When its time to say "Goodbye"

 Its taken me a week to get to this point where I can sit down, write this and not break into tears. Its been a week since I had to say "goodbye" to my cat Tiggy. I returned from a trip on Monday, I notice then tiggy was a bit slower, looked at me with a strange look, and just didn't quite seem herself.
Wednesday night I spent a great deal of the night sitting quietly with tiggy.  Both knowing the end was fast approaching. She was in a great deal of pain. I needed to make the ultimate decision. By Thursday morning it was clear the time had come. I gathered Tiggy up and we made the trip to the vet. When the vet asked me why we were there, it was clear without me saying a word.

There are very few things in this world that touches me to where I'm in complete tears.
Thirteen years ago an employee walked into my office, asked me to look at her car, something was wrong with it. As we approach, she walks over and pulls a box out. Inside are six furry kittens. "Pick one boss, you need something to care for." I reached in under all the kittens and picked the only one that was a tabby, the rest were calico's. She was the runt of the litter. Three weeks old and full of wonder. Took me two weeks to get her named. I called her "Angel", only to realize she was NO Angel. LOL!! She was a holy terror around my office. But everyone loved her, customers included.
Tiggy and I went everywhere together. In the morning she would get in the truck to head to the office and back home in the evening. She road to my parents in PA. When it was time to head home all I had to do was holler her name and she came running.
When my roommate in MD moved out we moved into the master bedroom. As you walked into the outer area there were full size mirrors. I howled with laughter as the first night tiggy spent the night beating the cat up in the mirror. I think it took her a week to be able to walk past the mirror and not smack the mirror.
One of tiggy's best friends in the office was a dog named "Winter". Everyday tiggy went to work with me and Winter came to work with her human. The two of them would romp and roll around the warehouse and back field. You could look out the back door to see Winter strolling through the field and the tip of a tail from "Tiggy as they explored their domain.

Tiggy gets a baby. Well not really, about a year later a friend of mine comes walking into my house and hands me this orange ball of fluff. Tiggy took it upon herself to drag poor Samson up and down the hallway, whether he wanted to go or not. Didn't take long till Samson was twice the size of her.
Since she couldn't drag Samson around anymore she took to dragging stuffed animals around. I was home one day sick. Tiggys didn't know I was home, I hear this singsong, I"m thinking what the hay is that. As I walk out of the bedroom there is Tiggy dragging this bear down the hallway singing to it. Well as soon as she spots me she drops it. For the next twelve years we would find this bear all over the house, on the steps, bed, in the kitchen. That is until she found her mouse. It was easier for her to carry and sing to at the same time. Always the same song. Often wondered what she was singing to her baby.

 Tiggy was a thinking cat. Always looking for something to get into. She loved to run around on the roof of the house we were renting. Bringing her friends home was her favorite. One day as she was heading into the house the a "friend" Jill meets her at the door, picks her and her friend up. Tiggy growling the whole time and puts them back outside, shuts the door. Its took Tiggy three seconds to realize there was another door open, it was off to the races to see who got to the other door first.
For thirteen years I would turn around and see her following me, whether I was in the yard working, or bouncing around the house. She was my 1.5 foot shadow.

 Its been tough this week look around expecting to see her. She was small but mighty. We all have pets, but every now and then one comes along that just steals your heart.


https://www.preciouspetstransport.com

When its time for your pets to travel!

I'm going to keep this blog short and sweet. It's moving day and the movers have arrived for your furniture. The first thing to do is secure your pets.

Before opening the doors to allow the movers load the furniture, you will want to secure all dogs and cats. Remember your pets have no idea what is happening. To them its mass confusion. Every year we get a call where a cat has escaped and the family is set to fly out the next day.

The best way to secure cats is to put a litter box in a bathroom that is OFF LIMITS to the movers. Put your cats in that bathroom. Moving companies will open the doors while moving boxes and funiture out. With all the noise and movement happening its common for a cat to get nervous and shoot out the door.
Most cats will edventually come "home", to where they were fed. But in the meantime its heartbreaking knowing your leaving and your cat is left behind to sort itself out. If you do lose a cat in the mix of your move, make your neighbors aware there is a cat out and about. Give a discription of size, color, and personality. This may help in the rescue of your cat.  Make the local rescues and humane society aware your cat is lost, again give a description so if one comes in they have a record of it. Keep calling to check in.
For dogs you will want to secure them either in an off limits room or in the back yard. While you may love your dog not all movers love pets. If your dog senses a mover is not a pet lover it may create a tense moment before your move gets underway. Out of courtsey for your dog and the movers secure your dog ahead of time.
Before the move begins secure a tag to your dog(s) collar, with name and phone number. Should your dog get nervous and bolt at any point throught the move it will give someone finding your dog the ability to contact you directly. If possible micro chip your dog.
We just got a call from someone whose dog was stolen years ago during their move. It was recently taken to a vet, they scanned the micro chip only to find the dog was stolen. Then owners were contacted and told their dog was found, years later. That will be a VERY HAPPY reunion.

