Some People Shouldn't Own Pets

I was walking Jacoby and came upon an Aussie laying in the middle of the road. He was soaking up the sun, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

When he saw us walking, he sauntered over to say hello.  He had a great personality and walked a mile right by my side.  When we returned to Jacoby's home, the Aussie waited by the door for me to return.  I checked his tags since he hadn't gone back to his home (I thought perhaps he was just out and lived in the neighborhood).

He had a 2012 Rabies tag from Country Club vet clinic, yay!  He had an ID tag with his name "Thompson", his owners name, phone number, and address, YAY!  BAZINGA - this sweet boy was going back to his home.  And a third tag which read: "This dog is NOT lost. He lives on 30 acres. He wonders away, but will come home on his own." 

I debated taking Thompson back home so that I could express my lack of enthusiasm for the owner's regards for Thompson's safety.

I debated taking Thompson up to Country Club Vet so that they could perhaps express a lack of enthusiasm for the owners' regards for Thompson's safety.

BUT I decided to take him to animal control where the owner could pay a nice fine for his lack of regard for Thomson's safety. (Of course this was contingent upon the grounds that if the owner didn't respond, that they call me and I'd find the sweet boy a better home).

The moral of the story is that if you are going to have a pet, please take care of the sweet baby.  Its life is precious and we make a pact with our pets that we will watch over them and protect them.  We do not live in the middle of the country where it is safe to let your dog roam.  We live in a growing city with people who are speeding, texting, and otherwise distracted.  There is a reason fences, both standard and underground electronic versions, exist.  There is a reason we have leash laws.  Too many times pets are out and get hit by drivers who simply did not see them - and that is a tragedy.  As a pet owner and professional pet sitter I do not understand why anyone would let their dog roam at will.  Clearly Thompson has been out and returned enough times that the owner felt the need to make a tag expressing his lack of concern about Thompson being away from home.

PLEASE be a responsible pet owner.  PLEASE keep your pets safe and secure.  It is our duty to protect our furbabies from pain and hurt.

Sunrises Mean Its A New Day

I was out with Carlos the wonder puppy this morning and the sunrise was AMAZING!  That big ball of warmth was poking out over the trees (and the Girl Scout Building) with vivid pink and orange rays just bursting in every direction.

It makes 5am wake-up calls TOTALLY worth it, I love my  job!

Don't Buy A Malibu

Actually more appropriately don't buy a cursed Malibu.  On a whim one day I took Nina dog and we went car shopping.  I bought a shiny new-to-me Chevy Malibu.

I loved that little car the minute I got behind the wheel - it got 26 mpg, it was comfortable in town as well as on the highway, it handled like it was on rails and most importantly - I could fit the Danes in the back seat WAY better than I could in my S-10. 

I stopped at the store on the way home, got a nice bottle of wine and stuff to make a yummy dinner.  **snicker** So maybe I bought the car and THEN thought I should inform the live-in boy friend of my purchase.  **grin**  Needless to say all three years after I bought that car it was brought up that I always did what I wanted and didn't consult him - I merely informed him of my decisions.  RED FLAG #1

Four days later the boyfriend and I were downtown having lunch when a tornado came through - hmmm it produced "Sonic Gusts".  To this day I have no clue what a "Sonic Gust" is, what I do know is that they cause your windows to shatter because of the pressure and forces and blah blah blah.  YEP...that's right kids.  I lost the windows in my new-to-me-still-have-the-temp-tags Malibu. RED FLAG #2. 

September 18, 2009 - I was minding my own business, sitting at a red light about to take a sip of my **perfect** cup of coffee from the Dancing Mule (shameless plug - they are by far the best coffee shop on earth) when a mindless nineteen year old was too busy texting to see my Malibu.  Not only did he crush the rear of my shiny silver car, but he spilled my coffee in my Coach purse (read perfect cup of hot coffee now drowning the contents of and ruining a limited edition signature Coach purse).  There are several rules dedicated to this incident  **NOT HAPPY**  RED FLAG #3

November 23, 2010 - I had just left the lawyers office from settling the September accident and was on my way to Nixa to take two of my most favorite pups for a walk.  Ok...take note, its over a year later and I just signed the papers to settle the Sept. 18 2009 accident.  Duly noted??  I was sitting at the light when **WHAM** mindless sixteen year old was texting and freaking out because her baby brother was choking in the backseat  (There are rules about this too - lets move past asking why she wasn't pulled over trying to help the choking kid) nails me!  Yes thats right, the very day I settle accident #1, I am hit again.  RED FLAG #4

January 25, 2011 - AGAIN sitting at a red light (there are about a dozen red light rules).  A very nice lady pulls out of SAM'S and plows into me and two other cars.  **SIGH**  Yes that is correct...accident #3 in sixteen months.  Uhhuh...I may or may not have had a minor meltdown (read major freak out) when I realized that I had just gotten my happy little Malibu back on New Years Eve from the previous accident. RED FLAG #5.

