100 Tips for Nannies and Families

You employ (or have employed) a nanny, pet sitter, or other caregiver and have been asked to write a letter of recommendation for him/her.  What should you write?  What should you NOT write?  Here are some tips for writing the requested letter of recommendation. What should you write? Think about the skills, behaviors, and traits […]

You are going on vacation:  Fido and Felix prefer to stay at home.  How can you provide them with the care they need without breaking your bank? 1. Determine the appropriate level of care needed. Fido will probably require more care than will Felix. In addition to daily feeding and watering, Fido needs daily walks. […]

You and your family are planning a family vacation.  Your pets prefer to stay at home.  So, you’ve decided to hire a temporary pet sitter to attend to your pets while you are away.  What should you look for in a pet sitter? Your pet sitter should have clean background checks. (For example, no history […]

Summer is upon us, and with it comes beautiful sun and the occasional scorching temperature, rain, hail, tornados, hurricanes, and a host of other hazards.  Outdoor pets can be particularly vulnerable to these hazards.  Here are a few tips for minimizing your pet’s vulnerability. 1. Ensure that your pet receives regular veterinary check ups. Ill […]

Babies and pets: do they go together?  If so, what circumstances create the best match between babies and pets? Babies and pets can be a great pairing.  However, babies and pets can be a disastrous pairing as well.  It thus becomes essential to choose pets that are well suited for life with small children.  Let’s […]

You have a beloved family member who just happens to have four legs rather than two.  You want to keep him/her safe during the holidays.  Here are some tips to accomplish that. *Keep people food out of reach.  (Some people food is hazardous to your fuzzy family member’s health.  Such food includes chocolate, onions, chives, […]

Military families are a special breed of cat.  And, speaking of cats, military families can face unique challenges when traveling or relocating with their Felix (or Fido) if you decide not to hire a pet sitter.  For those of you who face these challenges, we have a few tips for you to make your life […]

For many of us, our pets are part of our family.  Loss of a treasured family member, the family pet, is profoundly heart-breaking.  And explaining the death to your kids can be quite difficult as well.  Death is a complex subject to process intellectually . . . add a deep layer of grief on top […]

You are considering adopting a pet.  What are the health benefits that you and your family may enjoy by having a pet? 1. Lowered blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels 2. Reduced stress, less anxiety 3. Strengthened immune system (medical studies now indicate that children who were raised in homes with a […]

You’ve been thinking about adopting a pet.  What do you need to consider when finding the pet that’s right for your family? Interests. What do your family members want in a pet? Is somebody cute, fuzzy, and cuddly desired? A puppy or kitten may be in keeping with your pet wish-list. Would somebody who is […]