LOCAL BUSINESS CHANGING HANDS – TO NEW GENERATION OF THE SAME FAMILY

Mandy Oram – November 9^th, 2015 – Local family-owned pet sitting business Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting will be transitioning to next generation of the same family at the end of the year. Current owners, Bill and Mandy Oram, will be retiring, and handing the business reigns to Jim and Karen Oram.    

Karen has been a Paws & Kisses staff member since just after the business opened in 2008, and she is very experienced with aspects of the business. Jim Oram, Karen’s husband, is Bill’s nephew. He is also very familiar with the business. Over the years, Jim has accompanied Karen to visit and help out with many of the businesses furry clients, and is very popular with them, and their human pet parents!

“We want to assure our clients that we are working hard to ensure a smooth and seamless transition to the next Oram generation,” commented Mandy Oram. “Bill and I will miss all our furry and human clients very much, but know that we are leaving them in the best hands possible.”

“We are looking forward to continuing to provide top-notch pet sitting services to all our clients,” said Jim Oram. “Karen and I have been a part of the business almost since its inception, and are looking forward to moving forward and growing the business into 2016 and beyond.”

Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Service, LLC provides professional pet sitting, daily walks, and pet taxi services for clients in the lower Fairfield County area. Licensed, bonded, and insured, Paws and Kisses specializes in the care of dogs, cats and birds. “Paws and Kisses is committed to offering the best service to families and their beloved pets,” said Mandy Oram of Paws and Kisses Pet Sitting Service, LLC.

The Oram Family

The Oram Pack

When I tell people that we have eight dogs at home, all rescues, most people ask questions. What kind are they? How old are they? Where did you get them? How do you handle so many? …and many more questions! Just like any proud pet-parent, I usually pull out my phone and pictures of my fur-kids and detail how each special pup entered our lives.

With the above in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to post pictures of our fur-kids, along with a little information on each one, so that way I can refer people to this entry in our blog if they want details of the Oram family pack.

Pictured left to right are Gizmo, Naya, Nemo and Gidget. Gizmo is about 15 and is the grumpy old man of the pack. He had back surgery a while back in is a but unsteady on his paws, but he still gets around.  We have had him since 2004. He came from a rescue group called Animal Rescue Force in New Jersey. He was the three-time adoption returnee, due to behavior issues. The only ones in the shelter who could handle him were me and the shelter manager – and she had more dogs than I did, so Gizmo came home with me!  Naya and Nemo are a bonded pair of loveable senior Pugs who have only been with us since December 2014. They are both 16. Naya has terminal cancer, but is still enjoying life and her canine companions. Nemo is deaf and mostly blind, but he has mapped out the house and garden and gets around just fine – as long as we don’t move any furniture! Gidget is one of two Shih Tzu that joined the Oram pack when their mom passed away suddenly in late 2013. She was a Paws & Kisses client and we had been caring for these two since they were pups. Her surviving relatives were unable to care for them, so home they came! They are both now about 8 years old.

Pictured here are Olivia and Gizmo.

Olivia is a Peke/Pug mix (we think). She came to us in 2007, from a local animal shelter, after a neglect case caused her to be surrendered by her previous owner.

She is the life of the puppy party and still acts like a puppy, even though she is almost 10!

Gizmo thinks Olivia is his girlfriend, and can usually be found wherever Olivia is hanging out.

In this picture, they are enjoying the sunbeams in the back garden. Our yard is completely fenced, and very private, so the dogs are able to chill out back there whenever we are home.

 Pictured here, from front to back, are Nemo, Olvia, Gizmo and Minnie.

Minnie is the small black dog with her back to the camera, laying off by herself. She is a bit of a loner, and prefers to spend her time either sunbathing by herself, or hanging out in our spare bedroom, which she has appropriated as her own.

She is a SATO dog, which means ‘street dog’ where she comes from, which is Puerto Rico!  She was found, along with her five puppies, living under a trailer on a construction site. She and her pups were brought to CT, where her pups were quickly adopted, while no one wanted a stand-offish, half feral mama dog . . . so, home she came in 2007. She is about 10.

