Franchise News Release: Berkeley, CA - (Nov-1-2007)

Safeguard Your Pet from Seasonal Ailments; Canine Influenza, Parvo Disease & Kennel Cough: Serious, But Avoidable

With over sixty-three percent of U.S. households owning one or more pets, reports regarding the highly contagious and potentially deadly strains of canine influenza and Parvo disease - not to mention the highly pervasive kennel cough virus - have many dog owners worried…particularly those with travel plans in the near future. Indeed, with the glut of catch up required after an out of town trip, a sick dog is the last thing you want to contend with. And, an ailing animal can cut your long-planned, expensive vacation short should you need to come home early to nurse your pet back to good health. So, what’s a travel-bound pet owner to do?

Out of concern for their pet’s health, well-being and safety, more people are avoiding kennel, boarding and daycare facilities, and even family members or the neighbor’s kids, in favor of home-based pet care such as that offered by FETCH! Pet Care - America’s premier pet care Franchise offering professional at-home pet sitting and dog walking services.

”It’s hard enough for owners to deal with the psychological concerns of boarding their pets in crowded facilities, but the health risks put a pet in double jeopardy,” notes Paul Mann, FETCH! Pet Care founder and CEO. “The good news is that sound alternatives that can readily thwart pet illness do exist, such as professional in-home private pet sitting. Reputable in-home pet care services typically visit or stay overnight with dogs, cats and other small animals in their own home, walk dogs one at a time or in very small groups, or privately board or daycare them individually in the comfort and safety of the pet sitter’s home. Thus, the disease risk level for in-home pet sitting is considerably lower than that for ’en masse’ dog lodging.”

FETCH! Pet Care client Jodie M. Minor, Ph.D., a faculty training manager for an online higher education provider, knows all too well the risks involved in facility boarding, as her cat, Minerva, tragically lost its sight due to an unfortunate kennel boarding experience. Jodie notes, “I was forced to place my two cats, Minerva and Merlin, in a recommended kennel after relocating because I couldn’t find a qualified pet sitter before a major trip. When I returned, I found Merlin severely depressed and Minerva ill from a Herpes infection, which caused her to lose her eye. I learned a difficult, but invaluable, lesson – I’ll never kennel board again and will instead use a private, in-home sitter.”

According to Mann, the better pet care service providers employ a large number of pet sitters to assure each staff member interacts with no more than 5 to 10 animals in a day’s time - even during busy holidays. This exposure is far less than the 50 to 150 dogs that might typically board together in a kennel or daycare facility over a busy holiday season. “Considering the overall savings in avoiding expensive veterinarian bills and assuring the safety and comfort of pets, in-home pet sitting is a much safer and cost-effective pet care alternative all around,” he says.

However, the difficulty of finding reliable, at-home service providers has spawned the need for firm guidelines on selecting the right professional. A touch of due diligence is key to ensure you find a highly trained and well-screened animal caretaker to best meet each pets’ unique needs - and each owners’ appropriately high expectations.

FETCH! Pet Care offers this advice for selecting a pet sitter:

Diligently check all of the company’s references – at least three should be voluntarily provided.
Ensure the company is fully bonded and insured.
Verify that your sitter can accommodate both your pet’s daily feeding and exercise schedule as well as your desired vacation schedule during busy holidays.
Ensure the company offers 7-day per week telephone and email availability.
Confirm that your sitter has undergone a criminal background check and has received proper training.
Pre-interview your sitter with your pet(s) present to observe interactions and establish a “comfort level” for both you and the pet(s).
Clearly state how you would like your sitter to use his/her visit time in terms of walking, playing, feeding, cleaning, etc..
Provide medical and behavioral history about your pet(s) as well as veterinary and other emergency contact information, and gather all necessary supplies, including food, vitamins, and treats in one central location.
Ensure the company has “backup” measures in place should your sitter have an emergency that prevents them from completing your assignment.
Confirm that your sitter will leave you a pet report card at the completion of their assignment and that the company offers a customer satisfaction guarantee in case you are dissatisfied in any way.