Happy New Year!

Happy new year to all our furry friends and their humans out there! We hope everyone is staying warm and your furry ones are enjoying the recent winter weather. Happy Tails is launching a monthly newsletter to keep you up to date with everything we have going on these days and to help you get to know our team, clients, and of course their furry friends.

We feel so lucky for the chance to work with so many extraordinary clients, sitters, and of course your furry ones. This past year has definitely kept us all on our toes with a fair share of ups and downs through COVID, but we remain incredibly optimistic about what’s to come for Happy Tails in 2022. In fact, 2021 was our busiest year to date and we anticipate much of this year-end momentum to carry forward into the New Year and are excited for 2022 and beyond!

Be sure to check back every month for the latest newsletter with timely tips and tricks to keep your fur babies happy and healthy all year long, as well as some coupons, collaborations, and giveaways!

Client Spotlight: Allison & Bryce

For our very first client spotlight, we chatted with longtime customers Allison & Bryce about why they and their furries love using Happy Tails.

Allison & Bryce have been using Happy Tails for more than a year and love utilizing the services for overnight trips especially. They love that they can keep their pets in their own home when they’re gone thanks to Happy Tails. Their favorite aspect of Happy Tails is the regular updates they receive from sitters on how her furries are both doing, letting Allison and Bryce know they are being well taken care of, and getting attention and love from some of the best animal lovers. They also feel like their home is cleaner than it was when she left. “It's always well swept, plus laundry are dishes done. It's an amazing feeling coming back after being away, and not only knowing your animals had the best care, but your space is clean and ready for you,” Allison said.

Allison has had her cat Chooy since he was a kitten and he’s now 14 years old! Allison says, (and we agree!) that Chooy is the friendliest, cuddliest, and sassiest cat she's ever met. He loves his cuddle times and will take any chance he gets to sit on your lap. His favorite spot in the entire house is the front window, where he can sit on the back of the couch and watch all the cars and people pass by.

They also have a dog named Oakley, who came into their lives in July of last year. Before Oakley, Allison and Bryce had a dog named Bruce, who was a Ridgeback/Lab mix that was loved with all of their hearts. Bruce was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma and was given only a couple of weeks to live without treatment, so they decided to move forward with chemotherapy for him. Once treatment was done, he was in remission and they felt like they had their boy back!

They then brought Oakley in to give Bruce a brother and friend. “Bruce looked out for Oakley and showed him the ropes and Oakley looked up to him for guidance, and of course to bite on Bruce's ears whenever he pleased,” she said.

Sadly, in March Bruce lost his battle with cancer and the two had to say goodbye. “We miss him every day, but are reminded of all the great memories we all had together,” they added. Allison said she’s grateful that out of a situation that was so difficult, an animal companion like Oakley came that they cannot even imagine living without. “We love all of our past and current fur animals and would trust no one but Happy Tails with them,” they said.

Provider Spotlight: Meet Amanda

For the first in our series of sitter spotlights, we’re featuring Amanda, who's been working with Happy Tails for more than a year and half. Read on to learn more about Amanda!

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Amanda has lived in all sorts of places up and down the East Coast before landing in Columbus to attend graduate school for creative writing. She’s been in Columbus ever since and is so happy to have found Happy Tails!

Amanda was a dog walker and pet sitter in New York City several years ago, making her more than qualified to love fur friends as she learned so much about dogs and how to look after them. When she decided to look for a job outside the office to supplement her full-time career, she knew Happy Tails was a great fit with a great team!

Her favorite things about working at Happy Tails include long walks at sunset with the furries, cuddles on the couch, and games of tug-of-war. But above all else, her favorite thing is getting to know the personalities of each dog she cares for and worming her way into their canine hearts.

As an adventurer and hiker, her ideal Sunday is an early morning cup of coffee followed by a long hike. In addition to that, when she’s not working, Amanda enjoys spending time horseback riding, going to a yoga class, or reading a book by the fire and not moving for hours on end (don’t we all sometimes??).

While she originally planned to travel overseas to Southeast Asia to teach English after finishing graduate school, the pandemic had other plans. Amanda didn’t let that get her down though! She came up with a new idea and is now saving up money for her next big adventure of backpacking the Appalachian Trail! Amanda will even be joining owner Carly this season in her other company, Happy Trail Adventures, that offers an intro to women’s backpacking and guiding course to prep for her hike!

While waiting to embark on this adventure, Amanda has set a goal to read 50 books this year, topping her achievement of reading 40 last year! She’s also set out to learn as much as she can about long-distance backpacking in preparation for her long hike. We hope you enjoyed learning a bit about Amanda and be sure to ask her about the latest book she read when you see her next!

