Author |
Message |
Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 9:20 pm
Oh, HP! You loved that business and you just have to start over again and build it up! You are so good at it that it would be a shame that animals in the DC area shouldn't have you as a sitter. I do hope you will consider it. In the meantime, congrats to Ed! I hope you enjoy your new adventure!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 9:34 pm
Beau, a rescued miniature schnauzer--given up by original owners when he was 9. (How could they?) (He's now 14.) This past summer, I was hired by Beau's owner for Christmas-time dates. From 12/26 - 12/30, I was with Beau 24 hours a day! That's because Beau has vision and hearing problems and serious right back leg issues. (He gets chiro treatments every 6 weeks and acupuncture treatments monthly.) The stairs are all gated off because if he tries to climb them, he will fall down. I fell in love with Beau--let him sleep with me, and we had a wonderful 5 days together. (It was also a terrific down-time period for me as I had been working like a madwoman--running from job to job from mid-November all the way through Christmas.) Didn't let up in January, either!
Finnegan, a 16-pound Yorkshire Terrier I don't get to see Finnegan very often because he is another sitter's responsibility. But because I cover for my sitters when they are unavailable, I did get to spend some time with him in late December and early January. He's a dollbaby! I've talked about this group before (3 dogs and 9 cats), I think. I saw them on Christmas Day myself and then again just recently, sharing 4 visit-a-day duties with one of my sitters from Jan 16-Jan 20. (Yes, their bill was outrageous).
Lucy and Bella, 9-month-old Siberian Huskies. Kissing, happy-go-lucky doggies who like to rip your ponytail holder out of your hair. and
Buddy, 15 1/2 year-old rescued Terrier Mix with congenitally deformed kneecaps. Gets around in a hobbling way--after several operations enabled him to walk. Sweetest doggie ever. and the cats!
Isabelle (black and white cat--very friendly and always ready to eat!) and Fuzzy (big, black cat--good with cats, still shy with people)
Gabriella, very shy cat.
Rusty --very docile and forgiving (gets fluids for his kidney failure every couple of days; I learned how to do that!) and Midnight (a quiet, nice cat).
Lily, pretty shy. Then there's Ash, a diabetic cat; Pete, pretty shy--who looks identical to Isabel except that her face has white in it; and Shane, a stray/feral cat they feed.
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 10:39 pm
Awwww, they are all gorgeous! I'm so gonna miss you sharing them with us and I know you are so going to miss them.
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Babyruth
Member
07-19-2001
| Wednesday, January 21, 2009 - 10:52 pm
There will be a new puppy living across the street from where your hubby works who will need a pet nanny (((((((((HP))))))))))
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 6:13 am
(((Hp))) Um Yay!!?? Well you'll be closer to me and I can assure you that you will have more business than you can handle.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 6:59 am
Hiya Herck! I'm sorry that you will have to lose the business that you worked so hard to establish, but happy for Ed and you that he's going to have a great job. I think you've done an amazing thing and provided a great service to the pets. You should be very proud of your accomplishments!
   P.S. Get good $$ for your business...you have created tremendous potential for the buyer and your reputation created it. In fact, if you even think of starting up again in DC, check into whether you can sell it as a franchise, or a division or something. That way you don't have to recreate the wheel at your new place.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 7:34 am
Actually, I just looked at your website again for the first time in ages. Everything you have done with this business is top notch, and I honestly don't think you should sell the name. I would re-register everything in your new location and perhaps allow the business to continue (don't know how this all would work legally) even though you aren't physically there. You can still oversee things by querying the customers over the internet or something. Your business is way too cool and developed to just sell it. JMHO 
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 10:46 am
Wow HP, what an exciting, accomplished year this has been for you! Congrats to your DH for scoring that job, and to you for successfully creating your own dream job. I see no reason why you can't continue to branch out at your new location and maybe over time become the Pet Nanny Mogul that I know you can be. I too will miss your posts about your adventures in fuzzybottomland, and hope you decide to continue and thrive.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 8:02 pm
Hahahahaha, Babyruth beat me to it. I know a couple hundred people who have never met you who would highly recommend you become the pet nanny for the nation's first dog. First, congratulations to Ed. Then shame on him for saying you don't have a "real" job. Just because you love doing it doesn't mean it isn't REAL WORK. You work hard, really hard. You have accomplished an amazing thing with that business. I have been in awe of how it has taken off since you began it and how carefully you planned it beforehand. The idea of the franchise really does make a lot of business sense. You put so much into it, you really should keep the name. Reckon you better see an attorney. Take six months or so off to move and get settled (and scope out the clientele, heh), but I think you should definitely start it up again. Unless, of course, you don't want to work that hard again. And that should be the main reason not to do it. There there, HP. All of your imaginary friends here are very very proud of you and have been busting our buttons, savoring your success (and your little funny oopsies). Keep us posted and best of luck in whatever comes next.

