Another 'For Sale' Sign, Another Sad Goodbye

One of the saddest things about being a professional pet sitter is when a For Sale sign appears on a client's front lawn because it means that my visits with my four-legged friends are numbered. When I started Teacher's Pet Sitting Service in 2005 the thought of losing four-legged clients due to a move or unexpected death or a change in the owner's economic status never entered my mind but I soon learned how to let go of my friends but saying goodbye still hurts to the core. 

I realize change is inevitable but it didn't make my last walk with two adorable Corgi's, Dewey and Emma any easier because I will no longer

have the pleasure of watching Dewey rid the street of empty water bottles

and I will not giggle as he proudly adds a new bottle to his recycling "bin" anymore.

And I won't observe Dewey's little sister, Emma,  survey the neighborhood from her front lawn or

from her back porch anymore.

It certainly is a sad thing to say goodbye to my furry friends but am comforted knowing that they'll be safe and happy with their mom in their new home in Maine. 

Dewey and Emma, you've made me laugh and now you've made me cry but that is only because I love you both!

The Winners Of The Silly Saturday Photo Contest Are ...

 

Buster would've announced the Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest winners this afternoon but he refused to come down from his bread box perch to lend a helping paw. Let me tell you, this contest has turned Buster into a bit of spoiled brat who thinks anything other than posing for pictures is beneath him! He also thinks that he's the  bread winner  star attraction of my blog because of his handsome features. I don't know if I believe him but I will admit that he was able to attract 17 contestants and I couldn't be happier!

Out of the 17 captions I chose

 Now I know what bigger-than-a-bread box means!"

                                               Good job, Sarge! Buster definitely looks amazed that he is bigger than the breadbox in the above photo!

In the above photo Buster seems to be asking,

"Want a piece of bread to go with your green beans and kibble, Daisy?"

So, congratulations, Katie, for remembering what Daisy likes to eat and for imagining that Daisy might want some bread to make her meal complete! 

Congratulations, Sarge and Katie!  Please e-mail your address to me and I will send your silly prize to you soon!

It's 'Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest' Time!

Last night Buster discovered a very unique cat tree; a vintage bread box that rests right above 

our refrigerator! 

This was a daring move for a cat who is vertically challenged due his his 20 pound status but he somehow managed to reach new heights last night and we couldn't be prouder!

So, there's the scoop about these two Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest photographs! Can you tell me what silly thoughts Buster had while he perched w-a-y up there?

So, if can you think of a silly caption for one or both of these photos? If yours is the silliest two lucky winners will -- 

• receive a silly gift from me in the mail

• be added to my SILLY SATURDAY HALL OF FAME on my sidebar and you'll be envied by all of the residents of Blogville.

And the details of the contest are -

•  To play along you must follow my blog. When captioning, please tell me if you are following me via GFC, e-mail, or RSS. I will follow you back too!

•  Caption the silly photo.

•  Enter as many times as you wish.

•  Come back to check out your silly competition throughout the day.

•  Contest ends at NOON (EST)  - SUNDAY, 5/1!

• The silly winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon (or sooner if Daisy wakes me up on time)!

NOT GOOD AT WRITING CAPTIONS?

DRAWING A BLANK?

Then VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE CAPTION!

4 Reasons Why I Love My Bamboo Quick Control Dog Leash & Seat Belt Latch

Would you believe that I snagged this Bamboo Quick Control Dog Leash and Seat Belt Latch at a Goodwill Store for $4.98? And what a surprise to find that this leash is not only sturdy but also very functional; so functional, in fact, that I never leave the house without it. 

One reason why I love this leash is because the leash's seat belt latch doubles as a a key chain holder!

Second, I can easily reach in for a tasty reward for Daisy and some emergency money for her human all because a zippered pocket is at my fingertips!

Third, buckling Daisy into the backseat is a fantastic safety feature because she stays in one place without jeopardizing my safety as I drive.

And finally, with the help of the seat belt latch and Carabiner clip, I can give Daisy a few more minutes of fresh air while I unload grocery bags from the car!

As you can see, I am hooked on this durable, incredible leash and I hope you will consider buying one for yourself and for your pooch! 

If I've convinced you to buy this leash click here or here or head to Walmart or Goodwill today!

3 Reasons Why I Couldn't Announce The Winner Of The Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest On Time

What perfectly good excuse do I have for announcing the winner of the Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest 3 days late? Well, instead of having ONE excuse I have 3 excuses and they are:

1. Too much Easter candy consumption inhibited my ability to concentrate on anything but candy

2. Too many Easter bunny sightings caused me to faint repeatedly due to the high level of cuteness I encountered for the day

3. Too many Easter eggs blocked my path to the computer room thus hindering my ability to blog

So there you have it! Three perfectly good excuses to delay announcing the winner of the Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest! Do you forgive me now?

