Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, Scottsdale, AZ

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The holidays are upon us, along with parties and celebrations with our families, friends and fur-kids. And there are probably some older adults on your guest list this year – mom and dad, grandparents and dear friends who’ve seen a few more Decembers than we have. Plan ahead to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone, and to prevent many unfortunate “incidents of the season.” Read the rest of this entry »

One of the current projects I am juggling is the Barrett Jackson Pawshion show. It is January 20, 2012 and we are in the process of a virtual casting call. This is going to be one of the largest pet fashion shows that Scottsdale, Az has ever seen and your Scottsdale pet sitter is so honored to be producing the day that will host up to 3,000 people!. There are a lot of elements to conduct, however the casting call and all the details are seeming to be the most interesting

As I am simultaneously finding vendors for the show and putting together production elements (which include a large doghouse frame that is being built so the models can walk OUT of the doghouse and down the runway….) I am also trying to get all the model’s papers in order.

It is illegal to have a dog without a license or rabies shots.

I am finding out more and more that many people don’t actually have a copy of their pets license. A lot of pet owners are like me, they don’t have their dog wear a collar with tags all the time. Heck, even when Rocco has his collar on, there are no tags on it. I always figured, “eh, he is microchipped” and that is what matters to me.

I wasn’t so sure about all the ins and outs so I contacted my trusty veterinarian, Dr. Casey with McDowell Mountain Animal Hospital. She explained it to me this way: “Having a dog without a license is like driving a car without your license. It is against the law and you need it.“

Pretty cut and dry, right?

So… I am wondering, how many of you have your dog’s license? If you don’t, you can easily go to the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control’s website to get it now. I also suppose if you are a pet parent that doesn’t want all those tags clanging together, you could get a dog tag made that has county #, micro chip #, pet name, and phone # so then they just have one tag?

Hmmm. What do you all think? Does your dog have tags on his collar?

(For more information on the Pawshion show please contact me at: info@bellashouseandpets.com)

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• Part Four: HE DID IT! Journey to Pet Therapy (bellashouseandpets.com)
• NEW SCOTTSDALE PET STORE GRAND OPENING! (Free stuff!) (bellashouseandpets.com)
• Scottsdale Pet Sitter Teams Up With Barrett-Jackson (bellashouseandpets.com)

1. Their library of education -Where else can you go and get pamphlets that are hanging on the wall on subjects from why you should be cautious when scooping kitty litter, to why rawride isn’t good for your pooch, to pertinent nutritional information? They have a whole wall of pamphlets for you to take. They want to educate you. This is a strategic decision. The wall space they took up could have been for product but they care so much about education that it is worth them to take the space to make it easy for their customers.

The Library

2. They aren’t only cat and dog. They also provide toys and supplies for the caged critters and our avian friends too!

3. Knowledgeable staff that goes through nutritional training Did you know that Pet Planet puts their staff through nutritional training and that it is on going? I don’t know any stores in the area that invest this much in their employees and provide this constant education. Go in for your FREE nutritional consultation!

Nutritional Assessment Pg 1 or 2

4. Tubs are by the time, not by the size of dog. Rocco is medium sized. I am fast. We usually end up paying about $20 for a self wash at other places, but at Pet Planet it is by the time. I can have him all washed up within ten minutes. It’s only $10! ::::AND::: It isn’t per dog. So if you can fit all your pets in the same tub and have a scrub a dub dub  party…it is the same price! Sounds like a deal to me! Thank you Pet Planet!

Bella washing Rocco

5. Endless online info - Don’t take my word for it. Just look here:
http://petplanethealth.com/
http://www.petplanetmagazine.com/
http://www.IDontDoGrocery.com/

6. Over 50 stores, they know what they are doing! It isn’t their first rodeo. Do I really need to say more?

7. Push to see pet owners as a Guardian. Amazing movement!
http://petplanethealth.com/sign-petition.php

You are a guardian!

Currently, Pet Planet has two locations. One at 90t and Via Linda and another at Tatum and Cactus. This store should be on your list to stop in at. Friday is FREE treat Friday. Tuesday is 30% off bones. Print out this blog with this FREE WASH coupon attached and go get your pet clean! (This is a great treat after your dog gets all dirty at the dog park!) If that doesn’t make your tail wag, I don’t know what will!

Pet Planet will be a partner at our Mutt ‘N’ Mingles so you can for sure get to know them at our events starting Nov 1, 2011  6pm at West Addison.

ROCCO APPROVED.

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• NEW SCOTTSDALE PET STORE GRAND OPENING! (Free stuff!) (bellashouseandpets.com)
• From Rocco: North Scottsdale, Cave Creek & Carefree Pet Sitting (bellashouseandpets.com)
• What I Learned About Grocery Store Pet Food… (bellashouseandpets.com)

Get our seal of approval, and we will fix your Air Conditioning for FREE this summer if it breaks down.

Be there in THREE hours of FREE!

It is guarantee’s like these that catches our attention at Bella’s House & Pet Sitting in Scottsdale.

