Plays Thru: July 2018

Words of Wisdom from Newly Adopted Pups

If these words of wisdom were printed out and given to every new family before their "new" dog was presented to them I truly believe the adjustment period would run smoothly. If you get the chance to talk to a shelter staff member about this post please do! Remember, all dogs need time to adjust to their new home as many haven't been in a home for weeks, months, or even years! Thank you!

Silly Cat Sunday

Do you think your cat looks for a new home for your dog when he/she gets the chance? My cat, Buster, wouldn't dream of giving up his companion, Daisy, but maybe your cat would!

Molly's 5 Day Adventure With Her Pet Sitter and Daisy!

Molly's happiness was written all over her face while she goofed around with me

and hammed it up for the camera with Daisy for five fun-filled days!

Each visit was filled with adventurous walks (her ability to find sticks in hard to reach areas was amazing!), meals and snacks, snuggling at my feet and

in my lap.

As you can imagine, the girls needed a lot of R & R after the many hours of fun they shared!

It is always a pleasure to spend time with cheerful, silly, and sweet Molly but when it was time for us to leave we knew she would soon be in the arms of her dad!

If you live in the Dover, NH, area and are in need of a reliable, trustworthy pet sitter who will spend quality time with your pet, please consider Teacher's Pet Sitting Service!

Wordless Wednesday

Arty's Fun-Filled Weekend With Daisy and April

Arty was all smiles this weekend because he loved having his friend,

Daisy, to share snacks and

naps with!

He also loved having the cool grass under his feet and the chance to sniff all the lovely greenery around him!

He also loved making me laugh with his preference to having his meals served on his bed rather than in a bowl!

After all of the short walks, roaming in the backyard, napping, and snacking he was just as sad as we were that we had to leave! I'm sure Daisy and Arty will be dreaming of the next time they'll see each other again!

A Downtown Dover Mural Attracts Daisy's Attention

Since you've read countless posts about Daisy's walks in downtown Dover you may wonder what historical sites we see along the way so I thought I would post this charming mural (it helps that I'm passionate about murals and art, by the way) that we walk by almost daily.

This downtown mural is on the corner of First Street and Central Avenue, a main thoroughfare of the city, that echoes back to simpler days of long ago that I appreciate so much.

I'm not sure if it's a coincidence that the artists painted a number of musicians to coincide with the popular music store, Earcraft Music, that is on the corner of the two streets or not but even if it isn't it's always nice to be reminded of the powerful influence of music.

It's fun to think of store fronts looking like this and

that children dressed in a modest style.

It is also a pleasure to think that the horse and buggy was a mode of transportation rather than the hustle and bustle of cars and motorcycles.

It is unfortunate that the general store was not preserved because it would be interesting to browse around!

To think of a time when entertainment was at a minimal cost is amazing, isn't it?

Daisy and I are so proud that this colorful mural brightens First Street in downtown Dover!

Silly Cat Sunday

How many times a day does your cat recharge his/her batteries?

Wordless Wednesday

Silly Cat Sunday

Have you broken the news to your cat yet? Ha! Ha!

Safety First for Music and Dilly

One of the instructions I was given prior to visiting Music (the orange tabby) and Dilly was to make sure they did not escape because normally they are used to roaming in and out of doors so it was a bit heartbreaking to watch their disappointed faces when I took this picture. Even though cats come indoors when called by their owners there are no guarantees that they will pay attention to me when I call so I make sure I am very careful when I come and go.

Fortunately, Dilly forgave me for keeping her and

her brother safe inside!

If you live in the Dover, NH, area and are in need of a conscientious and experienced cat sitter who will give them the same level of care you give them when you're with them please consider Teacher's Pet Sitting Service! Your cats will be happy you hired me!

Chestnut Had a Hopping Good Time With Her Pet Sitter!

No, you're not seeing things, folks! You REALLY are seeing an angora rabbit named Chestnut roaming wild and free in her apartment alongside her siblings, Barnabas and

Nori!

When she's not roaming around she's safely tucked away in an extra large crate so I wanted to give her a chance to do what she normally does when her dad is home which is to interact with her siblings while also bouncing around her living room once or twice a day! The only precautions I was given was to make sure she didn't chew on electrical cords and that it might take her awhile to meander back to her crate but she was a good girl on both counts!

Watching Chestnut and Barnabas play-wrestle and snuggle was one of the many highlights of my pet sitting assignment! My only regret is that I didn't get their interactions caught on video!

The way I see it, rabbits are just as social as cats and dogs so it was no surprise to me that she enjoyed sniffing my shoes and

snuggling right beside me with her sister, Nori, close by!

One of the reasons why I was hired to take care of these cuties was because their owner did not want to place them in a boarding situation so he was happy to know his pets could relax in the comfort of their own home.

