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A new business is allowing pets that can't stand
going to the kennel or to be boarded, or who can no longer fly with
Air Canada, to remain in the cozy comfort of their own homes when
pet parents go out of town or are just too busy with work.
"Pets are children that don't grow up, and pet parents want to give
them the best that they can," Amy Shannon Leclair says,
"unfortunately, many pets have not had a good response with boarding
and kennels, and now that Air Canada won’t fly pets onboard, pet
parents need to know about the safe and economical alternative
available through pet sitting services."
"Air Canada’s decision to stop flying pets is certainly translating
into more calls for our services and we’re quite pleased to be in a
position to meet that growing demand,” adds Leclair. “In fact, that
demand is exactly why we’re pursuing opening a second office in the
Outaouais in the near future.”
“Staying
at home benefits pets in many ways,“ says Amy Shannon Leclair,
owner of Loving Paws & House Sitting, which has been serving
pets and helping pet parents in French & English across Ottawa &
Gatineau with a trained team of 10 sitters since 2005. “Pets
staying home means:
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less stress – sights,
smells, and sounds say ‘home’;
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same diet & exercise –
routine is followed;
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no travel trauma – avoids
having to give pre-travel pills (for motion sickness) or
post-trauma care to pets;
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ensured health – zero
exposure to illness from other animals;
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rapid access to local vet
– a pet in distress will be taken to a vet right away; and
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friendly TLC – personal
and loving attention and affection.”
“Pet
parents also benefit a lot too,” adds Leclair, "which
translates into:
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confidence – the sitter is
insured and bonded;
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safety – having undergone
reference checks, any sitter coming to a home is a legitimate,
law-abiding pet lover who shares pet parent’s feeling for their
family pet(s);
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convenience – visits are
to the client’s home, keys are picked up and dropped off, and
payments may be made easily online;
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knowledge – sitters are
backed by first aid certification, a detailed emergency plan,
rapid access to extensive animal medical care expertise;
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peace of mind – web-based
software allows pet parents to check on their pets via Internet,
after sitters add daily diary notes on the client’s online
account; and
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security – homes are
checked and given that ‘lived-in look’.”
“We serve cats, dogs, and small animals like birds, reptiles, and
rabbits,” says Leclair, “and some of our sitters have also offered
doggy day-care services in their homes. In addition to pet and
house sitting services, we also offers private walks or
outings to area dog parks, as well as at-home mid-day puppy breaks,
special medical and dental care, and can undertake a variety of
chores to prepare and freshen up a home prior to a client’s return.
Sitters set up initial consultations with pet parents to become
acquainted with the home, the pets and their routines, and to
introduce themselves. Rates will vary depending on the number of
animals in the home and the number and length of visits per day, and
they can be customized to meet customers' needs,” Amy Shannon
Leclair says.
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