Taking a further look, and chatting with Jessica, Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team marketing specialist I realize that this company is more than just their guarantee’s.  They are actually a team of 42 employee’s. The are family owned and Jessica AND her husband have both worked there for almost a decade. I don’t know about you, but to stay with a company that long – says a lot to me about the integrity of the business. Their company is doing so well, that they are actually hiring (just like us!!!)

Jessica and I met for coffee originally because I needed to find out who was behind their great marketing. If you know me, you know that I love marketing, networking, and building relationshipswith the community, so it was a natural progression to find out who this business is. I see Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team on Facebook all the time. I hear them advertising on Glenn Beck on 92.3. They just seem to be everywhere.

What really struck me about the way this company operates is their expressed desire to make sure that you are never caught without AC working in your home. Thinking about the pets, I can really appreciate this. Last summer (in fact almost every summer) we have a home have an AC malfunction. Think about how you would feel sitting in your house when it is 110′ outside with a fur coat. You might pass out! When we encounter these situations, We have to take the pets with us when the home reaches 90′ and we have to work with the client and a company to manage repairs of the units. The pets are the ones that suffer. You might be able to survive, but will your pets?

Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team will be first on our list this summer, with their “Three of FREE” offer being the most appealing.  Although they service the whole valley, their office is right here in the Scottsdale Airpark and they focus on the same service area that Bella’s House & Pet Sitting does. It sounds like the perfect partnership.

I encourage you ALL to have them over to check your Air Conditioning units. No one wants to be caught with no Air Conditioning in the heat of the AZ summers…. No one. Once they give your units a clean bill of health – they guarantee that your units will not break, or it is FREE. Plus, if you have Air Conditioning by Jay’s Comfort Team come out and show us your receipt, we will give you a FREE pet sit (Value $25)!

ROCCO APPROVED.

Rocco and Jessica

A recent article comparing Pet Sitters to Tarantula’s got me thinking. People really don’t know what it goes into creating a pet sitting company. As Cary states, there are many websites that claim you can start your own pet sitting company in 4 easy steps.  HA!!!

My friends, if you are using a pet sitting company that used 4 easy steps, I would scoop up your pets and run fast in the other direction.

I have created the list below to really outline ALL that I have done over the nine years Bella’s House & Pet Sitting has been making the pets happy in North Scottsdale. These are the things I had to do to start it and keep it running. I am sure I have forgotten some. If there are any other pet sitting companies reading this, feel free to leave a comment adding what I have forgotten. These are all the elements I help other pet sitters with when I coach then through Jump Consulting too! (in no particular order)

Chose a Name
Registered it with the State
Paid for my LLC
Researched and paid for a URL
Chose Colors
Paid for a Logo
Formulated a Service Agreement
Purchased Insurance
Purchased Bonding
Defined service areas.
Did research to see what was out there.
Researched pricing and came up with Price List.
Joined National Organizations so I could get a mentor because I wasn’t well versed in the industry yet.
I created fliers
I printed fliers
I went door to door for years!
I made countless changes and updates to my website.
My policies and procedures were tried and tested multiple times until I got it “right”
I created a company culture
I created branding specific to Bella’s. (That’s why I chuckle when companies in town say they are the BEST and their name doesn’t begin with a B like Bella’s does…)
I figured out an Accounting Method

….tired yet?

I gained relationships with vets, groomers, and other industry professionals so I could build up a networking circuit, learn, and have experts to call upon when I need.
Created business cards
Joined local networking groups.
Started a Facebook, built it up, and post on it everyday.
Started Twitter
Created a YouTube Account (with over 70 video’s as of March 2010)
Created my own pen and paper scheduling system.
Found and learned an online system.
Find pet sitters to work for Bella’s (tough!!! Waited up to 3 months to find the perfect fit sometimes…)
Created an employee manual
Found and hired a background company.
Found and hired a payroll company. (went through 3 till I found the best fit for me)
Got workman’s compensation.
Been through two cars.
Bought another laptop.

Now are you tried?

Purchased approx 80 TShirts over the course of the companies life, 30 Long Sleeve, and 10 sweatshirts. (Had to create the design for those too)
Purchased Pens and Dog Bowls
Paid for three rounds of Marketing Shots
Created a Blog. (www.scottsdalepetexpert.com)
Recreated my website (again).
Paid to recreated logos to reflect the seasons.
Learned about all types of leashes and walking techniques.
Created booths for community events.
Created unique events to bring people and their pets together in the community like the Yappy Hours.
Created our own concierge program.
Created a system for keys so they were organized and secure.
Got a PO Box
Created all online review accounts
SEOed my website to be #1 in our area.
Created unique services.

…ok I am tired from typing! I am SURE there are many more things…. but while doing all of this, for the first 4.5 years I managed to do most of this …and do pet sits all in between this!!!

Now… do you understand why we can’t charge what the kid next door charges?

Professional pet sitting is  serious matter.  In fact, when I applied for Insurance, we are not the highest, but high on the scale because we are in people’s homes and dealing with their pets. Even the insurance agencies take the amount of liability pet sitters take on as serious business.

This is why a professional pet sitter is different from the kid next door….