Pet day care centers, pet sitters alleviate worries

As the hot days of summer quickly approach, slews of thoughts are probably swirling through your brain: What should we buy for Aunt Betty's 80th birthday? Should we sign the kids up for swim classes at the Y? And, oh yeah, we're going on vacation in two weeks, what should we do about the animals?

Not to worry. There's plenty of professional help available in the form of pet day care centers, where you can drop your dogs and cats off during the day or for weeks while you're at work or on vacation. And there's also perfect strangers willing to become adopted members of your family as pet sitters, eager to take a canine or feline off your hands for a while .

Brandie Haggan, manager at Paradise Bay Pet Resort, 6360 S. Pecos Road, says her business starts picking up shortly after Easter break and it gets into full swing by June. Doors open from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to
5 p.m. on Sunday. The day care center has a 2,000-square-foot temperature-controlled arena for dogs to romp around, while overnighters get their choice of rooms or suites. Socializing, an adult form of extended happy hour, is ongoing from
6:30--11 p.m. daily.

"If you really want to spoil your dog, we have TV and twin beds," Haggan says. "We have people who board their dogs for 30 days, but the average is 10 days."

Haggan emphasizes that its important to cater to owners' special requests with regards to diets for their pets, favorite toys during play time and, if television is provided, making sure the animal's favorite show is on. Basic grooming is also provided that includes teeth and ear cleaning, nail clipping and bathing.

Paradise Bay Pet Resort charges $20 a day for day care and from $40 to $65 a night for boarding. It also offers a free day of day care for first-time visitors.

"The popularity of day care has definitely increased," Haggan says. "On average, we have around 25 dogs in the arena during play time and sometimes up to 40 dogs. With that many dogs, you have to monitor their every move. But so far, we haven't had any jail breaks."

Besides dogs, Haggan says they also accept cats but not more than four at a time. They aren't as sociable as dogs and usually can't be put together in one arena. Some people also bring their unusual pets into day care from time to time.

"We take ferrets and rabbits," Haggan says. "We get two rabbits who come in on a regular basis."

In an effort to further accommodate owners' schedules, Haggan explains that half day, or four hours of day care, can be purchased for $10.

"People need to plan ahead before taking their pets to day care," Haggan emphasizes. "They need to make sure their pets have had all their vaccinations, and they need to research facilities before going anywhere."

Haggan says pet owners in Las Vegas are "over-the-top animal lovers" and are willing to spend both money and time in making sure their dogs and cats are cared for properly when left with day care centers. Some owners are willing to spend $1,000 to board their pet for 30 days, Haggan points out. Of course for that tidy sum, the pet is guaranteed its own room, and probably TV.

Some pet owners prefer to keep their pets at home rather than drop them off during the day or for any extended length of time. This is where pet sitters come into play. Mary Moses, owner of Affordable Pet Sitters, has been showing up at people's doors for more than four years to either take their pets for walks or sit at home with them until their masters return.

"I do this seven days a week," Moses says. "You can start at 4 or 5 in the morning and go until 9 or 10 at night. And you work all the holidays. I'm going from 4 in the morning until 10 at night during Christmas."

Moses says most of her home visits last about 30 minutes, which includes making sure the pet has food and water and taking the animal for a walk. The cost is $19. A 40-minute visit is $25 and a 60-minute stay costs $32. Overnight pet care, which includes staying in the customer's home, costs $54 and goes from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Moses says she pet sits all animals including dogs, cats, horses, chickens and ferrets. She's even taken care of desert tortoises.

"I have one desert tortoise that weighs 80 pounds," Moses says with a chuckle. "When I'm out in the park walking, I pick dandelions. Tortoises love the stems."

Moses is a member of the Southern Nevada Association of Professional Pet Sitters. SNAPPS, according to its website, is a networking organization for professional pet sitters who do business in Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and surrounding communities. Its members are licensed and insured and in good standing with the Better Business Bureau. Moses suggests that anyone considering hiring a pet sitter to first make sure he or she is a member of SNAPPS.

"A lot of pet sitters are not licensed," Moses explains. "We are required to be licensed. People should ask pet sitters to show them their license and ask if they are bonded."

As a professional courtesy, Moses says she only works the Summerlin area, while other pet sitters work other areas of the Las Vegas Valley.

"I have had situations where I had to move into a person's home for six months," Moses says. "I had an insurance adjuster who had to go to New Orleans after (Hurricane) Katrina. You have to work with what the customer wants and make them feel comfortable. It's not about the money. It's about what's best for them and their pets."

Moses says most people don't realize that pet sitters are an available resource. She points out that cats, and especially older dogs, feel much more comfortable staying in their own home instead of being dropped off at a place that may seem strange to them. And some dogs and cats, she adds, may feel uncomfortable being around other animals.

When asked whether she had ever refused to pet sit an animal due to a bad experience from a previous encounter, Moses emphatically says, "No."

She added, "I have never had a situation where I wouldn't go back because of the animal. I have had a situation where I wouldn't go back because of the owner."