Kansas Senior Press Service Weekly Newsletters Kansas Senior Press Service Weekly Newsletters By: Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell
When my husband and I travel, our pets usually travel with us. However, when we committed to attending the wedding of a former exchange student (our surrogate daughter) in Munich recently, there was no way we could book passage for two cats and four dogs. What to do?
We hired a pet sitter, a friend of my aunt who had just started a business. She got into it for many common reasons: she loves animals, with pet-sitting she can accept or decline jobs, and while house-sitting she can engage in her hobbies of reading and study.
When we booked her, though, she had a conflict, so she hired a friend to come to the house for the first few days. Unfortunately, that move proved fatal for my 15-year-old cat, Cali, and her 18-year-old sister, Tabitha. The substitute sitter came to our house only once, for about 30 minutes—and while he got to know the dogs, he showed little interest in the cats. While we were gone, Cali escaped and wouldn’t come back to him. She wandered into my aunt’s yard and was promptly attacked and killed by her dogs. When Cali didn’t come home, Tabitha quit eating. Stress and, I believe, a broken heart finally claimed her.
Choosing a pet sitter is much like choosing a babysitter. As Lee Brand, owner of The Paw Pal, an Olathe-based pet-sitting company explains, “The pet-sitter will be entrusted with your home, all of your cherished possessions, and your furry family member. That is an overwhelming prospect!”
Brand provided some tips about how to choose the right pet-sitter:
Ask these questions of a potential pet-sitter: What kind of pet-sitting experience do you have? Do you have any volunteer experience with animals? (This helps, as people who have done volunteer work usually have experience with animals that have behavioral issues.) Whom may I call for current references? Are you insured and bonded? Do you have reliabletransportation?
Make sure the sitter will come to your home and meet the pets before you leave. An initial visit is essential for everyone concerned. This is the opportunity for the clients to ask questions, fill out paperwork, and decide whether they feel comfortable with the sitter. Theinitial visit allows the sitter to become familiar with the routine of the animals and where items such as food, leash, and cat box are kept, and make sure thathe or she is agood fit with the animals. For example, sometimes a sitter has a feeling that a dog may betoo protective of the home to allow the sitter in when the time comes to sit. Finally, the visit is important for the animals that will be watched. If an animal seems fearful oruncommonly reserved around the sitter, this is probably not the right sitter for the animal. Try another one.
If you have a bad experience with a pet sitter, is there any recourse? The answer depends on the problem. Did the sitterneglect to scoop out the litter box or pick up the newspapers? Maybe it was an honest oversight. Brand says she would ask the sitter and discuss the issue. If you are looking for an ongoing sitter and it happens again,obviously a new sitter needs to be found.
What should you expect from a pet-sitter? Brand said that she treats clients’ homes and pets as if they were her own. She makes sure all windows and doors are locked,there is proper lighting at night, and newspapers are picked up from the yard. The cats or dogs are properly fed and watered, medication is provided if needed, the animals are brushed if desired, exercise is provided, the litter box is scooped,and lots of love and chat are administered!
You might recognize Brand’s name, as she led the initiative to pass a felony animal cruelty law in Kansas. Brand can be reached at 913-261-8127 or www.thepawpal4u.com.
Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell is a freelance journalist, business writer, editor, photographer, instructor, and facilitator. She is immediate past president of the Kansas City Press Club.
By: Theresa Becker
People frequently ask me, “What are the best ways to stay well? Do you know any special resources we can depend on?”
Having been asked so often, I have prepared a list of what I consider the most dependable resources available:
Yourself - Keeping well is a personal responsibility. It’s amazing how often I hear someone say, “Oh, I don’t know what medicines I take; my wife (husband) always takes care of that.” Or, “I don’t know what shots (vaccinations) I’ve had or if they’re up-to-date. My doctor has my records.” It is not your mate’s responsibility to keep track of your medicines for you, and your doctor won’t be with you when you have an accident out of town. What will you say when the ER doctor asks how long it’s been since you’ve had a tetanus shot? So let’s review a few things that you need to know or do for yourself to stay healthy:
Your personal physician - Even though you bear the heaviest responsibility for staying well, having a personal physician is necessary for maintaining good health. However, since doctors are so busy these days, it makes sense to have a strategy to make the most of your visit to her or him:
Your pharmacist - Always get your prescriptions filled at the same place. With their computers, pharmacists are a great resource for tracking your medications, knowing when your refills are due, and watching for interactions, especially those prescribed by different doctors or dentists.
Public Health Departments - Kansas (Division of Health 785-296-1086)
Health Partnership Clinics - Health services for uninsured and low-income patients, by appointment only. May also include dental services.
Community Mental Health Centers (785-234-4773)
Domestic Violence Hotline (800-799-7233)
The Internet
Theresa Becker, RN, MS, is senior education and wellness coordinator with the Johnson County Health Department.
By Tom Ward, Wellness and Support Advocate
Mental Health Association of the Heartland
The Topeka Veterans Association (VA) is operating a 24/7 hotline for veterans to call for information about mental health services, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The hotline is staffed by trained professionals. The hotline is part of a pilot program, which if successful, may be replicated nationwide. This program is an opportunity to help advance the federal response to the tragic consequences of extended and repeated tours of the men and women serving in the armed forces.
Hotline Number: 1-888-899-9377
This hotline serves the state of Kansas, parts of Missouri, and parts of Illinois. Eight VA hospitals participate in this program. Their locations are as follows:
If a veteran cannot be served by one of these hospitals, the hotline staff will refer them to a VA hospital in their area.
A national Suicide Prevention Hotline is also available to civilians and veterans alike.
The number is: 1-800-273-8255
Callers will hear a menu of options, the first being the suicide crisis line for veterans. This option will take them directly to a trained counselor who will access the level of emergency and help the veteran appropriately.