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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Thursday, January 22, 2009 - 8:15 pm
HP, you are so much more than a sitter. You are a nurse to those animals. You give them pills and shots and most importantly you give them a lot of love and that is just what their owners want. I think you have a very real job and not one that everyone can do. At least not nearly as well as you. Please consider keeping what you've put so much time and energy into.
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Mocha
Member
08-12-2001
| Friday, January 23, 2009 - 7:03 am
Oh an smack Ed upside the head for me for that 'not a real job' comment. And being that you'd be so close I'd definately need to use you on those rare occassions I go out of town an take the boys with me.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 7:59 am
Ha, Mocha. I've smacked him! News Flash: Announcing the Expansion of The Pet Nanny to 3 cities! I will be remain OWNER!! (Just call me Dale GATES Swift.) I've named my most trusted sitter as the Manager of the North Wilmington, Chadds Ford and Kennett Square areas. She is running it now --and concentrating on North Wilmington territory and is in the midst of carefully hiring new sitters. We don't have the changes on the website yet but will shortly--as Lauren's boyfriend is a website design guru. Lauren (my 30-year old daughter) took over all my jobs in Kennett Square, Chadds Ford and Media, thank goodness. (I had introduced her to the clients early on as a substitute for me on other occasions, so they knew her.) So we didn't lose any customers and they are happy with her. Heather will be able to transition in new sitters when the time is appropriate. Lauren is now my Partner, and will be opening up a branch in Brooklyn when she is done helping with the transitional period. And, when I am settled (and Ed is more comfortable with me continuing in this business), I will be opening up a branch in the D.C. area (near me, in Rockville, MD--or North Bethesda, I am not sure which is the right designation--the apt complex says one thing; the PO says another). I may have to appease Ed for a time by taking a govt job (that he is sure I can land; I am not so sure). In the meantime, all you can see is my behind, bending over boxes and stuffing them with paper and china, etc. Our movers come 2/11 to pack the truck. We have to have everything done by then. And we are doing pretty well so far. And we have takers for all the furniture we are not taking. That should be cleared out as of the close of day today! Back to work! D/HP
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 9:41 am
Congrats mogulHerck! Even if you'd already decided to do this, I hope in some way that by sharing our thoughts with you, a vision was born. You rock! I know that Herckie is looking down at his momma, happily wagging his tail for all the lucky dogs your Pet Nanny company will continue to care for.
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 10:13 am
You guys ARE the ones who made me rethink this. Take all the credit. It's yours and I'm so thankful you shared. (I was ready to roll over and nurse a broken heart.)
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 11:47 am
Here's an idea for your website (when you're ready to make your announcement). I just thought this litter was SO cute, and added the text.

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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 11:50 am
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 12:49 pm
Yay, HP!!! You have done the right thing! Best of luck on the move. Oh, and in case you didn't see my post in the mods folder where you asked the question about the e-mail, I would suggest you call Comcast and ask them about preserving the personal stuff from your e-mail. Well, and if you are using Outlook or Outlook Express, all of the personal stuff should just stay in your computer, and you just reconfigure it to send and receive through the new e-mail provider.
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Hukdonreality
Member
09-29-2003
| Saturday, February 07, 2009 - 12:54 pm
...or get a Yahoo account or g-mail. You can e-mail all of your address book even before you leave and tell them to send your mail there. I have e-mailed the AOL "My Favorites" site links to myself, then you can just open your e-mail and you'll have them all with you at your new account. Pull them up, copy/paste the address bar into an e-mail and send it to yourself. I think Outlook calls them bookmarks. Hope that makes sense!
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Monday, February 16, 2009 - 4:09 pm
Herckus, please start up a branch in Indy so I can hire you. I would love to have you help care for my pets.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Monday, February 16, 2009 - 9:10 pm
I know, GAL, everybody would want The Pet Nanny if they could get her. Every.Body.
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Mameblanche
Member
08-24-2002
| Monday, February 16, 2009 - 9:43 pm
Absolutely. Me. Too. (If we can coax her into expanding into Canada.)
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Vacanick
Member
07-12-2004
| Friday, March 13, 2009 - 4:59 am
I need an HP update ... has anyone heard from her?? 
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Friday, March 13, 2009 - 7:45 am
I was wondering about her the other day too.
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Citruscitygal
Member
08-07-2003
| Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 12:09 pm
Add me to the list of those missing HP. It's been almost 2 months since her move. I hoped she would check in and update contact info. HP Where are you??? 
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Twinkie
Member
09-24-2002
| Saturday, April 04, 2009 - 12:13 pm
I hope she's just super busy getting her business going in her new location.
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