The Three Pug-ateers!  Pictured from left to right are Naya, Nemo an Winnie.

Naya and Nemo’s story is already posted above.

Winnie is about 13 and she is deaf.  She came to us in 2011 from a local animal shelter, where she found herself for the second time in her life.  She was originally found as a stray and adopted out the first time when she was about 3.  She was turned in to the shelter when she turned 10, as her owner lost his home.  She had bad skin and no fur on her back end, plus other health issues.  Since she was at a city-run shelter, with her age, looks, and health issues counting against her, she didn’t have much chance of being adopted before her time was up, so home she came, just before Christmas that year.  Bill calls her his Christmas angel, and she really is a sweetie!

All three of the Pugs are what we call Presents 4 Pets pups, as we first saw them while dropping off donations at the shelters where they resided. We really need to remember that we are there to DROP OFF pet care items and not to TAKE HOME pets . . .

Well, that’s the Oram Family fur crew!

Bathing Your Dog 101

Dogs get dirty, just like people do . . . well, perhaps not exactly . . . humans don’t tend to enjoy finding smelly stuff to roll in nor do we like to run through muddy, wet fields with no shoes on. In any case, however the dirt and smell gets on the dog’s body, it does. When you can smell Fido before you see him, it’s probably time for him to enjoy the wonders of modern plumbing by partaking of the waters in the bathtub – or sink.

The frequency at which your dog will need bathing depends on many things, such as his activity level, the amount of time he spends outdoors, and his coat type and length. It is best not to bathe your dog more than once or twice per month, as more frequent bathing will tend to dry out the skin. For most dogs, a bath every six to eight weeks is optimal.

The first step in the bathing process is a thorough brushing. This will loosen the dirt and remove any tangles or mats. During the brushing process, you will also be able to spot any fleas or ticks or skin conditions that would necessitate the use of a special shampoo.

There are a few other tasks that should precede the bath. First, clean around your dog’s eyes to remove all discharge from the corners of the eyes and from the fur underneath. Use either water or a canine eye-cleaning product designed for this purpose. If the eye area is matted with discharge, you can often remove it with a flea comb by gently lifting it away from the eye and pulling it out. Next, use a cotton swab and canine ear-cleaning product to clean the ears. If you have the skill to clip your dog’s nails, now is the time to do so. Once you have completed these pre-bath procedures, its time for the Main Feature. NOTE: It’s probably a good idea to leash or otherwise secure your dog before you begin gathering the bath supplies so that he doesn’t disappear under the bed or down the road when he figures out what’s coming . . .

Bath Equipment:

•  Shampoo – Choose a high-quality canine shampoo that is suitable for your dog’s coat color and skin and coat type. There are special whiting shampoos for white and light-colored dogs, as well as medicated shampoos for dogs with dry, flaky skin. Most good shampoos can be diluted with warm water before use. Read the directions on the bottle for the dilution rate. If the bottle doesn’t say, a good rule of thumb is 3:1, or 3 parts shampoo to 1 part water. Diluted shampoo is easier to use and rinses out better than non-diluted shampoo. If you find fleas during the pre-bath brush, use a flea shampoo that will kill the pesky creatures. Please note that using a flea shampoo will only rid your dog of the fleas he has at that moment. All the ones that jumped off in the house before he got to the bathtub will be waiting for him in the carpet and upholstery of your house, as well as in the great outdoors. You will need to use a commercial flea killer in your home to rid the carpet and upholstery of fleas and their eggs and to apply a long-lasting spot-on treatment, such as Frontline, to your pet in order to eliminate reinfestation.
• Conditioner – Choose a high-quality canine conditioner that is suitable for your dog’s coat type. Some shampoos come with a conditioner mixed in. Do not use a separate conditioner on dogs with wiry fur, such as terriers and poodles, as it will soften the fur, and the coat will not look right when dry.
• Cotton balls – Place in your dog’s ears during the bath in order to prevent water from getting in the ear canal, as this is a common cause of ear infections. if they don’t like them in their ears, or shake them out, then wipe out their ears after the bath.
• Towels – Use to towel or pat dry the dog after the bath.
• Hand-held blow dryer or professional canine dryer – To dry long-coated and double-coated breeds. Dogs with short coats can be air dried, however dogs with long coats; double coats or non-shedding coats must be blow-dried.  There are three reasons for this. One is aesthetic: Blow-drying the coat straightens the fur. If allowed to dry naturally, the coat will crinkle and curl and your dog will not look like his breed standard. The second is practical: The crinkled, curled fur will be harder to brush and is more likely to mat. The third is health-related: The fur nearest the skin on dogs with very thick or double coats will not air dry well, if at all. This will cause moisture to be trapped on the skin, which can lead to skin irritation and ‘hot spots’ – raw, sore patches of skin. NOTE: If using a personal dryer, use the low or medium heat settings only, as the high setting can cause burns or overheating.

