Conference misery::feline_v1

    Great idea !!
      We've used a "house sitter" in the past..but I'm not too sure
    I could find too many people who'd be willing to sit with 6 dogs
    and 2 cats...which is where we're at now. I assume there would 
    be a tremendous demand for the service. We had real good luck
    with our 'sitter'. If there are a number of colleges and universitys
    in your area, they can be a good source of candidates. And don't
    forget 'senior citizens'...probably the most "responsible" segment
    of the population...
    Good Luck!!
    JMCD

    I have one cat who usually goes with me, or I find a friend to feed
    her. But my roommate has a dog and she has been looking for someone
    to take care of the dog during the day while she's at work or if
    she goes on vacation. (She's moving so I won't be around to take
    care of him.) She found a woman who takes in up to two or three
    dogs, keeps them at her house, lets them roam around her 5 acre
    farm and brings them with her when she shops or goes out. this woman
    charges $5 a day. This seemed a little high to me since this is
    not an overnight thing, but my roommate was very pleased with this
    arrangement. 
    
    I don't know how much people charge for coming to your house to
    take care of the pet, though I would like this better. Good luck.
    kris

    We have a good friend who has just such a service operating in the
    greater Boston area; I've been meaning to enter a note about it
    here for a while, and this is the perfect opportunity.
    
    Her outfit is called Castle Keepers, and while they're primarily
    in business to provide a secure house-sitting service, they do
    specialize in custome pet/plant/whatever care. They offer several
    different plans from once or twice a day drive-by's to check on
    things all the way up to 24-hour live-ins. I don't have her current
    rate schedule, but she's got a very dedicated staff and spends a
    lot of time and effort making sure everything is a good fit (for
    instance, if you want to use her service, she will come out to your
    house with the prospective 'sitter' personally to spend some time
    with your pets and make sure there's no personality conflicts :-)).
    
    If you'd like more information, or to use her service, here's how
    to get in touch:
    
    	Castle Keepers
    	Gail Rushton
    	62 Oak Street
    	Lexington, MA  02173
    
    	Phone (617)862-1078
    
    

    Hi 
    
    I would like to add my comments about Castlekeepers.  I have used
    this service over the past year for my cat and was very pleased
    with the service!  I am now one of her housesitters as well.
    
    This is a good alternative to those of you who don't want to put
    your cat in a kennel.  The rates are comparable to those of
    a kennel - a bit more expensive.  What's nice about Castlekeepers
    is that your cat/kitten stays in its familiar environment, gets
    lots of TLC and your house is "protected".
    
    Gail is on vacation until July 3rd.  So if you would like some
    more information concerning the rates and the sharing of some
    of my experiences with the service you can reach me at 
    VENTUR::MSULLIVAN.
    
    Maureen
    
    

    Hi Tracy,
    
    Let me know if you get anymore information.  I am also interested
    in setting up a pet sitting service.  I was wondering myself how
    much it costs etc....I can see $5.00 a day especially if you visit
    twice a day with the prices of gasoline for a car etc.  I think
    that is fair.  I think pets prefer to stay at home than at a kennel.
    
    I'm located in New Hampshire and I haven't heard of any pet sitting
    services up here so I think it would be a great idea to start one!
    
    Thanks,
    
    Bobbi
    

    I would use such a service if it were available in Southern N.H.
    I would be willing to pay as much as $10 - $15 a day for someone that
    would check on my three cats twice a day, spend at least 15 minutes
    to a half hour with them, feed them, clean the litter boxes, and
    just let them run around the house for a while.  I would want someone
    realiable, bonded, and someone who is willing to give out references.
    I would also want everything in writing, so that there would be
    no misunderstanding as to what my money was buying.
    
    On CNN News this morning they talked about a gentleman in NYC who
    makes his living by walking dogs.  His business is booming.
    
    I wish you the best.
    
    Joe Famularo
    

    I just gave the 10 year old boy next door $20 for coming in twice
    a day this past holiday weekend.  His service began Friday morning
    and concluded Sunday morning , so that was 2 1/2 days.  I considered
    $20 to be a bargain.  I have 3 indoor cats and the sitter fed them,
    scooped out the boxes (3 of them too), and played with them.  At
    least he said he wanted to play with them, I don't know if they
    accomodated him or not!  He also turned outdoor lights on/off for
    me
    each day, brought in the mail and brought in my Sunday paper.
    
