5.       We have a few openings for MIDDAY weekday walks/jogs/visits/potty breaks on MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS, AND FRIDAYS.  Contact us today to reserve your spot!

______________________________________________________________________________
Arnie & Grace Martinez

425-379-6136
www.2dogsandacat.net

info@2dogsandacat.net

Do Dogs Sweat?

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.

May your dogs have a COOL summer!

Happy Birthday To Us!

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.

The End Of Summer

Did we get a summer this year?  Well, it was nice walking dogs in non-freezing weather.  And sometimes the sun was actually out and doing dog jogs actually caused a sweat.

The end of summer brings the rush of Fall activities.  Hopefully, our client's who have had the summer off go back to work and call us up to resume pet care visits!  Looking forward to taking walks on paths full of leaves and crisp air. 

Meet Bentley!

We decided to go to the Everett Animal Shelter without our daughters and "see" if there was a dog that matched our needs.  We didn't want to take the girls and have them be disappointed when we left without a dog.  The dog needed to be kid/baby friendly and cat friendly.  The dog needed to have energy but not be aggressive.  On Saturday, we were there when the shelter opened and looked around but found no matches.  The next day, a friend texted us a picture of Bentley telling us how she remembered we had thought about adopting a Schnauzer.  We went back on Monday to look around with our baby, our eldest was at school.  Bentley was still there!  He was full of anxiety and energy.  Bentley had lived in a household without kids/babies and cats.  The shelter did not know if he would be good for us.  We took him out to the play area and he smelled our baby and calmed down.  Bentley was the dog for us! 

We decided to take him home.  Arnie took him with him to pet sitting visits and he was back in time for our eldest to be home from school.  What a great surprise!  In the words of our eldest, "new dogs just make you feel happy!"  We took Bentley with us to our eldest's baseball game.  He had so much anxiety.  At night we decided to sleep on the couch so he could get accustomed to his new home.  Every time someone got up, he got up.  Poor Bentley.  We bought him a new bed - which could probably fit 4 dogs!  But he decided to sleep NEXT to the bed and not on the bed.

We forgot how much is involved with a new dog.  We have made a vet appointment, grooming appointment, and are looking for basic obedience classes.  Bentley hit the jackpot with us.  We still miss our dogs that passed away, no dog could ever replace them.  Bentley feels "adopted" but I know with time he will become an established member of our family.  I think we hit the jackpot too...

The Holidays with Bella

Bella, our dog will be celebrating her 14th Christmas with us this year.  I wonder how far back she can remember our holidays together.  I remember her as puppy, getting into everything!  I remember how hard it was to potty train her.  She was terribly cute and we probably let her get away with too many things.  She was the first dog I really ever owned and cared for.  Along with my husband, this was our first "child" that we cared for as a couple.  We had so many bad habits with her, like letting her sleep with us.  After she got bigger, it was harder to tell who's bed it was - hers or ours? 

I am so glad that our baby knows her.  For some reason, Bella never got attached to our eldest daughter who is now 7.  She lets the baby grab her, hug her, and kiss her.  It is too adorable.  I hope she stays healthy until the baby is older and can remember her more.

I know Bella's ultimate Christmas gift would be for us to allow her on the couch (or perhaps our bed again).  The problem is she has no boundaries and would likely take advantage of the situation.  I think I'll buy her a new comfy bed instead.  She's a great believer in good bones, so I'll probably get her some bones as well. 

I hope there are many more years with Bella, our first "child".

PAWS Walk

I'm surprised and over-joyed by the generousity of our pet sitting clients.  We were able to raise $240 in donations for PAWSWalk (PAWS in Lynnwood, WA).  This is the most donations we have received for any walk/organization since we have been in business.  Keep in mind that we began our business in 2001. 

I think that says a lot considering the economic conditions we are in.  I think pets in general target people's hearts.  Animals can only do so much for themselves in a human dominated world.  Especially small animals that have domesticated for the sheer purpose of being our companions.

The holiday season is fast approaching...unfortunately that means every organization that needs help is going to ask for help during this time-frame.  It seems that most people tend to be more generous during the holidays.  We have an annual drive for PAWs in Lynnwod, WA for items such as dog and cat food, bedding, and other pet-related items.  I hope that it will be as successful as the PAWSWalk!

Summer heat - a dog's perspective

I wish pets could talk.  I wish my dog Bella could tell me if she's too hot to be outside or for that matter if she's too hot to be inside.  Does she need a fan?  Does she need more cool water?  A bath?  Hmm, I don't think she would say yes to that!  My dog hates baths.  She tolerates them, but would prefer never to have a bath again.

I think Bella would tell us to keep her bed cool.  She would want the sun beaming on her head only.  She likes to sun bathe but only if she doesn't move.  I wish I could lounge all day too.  What a life?  As the weather continues to creep up, I look forward to a summer of sunshine and heat.  I bet Bella looks forward to it too!

Take Your Dog To Work Day

First celebrated in 1999, Take Your Dog To Work Day was created to celebrate the great companions dogs make and to encourage their adoption from humane societies, animal shelters and breed rescue clubs. This annual event asks pet lovers to celebrate the humane-canine bond and promote pet adoption by encouraging their employers to support TYDTWDay by opening their workplace to employees’ four-legged friends on this one special day.

On Friday June 25, 2010, businesses, animal shelters and pet-care professionals from around the world will work together to better the lives of shelter dogs everywhere. Thousands of businesses will GO FURRY to promote pet adoption by opening their doors to employees’ furry, four-legged friends on this day in celebration of the great companions dogs make.