Once you have gathered all of your tools, its time to plunk Fido in the tub or sink and begin.

Bathing Process:

1. Completely wet the dog. Some types of coats repel water or are very thick. Keep working the water into the coat until it reaches the skin.
2. Working from the rear of the dog, pour shampoo on and work into the coat. Save the head for last. Keep the head tilted back when shampooing the ears and muzzle. Try not to get shampoo in the eyes.
3. Rinse the dog beginning with the head. Again, keep the head tilted back. If you think you might have gotten shampoo in the eyes, gently rinse them out with water. NOTE: Some shampoos state that you must lather and rinse the dog a second time. This is not really necessary unless the dog is very dirty.
4. If you are going to use conditioner, now is the time. Put on and rinse off as explained above.
5. Rinse, rinse, rinse! It is very important to get all of the shampoo and conditioner out of the dog’s coat. The fur should feel ‘squeaky-clean’ – literally. Shampoo or conditioner left in the coat can cause skin irritation.
6. Use your hands to squeegee most of the water off of the dog.
7. Use a towel to rub or pat as much of the rest of the water off the dog as possible. NOTE: Do not use the towel to rub the coat of a long-haired dog. This will cause the coat to tangle. Instead, pat and scrunch dry.
8. If needed (see coat types above) blow-dry the dog. It is best to use special dog blow dryer. If using a personal dryer, use the warm – not hot – setting.
9. Brush the dog again and remove any little tangles or matts caused by the bathing process.
10. Watch your dog run joyfully all over the house  –  because, no matter what he says, he really to loves to be clean – at least until the next interesting smell or muddy field comes along . . .

Presents 4 Pets 2014 Campaign Success

West Haven P4P Delivery

The 2014 Presents 4 Pets campaign has been a great success!  Paws & Kisses collected over $ 2,000 worth of pet care items for donation to local shelters and rescue groups!  Thanks to everyone who donated during the campaign.

Donations are about 75 % distributed, with just a couple of shelters and rescue groups yet to go.  This year’s campaign donated to: The Shelton, Ansonia, Stratford, Milford and West Haven Animal Shelters, as well as SARAH Handicapped Animal Rescue, The Stratford Cat Project and more.

Check out the 2014 Presents 4 Pets Slideshow by clicking on the link below!

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4e4445324e4459324d7a6b3d0d0a&blogview=true

WINTER IS ALMOST HERE! SEVERE WEATHER EMERGENCY PLANNING IS IMPORTANT

With winter almost upon us, and a very bad one predicted, we feel the time is right to codify our severe weather policies and to work with our clients to plan ahead. This way, in the event of a severe weather emergency, we have plans in place to make sure your pets are cared for, while also ensuring the safety of our sitters.

First, let me say that we always do our best to ensure we get to every home, every time, within our time windows, to care for your pets. A little bad weather won’t stop us. We are on the road every day, 365 days per year, no matter what. Having said that, there have been a few times over the past six years when really severe weather has caused either a delay in service or the need for emergency planning to ensure the pets are cared for during the worst of the storm. We have completed literally thousands of sits over the last 6 years, and less than 1 % have been seriously affected by severe weather. However, in those cases, it would have helped both our sitters, our clients and the pets immensely if an emergency plan had been in place.