Company Collaboration: April’s Blankets

April’s Blankets, is accepting donations again this year to help those experiencing homelessness and others in need. Each year, my grandmother, Sharon, collects gently used and new blankets, along with $5 McDonald’s gift cards to bring warmth to those in need. Over the past four years she has collected more than 2,000 blankets and gift card sets to deliver! This year she has an Amazon Wish List where you can directly purchase a new blanket and have it sent to April’s Blankets, but Happy Tails would be happy to pass on any gently used blankets or monetary donations to help her cause. You can use the link below for online donations, the link to her Amazon blanket wish list that delivers directly to her, or kindly reach out through Time To Pet to schedule a blanket pick up. Thanks for your support!

DONATE

Cold Weather and Pets

It is true that different pets adapt differently to cold weather. There are some dog breeds that are made for cold weather, like malamutes, huskies, and other breeds with thick coats. If you have a winter-loving dog, you probably struggle to get them to actually come inside during the cold winter months. And we know that struggle is real!

The same goes for cats. Breeds like the Maine Coon and Siberian cats are less likely to be immediately affected by the cold, but all cats can be susceptible to cold weather. Hypothermia is a real concern for all our pets.

Pro-tip: Check your pet’s temperature on a monthly basis so you know their baseline. It will help you know if they are running hot or cold based on their own history.

The safest bet for our pets is to keep them inside as much as possible when the temperature outside drops below freezing.

If your dog or cat loves the cold, consult your vet. Your vet will know your pet and can advise you specifically for your pet’s health so you can be sure you are taking steps to keep your pets safe in wintertime cold weather.

Will Salt and Ice Melts Harm My Dog or Cat?

Many of us use salt or ice melts of some type to keep sidewalks and driveways free of ice and hazards for ourselves. However, these substances can be irritating to your pet’s paws and even to their mouth and intestinal tract if they lick the substance off of their paws and ingest it.

When buying your own salt or ice melts, do your research first. There are pet-friendly and safe ice melts that do not pose a threat to your pets or children or plants. Be sure to check the ingredients of what you have on hand, and maybe consider changing it up for safety.

If you take your dog or your cat outside and notice there might be ice melt on the ground, be sure to clean off their paws when you return home. You can even use a warm cloth or rag so you warm up their paws, too.

Thinking of Buying or Selling? Contact Carly For Your Free Market Review!

Moving to a new home may be one of the most stressful life events you’ll ever have to tackle. But in the chaos of cardboard boxes, packing tape and moving trucks, you might not realize how stressed your pets feel, too. Read on for ways to make the transition as safe and easy as possible for your furry friends.

Moving Tips

Choosing a New Neighborhood, House or Apartment

Before you pick out your dream home, make sure your pet will love it just as much as you do. It’s a good idea to walk around the neighborhood to determine whether the area seems safe for your pets. Be on the lookout for neighborhood dogs that seem aggressive or are left unattended.

When it comes to square footage needs, cats and dogs differ:

For your feline friends, ensure your potential new space allows for plenty of room to build vertically—it’s easy to create a lot of vertical space with shelving, such as kitty blocks on top of furniture.

Consider your dog’s needs on a case-by-case basis. Older dogs, puppies and dogs with house training issues will need to go outside often, which might be difficult in an apartment building with lots of stairs or a house without a yard.

Packing Up Your Home

Cats aren’t big fans of change. You can help your cats (and skittish dogs) adjust to the moving process by bringing in moving boxes early, and by keeping your furry friends in a familiar room you plan to pack up last. On moving day, keep your pets in a quiet room with the door shut, or at a friend’s house. This will ensure that your cat or dog won’t get scared and try to make a quick getaway while the movers load up the truck. During the moving process, try to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible.

Planning Your Road Trip

Many pets haven’t spent much time in crates or cars. In the weeks or months leading up to the big trip:

Prepare your pets by gradually acclimating them to their crates. First, place their food inside an open crate, and eventually have them eat their meals in the crate with the door shut.

Try carrying your pets around the house in the crate or taking a short drive.

You can help your pets develop a positive association with the crate by providing treats and playtime at the conclusion of crate time.

Taking these steps will make moving day a lot more comfortable for you and your furry friends.

Pet-Proofing Your New Home

It is a good idea to pet-proof your new home. Tuck away electrical cords, plug up nooks where your pet could get stuck, make sure that all windows have secure screens, remove any poisonous houseplants and confirm that no pest-control poison traps have been left anywhere in the house.

Settling In

When you arrive at your new home at the end of your long journey, it will be tempting to set your dog or cat loose in the house to explore. However, a new and unfamiliar space can be overwhelming to your pets.

Start by allowing them to adjust to one room—their “home base”—which should include their favorite toys, treats, water and food bowls and litter box for cats.

When they seem comfortable, gradually introduce them to other rooms in the house, while keeping some doors shut.

You can relocate your cat’s litter box from the “home base” room to a more permanent location by moving it slowly over time. Try moving the litter box one foot forward each day.

With patience, your cat or dog will be king or queen of your new home in no time.