Whether your moving with your pets or your hiring a "Professional" to transport your pets follow these tips and this may help keep your little love ones safe.


www.preciouspetstransportservices.com

Summer is coming, Moving gets busy!!

Summer is rushing into view. After years of working in the moving industry we have learned to take the "down" time to upgrade and prepare for busy times. We're working hard to upgrade communication systems, vehicles, equipment and quality people to help us handle the summer rush.

As a Professional Pet Relocation Service we want to help you understand what you need to know to make an informed decision when its time to move your pets. In the grand scheme of things ground pet relocation services are a relatively new industry. Because it is such a new industry there are very few regulations on the books to regulate companies. So you as the client need to do your homework and ask questions. If you've not done this before what questions you need to ask.

Lets get started, the government organization that regulates this industry is the USDA. There are specific guidelines that are in print that every transporter is to adhere to. Every professional company gets a USDA number. If you contact the USDA they will be able to tell you if the company is licensed, this can be checked online. If you write to the USDA they will give you the company track record, but this takes time, so get started early if you want more information about the company.
The next things to look at is their insurance. Many companies will say they are "Insured". Yep, their vehicles are. That does nothing for your pets. There are specific insurances you will need to see if they have, one of course is vehicle, two business liability and three, a care and custody policy. If you doubt or question whether they really do have the proper insurance, ask for a certificate of insurance. Any professional company will have no problem providing one.
If a transporter does not have a care and custody policy chances are your pet is not covered. Cargo polices do not cover pets.
Next, what type of crates are used. Plastic crates are used on airlines because they are secure and don't collapse. These should be used. Wire crates run the risk of collapsing in the event of an accident. The other issue with wire crates is if a pet get sick, (delly belly), all needs to stay confined to that one crate. Cleaning the plastic crates is much easier. What is used to clean the crates and when are they cleaned.
Crates should be cleaned after EACH and EVERY PET.
Do pets have access to water 24/7. Are they fed? I almost fell out one day when a client asked if we fed the pets while we moved them. I thought she was joking, She informed me there were companies that did not feed the pets. I was just horrified hearing this.
Are the pets walked, how many times a day. Pets given a schedule will settle into the ride knowing their basic needs will be met. Food, water, potty, and comfort.
A professional company will also plan for the worse. What happens in the event of a breakdown, weather, or emergency.  Is the vehicle equipped with climate control in the event of an engine failure. Do the people in charge know what steps to take in the event of an emergency. Traveling 3000 miles a week, at some point things happen. This country has very hostile conditions, in very remote regions, with little to no services. This job can be fun until one has to deal with an emergency and is not prepared properly.
One other major question, what happens at night. Some companies drive 24/7. That constant rumble of the engine can be a bit daunting after awhile. We've learned that stopping at night gives the pets a chance to totally relax. They don't mind the ride especially when they know it will stop at some point.
When the ride does stop for the day, what are the sleeping arrangements? Most drivers have a bunk built into their vehicle. If you don't see a bunk, bedding or pillow of some type chances are they are going into a motel and leaving the pets in the vehicle alone.
Private rides are different, most of the time all go into the motel. Shared rides however usually have anywhere from five to at least a dozen pets, there is no way a transporter is going to unload that many pets into a motel every night.

To summarize, your looking for:
1. Proper insurance
2. A physical address for the company your planning to use. NOT a PO Box.
3. Climate controlled vehicle.
4. Sleeping arrangements.
5. Basic needs for the pet. How will they be met?
6. Emergency Procedures.
7. Can you find adequate information about the company. Referrals, references, social networks. The web has a vast supply of information on any company that has been in business for any length of time.

Hope this helps.
https://www.preciouspetstransport.com

Advertising on the WWW.

