Black Paw 101: Blog

An ongoing series of informational entries from our Monthly Chew Newsletter

Pet Safe Toys and Gifts Month...

Black Paw 101:

December 1, 2023

It’s the season of giving…and don’t forget the pets!

Safety first. Make sure the toy you choose is non toxic, the right size for your pet, digestible and has all chock hazards removed. Toy stuffing, raw hides and small items can become a trip to the emergency room!

There so many toys out there to choose from, or if you are one who lets your pet decide, or do you craft your own…what are the best options?

Let’s talk dog toys:

The Classic Kong and treat dispensing toys are great to keep them occupied.

Widely used now is interactive toys, such as puzzles to get treats are very popular. The puzzle keeps them busy, while they slowly get treats or food, but can also be a learning tool.

Plush toys are great for the dog who loves to carry or cuddle a “friend” around, although these are not best for heavy chewers. Plush toys need to be watch with your pet, as most of them had a squeaker inside that can be hazardous if swallowed. Most stuffing in plush toys is not digestible.

Metro Balls from Metropaws are non-toxic and petrochemical free with all the bright colors your pup will chase after!

The wishbone shaped chews (comes in flavors) and Nylabones are taking over raw hide chews. Pieces will come off of these chews, but in very small pieces. If your pup prefers a raw hide, be sure to toss it when it gets smaller and wet, as it can become a hazard.

The floss type tug rope is a popular toy. Be sure to supervise your pup while playing with a floss rope tug toy. Also, a danger if you have cats, as they can ingest the floss.

If you want to add a little sprinkle to your pup's holiday cheer, check out the Pawty Box at www.metropaws.com, it has everything needed for a pup paw-ty.

Let’s talk cat toys:

They like to hunt, so one thing I love to do is drop treats or kibble all around the house, behind furniture and under things. They think they have been on a scavenger hunt.

A must try… Metro Bliss Nip or Stix Organic Silver Vine Catnip from Metropaws.

Cats love a toy on the move, so a battery-operated toy is always a pleaser for cats.

Lasers have become very popular. These must be used with caution; limit the time used, as you do not want to over excite your cat. Have a physical reward available at the end of laser time for a reward for all the “hunting” your cat has done. Never shine the laser in your cat’s eyes!

If you like to think out of the "litter" box and DYI then try… non-toxic bubbles, a cardboard box filled with leaves, aluminum foil formed into a medium sized ball, boot laces tied together, toilet paper roll, tree stump scratch pad.

***There is NO truly indestructible pet toy, so please supervise your pet and throw away toys as they become damaged to prevent a safety hazard!

We are sending out a special thank you to Lindsey at Metropaws for chatting with us in the boarding room for our podcast. Be sure to Watch & Win Wednesday at https://youtu.be/PyKV0TcZpQE and then answer our trivia question correctly (comment on FB or IG or TEXT me) on December 6th to get your paws on a Metropaws $25.00 gift card. Drawing for the Winner will be on Friday the 8th.

Black Paw 101: Be safe and have fun!

Bobbi Wilson, CPPC since 2018

Adopt A Senior Pet Month...

Black Paw 101:

November 1, 2023

There are so many reasons to adopt a senior pet; first and foremost, all pets want love, attention and great care. Statics are showing senior dogs have a 25% chance of adoption vs. a 60% chance of adoption over a puppy. The least adopted in shelters are black senior dogs and black cats are the second least adopted. Cats that are 2+ years old have a 60% adoption rate vs. an 82% for kittens.

This year a senior cat (14 years old) needed to be adopted, the rescue group was delighted when a student wanted to adopt the senior cat. The student had thought it though, as they knew they were going to be living at home for 4 years, and took into consideration the age of the cat. Although, the odds where the cat would not be alive for 4 more years, they wanted to give the cat the best last year few years ever.

Senior pets in a rescue/shelter are there for many reasons, their human has passed away, their owner couldn’t care for them, or they were abandoned. Most senior pets have had some sort of structure to their lives, maybe training, a routine or a long-term home life. They can be so adaptable but need to be in a home setting again. Pets found on the streets, it is unknown what their history is, but most can be trained. The shelter or rescue foster volunteer should provide information on the pet’s behavior and how well they are adapting.

By adopting a senior pet out of a shelter, you are actually opening a spot for another pet in need to enter the shelter for a home. This is a two for one win! You see, it takes senior pets longer to get adopted, so you are helping other pets, not just the senior pet you adopted.

With a senior pet, you already know their size, personality, possible health issues and how trained they are. Senior pets will be calmer and laid back.

Let’s determine what defines a senior in age. Dogs are considered to be Senior in the last 25% of their lives. This is determined by the breed of the dog. Larger dogs live shorter lives than smaller dogs on the average. The general thought is a cat is determined a senior if over 11 years old. This proves if in good health, most senior pets will have several years of life left.

Unfortunately, even No Kill Shelters struggle to find a solution for senior pets, as they can be housed in shelters until the end of their life without a chance for a life ending home.

Black Paw 101: Save a Senior Pet!

Bobbi Wilson, CPPS

PLP...How did it happen?

Our First Blog Entry

February 1, 2022

Peace Love Paws Pet Sitters, LLC… How did that happen?

What was a desperate need for more income clashed with my desire (for YEARS) that turned into what PLP is today.

We all get caught up in life’s things! Thinking we know our direction and then…well, we have all been there. Some make it out okay, while others fight it. Scott and I seem to have this happen to us every so many years. Hence, how we jumped into Pet Sitting! I will back up a few years…

I wanted a Pet Sitting Business for several years, after stumbling across an online publication by Patti Moran (Now founder of Pet Sitters International) in 1998. Scott’s job just did not allow time for us to do it and I owned a lamp work bead/jewelry business, which kept me busy. We had adopted several pets from the CMHS and Second Chance, but our first real pet rescue was a Black Cat named Zena B.. She was a pregnant cat and living in terrible conditions when I found her. I brought her home and that was the first litter of kittens I had ever seen. (We have since helped with 6 more adoption litters over the years.) When Zena B. died, I wanted to honor her with a pet rescue. I thought how hard is it to set up a not for profit? Answer; Not as easy as one would hope. We ran it for eight successful years, while all the time I wanted to pet sit as a career. Still the opportunity to do so was not available, due to one thing or another. Life changed for us several times again over the next several years, and we become home inspectors. I know, still not in the pet sitting business...truth is, for 20 years, every neighbor in our neighborhood would ask us to pet sit. When we did… we would be "paid" with rocks from exotic places, or a souvenir from somewhere! We moved from that neighborhood and I missed pet sitting all the neighbor’s pets! Then the clash moment happened to us. The home inspection business took a turn for us, and we needed a second income quick. FINALLY, we knew being Professional Pet Sitters was what we should do!

Black Paw 101: Hold on to your dreams…your clash moment will come!

Bobbi Wilson, CPPS

@peacelovepawspetsittersllc