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Hayden's Story

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:39:52 GMT

Trying to restart this blog, time is hard to come by these days. A quick review to bring everyone up to speed.

Since our last post we've:

~Hired 2 more part time team members bringing the total to 6 (including Meg and I)

~Have expanded our client list to over 300 clients.

~Have created a Facebook page as well as Brady and Nina's own Twitter page! Tune in to get all of their daily updates on the road with Mom and Dad! Brady is training for the Windsor Dog Walk and is tweeting his day to day process!

~Have installed our Pet Care lottery and trivia game on the website an included new pics and videos on both the webpage and facebook fan page.

~We've rezoned our service area, and changed a few of our rates - some upward, some downward

~We closed out 2009 with 264 overnight sessions, a new HSH record!

~We've accrued a significant number of aggressive clients and have worked safely and successfully with each one!

~We now have ACH debit payment options and will be up and running with our "shopping cart" for invoiced services soon!

Hopefully I will get to blogging' more often and keep that list shorter!

Today is about Hayden our new foster. He is a 1.5 yr old yellow lab and is just awesome! He was bought from a puppy store when he was just 8 weeks old and has had a rough go of it ever since...not to mention the "go" he had of it before and during his life in a puppy store. He is every bit puppy in both his rambunctious nature and his cuteness! He is the sweetest little guy and wants nothing more than affection. This drives him to trouble sometimes, as he will nose around and steal things off the table or couch just to garner your attention, but its all in good fun and hard not to laugh. We've known him since he was a puppy as we know the family that originally had him. For private reasons, the family could not keep them and gave him to another family with 5 children and acres with which to run. This seemed like a great plan but the husband soon decided that he could not be bothered by Hayden and was abusing him before too long. As soon as we found this out we drove over and convinced them to surrender him. The husband of course claimed that Hayden was biting at the children and being aggressive, actions which had drawn threats by the husband that he was going to shoot him. These all turned out to be lies but who cares, Hayden is out of there...and the abuse was not a lie. When we got his crate set up, it was all dented in and the gate did not close properly. Reports came out after we rescued him that the husband had kicked and tossed the crate while Hayden was in there as well as thrown chairs at the crate in drunken anger. There had to be a reason why Hayden was petrified to go into it. He's been with us for just over a week now and has shown NONE of the traits that were described to us by the family. Even his counter surfing as ceased to be displayed. He has moments where he gets a hyper and a little mischievous, but a 1.5yr yellow puppy should do nothing else.

With some positive reinforcement, and a new "cave" design for his crate, he is back to using it as a safe place and even trots in there on his own at the end of the night. Its very satisfying to see that he trusts the crate so much after what had happened to him in there. He is eating well and loves loves loves playing with Brady and Nina. Its a good thing that there are 2 of them to share the burden as old lazy bones would have their paws full otherwise. We would love to keep him if our living situation were a little different. A bigger home would help as well as having the time to work with and train him. He needs basic obedience but neither of us has the time required to work with him due to the nature of our 'on the run' business. Brady and Nina are in the groove and are so dependable that they often travel with me during the week. It would be unfair to adopt Hayden only to need a dog walker of his own!

It looks like he is either going to a wonderful rescue organization in NY or back to the original family who always loved him but had independent issues in the past that made it difficult for them to keep him. Either way, we are enjoying our time with him and love watching him play to his hearts content, as a puppy should. And when he gets out of line, well, Brady and Nina show him the way of the pack. Its the best training anyone could ask for!

Hayden is safe and sound for now and by anything we have to do about it, will be for the rest of his life, but keep him in your thoughts as he waits for the perfect forever home to bring him into their life.

Chris ~

State passes legislation satisfying some of HSH's concerns in the industry

HSH Pet Care — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:03:30 GMT

Well great news from the State of Connecticut this morning! Legislation is being passed that will more clearly define the employer/independent contractor relationship and will help to eliminate this unethical practice of labeling employees as "sub contractors" to get out from underneath the tax and worker benefit responsibility. Its been crippling to small business who have attempted to take the traditional employee/employer route and in fact has been crippling the very companies that engage in this practice to begin with! They surely are not prepared to protect an employee in an emergency and A. become exposed and/or B. disenchant their workers into leaving for the competition or starting their own business and competing directly! For the sake of a few lowsy bucks a month. Below is the law in this matter, currently defined. This excerpt was taken from the Employment Security Division of CT.

STATE OF CONNECTICUT

EMPLOYMENT SECURITY DIVISION

UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TAX DIVISION

SELF-ASSESSMENT OF THE EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP FOR CT UNEMPLOYMENT TAXES

The determination of independent contractor status versus employee status is often a complex decision. Connecticut unemployment law states that employment is any service performed under an express or implied contract of hire that creates the relationship of employer and employee. Workers who are employees under the common law definition of master and servant (the standard applied by the Internal Revenue Service) are therefore covered for state unemployment purposes. In Connecticut however, irrespective of whether the common law relationship of master and servant exists, the law holds that service will be considered employment subject to the act unless the service recipient can establish compliance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 31-222(a)(1)(B)(ii), commonly referred to as the AABC@ test which is outlined below.

To be considered an independent contractor, an individual must meet all three of the following tests.

