Author |
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Tuesday, August 12, 2008 - 12:05 pm
HP congrats on your hard work paying off!!! And it does seem like you picked a profession that you are passionate about -- probably why you are so successful!! (And so quickly!) When did you first start this business anyways?
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - 9:39 pm
Thanks, Sweet Nic!! Julie, thank you! If you go back to the beginning of this thread, you can trace it back. I got the idea in May. Took some SCORE classes. Started pet sitting with a franchise in the area. Hired someone to do my website. Got my business license, got insured and bonded. Developing my business more and more each day, now that my website is up and running, my business cards and doorhangers are done, etc. I have one foot still in the franchise and one in my own sitting business. But I will quit the franchise in September. Because I get new clients every couple of days and things are looking very good so far.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 3:47 am
My latest new clients, Toohey and Watson:
Toohey
Watson Great cats!! Toohey was very slow in warming up to me, but I followed the "rules" and he came to me and now we are really good with each other! Watson is a show off and always ready for play and loving.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 3:53 am
I just finished 6 overnights in a row with this crew, all of whom slept with me each night. Pooh (the golden) rocked the bed all night. I am still catching up on my sleep!! They were absolute jewels, though. I really love these dogs!
Maisie is the shih tsu on the bed. She is so funny. (I gave her a raspberry on her belly and she jumped up, looked at me like I was a madman, started running all around . . . and then came back for more!) Logan is the fuzzy one next to Pooh. He was the shyest to begin with, and is an absolute darling. Pooh could be petted all day and all night. All three are gentle and loving, yet have just enough of the devil in them to make you laugh the entire time. (Pooh likes to play tug of war and can yank your arm off. At all other times he is the gentlest of dogs.)
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 9:16 am
Awwwwww how sweet HP! They are all adorable. Toohey looks quite ornery! Maisie looks just like my Jack. Except he won't stand for me trying to get the tear stains out near his eyes. You have a dream job in my opinion! Lots of work, yes, but how many jobs do you get lots of love in return? So glad things are working out! T
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 9:20 am
I love how Maisie, Logan and Pooh are looking toward the camera. You are not only good at this job but also with a camera HP! And I cannot imagine sleeping with all 3 ... it must be so cozy!!!

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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 11:30 am
Love the fuzzybottom updates HP! So glad that things are going so well for you. You deserve it so much! 
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 3:22 pm
I learned how to give injections with Blackjack, who is diabetic. It took 5 visits before Domino would let me close enough to scratch his head. He watches over Blackjack like a guardian angel, though. So I love him for that. Both are rescues, and the back story on Blackjack is heartbreaking. Someone in Wilmington shot him!!! There are still some pellets in him and I found one today and left a note for the owners (as it was my last visit) where it was (leg). When Blackjack meows, he does not sound like a cat--probably due to the shooting and its effect on his vocal chords. Instead, he sounds just like a dove! Honestly. It is the strangest sound, and ranges from soprano in the morning to alto in the evenings.
Blackjack
Domino
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Thursday, August 21, 2008 - 4:10 pm
Serate, Nic and MB, thank you! I'm with you, Serate: This IS the dream job. And yes, it's pure love heaped on me every day. It's the main reason I'm always smiling--no matter what else is going on! And yes, it can be a lot of work, but I never feel burdened by the tasks. I simply feel that I should do the best by the animal, so that is what I try to do. For one Fetch customer--who I told my boss we should drop--I cleaned up 8 grocery bags of poop in the outside cage where he wanted all his dogs to "go" each day. The dogs didn't even want to go in there, and I didn't blame them. And after getting the eight bags to the trash (I had run out of bags)--I could see that there were still more layers of the stuff. No, I didn't get paid for that extra task; nor did the owners leave me a tip--but any conscientious person would have done the same for those dogs. Just a sin. My boss did drop them, btw.) Nic, you are so sweet and too generous with your praise. Believe me, I haven't shared my bad pix. I am not known for being a photographer AT ALL. I can fix most bad lighting using the software that came with my printer--and the poses, well, the pets did that. I just make screwy noises so they all look up at me. Here's a pic of the 3 on the bed:
Thanks, MB. Don't know about the "deserve" part, but I sure am happy! Still got a lot to learn--esp about tracking everything appropriately in a spreadsheet, etc. (I got a starter edition of QuickBooks free with my new printer, but I have yet to find the time to explore it.) I also need to do some hiring, and I am being very, very picky.
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Citruscitygal
Member
08-07-2003
| Friday, August 22, 2008 - 3:33 am
HP~ Loving the pictures and stories. I do accounting and use QuickBooks everyday. Once you find the time to play with it, let me know if you have questions. I'd be glad to help if I can. I'm slightly envious but very happy for you that you have found (created) a job that makes you happy. Hugs, CCG
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Friday, August 22, 2008 - 9:09 am
Those are 3 very loved dogs HP! Love the picture of them all on the bed ... I'd love to cuddle with them! What a great job you have!!

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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Saturday, August 23, 2008 - 12:16 pm
Hey, CCG! Good to hear from you and thanks so much for the offer--which I will accept . . . when I am ready. You are wonderful to me, as always! Hey, Nic. Huggles to you, and thanks, Dear, again. I am off in a bit to care for yet another new client's brood: * 2 dogs * 1 cat, and * 1 bearded dragon! (Ewww, mealworms. Ewww!) Yes, I'll take pics!!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Sunday, August 31, 2008 - 7:04 pm
Hey, HP, you know who is busting his buttons with pride at you right about now? Stinkypinky, Winkybinky, Snugglewuggle, the real Herckleperckle, the dearly departed Hercules. He's the guy who was the inspiration for all the love being spread on the waters of petdom on the eastern shore of the United States nowadays. I love your newest pictures and stories as always and am glad to see you are learning how to speak and act cat. Those folks are lucky to have you loving their pets when they are not home.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Wednesday, September 03, 2008 - 11:24 pm
oh, my goodness, Juju. I just stopped in to check things out and saw your post. Course now I am crying all over my keyboard . . .