Well the shiny silver paw print encrusted Malibu was put to rest and promptly replaced by a Scion Xb...also paw print encrusted!  **shakes pom-poms**

You Can Fire People!

I did a promotion in March with HalfPriceOzarks.com - it is an affiliate of KY3.  I had an amazing response and as such have 17 really good new clients come from the promotion!!  One of the clients that I received, however; has been a pain since day one.  I spent countless time on the phone with her answering questions and talking to her about service.  She had a million questions and seemed to be quite high maintenance.  I explained that I had a sitter who lived less than a mile from her residence, was delightful as well as licensed, bonded and insured.  After a few conversations and answering all of her questions she asked me to have the sitter set up a consultation for her and her pets.

He did so.  The consultation went well and service was provided as requested.  Upon her arrival home she said he was delightful, the pets were well cared for and even sent him a tip to show her appreciation for services rendered.

She called again for service, when I called her sitter he declined the job.  I thought it was odd since he was so close to her home.  He said simply I he wasn't available for her service.  I assigned a new sitter.  This time after the consultation I got a phone call voicing some concern that she is somewhat overbearing, course and very very meticulous about her 5 birds.  I took it with a grain of salt and moved on - I mean, after all - if someone is hiring an in home pet sitter they care quite a bit about their pets.

After this service I received a long detailed email explaining that she didn't feel her sitter fed the proper amount of fruits and vegetables to her birds.  Upon speaking with the sitter, I learned that since the birds weren't eating all that was put out the sitter put out less food so that it wouldn't spoil since the client had expressed multiple times that birds are quite susceptible to botulism.  Makes perfect sense to me.  Way to look out for the well being of the birds and go above and beyond.  EXCELLENT!  Uhm the client did not see it as such - but rather than my sitter was neglecting her birds and not following her instructions.  She paid her invoice in full, without a tip this time and requested this sitter not provide service for her again.  Okay Dokay.

She called AGAIN to request service and requesting her original sitter whom she spoke so highly about.  He again declined the job.  (I might point out again that he lives less than a mile from her home)  I had another sitter call her.  She told the sitter she had canceled her trip and hung up on the sitter.  RUDE!

I having just had my wisdom teeth out and not feeling overly inclined to have to bite my tongue emailed the client and said quite simply:

xxxx,
At this point I do not have any sitters available for you. xxxx said she called this morning and you were rude to her and also hung up on her.  You might try xxxx with "xxxx" at xxx-xxxx.  He has been in business for a while and is licensed, bonded and insured. 


Her reply:

My husband and I had already decided your services were less than acceptable and did not meet even our most minimal standards. 

As far as rudeness., I was not rude. I stated that we did not need services., Someone was to have phoned us last week and due to the fact no one phoned to make arrangements, our trip had to be cancelled. Rude is the fact you pretend to provide services that you do not have. 

I had many friends that were interested in how well your company did/or didn't do. Needless to say, your performance speaks for itself and will be shared. You may consider yourselves dismissed from our employment. I am sure my husband & I will have more to say, should you wish to phone to discuss this.

My reply:

We seem to be on the same page as far as your service is concerned - I wish you luck in finding someone who can suit your needs. xxxx who provided your original service lives less than a mile from you and did not wish to continue service for you.  You RAVED about how wonderful he was and even sent him a tip after service was completed.  If you wish to tell your friends how awful we are, that is fine.  We have a shining reputation and in 11 years of pet sitting you are the first client who has ever been less than pleased.