    Donna
    

    Any chance the youngster in .7 would like to move next door to us?
    I can't even get my own kids to turn off the outdoor lights.
    
    kh

    Since I'm the joyful owner of 7 kitties right now, the issue of
    cat sitting comes up whenever I want to go away on vacation.  It
    is impossible to board them (two seem quite psychotic to the outside
    world, meaning, any random visitor) and I haven't been too pleased
    with the efforts of one friend to take care of them.  My vet gave
    me the numbers of two cat sitting services.  Annie's Nanny and Extra
    Hand.  Anyone ever try one of these out?  I'm going to try Extra
    Hands (interview set up for next month) since I'll be honeymooning
    in October.  These are both Nashua based operations.  I'll post
    the results when I return from my holiday.
    
    On another note, I too, have been thinking of starting up my own
    service in the November or December timeframe.  I've got a terrific
    relationship with my vet which helps, tons of experience with different
    cat moods, temperaments, illnesses, special diets, etc etc.  Plus,
    I really love the critters.  In fact, I think people in my neighborhood
    are realizing this and dumping strays on my porch.
    
    I would initially cover the Nashua, Hollis, Amherst, Hudson, Merrimack
    area.  What's the interest out there?  The cost would be $5.00 per
    day for the first cat and $1.00 per day for each additional friend
    (feline only for now ... sorry, not as experienced with pups). 
    I still have to find out about getting bonded, but, for the time
    being, I have plenty of references from taking care of friends kitties.
    And, for two visits a day, the cost would have to be negotiated.
    
    My ultimate goal would be to have this as a full time business but
    that's in the future.  Send mail to MANANA::BENNETT if you have
    any information that could help me out or if you're simply interested
    in such a service.  Thanks alot gang!
    
    Lydia
    

    Tracey - 
    
    I use a neighborhood girl for catsitting - figuring I'm doing my
    part for the Littleton unemployment rate.  I give her $5/day - she
    comes by in the morning to feed my two and let them out.  At night
    she lets them in and feeds them again.  The cats now know her and
    associate her car driving up with food.  She has some cats of her
    own so she likes them.  
    
    Good luck with starting your business.  If I couldn't use our neighbor,
    I would use a pet-sitting service.  Nik and Max would HATE being
    boarded.  I can barely stand to leave them overnight at the vet
    and I always beg him to let me take them home early.  I don't want
    them to feel abandoned.  
    
    BTW, I've been to G-ville - my sister-in-law's husband works for
    DEC down there - Kerry Ruhl.  They aren't cat-lovers but they stayed
    with us for a week this summer and their son spent most of the week
    bestowing kisses on Max and Nik (and luckily didn't catch poison
    ivy in the process like my husband and I have all summer). 
    
    Sarah
    

    We could sure use a service like this in California.  Last year
    I worked for another company and used a college kid to take care
    of my three.  The deal was that I would provide a stuffed refridgerator
    for him, along with access to our VCR(complete with movies to watch
    for a week),stereo and CD player, and a house all to himself (he
    still lived at home).  He in turn would feed, medicate, and scoop
    the litterboxes of our cats.  He also cut the lawn, brought in the
    mail and watered the plants.  The house was cleaner when we got
    home than it was when we left.  This worked out beautifully.
    
    I'm not that lucky this year.  Last year he was motivated by privacy,
    this year that won't work since he has his own place now.
    
    It was a good thing while it lasted.  I'm now looking for a cat
    sitter for Dec. 24th through the 28th.  Any ideas?
    
    JOANN
    

Now open for business:
            


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                  Pet     Sitting     Service

Feel comfortable that your pet is receiving loving care in its own home.

Covering the Worcester/Maynard area.      Call Donna at DTN 223-7978
                                             or evenings at 835-2245.

    
    
    Hi Fellow Feliners!
    
    I've got a business in Nashua for petsitting/housesitting. I cover
    Nashua, Tyngsboro, Pepperel, Groton, Chelmsford, Dunstable, etc.
    I am available to sit pets, take care of your plants, watch your house,
    etc, and my rates are very reasonable. I love all animals, and now own
    3 cats a dog and a bird. I can be reached by vaxmail at NATASH::MSTAG,
    dtn 276-9096, home phone weekdays 5-9, weekends 12-9 (603)888-4838.
    
    I hope to hear from you!!
    Angela
    

    We started using a pet sitting service this summer that came highly
    recommended and we have definitely been pleased with the care.  We live
    in Hudson MA and Janet Campbell has become a second mother to our
    Golden Retriever, Sundance.  She takes care of small animals in your
    home, collects your mail, etc... even brought her own small radio in as
    company for Sundance.  
    
    Recently Sundance became ill and Janet took things well in hand: noted
    her behavior change, called the vet, confirmed with us, took her
    to/from the vet and gave her the needed medicine.  She treats pets as
    if they were her own.
    
    Janet is one of the owners of Kajan Small Animal Care - 838-2662.