The Growing Pet Service Industry

by Jadon Sluck

There are many of us who consider our pets as part of the family, and this is evidenced by a recent statistic that states 65% of all U.S. homes own at least one pet. Along with this increase in pet ownership comes the need for services tailored for our pet's comfort. And, because of this trend, pet services have grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry that encompasses a wide range of services from pet supplies to recovery services aimed at returning our lost pets.

The largest industry leader is still pet supply, and companies like PetCo and PetSmart are the leading forces, providing everything from pet foods to grooming. Companies like these have evolved because their services are based on the growth of the pet population, and our need to make our pets feel like a family member. This focus has driven the industry from a single section in discount and grocery stores into a wide range of businesses that are tailored at pampering our pets.

One of the services that have grown out of this industry are pet sitting services that will, as the title implies sit for your pet like a baby sitter sits for you children. These services can range from kennels with all the amenities that will pamper your pet while your on extended absences, to small home services that sit for your pets while your at work. The cost for the services can range from a few dollars per hour for basic sitting services to a few thousand dollars for the more posh kennel services that cater to your pets' every need.

Then there are the specialty service that have become popular by their use in movies and television commercials, and the most recognized of these is the pet walking services. Pet walking services became popular in movies of cosmopolitan life in the inner city, and this service has grown ever since. Another popular service, but not as glamorous is the poopey scooper service, that effectively keeps our streets clean. And, with the recent laws that have been enacted regarding this issue, this service is becoming ever popular.

And finally there are services that have become popular with the growth of the internet; one type of service that is growing is the pet recovery field. This service helps pet owners recover their pets by providing a place to list their pet in advance, so when the lost pet is found, the owners contact information can be retrieved. One company that also includes a free pet identification tag with registration is RecoveryPets.Com and their website is located at http://www.recoverypets.com, and this enables the finder to quickly find the lost pets' owner by knowing exactly what site visit.

Because of these specialty services our pets are more pampered and secure, and if the pet ownership population continues to grow, we will see an increase in the number of services dedicated to our pets, and the continued growth of this multi-billion dollar industry.

Find tips about donkey facts and dolphin facts at the About Animals website.

Make Money Pet Sitting! Start A Successful Pet Sitting Business

Own Your Own Pet Sitting Business

More and more people have started to realize that starting a pet sitting business is a wonderful way to earn money and own your own business. It's a perfect business for those who love animals. You'll care for the pets, brush them, feed them and, of course, give them lots of love, hugs and companionship while their owners are away.

An added service you can offer is security for their home while they are gone: turning lights on and off, taking in mail and newspapers, and watering plants.

Even thought it's a pet service, you must also be a people person. You may have wanted to try your hand at pet sitting because you love animals but having some basic business practices will help.

Your Time Commitment

If you are considering starting your own pet-sitting business, begin with a plan. Figure out exactly what time you have available to take care of pets. Add in driving time to and from their homes. Once you have determined this you will know how to market your services. Do not take on more than you can handle.

Calculate What Price To Charge

Next, find out if others in your area offer pet sitting services and find out how much they charge. You should also check kennels so that you can offer your clients competitive prices. Take into consideration how far you want to travel to pet sit. Too many miles away and the price of gas may be an issue.

Do you want to charge more on holidays? Many pet sitters charge extra fees for holidays, something to consider. And pet sitters are in such demand over the holidays they often find their time has been reserved months in advance. Consider hiring helpers during this busy time and add another profit boost. But be sure to introduce your assistants to the owners and pets well in advance of the scheduled pet sitting time. Get the owners go-ahead that your assistant is approved to take care of their pets.

As your business builds, YOU decide how many hours you want to work in a day, a week, a month. The Pet Sitting Business Start-Up Kit shows you how to calculate future income.

Which Pets Will You Sit?

The next thing to do is decide what kinds of pets you want to take care of in your pet sitting business. Some people find it best to work with just small dogs and cats since they require less work and time than larger animals. Some pet sitters take on all types of animals, and that can include everything from hamsters to horses including fish, birds, mice, rabbits and pigs. That's the wonderful aspect to running your business: you have the freedom to choose exactly which pets you would like to care for.

Dog walking services are now very popular. You'll exercise and feed the dogs while the owners are away for the day. Or you can start a doggy day care at your own home. Owners drop off their animals at your place so they can be watched over and excercised during the day. This is a great option if you have a big enough yard.

Forms Provide A Written Log of Your Visit

For the most part, those who use a pet sitting service think of their pets as their children, and small things matter a lot to them. You should provide the owners with a daily written report on exactly how you cared for the pets. The owner then sees evidence that you are putting in extra effort and truly caring for their loved family members.

Leave a Welcome Back form to remind the owners to give you a call to let you know they have arrived - make doubly sure not to leave an abandoned pet because the owner missed their flight home!

The Pet Business Is Booming

The pet sitting business is booming. It is a winning proposition for the business owner, the pet owner and the pet. The business owner gets to do what they love and the pet owner knows their pets will be well taken care of and they can go on a business trip or vacation without worry.