What I wanted to say was:

You have been a pain in my ass since day one; you want top notch service and yet want to negotiate the price, your original sitter that you spoke so highly about has declined to work for you for reasons unknown to me - even though he lives less than a mile from your home, you call constantly with questions that are clearly answered in writing on the website, in our conversations and in your pet sitting agreement.  If you feel the need to trash my company to your friends, please feel free to do so. If they are anything like you - I don't want to subject myself or my sitters to their ridiculousness.  Furthermore upon calling the sitter I recommended to you I found out he had already dismissed you and also doesn't want to deal with you.  Oh and if SO MANY of your friends had inquired about us, then why didn't any of them call?? After all you just LOVED your original sitter.

Enter and Win!

A friend of mine works for a local TV station in town, and while he knows my FIRM beliefs on advertising and following a structured plan for business, he thought a cutest pet contest would be a great way to get my name out and create brand awareness.  I was scared to death that my phones would blow up like the welfare hotline, much like they did after my half-price deal of the day.  Thankfully, they have not.  Since the contest runs for a month it has created a steady stream of calls and emails, not to mention amazing web traffic to my site.  

I have been focusing my marketing on "brand awareness" and "consumer education" as opposed to just offering a deal and trying to get new clients.  I would rather have a stead stream of people with peaked interest than those who are just looking for the best deal in town.  You see...we offer THE BEST service a cost effective rate.  Not to mention we keep your pets safe and happy at home instead of locked up in a kennel for a week while you're out of town.  

All in all, I'm blessed beyond words with how the business is going!  Thank you to my sitters, clients and most of all the advertisers that are helping make this business a household name!!

Don't Look At Me With Those Puppy Dog Eyes....

No really...those puppy dog eyes will NOT save your little butt, no matter how small or cute, when you've left your toy laying on the keyboard of my laptop.  ^^shrugs^^

A couple weeks ago...WOW really, two weeks ago a friend of mine found a pit bull in his neighborhood.  He kept the pit for a few nights while I worked on a solution for the poor guy.  He was dirty, tired, half starved and had the cut ears of a trained fighter.  Thankfully he was no worse for wear and in good temper, so Mary agreed to pull him for rescue!  

**shakes pom-poms**

We loaded up pretty pitty and headed to the Republic Animal Control to drop off the pit for Mary to take into rescue and find a forever home that suited him well.  The 20 minute car ride was uneventful and he really was a doll.  He was very sweet, easy to crate and all in all just happy to be alive.

Upon arriving at animal control, for whatever reason, Client decided to roam around and look at all the puppies while Sherry and I worked on logistics and intake forms.  **BAD IDEA** Ok well not so much...he comes out of one of the dog runs with this "super cute and cuddly" little black male weiner dog.  He has me hold the dog while he texts a picture to his fiance.  **BAD IDEA**  Puppy is in the car with us headed back to Springfield.  (read 'what the hell, this is going to end REALLY BAD and not only am I going to have to take this poor sweet puppy BACK to animal control in the morning, but Im going to have a client SUPER pissed at me and the other one sleeping on my couch for letting him bring the damn dog home in the first place).  I kicked him and puppy out of the car, almost without even stopping in the driveway in an attempt to make a getaway BEFORE fiance can come home.  Uhhuh...I drove far, far away like a big chicken!!

Next morning, I get a call "well we aren't in huge trouble, but there has to be some negotiating done here"
I reply "there is no WE and I don't negotiate with terrorists or fiances.  SORRY and I proceeded to laugh uncontrollably while listening for the demands of the fiance, not a terrorist!" 
Client: Well she said we could get another dog for Dougie to play with, but it has to be potty trained and house broken.
Me: Well potty training is easy when you do crate training at the same time. Its super easy, I'll walk you through it.

blah...blah..blah (read 20 minutes of smooth talking)

Me: Okay Ill come by the office and pick him up, he can live with me for a couple weeks while I potty train him and house break him.  Ill use him for my BNI presentation and then you can take him home to the fiance and VIOLAH we saved two lives at once!

WTF How did that happen??


Baby has gone to Relay For Life, SAAF House board meeting, Relay Wrap Up meeting, been neutered, been wormed, gone on a million car rides and somehow become a normal part of my daily routine.  OH and ps, not only is he potty trained and crate trained...but he can "sit".  **no frogs were harmed while that picture was taken.**

Wooo I rule!!

Now that brings me to my point...don't look at me with those big puppy dog eyes...they may have worked on Client to get him to bring you home from the pound.  They may have worked on fiance to get her to let client adopt you.  But they will get you out of trouble for sending messages to friends on facebook when you've gone and left your toy on the keyboard.  **ahem**

For the Dog?