A. The worker must be free from direction and control in the performance of the service, both under the contract of hire and in fact. (Essentially, this is the common law definition.)

AND

B. The worker=s services must be performed:

EITHER

(1) Outside the usual course of the employer=s business

OR

(2) Outside all of the employer=s places of business.

AND

C. The worker must be customarily engaged in an independently established trade, occupation, profession or business of the same nature as the service being provided.

Why does this qualify as blog material? Well simply because with HSH Pet Care, you are getting not only the best pet care available in CT but a co. that considers its reputation in business practices as well. We want everyone to know who and what they are getting and that doing the right thing is important to us as it is our clients. We have always maintained an employee/employer relationship and have been fighting to have these "sub contractor" loopholes in the tax & compensation legislation identified. This is a great win for the cause!

July 4 @ Lane's Cove!!

HSH Pet Care — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:08:02 GMT

If you've gotten this far then you've already seen the website improvements so I won't direct you to check them out. These, however are the most recent steps in improving our overall service. We're excited for the lotto drawings that are coming soon for our existing clients! New ways to save money are always a good thing!

Meg and I are preparing to take our first trip/mini trip away since starting the company this July 4 weekend. The hardest part of serving in any recreational industry is committing to your clients on holidays, weekends, nights, and earlllllyyyy mornings~ Thankfully our staff is more than qualified to pick up our slack if you will and we feel most confident in leaving the HSH operation in their hands. Sooo, Lane's Cove, Mass. - here we come!

Lanes Cove is a wonderful, quaint little lobsterman/fishing community in Gloucester, MA. ~ better known as the town behind the unfortunate story of The Andrea Gale and her battle with "The Perfect Storm" (with lead roles played by a dreamy George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg). Every July 4th, this humble little town unhumbles itself and throws the 2 day long, July 4 celebration that rivals the original march for independence. Parades, unadulterated beligerance, 2 1/2 story bonfires, cliff diving, motorboat racing, clams, mussels, fish, and lobster! Lobster Bisque, Lobster sandwich's, Lobster cakes, Lobster fricase, Lobster burgers, Lobster kabobs, Lobster salad ~ you can bake it, broil it, fry it, grill it, sautee it. There's all different kinds of different kinds of Lobster and we will see it this weekend. I feel like Bubba from the BubbaGump Shrimp Corp.! Only thing is...I don't eat meat. Doh! What am I missing! I love food and know food, and can cook up a spread like you see on TV, so I know this stuff is de-lic-ious. I will just have to enjoy the smell as I peck away at my garden salad... Furthermore, Brady and Nina will kick off the inaugural pitty-bull relay swim and dock-jump championships! They are ranked #3 coming into the competition so they've got a little bit of work to do, but they've been training fearlessly during our daily field trips to the Farmington gorge, Tariffville point, and Gold's Doggy Gym. I think they're ready! They are in the best shape of their careers right now and ready to take the Golden Bone Trophy!

We hope that all of you have a happy and safe July 4 weekend and we'll be back to your furry companions bright and early Monday morning!

Chris ~

Windsor Dog Walk a Spectacular Success!

HSH Pet Care — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:00:13 GMT

A good time at the 4H Club Dog Walk Fundraiser on Sunday. All the big and little piglets were there, pure, mixed, puppy, and old alike. It was a great turnout and something we enjoy doing as it is quickly becoming a staple Windsor event. We were a little disenchanted with our predetermined tent position however. This may sound like sour grapes, but we take part in the event because it is Windsor's greatest pet related event and we are striving to become a Windsor staple as well. Bart's, Day Hill Kennels, Whistle Stop, and Zoccos. Its not about "territory" per say, we believe our service speaks for itself, but just on a local level, I would have hoped that the hometown crew could have gotten a little more respect.. It was nice however to have so many of our clients show up and to have Bear, Sparky, Bear, Cody, Zian, Boomer, Tink, Mable, Ralph, Donna Karen, Lola, Bea, Henry, Bongo, and Charlie come up to our booth and greet us with such excitement (They know us too well - we always have cookies). That was something that no amount of tent positioning could have trumped. Thanks to all of them and all the mom and dads who drove! bumNpeanut had fun as well, running for five minutes and lounging in the sun for 45. The epitomy of a dog's life, that is for damn sure. Thank you also to Megan Hussey, our favorite trainer for doing her thing at our table. She's a great trainer and a great resource as well. I hope we can help her as much as she has helped us.

All in all, it was a great event, it gets better each year and that is not only good for the event itself, but good for that person who will need a service dog and raising money to pay for that 2 yrs of training is what its all about. The Walk for Chance is one of the most important event the pet world can get behind. Service dogs of any kind are the best reason to believe that dog is man's best friend for a reason.

Next up~ The 'Just For Fun Dog Show' @ the Town Green on June 18th where we'll be returning as judges once again!

Chris ~

HSH News

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:44:30 GMT

Much is happening over here at HSH headquarters so for anyone checking in, I feel its important to bring you all up to speed.

We've officially been approved for accreditation by the Better Business Bureau! That makes us the second petsitting company in all of CT to have that distinction, and the first north of New Haven. We have also been accredited through Angie's List, and recommended by vets in both Windsor and West Hartford.

