A Kenneling Alternative

Jennifer Houghton

Keeping Things Going During This Pandemic

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Maybe you are feeling a little fatigue from this long season of COVID. Someone reminded me that I had originally said that we would be back in the office in a couple of months. You can quote me from SIX months ago. 

Beyond getting a puppy (check), stocking up on disinfectant (check), and cancelling most of my plans (super check), what can a girl do?

What I Am Doing

Here’s something I have been doing pretty frequently for the last two months: frequenting local businesses. I’m not talking about chains or big brand names, though I use them periodically. 

Most mornings, within my budget, I head over to a local coffee shop that makes great lattes and breakfast and lunch items. I do this because the owner is there every single day trying to make things work. And I want her to be around once this thing ends.

This is hard for all of us. We have to manage our resources the best we can. But, the small businesses trying to keep their employees, well frankly, employed, need our help. Even if that means doing things like scheduling a dog walk once or twice a week. Even though you might be able to do it yourself now.

I schedule my dog walker at least once a week when I run errands. Good for socialization, good for my dog walking company, good for the dog walker I want to stay employed and caring for my pet and not looking for another gig. 

What You Can Consider Doing

So, as you consider how to allocate your resources, consider the dog walker who may have been caring for your pet for a year or two. Will they be able to keep doing this job if I don’t bring them in with some regularity? Probably not. Will the dog walking company I use be able to survive if I don’t keep them in rotation? Maybe not. 

While every situation is different, what I most want to see are the people who live in my community and put their heart into their work to still be around in 2021. I know it’s a challenge. (Believe me, I’ve reached out to find some professional help to talk this thing over and the mental toll it has taken.) But, at the end of the day, the thing I have always loved the most about my community is the way hold each other up. The way we come together to help one another. The way we care. 

I won’t go on my soapbox about businesses I boycott, but if I want my life to resemble pre-COVID (hopefully) next year, I know I have to do some work. And that includes keeping those companies that I love going. Even if it is a small once-a-week dog walk when I grab supplies. Just my friendly reminder that even if you don’t see the struggles, these companies are barely hanging on. Let’s do what we can to keep them around. 

And hang in there. You are not alone. We will survive. 

What Do You Know About World Rabies Day?

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When pet owners discuss rabies, we often mention it in reference to vaccinations. Virtually every pet care provider, from groomers to daycare facilities, require the vaccination. 
 
This is great news for the majority of people in the United States. According to the CDC, the U.S. successfully eliminated the canine rabies virus. In order to keep it from returning, dogs and cats still need to be vaccinated to protect our pets from getting rabies from wildlife.
 
World Rabies Day is September 28th and was established in 2007. According to the CDC, rabies is a 100% preventable disease, but more than 59,000 people die around the world annually from it. The goal of major world health organizations is to eliminate rabies by 2030. 
 
To find out more about the work of the CDC’s rabies experts around the world, click here.

Do You Need Pet Insurance For Your Floofin?

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Like people, your faithful pet will most likely need to see a doctor at some point in their life. If you are lucky, it will be for very routine matters. That will make it relatively easy to calculate how much you will likely need to set aside on an annual basis for your pet’s medical expenses.

However, even the most healthy among us can be unexpectedly hit with an unplanned medical emergency that we did not see coming. It could be an accident, a hidden hereditary flaw, or just the realities of a long life and aging.

So, when you consider the cost of having pet insurance against not having pet insurance, how do you decide?

Let me give you an example of a recent experience I had with my senior dog, Ginger.

Senior Pet Experience

When Ginger, who is currently 10 years old and a rescue of unknown origin, began skipping meals (unheard of) and stumbling periodically on walks, I took her to the vet. For roughly $300 I found out that her physical exam and blood work deemed her to be healthy. The stumbling and legs giving out continued.

At the suggestion of a behaviorist that I worked with to transition a new pup into our home, I took Ginger to a specialist to examine her for physical issues that might not have shown up in blood work. This included a gait analysis; telemedicine visit; and a 30 minute in-person evaluation. Total cost: $276. They recommended X-rays of the spine and pelvis. With the X-rays and a pain medication prescription, I chucked nearly $600 on that visit alone.