And the saga of the Landscaper continues.

As I was strolling into the house at 8:15pm after what was quite possibly the longest day of my life, the landscaper calls.  I answered barely and reluctantly (read with more hesitation that I can express and ICE in my voice).  Simon (the sweet sweet dog...whom I lovingly refer to as "little man") had eaten a blister pack of Ambien and the landscaper "didn't know who else to call".
RIIIGHT because you know the vet, the ER vet and poison control wouldn't have been able to help??

Needless to say I jumped online and googled the main ingredients and looked up possible outcomes.  I instructed him to pour peroxide down Simon's throat to induce vomiting and read as much info offline from my pet portal as I could find.

So much for a hot shower and relaxing...I spent the better part of the evening (read all night) texting and talking to him, helping him get poor Simon through the night alive.  Again - why not go to the ER??  I'm still not convinced Simon had more than one or two pills and he was just exaggerating to get my attention.  Just sayin.

By the time the sun rose again the landscaper was bringing up the "good ole days" and talking about the past and yadda yadda yadda.  Not only was I physically exhausted from Friday, but now I was mentally drained as well.  He missed our conversations, he missed the love and support for his battle with cancer, most of all he just missed my face.  (read, someone please shoot me)

I resorted to texting only because I was physically incapable of holding a conversation with him anymore.


The following Friday was the Big Hair Ball benefiting the SAAF House.  For whatever reason I felt compelled to text him a picture of me all done up in full makeup and big hair.  His reply "Amazing, Gorgeous.  Please have fun!!"  I couldn't reply or send anything else for fear of my makeup melting! 

Not only was my heart aching from talking to him and having emotions stirred up again, but this was the weekend leading into Relay week.  Tuesday was the survivor dinner, Friday was Relay, Sunday was Rockin For Remission.

By Wednesday I couldn't function, all I did was cry.  It was ridiculous.  RIDICULOUS!  As I was walking into my BNI meeting, I texted him that he was a "selfish idiot" and that he needed "to pull his head out of his ass" and realize "how amazing I am for loving him just the way he is - bow legged, common, cancer patient, landscaper".  Apparently this caught him off guard - quite frankly it caught me off guard that I actually sent it.  He replied "Wow, did you mean to send this to ME???????"  I let it ride....until after BNI at which point I could barely breath and wanted nothing more that a soft pillow and a nap.  I really unleashed in the subsequent three texts - telling him exactly how I felt and why he was a selfish idiot who couldn't battle alone and so many more things!

Thursday I was walking a dog and went past one of his crews....I texted him that I was sorry for unleashing on him, but that I meant every word I'd said.  No reply.

Friday and Saturday were Relay and honestly I was too busy to even think about him, or my own life.  We raised $325K for ACS!!  YAY for a world with more birthdays!

Sunday was Rock For Remission in Reeds Springs.  We raised $520 and had a great time!!

Monday I caved, I texted him again - "Did I mention how truly sorry I am for unleashing on you last week?"  He replied "Yes, you did.  I deserved it, you deserve better and Im sorry this has been so unfair to you".  Today is Tuesday - and somehow what seemed a dead affair is blossoming again with deeper understanding and a renewed love.

Please, shoot me now before my heart gets broken.  (Again)

Do Whats Best For Business

It is no secret that I LOVE BNI and know the amazing benefits of being a part of a strong chapter.  I have been in the same chapter since I joined in 2007.  I have always been a huge cheerleader and supporting role for my chapter - I have been guilty of pushing the kool-aide on more than one occasion.

The last coupe weeks I have really been evaluating my chapter.  It is Spring Break season and I have been super busy.  It is becoming increasingly difficult to manage taking 2 hours out of the middle of my day for a meeting and also cover all of my clients as I think is fair.  So I've been considering a morning chapter.  To make matters more complicated, there has been a little outbreak of drama and unfortunately the outbreak was directly related to a two or three person faction that is spreading like a cancer through the group.  What started as a minor little detail has turned into a snowball and an all out nitpick fest of everyone and everything in the chapter.  It really makes me sad. It creates disappointment.  Most of all it makes me lose respect for some of my most respected business partners.

I guess its time to seriously think about what is best for my business and my needs...I can't stay in a chapter just because people want me to stay and fix things.  Its really not about them.  Its not even about me...its about my business and doing what is best for closing deals.