We have solidified our staff as both Amy and Jess becoming significant players in the recent success of the company.

We have invested in blackberry's for everyone, so now our clients will not only be updated on site, but will be able to reach their caregivers in any medium they need.

We have the Windsor Feud next Saturday the 28th

We are working hard at our fundraiser which is currently slated for June!...the inaugural HSH horseshoe tournament to raise funds for animal related non-profits. There will be many avenues to take for more information on this event in the coming weeks.

We will be tightening up on some of our policies as things have just gotten to busy to be as relaxed about them as we traditionally have. Most if not all of these will be related to payment in advance, service requests with at least 48hrs notice, time and half on Sundays and holidays, and the integration of our staff and current clients for weekend work. Again these are policies that have already been put in place, but we need to enforce them a bit more.

We will be reorganizing the company under and LLC this week, which won't change anything externally, for you our clients obviously, as our insurances etc. will be the same they have but as we grow, it obviously will help with things internally.

Lastly, HSH Pet Care is proud to be working with all the wonderful people in the Windsor Dog Park Committee to get CT's first settled town its new dog park! The site has been approved, the train is full speed ahead, and we're all aboard! Jump on and help make the effort a success!

There is still more happening, but all of our other items are ''in the works'' so to speak and will be announced as they come to fruition. Stay tuned!

Chris ~

Client Profile: Buddie & Emmie

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:09:33 GMT

Another Client Profile

Buddie and Emmie are two black labs who live in West Hartford. We've stayed with them quite a bit since November and they are two of the most laid back, fun dogs we've had the fortune to work for. They are EXTREMELY active and by that I mean they are lucky enough to have a mommy who has the time to get them out for daily runs and field trips, so when we come over, they expect nothing less! They also have a great fenced in back yard and have hosted many a dog parties throughout the spring and summer. They love their walks, runs, swim time and whatever else they can do in the name of fun! Funny though, it usually takes them a day or two to get over the No-Mom-Blues, they are very, very close with her.

Emmie is definitely in charge, and they play very similar roles in the way that Brady and our love bug Trunks used to. See, Brady was no doubt the alpha male but it was Trunks who, as a pack member lower in the hierarchy, was the one to scout trouble and stay on alert 24-7. This became his role as a lower pack member in order to earn his keep. (Sounds a little to communicative for dogs, but I have no reservations whatsoever, after studying these ideas and then having experienced it myself, that it is true). If it was a significant threat, then the others would spring into action and join him. This is the case with Buddie and Emmie as well. Buddie is the one who barks and investigates at the door, but it is Emmie who will most likely take over the situation if it is a legitimate threat. Buddie is in fact...a big baby.

So everybody in the neighborhood knows Buddie and Emmie and if they see us walking, they surely say hi. Emmie is a little apprehensive with other dogs, especially females, so if you and YOUR pack see us, just approach slowly!

We hope to see them as much as possible and look forward to seeing them on our field trips which will be starting up soon!

Welcome Ladies and Gentleman to the Craziest Show on Earth!

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:46:08 GMT

I feel like a traveling salesman...But with the number of animals that we work with on a daily basis and the events that transpire when dealing with characters, knuckleheads, lazybones, princesses, and spazz attacks, pills, pugs, and puppies, I'd liken my past few days to that more of a traveling circus!

I had said to myself, something strange is happening because there had been an great influx of business as we approached the weekend of Feruary 14th. I couldn't understand why. Had winter break started? Was it just a coincidence? Then much to my surprise, do I realize that all the lovebirds are going away for Valentines Day! (Don't worry. I realized this around the 7th or 8th so I can't get in too much trouble for not knowing such an important day was upon us. FYI, it was plenty of time to get Meg flowers, a card, some chocolate, and a SHAM-WOW!. -- Hey, when your married, romance is buried staunchly in the heart of reality. We live in a zoo, we have a need for paper towels ala bulk...or...a SHAM-WOW!)

But I digress.

The point I was getting at was that we had a blast of overnights, weekend visits, and regular daily sessions that had our heads spinning a bit.

This is how it all started...

Jonesy & Nieve called for an overnight session on Th, F, Sat but both Rover and Buddie and Emmie had requested overnights starting Friday, so while Meg went to Rover's for Friday, I went to Jonesy & Nieve's for Thursday, then after negotiating an alternative for them in light of our unavailability on Friday, went to Buddie and Emmie's, then back to Jonesy and Nieve's for Saturday night. Now Meg is starting at Annie and Jai Jai's on Monday for the next week plus, so I will be changing over to Rover's for Sunday night so that she can have a night home with the Pigs before she heads out. When I finish with Rover's care on Tuesday, I will head home for a brief siesta, then off to our new Dobi-Duo, Roxy & Franklin D. for Friday night, a day back home for Saturday, then back to Buddy and Emmie's on Sunday for the entire following week. As Meg winds down with Annie and Jai Jai on the 23rd, she will switch out with me at Buddy and Emmie's so that I can begin an overnight session with Sandy and Bear in Simsbury through the 1st of March! Crazy times but we'll take such good fortune!