Secondly, the snow and ice during winter months present challenges to our sitters in performing their duties as safely as possible, both for themselves and their furry charges. With this in mind, we are asking our clients to take measures to ensure that our sitters can access your home and care for your pets safely. This means making sure that drives, pathways and steps are kept clear and sanded. A shovel and paw safe ice melt should also be on hand so our sitters can get from the driveway to the home’s entrance, in the event of snow falling after you leave, either for the day or on vacation. For clients who will be using our services while on vacation during the winter months, plans must be made in advance with either a plow company or a reliable neighbor to ensure that the driveway is kept clear so our sitters can park off the road and access the home.

With all of the above in mind, Paws & Kisses now has a Severe Weather Emergency Policy & Plan Form. Effective December 1st, 2014, this Emergency Planning Form must be on file for clients with active bookings (either daily walks or upcoming vacations). For clients with no current bookings that book services after this date, the form must be on file in order to confirm the booking.

This form will be provided to all clients upon booking a winter sit, and must be completed and returned before the booking can be confirmed.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, or to discuss any special emergency plans. As always, we appreciate all our human clients, and love our furry ones. Our goal is always to work with you to ensure your pets have the best care while you are away from home, whether for the day, or for

Presents 4 Pets Campaign Kicks Off!

The sixth annual Southern CT Presents 4 Pets campaign kicks off this week! Presents 4 Pets is a collection campaign designed to collect pet care items from the local community and distribute them to needy animal shelters and rescue groups in the local area. It is a national campaign, held in support of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which this year is November 2-8, 2014. The campaign is managed at the grass roots level by local pet lovers, such as the owners and staff of Paws & Kisses.

This year, we are seeking donations of the following items: pet food and treats, collars, leashes, pet toys and beds, towels, grooming tools and cat litter. Donations can be dropped off in donation boxes at the following locations:

– H3 Pet Supply, 475 Hawley Lane, Stratford, CT
– Valley Chamber of Commerce, 10 Progress Drive, Shelton, CT

Boxes will be in place from September 19th to October 31st at both locations.

Alternatively, you can give Mandy a call at 203-922-2643 and she will arrange to collect the items from your location.

Paws & Kisses clients with current bookings can leave donations for their pet sitter to collect when they visit your pets. Please clearly mark the donations as for Presents 4 Pets.

Over the past 5 years, the Southern CT Presents 4 Pets campaign, sponsored by Paws & Kisses, has collected and donated over $ 25,000 worth of pet care items to over a dozen local animal shelters and rescue groups. Please help us continue to serve animals in need this year and to make 2014 our best year ever!

Paws & Kisses Welcomes a New Staff Member

Luke Morris is more than comfortable around animals – he’s never been without them! Luke was most content sleeping with his loyal, gentle Doberman Alex by his side as a baby. He loved the family’s energetic husky Yallah, her easy-going German Shepherd sister Biscuit and their three doves – Solomon, Freya, and Forest. When family adopted Muffin, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, she arrived with her spirited little pup Allie in tow. Luke was with Allie her whole life, from pup-hood through giving birth to thirteen of her very own, two of which (Aragorn and Strider) he would go on to help raise himself – that’s three generations of ownership! His family has since adopted two rescues, silver lab Misty and Catahoula mix Ember, both of whom Luke has continued to be active in caring for.

Luke Morris

Between all these dogs and those of his friends, families, and neighbors, Luke has cared for rebellious puppies, mellow old hounds, and everything in between – but moving in with his girlfriend meant stepping out of his comfort zone and into the wonderful world of felines!

He couldn’t be happier. He now resides in Shelton with his girlfriend and their two kitties, Maggie and Hazel. When he isn’t pet-sitting or relaxing around the house with his feline girls, Luke can be found behind the counter at a local specialty pet store, assisting pet-parents countywide to provide quality food, fun, and care for their animal friends.