Like so many other business today we depend on the world wide web to get our name out to the masses. We really would not be able to provide the service we do without the web. As with many transporters, most of our business comes from the web. A percent of new clients come from word of mouth but most come strictly from advertising on the web.
Remember when on line dating became big. People would post a picture, (from twenty years ago), what happen when it was time to meet in person. Not quite the picture. Well placing an website on the web is a lot like that. Anyone can build a website.
Well over the years we've seen an explosion of "NEW" pet transporters. Yes, everyone has to have a start date. One can appreciate those that take the time to learn what they need to do and do it safe. Anyone can build a pretty website, that does not mean they know how to move pets across the country.
I say this because over the last year we have been working and speaking with various people about becoming drivers for PPTS. Well, egg on my face. Some of the very things I stated to one person in our phone conversation, and part of our operational manual that I wrote ended up almost word for word on their website. Poof their now a "Professional Pet Transporter". Really you couldn't come up with anything original,  enjoy those blizzards. Hard not to get bitter when your very ideas and thoughts are being ripped off by crooks.
Anyhow over the years we have seen our stuff as well as some of our other competitors stuff stolen because some of the new ones coming up could not be bothered to do their own homework. It was just easier to steal someone else's ideas.
I think my favorite are the idiots that call as say they want to be transporters can I give them pointers and information, (where to get insurance, how to get licensed.) Sure for $25,000 its call a franchise. I'll be glad to help you get started, just get your checkbook out.
Of course the new transporters are so much better then those of us that have been doing this for eight, nine and ten years, they can do it cheaper. I love it, you go to a bid board and those idiots can transport a pet the whole way across the country for $150 and be there in four days. Once the driver pays the bid board fees the job is actually paying $110, oh don't forget four days.
Simple math: If this person is using an SUV,  their traveling 2800 miles across the country. At 700 miles a day, that is equivalent to a 12 hour day, traveling between 65 and 75 mph. OK, that is 4 days from pickup direct to delivery, with just that one pet. Now you need to add more pets, its still an SUV.  At best comfortable 3 maybe 4 pets in an SUV, depending on the size of the pets. So now you have to add mileage to pickup all the pets. The driver might get lucky and have consolidated pickups in one region. That doesn't not happen too often. Most of the time we have between 300 to 500 to travel between stops. That adds time and stops. Don't forget it takes time to stop, fuel, walk the dogs, litter the cats, feed the pets, clean their crates, and at some point you need food and a shower yourself or you'll stink.
Now lets look at the cost. An average SUV, lets say gets 20 mph @ 2800 miles, estimates to about 140 gallons of gas, (diesel these cost go up, a lot), 140 gallons @ $3.25 per gallon, that a minimum of $455.00 for fuel for that one pet to go across the country. Add extra miles if there are more stops.
Don't forget $20. a day for food, motel because your in an SUV and cannot sleep in it. $45.
For the companies that state they have two drivers for everyone of their vehicles, don't forget to add that extra wage, because lets face it no one works for free.
I know how hard it is to find one great driver, they have found themselves a magical pool of drivers that the rest of us for years have not been able to find,
Here are some really simple facts when your looking for your company.
1. Do they have a valid phone number listed on their website.
2. Do they have their location on their website. Since this business is basically a web based business a store front is not necessary. However they should still have a solid location for mailings to go to. Beware of Post office Boxes.
3. Are they asking you for strictly Western Union. Big ALERT if they are.
4. Does their time line match with cost ratio. In other words is the transporter trying to get across the country and people are only paying $300, if so take a hard look. If your only paying $300 to go across the country, how many pets do they have to move at one time just to cover expenses. How are they earing enough to cover insurances, repairs, replacement of vehicles.
5. Look for reviews on their website, facebook, you can usually type in the companies name and if there is something not quite right it will show up, sometimes about 5 pages in, but its there.
6. Is it strictly a web site with all work being contracted or are the owners actually involved in the actual operations of the website your on? There are quite a few websites that are owned by one but everything is contracted out, including your estimates. If there is an issue in route you have no real person to deal with.
7. I think the best way to decide your transporter, ask yourself, "Are they afraid to put a face to their website".
Simple math and simple facts.
www.preciouspetstransportservices.com

Reflecting! Renewing!