So now that I have all of my friends on the edge of your seats, I'm sure you can't wait to applaud for ----

Bailey Be Good who pawed ---

"The bunny's got no heartbeat! I'm gonna have ta start CPR, stat!!"

I'm sure you agree that Bailey's caption was absolutely adorable and brilliant, don't you? As you know, Bailey will be our newest Silly Saturday Hall of Fame inductee and he will also receive a silly prize as soon as I receive his mailing address!

P.S. I am sorry I haven't had the chance to visit everyone as much as I'd like lately but I will be visiting more often from now on! Even if I don't visit or comment often please know that you are still as impawtent as always!

Happy Easter, Friends!

 

Happy Easter, everyone! We hope you have an eggcellent day with your family and friends!

XOXO, 

Henry, Buster, Daisy, and blog mom, April

Green Beans Help A Friendship Grow

 

For the past two years Isabella invited her walking partner, Daisy, to have lunch with her but Daisy just wasn't interested. Sure, Daisy would've accepted the lunch invitation if only

Isabella would serve something other than  a bowl of green beans and kibble but Isabella wouldn't oblige.

So poor Isabella ate alone while Daisy squeaked alone. Unfortunately for Isabella, this scenario went on for what seemed like forever until

last week! Just when I was about to place Isabella's bowl on the floor there was Daisy standing right beside her looking like she wanted something. Could it be that Daisy was finally ready to accept her friend's lunch invitation, after all?

I sensed a miracle was about to take place so I prepared two bowls and later

watched the girls eat in unison! How absolutely thrilling and adorable that Isabella's dream came true! Not only did the girls eat out of their own bowls

but they also licked each others' bowls as well! Yeah for green beans and kibble! Yeah for friendly lunch dates! Do you think Daisy will accept a lot more lunch invitations from Isabella for many days to come? Why or why not?

Wordless Wednesday

Meet Our Fine Feathered Friend, Layla!

Last Sunday we visited a unique pet store called Parrot Safari where we met this fine feathered friend named Layla. Isn't she gorgeous?

I love that the shop keepers allow their birds to leave their cage as often as they'd like! What a wonderful way to socialize birds such as Layla who did not receive the attention she deserved in her previous home and plucked her chest feathers off as a result.

 As far as I was concerned, Layla met her one true love with my fiance, Amos! Don't they make a cute pair?

 

 While watching Layla attempt to kiss my man's lips I was in love with her too. How we wish could take every displaced animal home with us but we'd need to rent a much larger home and and have a much larger bank account beforehand!

For now, we'll keep our lives simple (ha-ha) with our three true loves: Henry, Buster, and Daisy! 

And The Winner Of The Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest Is...

Did you know that it is much easier for me to post a silly picture on Saturday than it is to choose who should win the Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest?

 Let me tell you, it is so difficult to choose the winner ALL BY MYSELF that I have decided to host my own American Idol contest (details to follow in a day or two) in search of the furry versions of 

Jennifer Lopez

Randy Jackson 

and 

Steven Tyler 

because I think the Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest needs your star power to make the contest even more silly, don't you agree?

And now that I've got your attention, let me introduce the winner of this week's Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest!

Frankie Furter's caption won "paws down" with 

"Hope you didn't spend more than TWO BUCKS fur those."

As always, I laughed while reading every one of your captions but I had to choose just one and fur this week, Frankie's caption was the pawfect one. 

Frankie, you are the furst to be inducted into the Silly Saturday Hall of Fame AND win a Silly Prize TWICE and we appreciate your silly self!

Are You Silly Enough For Our "Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest"?

For this weekend's Silly Saturday Photo Caption Contest I'd like to introduce you to Two-Buck the Tabby, a client of ours who is obsessed with eye wear. At every visit, Two Buck challenges his pet sitter in a round of boxing but Two Buck always goes for the head for one impawtent reason! 

Oh, in case the name "Two Buck" didn't ring a bell, Two Buck earned his name from his owner's favorite wine,  Trader Joe's popular Two-Buck-Chuck wine (also known as Charles Shaw wine). Unusual name for a cat but a name I will never forget! 

So, can you think of a silly caption for this photo? If yours is the silliest you will -- 

• receive a silly gift from me in the mail

• be added to my SILLY SATURDAY HALL OF FAME on my sidebar and you'll be envied by all of the residents of Blogville.

And the details of the contest are -

•  To play along you must follow my blog. When captioning, please tell me if you are following me via GFC, e-mail, or RSS. I will follow you back too!

•  Caption the silly photo.

•  Enter as many times as you wish.

•  Come back to check out your silly competition throughout the day.

•  Contest ends at NOON (EST)  - SUNDAY, 4/17!

• The silly winner will be announced tomorrow afternoon (or sooner if Daisy wakes me up on time)!

NOT GOOD AT WRITING CAPTIONS?

DRAWING A BLANK?

Then VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE CAPTION!