If you live in the Dover, NH, area and would like to have your pets receive quality in-home care please consider Teacher's Pet Sitting Service. For further information please visit my website at www.teacherspetsitservice.com today!

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Wordless Wednesday

Silly Cat Sunday

Where is your cat when you are in the bathroom? My kitty, Buster, is always on my bath mat when I get out of the shower!

Nori Explains What It's Like to Have an In-Home Pet Sitter

Hi!

I'm Nori and I wanted to tell you that I am having the time of my life with my pet sitter, April, because we are getting out and about all over downtown Dover three times a day! I've been spending time with her for 5 days so far and every day has been an adventure! Today, for example, the air finally felt cool enough to do an extended walk down (April says we've been having a heatwave) by a few shops such as

Hallmark where her dog, Daisy, and I got a milk bone and then we

sniffed our way down the aisles!

On the way home I was excited to walk by the river at Henry Law Park because there were even more people and their dogs to meet there!

When I got home, my kitty brother, Barnabas, and my angora rabbit sister, Chestnut, were waiting to get some extra attention from April!

April keeps saying she can't believe how big angora rabbits are and neither can I! Can you?

So that's it, folks! This is my fun story about what it's like to have a friendly and sweet pet sitter while my dad is on vacation! Waiting for my dad to come home isn't bad at all because I feel safe while having April take care of me and my siblings!

Daisy Can Always Bank on Customer Service!

Surprise, surprise! Yesterday the banker asked me how Daisy was handling the heat since the humidity alone was above 100 degrees with temperatures in the 90's. I told him she barely handled being out for ten minutes that afternoon so expressed his concern and then handed me this envelope that contained

two milk bones inside as an offering to help cheer her up! I was tickled that he chose to put them in an envelope and so wasn't Daisy!
If you've been reading my posts for the past few years you'd remember that Daisy has been a regular "customer" for seven years so when she isn't doing "her" banking with me she is always asked about even on hot and humid days! Now that's what I call customer service!

Do you have a bank or other business that your dog frequents with you? If so, how are they treated when they visit?

Wordless Wednesday

3 Ways to Keep Your Pets Safe During the 4th of July Fireworks

Please don't let your pets become a statistic when 4th of July fireworks begin! Pets are known to escape from home out of fear of the unfamiliar noises and are often lost for days or even longer because of them! My safety advice is to do the following:

1) Keep your dog ON A LEASH even in a fenced in yard and get those walks done long before festivities begin so they're tired and comfortable!

2) Please do a thorough search of the screens on your porch and home to be sure they are securely fastened! Cats get just as scared as dogs do during the fireworks display as dogs do and will escape in any way possible! If your cats are indoor/outdoor cats this is NOT the time to let them outdoors for the evening. Since I'm a worrier I would suggest keeping them in throughout the ENTIRE WEEKEND because, again, neighbors love "practicing" setting off fireworks at random times throughout the day!

3) Be mindful of where your pets are when your guests open and close doors because it only takes a second for your four-legged friends to escape from the unfamiliar lights and sounds of the fireworks! To avoid this from happening my suggestion would be to KEEP YOUR PETS IN AN ENCLOSED ROOM WITH THE WINDOWS AND CURTAINS SHUT and then turn the air conditioner and stereo on to drown out the unfamiliar noises.

I know Fourth of July safety suggestions have been posted all over the internet in the last few days but I hope I mentioned something unique that will stay on your mind before the festivities begin!

How to Keep Your Dog's Paws Safe on Hot Pavement

Have you ever watched dogs refuse to walk during hot days and then plop down on the ground for a rest? Many rush to give their dogs water when this happens (and rightly so) but the other concern is that their paws may
be burned.

The signs that a dog has burned pads are limping, refusing to walk, darker than usual pads, blisters, redness, missing parts of the pad, or licking and chewing the foot.

If you are still sure if the pavement is too hot press your bare hands or feet on sunny pavement for at least 7-8 seconds to assess heat level. If it is uncomfortable for you, then it is too hot for your dog.

Remember that the air temperature is NOT an accurate reflection of ground temperature at all! Asphalt and other ground surfaces retain heat and this temperature rises exponentially as heat and sun exposure continues. See the above image for temperature correlations.

If your dog experiences any of these symptoms immediately flush the injured paw with cool water and take him to the veterinarian who will then determine if he needs antibiotics and/or pain medication.

My coon hound, Daisy, walks in the grass to avoid hot pavement.

To avoid the dangers of asphalt please walk your dog in shady spots, on the grass, dirt, or gravel.

Please be mindful of the effect of heat on your dog's paws and please pass this post along to anyone who could use a reminder! Thank you!