2011 is now in the history books, memories neatly tucked away for later review.  2012 has started and with it the prospect of the unknown. Some will jump into the new year with gusto, challenging the new year to provide new and exciting experiences. Others have reflected on their 2011, wonder what was great about it, look to see what could be better. Opportunities abound with the new year. The start of the new year is like the start of a new day. No matter how miserable yesterday may have been today is a fresh start with the hope that better things will happen.
Reflecting on 2011 was a time for Precious Pets Transport to step outside our comfort zone. Business was easy when Jill and I did everything. We could control the quality of a clients experience. 2011 became a time when we could no longer do everything. We needed to put our structure and trust on the line for others to see and experience. It was scary, exciting, frustrating, and at times down right exhausting. But we got through it, not much bruising, a little wiser for the experience. But most of all we have meet wonderful people, had some great trips, seen beautiful sights, laughed and really enjoyed our passengers.
We have always been a tiny business, using big ideas to get us where we wanted to go. Its been said that if one pretends they know what their doing long enough, edventually you really do know what your doing. Trial by fire. I'm not saying we're a big business, we're by any stretch of the imagination far from big. But we operate with big ideas. Committment, honesty, hard work, was really all we had to offer our clients. This is the basis of what we built our business. If we told a client 5 to 7 days across country then by dagnabit we were going to do it. If we could not do what the client needed then it was better to be honest and say so. Give the client the option of finding different means to get their pets moved. Has it lost us money by doing so, sometimes. We promised ourselves we would never put a pets life before the dollar bill.
We have over the years made every attempt to say what we mean, and mean what we say. Jill and I set our mission statement about thee months after we started out business. We've made every decision by asking, "Will this decision require us to compromise our mission '.
Our mission:   To provide the safe, secure, comfortable, provide love, structure, and get every pet home as quickly as possible, for every pet we agree to transport. To be open and honest with our clients about the timeline of their pets transport.
2011 required us to find other drivers that agreed with this same mission. After many request, lots of digging, plenty of frustration, we have been blessed with a few drivers that have been what could only be said as one word. OUTSTANDING. We have not grown at the pace of many companies. We want to keep the structure we've set and hold firm to our mission while growing our business.
Starting 2012, Jill and I continue with our committment to provide your pets with be best care we possibly can, when you entrust them to us. We also promise that we will make ever attempt to use drivers that are willing to make that same committment.
Happy New Year everyone !!!!
https://www.preciouspetstransport.com

Holiday Love!!!

It's that time of year again. The time when many are looking for that "Perfect" gift of love. For many that perfect gift will be cute, cuddly, and have four paws. Our phone rings off the hook the two weeks leading up to Christmas. Everyone wants that cute puppy delivered either right before the holiday or like Santa, our vans should come sliding into the house like a sleigh, and magically this puppy or kitten arrives for everyone to enjoy.
The first few days are lots of fun, this little ball of fur running after the kids, jumping and romping through the living room or romping in the snow, just like a Norman Rockwell scene.  Such a wonderful vision to catch on camera for future memories.
Then the lights come down, the decorations get packed and real life marches on. The cute gift now needs potty trained, shots, and basic manners training. Translation it will take someones time, money and space for the pet as it grows.
Times have changed. Neighborhoods are crowded, laws are strict. Pets cannot just run free to frolic at will. Unless the pet is being raised on a large farm, most dogs require walking on a leash. It you live in an area where you have to walk your dog on a leash, don't forget the poop bag. Laws require to scoop the poop. Not doing so can cost you fines.
Every puppy shipped should have their first puppy shots. The second round of shots cost about $50 to $100 depending on where you live, right around February. This is usually at a time when many families are paying off the previous holiday bills, paying huge heating bills, when money is the most tight time of year.
There is the ever fact that puppies grow. Depending on the breed some puppies grow to be quite large. These dogs become mini giants, that are still puppies in their head. When the puppy was little, eight weeks, they did fit on your lap, could jump up and down on little kids, taking a walk got them lots of attention and hugs from family and friends. Without the time taken to teach a puppy proper manners, what was once cute puppy becomes a complete nightmare. That mini horse no longer fits on your lap, but always tries, knocks the kids down, sometimes causing injuries. Neighbors and friends run for cover when the uncontrollable tornado comes lumbering into view.
Two months ago I delivered four cats to a home in Florida. While there I was asked  if anyone possibly wanted a dog. I jokingly said we had been talking about getting another dog. We had not had a dog for over four years. Rosie left a major hole in our family. It just didn't seem right getting another dog. Took us three weeks to decide if we were going to take the plunge again.
Well my present this year was to adopt a full grown pit/lab mix, full of energy, bad manners and even worse habits. The last month has been an adjustment for me. Getting my backside out of bed early to walk her in the morning. Something I really don't like to do when I'm not on the road. I've had to reteach myself to set aside time everyday for training and playing. More than that I've had to learn something completely new myself. I've always trained a dog the same way I was raised. Do it because I told you to. Kiki is a strong dog, as well as a strong willed dog I quickly learned it would be a battle of wills. We took Kiki to the vet, as I slid down the hallway at the end of the leash trying to hold her back it became clear her will had much more strength behind her. I would need to find a new way to teach her I was the boss.