So some of you may have seen me recently with a newly installed beard (I'm sorry if I frightened you) - but you see that it is a result of a two-fold circumstance. One, I haven't had much time for self grooming...and two, it was damn cold out there for awhile! I speak for all of our daily piggleby's when I say, I hope that groundhog was drunk when he thought he saw his shadow. C'mon Spring!

So this is a weekend in the life of a couple of pet sitters. It was funny, because as we approached the crest of this busy weekend, we had an interview with a friend who's very interested in working for us. We want her to enjoy it, but have to, of course, stress the rigors that may beinvolved, and to see her eyes widen as we took her through a not-so-hypothetical scenario of what demands do sometimes arise, was a reaction worthy of a chuckle.. Its not all couch-potato stuff - those times come few and far between and you revel in them when they do come along. Meg and I put a combined 65,000 miles on the vehicles last year (we just calculated for tax season...that's no estimate)! That is exclaimed out of surprise - not complaint of course! But alas, it matters none when you know that you get to work with all of these wonderful animals on a daily basis, and when you realize that they look forward to seeing you as much as you do them, and when you know you would gladly drive 100,000 miles a year for it all.

I'll check in soon with some pet profiles and a sad, beautiful story about one of our newest clients, Smokey Joe.

Chris ~

What's Happening

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:59:00 GMT

Things are happening! Pay close attention to the website over the next few weeks/months as spring and all of the ideas and opportunities that have been in hibernation come with her! What do I mean by that? Well for starters, the fight for a Dog Park in Windsor has resulted in victory! Thank you to the Windsor Dog Park Committee for all of their hard work in negotiating with the town and getting approval for a section of land to be used at Northwest Park! But this is just the beginning. Now the real fight starts, the fight for $$ ! And with things playing out like they have with the economy in general, its going to be a tought fight indeed. This being said, we can use all the help we can, and that doesn't just mean giving $$ (though I want you all to feel free if you should be so inclined) and that includes joining up with the various committees thathave been put together to get this project off the ground. Legal considerations, Public awareness, Fundraising, and Construction, are just a few. Stay tuned on our website as well as the Dog Park's website -- www.windsordogpark.org -- for more information (meetings, decisions, requests) via the calendar and this blog.. There can never be enough people involved with the project, so feel free to join up as soon as you'd like!

As for HSH and our projects, we will be heavily involved with the Windsor dog park in any facet we can and that starts with a fundraiser of our own, to be held early summer! Details will be released very soon, stay close by!

We will also be participating in Windsor's most popular new tradition, The Windsor Feud! Our clients have already received emails on this but for those who are not on our CC list...We will be competing against other local businesses in that classic game of public opinion...Survey Says! Tune in on February 28th, @ 5:00 on channel 5 (Local Windsor) for all the fun...yes, costumes and all!

We are also planning some field trips for the break of Spring, as well as some fun events for all of our clients to participate in, and as soon as these details are firmed up we will pass them along to you! Its going to be a wildly fun season, we hope you all, clients, new clients, and potential clients will be a part of all of it!

Bella!

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:36:16 GMT

A day off today (Sunday) and we're spending it with the pigs. Brady, Nina, Lennon, Turtles, and yes, the newest member of our family...Bella! Our recently adopted 2 yr old shorthair cat has been getting to know the rest of us over the past week and she's really come out of her shell these past few days! She is still quite leary of Brady, having never known a dog before, but she's gotten a little more brave yesterday and today. He doesn't make it easy for newcomers though, as his penchant for intense investigation can often be misread by the new party. At 65 lbs, approaching any smaller creature with anything other than tiptoes, can be rather threatening. He wants to investigate her, she thinks he wants to eat her, she goes on defense, he's too boorish to realize he's scaring her, she swipes, he thinks she's playing, he wants to play, she says "I ain't playing", he says "duhhh, which way did she go, which way did she go..." and we do this little dance for awhile. Just today, however, they were both sitting a few feet away from each other, agreeing to give each other space, so, we're definitely on track for completely successful integration!

Nina could care less, as is her M.O. - as long as Bella doesn't sit in the front seat when we travel, there will be no issue.

Lennon...Lennon a little upset to say the least. The queen of the castle, sharing cat time!? Absurd! She acts like she's so offended, so distraught but she's really just a big baby. She would never attack the newbie and the newbie loves other cats so we are not even concerned about them hashing things out in that way, but until she figured out that Bella is NOT just passing by, Lennon would conveniently pass through to another room with a few low pitched grumbles in voice of her displeasure. She's doing much better now. They've even been caught on our bed together...on opposite corners mind you and staring at each other intensely, but a big step nevertheless.

Bella is nothing but a perfect sweetheart. A lap cat, a cuddler, a nuzzler, and even a singer...yes, she can be heard early in the morning, walking through the house, singing away in a much more evolved dialect than just simple meowing. It sounds like she's talking! We love her and know that she is going to fit right in with the rest of us and bring a completely different aspect to this kaleidescope of personality we already have!

Welcome to the family, Bella!

Winter Walkingland

HSH Pet Care — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:01:23 GMT

What a day! Cold, frozen, wet, busy...but Meg and I got it done, and got to do it all together! Perhaps not a big deal to most out there, but with her clients needing her here and my clients needing me there, for owning a business together, we rarely have the opportunity to work on projects with one another! Throw in the overnight stays that make up a large portion of business and a day like today is much appreciated.