Announce Your Business

A professionally written press release can be a boon to your business. Submit it to your local newspapers and you may free advertising for your new pet business. Your area newspaper editor may receive your press release and decide to write a feature story about you and your pet business.

Pet Sitting Start-Up Business Information

PetSittingKit.com offers a thorough and complete kit for starting a pet sitting business. It contains a comprehensive step-by-step manual for how to begin, how to make your first sales call, your first pet sitting visit and more. It also includes 21 important forms you need to get started pet sitting right away. The kit has ready-made advertising pieces including a professionally written press release you submit for free advertising and much more. The $49. pet sitting business start-up kit also contains includes a wealth of information on the business of running your own pet care business such as finding insurance and bonding just for pet sitters, running a home office, sole proprietorship and business accounting.

Jane Ingraham, a professional designer and business owner, is the owner of PetSittingKit.com and has created all the forms, start-up manual and instructions to get you up and running, and making money, in your pet sitting business. Visit PetSittingKit.com for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jane_Ingraham

What is Your Pet Doing for Spring Break?

What is Your Pet Doing for Spring Break?
By Beth Howland

Is your family headed for a great Spring Break vacation? How about your pet? Not long ago, many sent their pets off to a boarding kennel, but the newest trend is to find a good pet sitter to watch your pets at home.

When our family started looking for a dog...we had some rules. It must not shed, be hypoallergenic and be able to go to the kennel so we could still go on trips and vacations without the dog.

We managed to accomplish the first two, but after the first time taking our dog to the kennel...we changed our minds on the third. He is used to being the king of the castle, having free reign of the house and getting lots of attention. He hated being locked in a kennel by all these strange dogs and only getting minimal one-on-one attention.

This is when we started looking into pet-sitters for our family, but we are not alone.

In fact, pet sitting has steadily become more popular among pet owners over the last several years. Many prefer it to kennel boarding because it allows their sweet pets to remain home- in safe, familiar environment. Fido and Fluffy can have their own normal routines, their own toys and their own food. They also won't pick up any new nasty habits from other pets.

Many people are also finding it easier to find pet sitters by going online. Sites like SitterCity not only match sitters for children, but also match sitters for your house and your pets! These sitters can watch the house, water your plants, check you mail and more. Other companies like Pet-Sitters Biz and Pet Sitters Network also have very extensive lists of pet sitters all over the country who would love to care for your pet.

So if you are heading out for spring break, give your dog a break too...and call a pet sitter!

Beth Howland is a reviewer of products for parents like Sittercity. If you need help finding the right sitter for your family, visit http://www.SittercityReview.com for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Beth_Howland
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-is-Your-Pet-Doing-for-Spring-Break?&id=1037186

Former pet-sitting owner charged with cruelty

A Copiague woman who once ran a pet-sitting business was charged with animal cruelty for leaving two dogs to die of hunger and thirst, locked in wire cages in an abandoned house, said the chief of the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Antonia Bonanno, 38, was arrested Saturday after SPCA officers searched her former Centereach home and found the emaciated pit bulls, said Suffolk SPCA chief Roy Gross.

Bonanno said her husband, Paul Marrone, framed her as part of a nasty divorce. "I have a recorded conversation that he threatened to get me in trouble with animal cruelty so that I would lose custody of the kids," who are 9 and 3, she said.
Marrone, 39, of Commack, said he did report her, but only to help the animals. "All I was trying to do was help the dogs out," he said. "When I found out she wasn't taking care of the dogs correctly, I called it in."

Gross said they received a tip from neighbors in mid-September that dogs had been left in an abandoned home at 24 Lake Grove Blvd. They scheduled meetings with Bonanno to get into the house, Gross said, but she didn't show."All she had to do, if she didn't want the dogs, is either call us or bring it to the animal shelter," he said. "She didn't meet us, so we had to get a search warrant," he said.

Suffolk property records list the buyers of the house in September 2000 as Paul and Antonia Marrone, then of 22 Floral Ave. in Holtsville.

SPCA officers found two severely underweight female pit bulls Sept. 23, both about 1 to 2 years old, in small, soiled cages. One weighed 35 pounds and the other 38 pounds. Unopened cans of dog food sat atop the cages, Gross said, but the dogs hadn't been fed or given water for at least three days. He said a veterinarian later found their kidneys had begun to fail.

"They were near death," Gross said. Both had hookworm and whipworm, and one dog's paws were bleeding. They were taken to Brookhaven Animal Shelter and have been adopted, a town spokesman said.

Bonanno ran Apaws Pet Sitting/Apaws Bed & Biscuit Inc. from the Centereach address, according to a 2002 state filing.

Bonanno said she started the business in 1998 but had to shut it down last year because it "was taking a toll on my life."

Bonanno said she had rescued the pit bulls and was trying to find homes for them when she was forced to leave her house.

She is scheduled to appear in Suffolk County First District Court on Jan. 25 on two counts of animal cruelty. If convicted, Bonanno faces a maximum of a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Pet sitting services

The perfect job if you want to start your own business. Pet sitting services are very profitable services.

Pet services

Learn about pet services from pet sitting services to dog walkers, Pet training and behaviour, and all pet related services.

Pet Related Services

Pet Related Services