I can't take phone calls, text messages and facebook chats at all hours of the day from people creating drama who expect me to fix it.  They have to confront people themselves and fill out complaint forms.  I can't magic things better if they don't want to follow procedures...hell Im pretty sure I can't magic things better even if they DO follow procedures.

**sigh**

It Is OK To Take A Day Off...I Think...Maybe...

I don't take time off.  I work all the time...but my work isn't exactly a 9a-5p tethered to a desk kind of job.

I own a pet sitting company where we go to people's homes to take care of their furkids.  We take dogs for walks, we offer treats and tummy goochens than any furkid left in our charge, we even spend the night with them while their owners are away at work or play.  It is a pretty good gig...I would NEVER dream of having to get a "real job" or change career paths.

The only bummer is paperwork.  I meet with my CPA on Sunday.  She called me and asked if I could do Sunday lunch with her and then sit down to go through my books.  That ladies and gentlemen means I have a deadline.  I don't exactly keep up with entering my receipts and bank statements like I should.  I am ALWAYS on top of invoicing and client records...but that whole book keeping thing - HA not so much.  Truth be told the last bank rec I did was sitting in her office LAST tax season when she was showing me how to do it all myself so that I wouldn't have to pay her to do it for me.  **snicker**

So I have an years worth of receipts and papers and bank recs I should have been entering today since I had a light client load.  However today is the first sunny, warm day we have had in months.  I played outside with the pups earlier, I took a nap in the Adirondack chair with another clients pup, I took Anna and Sig for an especially long walk and even let them play in an open field because it was so nice, I made an extra visit to a couple pups who had been crated since 7am because it was too lovely to leave them inside all day...uhhuh quickbooks is so not on that list of things that I did today.

I am hereby declaring that it is OK to take a day off once in a while.  I have smiled and laughed most of the day - which is a huge departure from how I have spent the better part of the last month.  That being said...Im off to Nixa to walk two dogs before the sun sets.

Attach the Cushion

We had these things called "Dane Dates" where we would all gather with the Great Danes on a sunny afternoon and help one another out with bathing, cleaning out ears and trimming toe nails....this was most helpful when there was an influx of fosters.

I being the "ultimate toe nail clipper" was perched on the chase lounge, clippers in hand having a grand ole time as the kids finished with their bath and towel drying.  Each one would come over, lay on the chase half in my lap getting a nice trim.  Well...it seemed orderly enough until I realized the cushion on the chase hadn't been attached.  Heh.  Trinity...the sweetest tri-pod "teacup" Dane you have ever seen...was up next.  She'd had her bath, she'd been toweled dry, her ears were clean and she had taken her place in my lap for her pedicure.  Then Boris joined the party - he was half in my lap, half on the edge of the cushion...

Picture this:  Iron chase lounge in the middle of the back yard, with soft cream cushion.  Sweet unsuspecting pet sitter kinda in the middle sitting indian style.  Even sweeter unsuspecting teacup Dane sitting between said pet sitter and the back of the chase.  Boris, the 187 pound male Dane, sitting with his butt half on my lap and half on the edge of the chase - both front feet on the ground.  Hmmmm....odd we seem to be sliding.  WAIT..whats going on...why are we moving...BUMMER!

Next thing you know, Im on my back on the ground, poor Trinity is on top of me and well big ole Boris is on top of us all twisted around not able to stand up.

Now there are half a dozen people all standing around...  Oddly enough they were all laughing too hard to help un-pile us, but all of them seem to have pictures of the event on their phones and cameras. Even more odd, those pictures are STILL surfacing!

You Cannot Pet The Pet Mobile

You can however hang your head out the window to feel the wind in your face.

NO you cannot hug the pet mobile either. Yes, I understand it is "so cute you just want to hug it", but nonetheless it is a Scion - you don't hug vehicles.  Not even pet mobiles. 

Much to my delight the pet mobile has become iconic in this town.  People call, facebook and text at every spotting of the pet mobile.  It is much like "Where's Waldo" only the pet mobile is really really easy to spot...just look for the silver Scion Xb with the yellow, teal and purple paw prints!!  Remind me to have a contest where there are prizes for "spotting" the pet mobile.  (Pun very much intended)

I love what I do for a living...I am truly blessed to wake up each morning and care for furkids all day.  Between the "nose art" on the windows from clients who have been pet taxied to the cards left by furkids thanking me for caring for them, I am continuously reminded how lucky I am to be doing what I have a passion for while providing a niche service.