Meg was able to see Mac and Eire for the first time in awhile and Ncosi too! Eire was so excited in fact, that she felt it necessary to try and ride shotgun with Meg! It took some convincing, but she eventually realized that she could still keep Meg in her sights from the back seat.....I was able to visit the infamous Balthazar who I've not seen in a long time and I think he liked having a little Macho Machismo with him today. We bumped chests, crushed beer cans on our heads, and watched 6 hours of repetitive Superbowl analysis on ESPN before Meg and the cats demanded we pay them some attention. We were able to tag team the labs, who though walk very well as a pack, still helped manage all of them just a bit easier. Java did well with double the attention and Miss Kiki Belange played us against each other in her requests to go outside! We might never find her again out there! Barley and Pepper were all fueled up when we got to them for the last walk of the day, but Dad, who was home sick, really needed us to help burn it off. I think that's everyone, with one exception....Yoda.

Yoda is a new client. He hired us for puppy visits this week as his mommy was away and daddy worked double shifts. Yoda is a Boston Terrier Pup, complete with walleyes and a lightsaber. He has much to learn about the force, but his Jedi instincts and razor sharp teeth will get him through any battle vs the empire until he learns how to harness his powers. This guy is the coolest dude to fight for the republic in awhile...Since....Long, long ago, in a galaxy far, far away.... We're glad that we were requested for 3 visits a day as we quickly realized we can never have enough Yoda! Check the client page soon for updates and pics of our little friend!

Chris ~

Midweek Update - On to Another Location!

HSH Pet Care — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:02:28 GMT

All is well that ends well. I'm wrapping up here with Bear and Sandy, setting up their dinners and getting them outside so they can get through until Momma gets home tonight. They've been great - Sandy is such a pleasure, all she wants is a little quality time, laying with her on the floor, while Bear has done nothing but act 'puppy' for 8 days and, though it was fun...whew...I can use a night at home with our old-timers. We forget what its like to have a puppy! A day is all we'll get too, as I'm back to stay with Boatee and Latte Thursday and Friday night. I feel like a traveling salesman! I haven't seen "the girls" in a couple of months...I hope they didn't get any bigger! They've taken over the guest bed as it is! I'll miss Sandy and Bear, but presume that our regular 'Monday' visits will proceed as Momma usually works late on Mondays. Its always interesting to see how your clients take to you AFTER spending overnights with them, it really pushes you up the ladder of 'favorite' people, even if you've been visiting or walking them on a daily basis.

In other news....

We picked up a few jobs with a few new clients this week. We'll be visiting Yoda, a BT puppy in Hartford starting Monday, and today was our first Pet Care Visit for puppy Rover, an adorable J.R. / Shih Tzu mix. I've also been seeing Max, a yorkie pup in Bloomfield, and have begun a regular regimen with him. Meg in the meantime has begun a regular schedule with Java in West Hartford.

After missing Macy for over a week, we're finally back to our midday visits with the little rascal. Dad is home from vaca and she's back on schedule.

We'll be seeing her a few nights here and there as well, and helping her get through the occasional late work nights for her Daddy.

Stay tuned for an update on our Better Business Bureau application, we should be hearing word within the next few weeks to become the first, and only Pet Care Co. in CT with BBB accreditation!

And a reminder for anyone reading the blog who has passed over the home page, check back frequently as we will soon post a variety of new promotions to encourage your business. Consider it the HSH econimic stimulus package!

Till next....

A week in Simsbury with Sandy and Bear

HSH Pet Care — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 00:16:07 GMT

Spending the week with Sandy in Bear is a truly bipolar experience - On one hand we've got the gentile, senior citizen in Sandy who gets to where she's going when she gets there, slow and steady wins the race says she. And on the other hand we've got pure puppy madness with her new brother Bear (ever so appropriately named by the way) leaping off the staircase as if a pool waited at the bottom, and leaping about as if Milk-xeBones rained down from the sky. I realize only now that the pain I've felt in my chest over the past few days has not been heartburn, gas, or asthma, but the strain of holding a wiley Bear with my left and a slow poke with my right during our dog walks!

Both Sandy and Bear are posted on our client page but that just tells a hint of how great these two really are! The cold has been trying on Sandy's arthritis and so we've limited her exposure to it just a bit in the last few nights and especially today. But Mr. Bear has not even given thought to the possibility. He's all systems go, all the time! We went for a run through his condo complex last night but that barely...or should I say Bearly....even made a dent on his energy index.

He does play well independently also, which Sandy always appreciates, while, I must admit is helpful to me at times as well. Especially when I'm giving affection to Sandy or writing blogs!

I'll be here till the 21st as Momma had to go away for work at the last minute, but I think the three of us will manage just fine! Goodnight and....Bear! No! Don't eat that!...

Back to Blogging!