Final Results

My dog has arthritis and spinal disc disease. I can run her through one month of rehab for nearly $800 that will include exercises, massage, electrical stimulation, etc. While I am still considering that option, I have to say that pet insurance sounds like a pretty good idea right now. I don’t have any for Ginger, but her new roommate – the puppy Jameson – may end up with some type of insurance to avoid this same situation down the road.

I am fortunate to have had an emergency fund saved up that will cover her expenses. Also, I have a credit card that allows zero percent interest on charges at her normal vet’s office (for a certain number of months for charges over a certain dollar amount).

However, I am not the average person. You’ve probably heard the statistics that the average American doesn’t have $500 on hand for an emergency. I don’t have a spouse, children, or other factors that would turn those dollar values into decisions between my pet’s health and feeding my children or making a car payment to get to work. That makes me extremely lucky. I’m fortunate that the pain medication alone seems to have altered the quality of life for Ginger. She is playing and doing things she hasn’t done recently. Will I need to spend additional funds on her down the road? Most likely.

If your pet is healthy and you wondering what choices you would have made if Ginger were your dog, now might be a good time to examine the costs and coverage of a pet insurance policy. September is Pet Insurance Month. I promise I’ll do the same as I consider what is best for my finances and my new puppy.

For More Floofins, Catch Floofins FM

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What do you do when a global pandemic ruins all the celebratory plans you had for your 10-year anniversary? You start brainstorming the ideas that were percolating in the back of your brain and try to bring them to fruition. Thus, we introduce to you Floofins FM.

The concept is pretty simple, but it is in the prototype stage. We want to bring you informal, but helpful, information about topics that impact your floofins and you. We want to have an interactive platform where you can engage with us.

So, we made our first foray into the arena with a live Facebook event Monday. We focused on 10 questions for 10 years and we talked about the things that we’ve been asked about and what might give you some insight into a small business like Floofins & Co.

We have questions, though. We are looking for some feedback from our Floofins family and friends (yes! We will get the logo turned around next time 🙂 ).

First, what time of day works best? What day of the week allows you to watch live? What topics do you have questions about? What length of time would you prefer? We don’t want to run too long or too short. If the show were available as a podcast, would you have interest in it via that format?

If you haven’t seen the video, stop on over at our Facebook page and give it a watch. You’ll find out some interesting things about the owner and how having a small business in the time of COVID is going. And if you have thoughts, drop them in the comments so we know how to best serve our clients and extended floofins family members. And stay tuned for more Floofins fun in the months ahead. We have lots planned.

How Much Exercise Is Enough For Your Pet?

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Maybe your pants have felt a little snug as the pandemic continues. If you’re even putting pants on, that is.

But, what about your pets? Have you noticed them putting on some COVID weight as well?

Chances are that both you and your pet have seen a decrease in the amount of exercise over the last several months, which may account for the uptick on the scale. But as many locations have experienced heat waves and have limited areas to do outdoor activities, what is a person (and pet) to do?

Forbes reports that too little exercise is causing epidemic levels of canine obesity, lethargy and behavioral problems. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals reports that one in four dogs is now considered obese. Heart disease and diabetes are spiking upwards in our canine companions as well.

First, as with any good column offering advice, we recommend you consult with your veterinarian first. I was not surprised to find out that my older dog had put on some weight. We both had. What was surprising was that she had gained roughly 13 pounds in less than a year.

WHAT? I exclaimed, baffled, to my pet’s doctor. After some thyroid medication adjustments and a repeat blood test, her weight was holding steady and the answer turned out to be medical.

If, however, your pet has a non-medical reason for weight gain, we offer up the following advice to help curb the gain.

Most entities suggest that you exercise your pet anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour per day. The types of exercise should consider:

  • Age
  • Breed
  • Health

A senior may not require high intensity exercise and a puppy may need something vigorous but not taxing on their growing bodies. If you happen to have an adult in good health you’ve hit the sweet spot for exercise.

Another factor to consider are weather related conditions, which make it harder for certain short nose breeds to breathe. And depending on where you workout with your pet, asphalt and concrete temperatures should be considered so as not to damage the pads on your dog’s paws.

As many times as you’ve heard it, we are all in this together. That includes taking the time to make sure both you and your pet find a way to get in enough exercise and the right type. After all, any activity that extends the length and quality of your pet’s life is one worth taking advantage of. 

We will see you and your pet outdoors, at a safe distance, soon!