Rule #473 - How to Handle a Princess

I did not author this rule, but alas it makes me laugh. Rule #473, courtesy of "the old man".

"Ignore the foot tapping and high pitched tone, keep repeating 'sure, sure, there isn't anything money can't buy'.  When that fails send someone after hot coffee or diet coke (depending on what is closest) and call in the designer and full crew (all on overtime by this point)." 

I can neither confirm nor deny that I usually get my way.  **sigh**

Don't Be An Ambulance Chaser

Ready for the princess to lose yet another round with the old man?

I thought it was a brilliant idea to put the website on the nose of my Scion in reverse so people could read it in their mirrors.  I may or may not have been sitting in traffic next to an ambulance.  The old man did not agree: "we are not putting the nose graphics on in reverse......*sigh* it is not an ECNALUBMA......not that you shouldn't go around and take the city ambulance crews some damn cookies miss accident prone"


Score: Princess 0, Old Man 2  **sigh**  **taps foot**  Its my pet mobile!

Blizzards and Old Men Don't Care About Deadlines

In keeping with the insurance company's rental car reservation, I needed my Scion to be street ready by 6pm on Thursday. In an attempt at being timely (read person not wanting to piss off the claims contact right off the bat since medical bills hadn't even been brought up yet) on Monday I reminded the old man that my rental needed to be back by Thursday. The old mans reply: "don't be rushing me...this is more important than the Mona Lisa...Thursday at 6:00pm means nothing to me."  I learned later that remark translated into "rushing anything for the princess just means more work down the road fixing things and making them just right."

I told the old man he could just be my personal chauffeur until the pet mobile was ready - he said he was certain there was a rule to "have people for that". 

Thanks to a blizzard I was on the phone to the insurance company at 8am on Thursday asking (read begging in the nicest voice I could come up with while explaining that we had over a foot of snow and blah blah blah) for my rental car to be extended for another day.


Score: Princess 0, Blizzard 1, Old Man 2  **shakes pom-poms** at least the old man doesn't have 3 points!

Artistic Liberty Is Acceptable

This one is also courtesy of "the old man" who is apparently pretty well versed in his trade.  I refuse to actually admit that to his face because his ego is the only one larger than my own.

"No the scooter looks fine stretched out.....*sigh* really...."

Taking my original design from an ad to vehicle wrap was a bit of a shock to my senses, taking that wrap from a Chevy Malibu to a Scion Xb was even more shocking.

The point of content: a cartooned version of me (read princess pet sitter extraordinaire) on a scooter that is a major part of the marketing and branding (read printed on and in everything and becoming iconic in this town).  The wheel of the scooter and the wheel of the Scion didn't exactly match up, so the scooter had to be extended to accommodate the actual size and shape of the Scion.  I was told the "artistic intent" was still in tact and that noone other than a princess would have a fit over stretching the scooter.  After posting preview pics of the design on Facebook (because where else can you get hundreds of opinions in seconds), apparently everyone but me thought the scooter stretched to fit the Scion was brilliant.

For those keeping score:  Princess 0, Old Man1

Focus, Focus, SQUIRREL, Focus

Have you seen the movie "Up"?  Well then you probably understand the squirrel reference.

It is no secret that I try to do everything for everyone ALL THE TIME.  I get a little sidetracked in my multitasking, actually I get sidetracked about every 32 seconds.

Love Me, Love My Furkids

This one is sorta hard and fast.  There are people in this world who are pet friendly and there are those who are not.  Both are perfectly fine people; however, they do not mix well under the same roof.

I am a professional pet sitter.  I spent my days (and nights) taking care of other people's pets while they are away at work or play.  Its my life, on their terms.

There are times when furkids get sick and my plans change because I have to go to the vet or tend to a sick baby.  There are times when a client gets stuck in an airport for one reason or another, so my dinner reservations with a significant other or drinks with a group of girlfriends turns into dinner on the fly with the furkids.  There are times when the HR department decided to schedule a learning lunch with enough notice to call the pet sitter and pray I'm available.  There are times when a project manager has to leave town with barely enough notice to get home, pack and make the flight - again pray the pet sitter is available.

I wouldn't trade those puppy kisses or tail wags for any other career path!  So I repeat...Love Me, Love My Furkids.