HSH Pet Care — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 03:50:20 GMT

Okay - so the holidays are over. The overtime is over. The madness is over. I'm back to blogging! Let's see how well I can keep this up! All is well since we last met, the pigs (Brady, Nina, and Lennon) are enjoying the cozy confines of home a bit more now what with sub-zero temperatures just on the other side of the door. Nina, especially, is not one for climate deviation in excess of five degrees above or below her 'princess' comfort zone of 78 degrees/dry/with a five day forcast of sunny skies. She knows where its at. The dogs have been joining me on my walks with the amazing Mac and Eire - we have spectacular walks and great play dates together! Barack and Obama (the turtles) are living it up in their new tank, and preparing for their inauguration.

We met lots of new clients over the previously mentioned holidays, all of who will be posted on our client pages soon! Some of them include, Lucky and Gus, Talullah, Java, Sadie, Buddy and Emmie, Bunky, Rudy, and Bowie! Stay tuned for blog profiles on these pets and many more!

A short one tonight. Just warming up, but with lots and lots of content to come!

Check out our new video player for snipits of all the funny and wonderful moments that we experience every day with ours and our clients!

Stay warm and dry! Be back daily! Chime in!

Holiday Push???

HSH Pet Care — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:44:50 GMT

Its been steady, but we're awaiting the big holiday push. Hopefully it happens, but with the state of things, it may not. We're taking some measures to try and ease the pain a bit, check in on the home page (left column under this blog) for promotions updates. Whatever happens over the next 2 months, its sure to slow down come January. The post holiday blues, but this time it'll be truly representitive of the economic nature of things for the following year. Any business that does come over the holidays will be the last big push for awhile I believe. No worries, we'll be here when things get going again. We're movers, we're shakers, survivors of the middle class gauntlet. Keep on keepin' on as Joe Dirt says. When life hands you lemons, make...lemonade?! Maybe if its the summertime, but that's only 3 months out of the year! Whylimit your market to only 1/4 its potential! No, you make lemonade in the summer, lemon mirangue in the autumn, hot lemon totties in the winter, and call mom in Tampa for more 1/2 price lemons come spring time!

A week with the Mastiffs...and...Ncosi leaves me in the dust

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:09:52 GMT

Ahh, the weekend. I'm staying with the Mastiffs, Boatee & Latte until Tuesday. 350 pounds of pure cuteness. In the bed, on the couch, on our walks - the girls are hilarious. But don't stop paying attention to Latte, she'll get into mischief in under 10 seconds. Read their bios - that comment about dancing on the table...that's literal. Now that the politics of politics are over and there is no more baseball for awhile, we'll be blogging all critters all the time!

We rounded up the week with with some new clients in Farmington. We visited them a few weeks ago and they were so happy with the service that Ziggy, Daisy, Boomer, two dogs & two cats called us back again! They were referred to us by one of our vets - Thanks Doc!

....A funny story with my girl Ncosi, the Ridgeback that walks with me in Bloomfield. She's notoriously lazy, perhaps in some small part, believing she's still on the farm under the great African sun. Well either way, her true colors came out on Friday as we went for one of her requested hour long walks and ran, sprinted actually up the great big hill back to her house. Here is the excerpt from the email I left her folks---

>>> <chris@hshpetcare.net> 07/11/2008 23:12 >>>
Whew! We both got a workout today! Not only did I have the time to get
her an hour, but we ran and ran hard!...at least up the hill. She got
into it big time! She started growling and barking at me as we raced up
(she was pulling away from me like lance armstrong with 4 legs) At
first I thought that maybe she was barking for me to stop torchering her
with this unecessary exercise...then it became painfully apparent that
she was egging me on! Trash talking me! "You wanna run bipedal
homosapien? Alright lets run!" I think she even called me Mayonaise!
(Officer + a Gentleman if the obscure reference eluded anyone) ....When
we got back to the house, she gave me a nod and said ''Better luck next
time.''

The Truth Behind Question #1

HSH Pet Care — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:44:32 GMT

Well, the time is upon us. The biggest moment we will have experienced in a long time. Do what you will, vote how you'd like, vote with information, but if you feel even somewhat interested in the path we as a country will traverse over the next 4 years, at the very least, vote.

I may be tippig my cap here but if you get the opportunity to read this blog before you vote tomorrow, please, please research all of the issues surrounding question #1. The most troublesome part of this issue is that all the information is not being shared with the voting public. It concerns our right as a state, to every 20 years, vote on whether or not to host a State Constitutional Convention which is an opportunity to rewrite and ammend the CT state constitution. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/historyprofiles/tp/2008-Ballot-Initiatives.htm The issue is being proposed as the right to achieve ballot initiatives on future issues -- the right for CT citizens to vote on issues as they come up, like California does. The fact of the matter is that a YES vote does not necessarily acheive this. All it acheives is the right to HOST a convention. There is no guaruntee that the ballot initiative will even be discussed. However, it is very likely that all other matters pertaining to the freedom and liberties of special interests who hold persuasion over the politicians WILL be discussed. This convention, by law, and in fact, cannot be attended by any member of the public, but only by delegates selected by legislators of the state. They can select anyone including lobbyists, political friends and other special interest groups. They then have the convention to themselves with plenty of ink in their pens. Yes they may introduce and institute an ammendment giving us the right to vote on issues, but I personally don't suspect that the polititians in CT would turn their power and their interests over to the true will of the people on an issue by issue basis all that kindly. They like to be able to shift beaurocracy in their favor as they often to bidding for special interests. http://www.ctvoteno.org/ballot-question-faq WAIT!!! THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING ON THIS ISSUE!!! ALL THAT FOLLOWS IS COMPLETE FACT, NOT PROPOGANDA OR CHRIS' PERSONAL RHETORIC. PLEASE READ ON!!!