Thankful Fur 3 Friends Thursday Blog Hop

 What is Thankful Fur 3 Friends Thursday, anyway?

• For starters, Daisy, Buster, and Henry want to meet new friends and they heard that blog hops are the way to do it!

• If you are a brand new follower be sure Daisy, Buster, and Henry can see your face at the top of the page (via Google Friend Connect) because if you do that then your face will be seen right here next Thursday!   

•  Remember, if you are one of the first 3 friends who publicly follow our blog TODAY you will be seen right here next Thursday!

• Be sure to leave a comment requesting to be featured next week ALONG WITH permission to snatch a photo from your blog OR you can email one to us. 

•  Last but not least, YOU MUST follow our blog and we will follow you back! We promise!

Don't furget...you can grab the linky code below to go right under your blog post!

P.S. Would you like to co-host next week's blog hop AND gain more followers? Contact us and we'll get you hopping! 

-----------------------------------------

So without further adieu, Henry, Buster, and Daisy would like you to meet their 3 newest friends who are:

1. Would you believe that four year old Dakota waited patiently at the gate for two whole years for his mom, Caren Gittleman of http://opcatchat.blogspot.com to start a blog for him? Well, it's true but as "they" say, "Everyone loves an underdog" and that saying has proven to be true because ever since his blog went "live" he has had numerous furry friends welcome him to the wonderful world of Blogville. 

You can also "like" Dakota's blog on Facebook by clicking here! 

2. From the moment Sawyer's human, Tammy, chose Sawyer as her forever Schnauzer she was sure she'd chosen the most laid back puppy out of the litter of eight but she soon found out that Sawyer was not as she expected. Instead, Sawyer turned out to be full of puppy energy; running, playing hide and seek, chasing, etc. Still in the puppy stage, Sawyer also loves to eat her kibble but she also loves to sneak in some dirt, cigarette butts, and stones whenever pawsible! Even though Sawyer is a silly little pup, her family loves her to pieces!

3. Did your heart just skip a beat at the sight of this darling King Charles Cavalier named Charlie? I know mine did! Not only does Charlie know how to work the camera but he also loves to swim, go for car rides, play with McDonald's toys, eat peanut butter, take sun baths, and  spend time with his favorite humans, George and Lisa. Oh, and blogging is another one of his favorite activities because he gets to "meet" lots of furry friends there so please visit him if you get a chance!                   

Wordless Wednesday

An Old Cat And A Young Boy Form A Purrfect Friendship

 When I first met six year old Lenox five months ago I felt I was looking in a mirror; he was a reflection of my first grade self - inquisitive, carefree, friendly, and unique. It was love at first sight and I think he felt it too but those feelings didn't manifest completely until

 Lenox found his new "name tag" on his desk one morning. My note of explanation stated that since I couldn't be with him all day that his new pal, Alex, would take my place all in the hopes that Lenox would be on his best behavior.

In case you haven't heard, Alex is a child psychologist and a wanna-be Dr. Phil in the cat community so he sent a Build A Sign bumper sticker to me in the hopes that I would give it to Lenox fur keeps. See, Lenox is a wonderful boy and all but he's not been so wonderful with his desk name tag. After sending several name tags to the trash, Alex felt it was time for a cat-tur-vention with (you guessed it) Alex at the helm.

As it turned out, Alex was the purrfect psychologist and wanna-be Dr. Phil for young Lenox and (applause, applause) the "Beware...I am watching you" bumper sticker is still intact! And do you know what else? Lenox has been an exemplary little first grader ever since!

You would think that Alex would wipe his paws and furget about his successful cat-tur-vention and about Lucas but that's not his style. Instead, Alex continues to send weekly notes to his favorite first grader and Lenox is always happy to correspond! 

Who would have thought that a cat (and his amazing human, Hilary from Feeling Beachie) would become a first grader's watchful friend fur life? I think it is amazing how Alex, Hilary, Lenox, and myself have made such impact on each others lives all because of Blogville!

P.S. Be sure to read Hilary's side of the story by clicking here!  

Royal Treatment Fit For A King Charles Named Vincent

When we walked into Penny the King Charles Cavalier's house on Friday we found a darling boy named Vincent sleeping in her kitchen. No doubt he was dreaming about his much loved humans who chose to put Penny in charge of his care for a few days.

What he didn't know was that Penny hired her dog walker, April, to comfort him with a big hug

and to take her and her guest out for a sniff

followed by a synchronized tour of the neighborhood.

Penny also employed her other dog walker, Amos, and their coon hound, Daisy, to walk along with him.  

And because Penny was such a thoughtful friend to Vinny, she was the first to get a treat and Vinny didn't mind one bit because

he knew his humans chose the right caretaker for him---Penny! 

Has your pooch ever taken care of  friend while his/her owner was away? If so, how did your pooch make his friend feel safe and relaxed? I'd love to read about your stories so please share!