We encourage everyone to participate in this fantastic event!  If you cannot take your dog to work, help spread the word by encouraging others to adopt a pet.

We adopted one of our dogs from a shelter.  It felt so good to know that we had saved a dog.  In the end (after 12 wonderful years), we now know he saved us.  He was the missing piece of our family.

Top 10 dogs that worked in horror films

Top 10 dogs that worked in horror films (from eatmybrains.com)



1.Cujo - St. Bernard (Cujo)


2.Beauty and Beast - German Shepherds (The Hills Have Eyes)


3.Price - Rottweiler (The People Under The Stairs)


4.Nanook - Siberian Husky (The Lost Boys)


5.Blood - Mongrel (A Boy and His Dog)


6.Max - Tibetan Mastiff (Man's Best Friend)


7.Unknown name - Husky (The Thing)


8.Unknown - Rottweiler (Alien 3)


9.Dickie - Alsatian (The Beyond)


10.Chips - Collie (Dawn of the Dead))

Babies and Pets

Bella, Reno, and Katie were our kids for a long time.  We got married in 1995 but didn't have our first child until 2003.  We were worried about how our pets would react to a baby in the house.  They noticed the baby things creeping into our home and would often go and smell them.  The day our daughter was born, we took a hat she had worn for our dogs to smell prior to us leaving the hospital.  They were happy to see us when we got back from the hospital.  They smelled our daughter and were satisfied with doing that.  Over the years, our daughter tried to ride the dogs, aggressively pet the cat, dress up the dogs, and race the dogs.  They were eager to have someone solely dedicated to playing with them. 

In 2009 we had our second child and our dogs were now 12 and 13 and our cat was 11.  Our pets were less concerned with the arrival of our newest daughter.  Our first daughter luckily kept them entertained when the baby got fussy.  Our boy dog Reno did not get to spend too much time with the baby - he passed away the day after Thanksgiving.  We feel bad that our second daughter will never really know him.

Before having kids we never thought our pets would be neglected in any way.  But after having kids it seems it is more of a balancing act.  We constantly have to remind ourselves to pay attention to them.  Our eldest daughter is good about giving them the extra attention they need.  I can't imagine life without our furry kids and our human kids.

Late night disturbance

My dog Bella who is 13 years old chooses to do her licking/scratching late at night.  She spends most of the the daylight hours sleeping, smelling, and walking around.  Lately, she has dedicated the hours of 12-3am as licking hours!  She obsesses over certain spots.  She's had allergies all her life.  We don't know if the current licking habit is due to her allergies or just becoming a bad habit.  To top it off, she also scratches her ears and then begins to whine when it hurts.  Poor dog!  Poor us!  She can't hear us telling her to stop licking - she lost her hearing about a year ago.  She sleeps one level above us since she can't climb down the stairs anymore.  It is a hassle to have to go up and tell her to stop.  Any suggestions?

Growing Old Together

I wonder when it happened.  Did the two of them decide to call a truce?  My dog and cat seemed to be at peace with one another.  Finally.

My dog Bella was two years old when Katie our cat walked into our lives.  Bella has always been curious about Katie but kept her distance.  Katie has always been fiesty and made it clear that she would not tolerate being smelled.  Katie seemed to like our other dog Reno (who recently passed away).  She weighs about 11 pounds, Reno weighed over 60.  Katie was his boss.  Poor Reno!  I often caught Katie swiping at Reno as he passed by her.  She would stare at him until he moved from the bed she wanted to lay on.  I would often find them sleeping together on the cold nights.  Bella had her own bed.  I believed they had a mutual understanding to stay away from each other.  For over 12 years that's what their relationship was - separate.

In the last couple of weeks, maybe they finally noticed Reno's absence and felt they had no choice but to interact.  I caught Bella a few times whining over a bed with Katie.  Katie would not budge.  But lately, they have been sleeping next to one another.  Bella is now 13 and Katie is 11.  With our 6 year old (going on 30!) and our new baby, life has been hectic.  It's nice to see that they have each other.  I hope that somewhere somehow they reached an agreement to accept one another and live amicably.  I hope that they learn to love one another as we love them individually.  If Reno was here (or maybe he's the one who convinced them?) he would be sleeping in the middle of them.  We'll see how long this lasts...

Reno, the good boy

The day after Thanksgiving will always be a day we'll never forget.  We went to Seattle for the tree lighting ceremony and came home to find our dog, Reno had passed away.  Our other dog, Bella seemed to be fine.  Reno lay still in his dog house.  It felt like a dream.  We called out to him but he never answered.  He was always so alert.  Barking at every little sound.  Now he lay so still, it hurt to see him like this.  We said our goodbyes and my husband took him to the vet.

It took us several days to not cry at the thought of Reno.  My daughter took it the hardest.  Reno was her best friend.  He often let her dress him up, raced with her, and let her love him.  It was such a neat relationship.  Our other dog didn't seem to change much, she did seem more clingy and needed lots of attention.

I created a book for Reno, full of his pictures, and our memories of him.  My heart still hurts when I see another dog running with his human friend.  That used to be me and him.

I don't know when the day will come that we can attach ourselves to another dog.  Reno was 12 years old when he passed.  He lived a full and mostly healthy life.  He had a sister dog, a arch nemisis (our cat), and humans who loved him so much. 

We did find a poem about him waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge.  It was comforting to hear that there is a place where he is free from pain, free to run, and eagerly awaiting for us.  I truly hope that this place exists.

I love you Reno.