You may have seen a commercial on TV with a woman in front of the capitol building talking about how voting YES will "pave the way" for CT to take back its rights (as in its right to vote individually on state issues). Upon further review, it becomes apparent that this may be a phrase that is awfully loose in language. What else will need to occur on the 'paved way'? For if voting 'YES' GUARUNTEED us this ballot initiative, they would surely say that it would GUARUNTEE it. Guaruntee is a strong word. They would use it if they could. But they are being careful not to say that for its no where near a guaruntee.

Furthermore, if you have seen that commercial, notice on the bottom of the screen at the end of it, that it is an ad paid for by the Connecticut Catholic Conference. Why would the CCC not only have such a vested interest but be willing to spend thousands of dollars in ads on an issue that clearly applies to so many people, both Catholic and non-Catholic? They don't. They could care less whether or not the citizens of CT vote on particular issues as they arise. Its just a smokescreen - an attempt to blur the lines. What they do have a vested interest in is getting their people into the convention to rewrite legislation regarding something that we all know is very, very important to them....The recent decision instituting the rights of gay marriage. THIS IS NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORY. The commercial is plain as day. They say nothing of voting yes to use the convention to overturn the decision on gay marriage though this is their only intention. They only say vote YES to 'pave the way' for a ballot initiative. You can also see on this, the CCC's website, http://www.ctcatholic.org/Final-Legislative-Activity-2008.php that they have planned to push for a convention for their own devices since before the court had even decided. (Topic I., subtopics 1. & 2. ) If parties are being so discreet about their real interests in pushing for issues, it should be a red flag to the rest of us.

In summary, a convention is not likely to bring us the right to vote on future issues. Politicians and lobbyists are not likely to let us vote on behalf of our interests as their special interest groups often oppose our interests. It is likely however, to bring about stark changes to other parts of our state constitution including but not limited to gay marriage, worker rights, tax allocation, political interests and self preservation and how big business within the state operates. So think twice before voting on this or any other question/referrendum. There is always more than meets the eye.

Note: 30 ammendments have been made to the constitution without the hosting of a convention. We can get items we want (like the ballot initiative)through the petition system with politicians we can hold directly accountable. In a convention, the politicians have open season with our constitution and no one but their political friends to oversee them.

Clients, Welcome to Connecticut!

HSH Pet Care — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:47:26 GMT

There is an interesting dynamic occuring with our clients, and its kind of fun and rather interesting - the fact that most of them seem to come from somewhere else! I've been thinking about this, as I think I think about everything, and I think there are a few clever factors contributing to this phenomenon. (got all that 'thinking'--it does actually make sense). We have clients from California, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, Boston, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Missouri. I think its great! Its nice to see that CT is attracting the outside world for more than just its covered bridges and autumn foliage (great reasons both however mind you). As a native who has struggled with what CT was, is, and can be, though I don't question it much less now after having left and again returned, its refreshing to see that CT and more specifically, Hartford, really could be New England's rising star. I like that. Now this may not seem so interesting at first, but that is most likely due to one of the very factors of this trend--and that we're numb to it -- its a sign of the times! In this crazy competitive modern day existence we now live, thanks to talent distribution through world wide connectivity, it is more essential now than ever to go 'where the work' is. Companies are head hunting out of college now and it'd be wise to jump on every opportunity these days as not many come around. What I'm saying is that its not enough anymore to find a good job near home, wherever home may be. Because even if there is good jobs @ home, with the current state of things in the USA, a "good job" just won't cut it. To survive, to make it, to live with little financial worry, one must have a great job, a spectacular job, a magnificent job.

So after you consider A. , a sign of the times. We look to factor B. , why CT in particular is drawing so many professionals from across the country. Well, insurance, insurance, insurance is a good place to start. Travelers, The Hartford, ING, and Aetna employ more than half of our clientele if I had to guess, and if one was to extrapolate that into a statewide estimation, those 4 companies probably employ a good large # of corporate CT.
(Though I have been observing these trends throughout my day to day activities, I'm also partly thinking on the run here so pardon the lack of hard #'s). In a nutshell, CT is and always has been a very wealthy state. We actually rank #3 in the world in Hedge Fund accounts. I don't think that's necessarily evidence to prove we're a wealthy state, but I just read about it in an article over the weekend. Never would've thunk it till I thunk about it :-)...So as it is within the nature of the state to raise a healthy crop of big business, highlighted by corporate hubs and headquarters aplenty in CT, it makes sense that they call on the best and brightest wherever they may come from.

Now lets move on to factor C., the reinvention of the city of Hartford. Its one thing for these companies to head hunt the young talent in america, but it is another thing altogether to get them out here in an environment that they can thrive. Well, with the city of Hartford making strides to transform itself from pre-Robocop Detroit to the second coming of San Francisco, these young twenty and thirty somethings, are moving east (a new concept) in droves. Throw in the UCONN factor and there are lots of reasons for our generation to come to CT.

