Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, Scottsdale, AZ

You heard it here first from your Scottsdale pet sitter.

Diamond pet food recall which started last week has now extended it’s recall to include puppy food. It still does not affect Arizona, but I know many of you who follow us are from all over. Please pass and share this to all you know.

Diamond Pet Food includes these brands:

• Canidae Pet Food
• Costco‘s Kirkland Signature
• Solid Gold Health Products for Pets
• Dick Van Patten’s Natural Balance Pet Foods
• Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain (Available only at Costco)
• Taste of the Wild Pet Foods
• Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
• 4Health (Available only at Tractor Supply Company)
• NutraGold Super Premium Holistic Formulas

———————————————————————————->>>>>

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall to Include Diamond Puppy Formula due to Possible Salmonella Contamination
Customer Contact: 800-442-0402

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 30, 2012
Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food. The company took this precautionary measure because sampling revealed Salmonella in the product. No dog illnesses have been reported.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

People infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and
vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Only the Diamond Puppy Formula products meeting the following descriptions are recalled:
Description    Size    Production Code    Best By Date
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    40 lb.    DPP0401B22XJW    6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    40 lb.    DPP0401A21XAW    6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    40 lb.    DPP0101C31XME    11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    40 lb.    DPP0401B21XDJ    7-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    20 lb.    DPP0401B22XJW    6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    20 lb.    DPP0101C31XME    11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    20 lb.    DPP0101C31XRB    11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    8 lb.    DPP0401B2XALW    7-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food    6 oz. samples    DPP0401

The recalled Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food was manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in Gaston, S.C., and distributed in the following 12 states:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia

The product may have been further distributed to additional states through pet food channels. The
company is working directly with distributors and retailers that carry these products to remove them as quickly as possible from the supply chain. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may cause pet owners and their dogs.

Pet owners, who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402, 8 am – 6 pm EST, Monday through Friday, or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com.

Media Inquiries: 816-255-1974

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It has been proven that pets help reduce stress for their owner and those around them. So it makes sense to take them to work, right? Well if you ever find that you have the opportunity or you know someone who does… be sure to keep these tips from your Scottsdale pet sitter in mind:

• Be respectful of your co workers. It is not cute or polite for your dog to sniff, bark, or jump on other workers. Keep them confined to your own area.
• Bringing the comforts of home such as a bed or blanket, water bowl, and a “busy” toy is essential to give your dog the sense of their “spot”
  

  Rocco answering the phone

• Keep your dog reined in tightly to your area so they do not wander off into your co workers space.
• Make sure you take the outside for potty breaks away from the common areas where people might take a break.
• Only consider taking your dog if they are well trained and listen to you.

Every June, there is a National Take Your Dog To Work Day sponsored by Pet Sitters international and started in 1999. This year it will take place June 22, 2012 and you can visit www.takeyourdog.com for more information, to sign up, and for more helpful hints, tools, and to get your boss on board with the day.

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I get so over joyed to speak to students at Arizona State University in Tempe, Az.

Last semester, after receiving the Arizona Republic‘s 35 Entrepreneurs Under 35 Award, I was contacted by Mr. Blasko, a Marketing Professor in the College of Business at ASU. He wanted to know more about my business and if I would come and and speak. WOULD I? I would be honored!

Class #1

So I went to talk to two classes in December, and this week I am speaking to three classes.  It is surreal for me to be up there in the front talking to the classes, as it was only 5 years ago that I was sitting in those seats.

It went very well. I explained to them about the business, how I started, what makes us stand out from the rest, and what I think it means and takes to be an entrepreneur. I talked about how my faith is the backbone of my strength to get through the rough spots and how I built Bella’s House and Pet Sitting up from scratch.  I loved hearing their questions and be able to expand their perceptions of what a business owner and entrepreneur is. Sometimes hearing real life experiences can help expand ones perception and I get so excited at the ability to show that you can be young, make an impact on your community, and have balance in your life.

Class #2

I will go back in a heart beat and speak to any classes Professor Blasko asks of me. Thank you so much for the opportunity!

On Monday, one of my Scottsdale pet sitters called me late afternoon to tell me she had a fever of 102. Poor thing!  No problem! The team, will back you up and take over all your PM visits. Take two Tylenol and go to sleep!

tylenol bottle closeup (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The next morning her fever still hadn’t gone down so we kept going with the back up. All 15+ pets were visited throughout the day without interruption and it allowed my employee to go to the doctor and sleep it all off. This was in addition to what we already had scheduled with other sitters.

Sick in bed

We have the most amazing team players working with us at Bella’s and here is why:

(1) When someone is sick my whole staff is right there asking what can they do – willing to clear their personal schedules – because of their dedication to the pets and their “job” They even take it a step further and ask if the employee needs anything from the store. So caring, and I am so proud of them.

(2) Amazing clients who understand and trust our staff and systems to know that when “life happens” it will not become their problem. We are professionals, therefor we have taken the proper precaution to anticipate situations and solve them.

(3) A great centralized information system and back up keys. At Bella’s House & Pet Sitting, we require two copies of each client’s key. That way if one pet sitter is in an accident or something happens, we have a spare that is held with me so we can still do our job. The online system, which is password protected and encrypted, allows our clients to ensure their pet’s information is up to date, and a place where the sitters can update the notes as needed. It is a great way for us all to literally stay on the same page.

Part of the Bella's Staff Dec 2011

At the end of the day…. I just don’t know how I did it when I was a sole proprietor. Having to do 10 visits on a 102′ fever would be detrimental to me and to the four legged clients I was caring for.

So the next time you hire a professional pet sitter – ask them – what is your back up plan AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

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Many of you may not know that a big part of a Scottsdale pet sitter’s job includes picking up pet’s messes. This can get pretty tedious sometimes especially if there are sloppy #2′s of throw up. (Eww, I know) Our clients love us because we don’t charge by time – so we can really get a good scrubbing in and not having to charge them extra for the time.

Bed Bath & Beyond (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, I decided to invest in a Bissell SpotBot Pet and wow o wow – I wish I could get a cleaning lady as good as this to do my house this efficiently. If you have a pet and end up with a ton of pet stains I highly recommend you get off your hands and knees from scrubbing and let the SpotBot do it for you! For the cost of $150 plus my 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond I carried this little wonder home and got right to work.

It’s so easy that a child could do it!
You just fill one of the containers up with water and about 1/10 solution. Put it over the trouble spot press START and in 3 to 6 minutes (depending if you put it on surface or deep stain) it is done! It even has a hose with a brush attached to it so you can use it in your car if you needed to.

They LOVE the pets!
As someone who is fascinated by marketing I found it amazing how they put testimonials from the pets on their packaging AND they did not discriminate. Both a cat and dog were represented explaining how this product works great for the both of them

This is a secrete weapon every pet parent should have. Rocco is a clean pup. Even rings the bell to go outside to potty. But lets face it, his bottom is full of dirt and dust and when he sits in the same place time after time it becomes a little dirty. No more dark spots.

This Scottsdale Pet Sitter LOVES the Bissell SpotBot Pet!

Now, her is a TIP from Jill, a SpotBot Pet owner and a Bella’s House and Pet Sitting client:
“Also, if cleaning/removing an unclear liquid, after cleaning with the SpotBot, you may observe that area now looking ‘almost clean’ (with some hint of color from whatever was soiling the carpet still remaining)’, or a very defined now ‘cleaner’ area. If that happens, move the carpet cleaner to the outer most area of the newly cleaned circle, in several spots, overlapping the original circle, and carpet clean again. It will blend the old/new clean areas together and resemble less of an ‘I stained the carpet here today!’ sort of clean area.”

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