Summer is Here!

Hello to all Paws & Kisses pet guardians! Summer is here, and with it, lots of vacation plans for our clients. Also, we get lots of calls from prospective new clients at this time of year. 

Summer is Here!

As you know, are a small, family-owned business and we pride ourselves on providing top-notch, customized, pet sitting to our current clients.This means that we have a small team of experienced, professional family members and employees to care for your pets. We DO NOT use temporary workers, our kids, or Independent Contractors (IC’s) to provide fill-in service.

During the summer months and at other holiday times, we do book well in advance.

We ask that existing clients notify us as far in advance as possible of their vacation plans, so that we can be sure to have availability.

For prospective new clients, please be aware that there are advance notice, minimum service and other requirements in order to secure a booking.

Please feel free to contact us to discuss our your pet sitting needs.

We can be reached at (203) 922-2643. 

The Furry 500 Race

The Furry 500 race was held today.  The track was snowy and the day was frigid, but the racers were growling to go.  The barking mad crowds came out to see the race, despite the cold.  The course is a tricky one, with lots of curves and jumps.  A vet was standing by to care for victims of any canine crashes.

The field was pared down to six racers, all from the ‘home team’, the Forest Furries.  The away team racers, the Hot Diggity Dogs, were disqualified just before the starting clicker due to a ‘biscuiting’ scandal.  It appears their coach was feeding them energy biscuits just before each race.  We all know that’s illegal!

The Forest Furries put on a great race, with lots of excitement and even a surprise finish!  The winner was Leaping Livvie.  Go Go Gidget finished a close second.  Her brother, G-man Gus, finished a snout’s length behind her to place third.

Minnie the Moocher showed great promise at the beginning of the race, only to lose time on a poop pit stop.  Her coach says he’s working with her on ‘pooping before you race’…

The crowds went away satisfied (if a few biscuits short) and the Forest Furries retired to the locker room for some much-earned doggie dozing.

The next race of the season will be the Kentucky Furby.  Check back for start times, the team lineup, and interviews with some of the racers.

Click here to view the race . . . The Furry 500 Race

Presents 4 Pets Campaign a Success

Paws & Kisses participated in the sixth annual Presents 4 Pets Campaign this fall. Presents 4 Pets is a charity campaign, sponsored by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS), in support of National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. The goal of Presents 4 Pets is to collect pet care items such as pet food, treats, toys, bedding, collars, leashes, cat litter, etc. and donate the collected items to local animal shelters and rescue groups. The campaign is hosted in local communities by pet sitters who are NAPPS members. Paws & Kisses hosted this year’s Southern CT Presents 4 Pets campaign.

For the 2013 Presents 4 Pets Campaign, Paws & Kisses sought donations from their clients and the local community. Just after Labor Day, they placed donation boxes in several local businesses, including H3 Pet Supply and the Valley Chamber of Commerce, where members of the public could drop off donations. Throughout the fall, the donations came in, and volunteers emptied the boxes each time they filled up.

By the end of the campaign at the end of November, over $ 2,000 worth of pet care items were collected for donation to local animal shelters and rescue groups.  A big thanks to our clients and the local community for donating much-needed pet care supplies to help homeless animals in local shelters!

Paws & Kisses was able to play Santa in December, just before the holidays, and drop off donations at many local animal shelters and rescue groups.  The staff at the shelters and rescue groups were very grateful for the donations and thanked us for helping them to help animals in need.

Some of the shelters and rescue groups supported this year include: the Shelton, Ansonia, Stratford, Milford & West Haven Animal Control Facilities, SARAH Handicapped Animal Rescue, Halfway Home Rescue and the Stratford Cat Project.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this year’s campaign a success.  If you didn’t get the opportunity to donate during the campaign, please consider donating some pet care items to your local shelter at any time throughout the year.  Believe me, they (and the animals they help) will be grateful for the donations!