Some call it bribery others call it positive reinforcement. Its about using small treats and praise when Kiki does the correct thing. This concept works and I like it.
There are new ideas for raising happy health pet with some great books for training strong, dominate dogs. The key is to teach them they can be strong but as the human I am the dominate one.  Not teaching a dog proper behavior creates a destructive, dangerous dog.
Give your new pet the gift of love, give them their shots and proper training. You will have a lifelong loyal loving companion.
https://www.preciouspetstransport.com

Controlled Chaos!!!!

Having spent the bulk of my adult life working in the moving industry, whether it was moving people and now moving pets, I learned long ago the only term that can best describe the moving industry as a whole is "Controlled Chaos!"
I had forgotten the utter stress and hardship moving is for families.  It's always been said moving is one of the top five major stress factors in life people will experience. Watching this family yesterday was a true reminder.
 I'm positive that moving is an endeavour designed for those with lots, I do mean LOTS of energy.
Dan and his daughter picked up six cats last week in California and drove them across the country, with other east bound pets, while the family was getting their house packed and ready to move. The cats arrived on the east coast Friday afternoon here with us, where we would board them till Tuesday morning.
Monday night, long after we had gone to bed we received a email from the family that they had finally landed here on the east coast but were on west coast time. One baby and a toddler in tow, getting settled into the motel at what was roughly midnight. Ugh!! I remember my kids at midnight, let alone trying to get them out of an airport and into a strange city, not a happy thought.
Come morning we had it easy. All we had to do was sort the cats out, load them into the van and drop them to their new home.  All six cats were singing, OK, that's what we call it. I'm sure that is not what the cats would call it. Having spent five days in a moving vehicle coming across the country they were not thrilled to find wheels under their paws and worse yet they were moving again.
Knowing the family was still running on west coast time, a three hour difference, and they had two little children, Jill and I knew we would need to wait, along with the cable guy, for the family to arrive. We just sat and watched the neighbors watching us.
When the family arrived it was truly impressive with how packed and stacked the car was. Even more impressive when mom managed to extract herself. A toddler, an infant, and two stressed parents, and what was sure was going to be a day of steady stream of people rolling in and out in the effort to get a new home up and live able. I am always impressed when I meet someone who can still find their smile through all of this.
Of course we were the first of the lot, delivering six stressed, nervous cats. This turned out to be a simple and easy act. It's a matter of finding a quite enclosed space, where cats can sniff and wander around while they get to know their new surroundings. Always check to find escape holes cats may try to squeeze out. Give cats a litter tray and food, ninety nine percent are happy as long as they can feel safe and secure. The day furniture arrives, bundle them into a quiet room while the movers do their thing. Once cats smell the furniture and things from home their will be happy as a lark and know their are home.
Controlled Chaos, is about getting an entire home and life from one location to another over a short period of time. the larger the home, the more effort and time it takes.   When I worked with people moving I use to tell people, set a timeline. Work within that time line. So much to be done on upon leaving, the rest to be secured on the delivery end. Those that insist on working with a rigid schedule are usually anxious, angry, and upset throughout the entire process. Know that moving is done in stages can make it easier. The futher the move needs to be the longer it will take to complete the process. Set a beginning date, where things will start to be performed, and have a rough idea of when you figure to be settled into your new home.  Get quotes for moving your furniture, moving your pets, moving your vehicles. Set your move dates, this includes sorting, packing, getting your pets to your new home and of course the move itself. 
On the delivery end, a timeline of when everyone is to be arriving with your car, pets, furniture, as well as service companies.
An important fact to know is most companies work within a window of time. This helps companies to accommodate your move as well as the other clients they are trying to work with at the same time. Remember unless your paying the really big bucks for a private ride the companies have others to fit in also. The window of time also gives you structure to accomplish various parts of your move. As long as everyone does what they contracted to do, all usually goes well. Its just a matter of moving from one task to another until all task are completed.
Pets can feel your stress. So when you stress about your move, your pets will stress right along with you. They just don't know why they feel the way they do. Know the process and how best to make it work should help ease some of that stress.

https://www.preciouspetstransport.com