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Thursday, September 04, 2008 - 8:24 am
Awwww. Well, hell, now me too. A dog for the ages.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 5:53 pm
, Juju. New clients! 2 Rescued Schnoodles (Schnauzer and Poodle Mix):
This is Harry. He is a huge tennis ball fetcher! The owner showed me that I had to have 2 in my hands in the backyard. Throw one in one direction; then, as soon as he closed in on it, throw the other one in an opposite direction! I looked at her after 5 minutes of that and exclaimed THAT was why she had such nice arms! and his brother,
Andy Rooney. Andy is shy and yes, even a little curmudgeonly. A real sweetheart once he trusts you, though! This was on our first visit together, when the rain from the earlier hurricane made it to Delaware:
Momma told me there'd be days like this! The other household members:
 Grey; Pierre
Midnight
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 5:57 pm
And two more, that I see starting this coming Tuesday:
Kazy (age 5) and Mitty (age 4), two female West Highland Terriers. I will be walking them weekdays through the end of September. Can't wait!
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 6:29 pm
Awwwww they are all adorable. Harry looks just like the Schnoodle we had growing up.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 7:52 pm
Tomorrow I travel 3 times to a home that is more like a mini-veterinary hospital than a house! (Thank goodness I am just filling in for their regular sitter!) Listen to this. They have: Buddy, a mutt they rescued at age 2 (born with deformed kneecaps). He was found abandoned, flea-infested, starving and unable to walk. This family adopted him. He has undergone several surgeries, so he can walk, but not very quickly. Kind of hobbles and has arthritis and thyroid problems. But, he has a wonderful, loving family and is 15 now! He requires walks alone, a backyard playtime alone (other dogs will knock him over in their boisterousness), pills and a FLOVENT treatment--an inhaler with a clear nose-mask. (You squeeze the inhaler once while holding the mask in place--and continue holding it until the dogs has taken 5 good breaths. You can hear his breaths, plus he fogs it up a little when he takes the breaths.) 2 Siberian Husky sisters, Lucy and Bella, age 4 months. They get walked together, but separately from Buddy, of course. No special foods, but they must be caged each time before I go. They get a playtime out back separate from the walks, and separate from Buddy. 11 (yes, eleven) cats! (One is a stray they feed outside.) 2 of these cats (Ash and Fuzzy) are diabetic and require insulin twice when I am there. Yes, I know how to do that. Fuzzy also gets special food. One of the cats, Rusty, has only one kidney. He gets fluids (from a hanging bag) every other day. Luckily, tomorrow is not one of them; but the couple did teach me how to do that Wednesday night, when I went for the consult. I do have to give him pills (several), though. Not an easy thing, giving cats pills, but I have done it. He gets special food, too. Course I will be scooping kitty litters all 3 visits, walking dogs a total of 4 times, feeding/watering the 3 dogs once and feeding/watering the 11 cats twice--with special food for 2 cats. This is through Fetch; these are not my clients. The other two clients who own the pets in the pictures I shared above ARE my (The Pet Nanny) clients, though. Each month, my receivables are increasing (by leaps and bounds), too!! Yahoo!
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Serate
Member
08-21-2001
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 7:54 pm
I'm tired just reading it! YAY for your business taking off. Not that any of us here doubted it one bit!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 8:17 pm
Hi, Serate! Well, that's a nice memory jogger, then, Hon. All these dogs are wonderful. I actually haven't met one yet who I don't like!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 8:22 pm
Yeah, Serate. I just printed out all the pages of notes I have for the care of the animals. Whooo-boy! They are leaving me their notes as well, plus pictures of each animal, in case I mix up the cats. Only two are really difficult to distinguish from one another--both are black and white with similar markings--except for their noses. One has a white nose; one a black nose! The rest are pretty distinct. And I can't help but remember them all. What is unbelievable to me was that there wasn't a whiff of cat odor in that home. I think that is amazing!
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 9:01 pm
Yay!!! I always love new client pictures! Just amazing how this thing has taken off, HP. You da woman for the job, though. That house with the menagerie certainly sounds like a major challenge. Uhhhh ... I bet their daily fees are a tad on the high side ...
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Friday, September 12, 2008 - 9:40 pm
Yes, the total Fetch charge (and I'm not even sure it is accurate) is $146. I now get 60% of the fees (my boss upgraded me by 10%), so I will do okay tomorrow. It's definitely worth it on a couple levels to me. I will have learned more new skills I can offer to my other clients! Plus, I do feel for these animals. And it hikes up my month's receivables so I can help out more with my own business expenses. I don't think these folks intended to house a menagerie. It's just that they had a hard time saying no. Why they recently got those 2 new dogs, though, is beyond me. I mean, they are very, very cute, and all, but my goodness, their home is smallish and really is not one that serves humans anymore. Every bit of space is occupied by a pet or a pet's food bowl or bedding! And,of course, their time is really not their own. But, gotta tell you, the fact that they took Buddy in and took such good care of him cancels out any "crazy" labels I might have applied. They are good people with good hearts . . . maybe too good for their own good. They seemed content enough . . . and both are employed outside the home--so they do get away from it all for most of the daytime hours. They have a strict routine --a schedule that begins at 5 am each day. It works for them.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Saturday, September 13, 2008 - 3:36 pm
Wow I'm worn out too lol. Hp does your dh help with these large pet families??
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