Wrap these fundamentals up in one big package and you've got a changing face of our wonderful state and it is a good thing. There are actually some young, relatable people out and about now and not the same ol' reg-lers that infested the local bar scene. Those who party in Hartford, live in Hartford, something that never occured before. No one ever really wanted to go into downtown because there was nothing going on and no one was going down there -- a vicious circle. Things have changed.

I suppose it would be best to wrap this observation up by saying, welcome statesman neighbors, and keep it going, CT. Keep these businesses alive, keep bringing 'em in, keep building new homes, apartments, and infrastructure, keep rising you little star you...and all you wonderful transplants...make sure you bring your pets!

Good Health for the Pigs

HSH Pet Care — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:28:00 GMT

The Pigs went to see the doctor today for their checkup and vaccinations. All is well and they are sleeping on the couch now, totally exhausted from the intensity of the vet office. Dr. P is the best by the way. He takes his time with each and every one of them, runs late by the end of every day because each patient is just as important as the next. We love him. The pigs love him as well. He was so good to us when it was Trunks' time we really will never forget it. I suppose the biggest news to come out of the exam room today is that Nina has warts. Not a big deal, except to Nina. She's mortified and would like them removed by Dr. 90210. He's the best plastic surgeon on TV she says. Why she's not watching animal planet 24/7 Brady doesn't know. That's why he's requested his own viewing room. He says Nina is too wrapped up with appearances and between her and Meg and that damn "What Not to Wear" show, Brady and I have begun excavation on the new Man Cave...Brady's joint issues have improved greatly since our last visit with the Doc. He's still a little slow climing into bed (its high, so he's pivoting on his front legs as the pitbull power isn't what it once was in his hind legs anymore), so we think the next step is the stair case. I feel sad about it as he's always been so athletic, its a sign of his age now and I think where the years have gone. But Brady says he's ready for them. He's a proud pitbull and knows when push comes to shove he can still reverse the earths rotation like superman if he wants, but he's retiring from his superhero stature....

New Clients and a Note to Stay Tuned

HSH Pet Care — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:38:13 GMT

We had another busy week, highlighted by Meet & Greets with 3 new clients. The holidays are approaching and will require the services of Home Sweet Home Pet Care for sure. One of our meetings was with new clients Prince and Max (a rottie and a gorgeous blue coat dachsund). These guys are too cool. We met with Prince a few times as he's a little leary of new people but it didn't take more than 15 seconds before these two were slobbering all over us. Jess will be caring for them on the "east side" of the river. We also met two new cats, Boris and Natasha and a cutesy rat terrier named Cola. She's a little nervous during T-storms and with the storm rolling in tonight, it was a good thing that we were visiting with her - at least someone there to comfort her while her mom was gone.

Apparently there is a baseball game on involving 2 teams I've never heard of.

If we get some interest and response to these blog entries over the next few days/weeks, I'll offer up a little more commentary on various subjects, but I don't want to rant and rave if nobody is reading...and I don't want the conservatives to boycott the website. HeHeHe. But I'll rant and rave anyway - cuz that's what blogs are for!

Some catching up to do- Baseball, New Clients, and Debates!

HSH Pet Care — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:10:12 GMT

Well I got back to it a little later than I thought. Our busy weekend, that I saw coming, turned into a busy week, which just sort of happened! We had a few more Meet & Greets, a final walkthrough for an overnight and started a new job! We booked another daily walk at the Hartford 21 so our hard work with the "21" promotions and interview booths has definitely paid off. Thanks to everyone there who has given us the opportunity to work for them and their wonderful pets!....But now back to business...The business of baseball! I've been sick to my stomach the past few days at the thought of cashing in the season at the hands of our nemesis? the Tampa Bay Rays! Rays/nemesis? Never woulda thunk it. Let's just get over this hump tonight and shove Beckett and Lester down their throats. I don't care about the last few games, Josh Beckett is a sick maniac and would rather kill everyone in the media room than lose a deciding game. And is seems that Jon Lester is quickly becoming a sick maniac's protoge.

Having nothing to do with baseball, we had the pleasure of meeting and caring for Miss Nieve Noel and her pugsly brother Mr. Jonesy Boggs over last weekend. Nieve had called about overnights but as Meg and I were both previously booked, we could not accommodate them. We were able to work out a schedule of multiple visits that would suffice instead, and I'm glad we were able to! What a duo these two are! Nieve is a princess chiuahua who prefers and expects to be properly dressed before leaving the house. Jonesy has no reservations about doing the town au naturale, but with a perfect pug face like the one he has, he can be as naked as he wants. They did very well without mom and dad despite the very close relationship they all share. Nieve was a little nervous at the get go but she warmed up to the routine and quickly made her demands! We were happy to abide! We'll miss these two until they call again, hopefully we can provide them next time with the overnights they prefer!

And will CNN please get rid of that damn dial tester during the debates! Its not accurate, is nothing but annoying, and means absolutely nothing other than these people actually thought they were turning up the heat in the studio!