Talking Animals

Pet Sitters' Panel Discussion: Shelley Hamilton, Glen Hatchell & Nina Perino

I convened a panel of professional pet sitters—Shelley Hamilton of Perfect Pets, Glen Hatchell of Home Buddies (also a former WMNF Morning Show Host), and Nina Perino of Love All Beings Pet Sitting—to discuss various aspects of pet sitting. NinaPerinowDog1We had a peppy, illuminating conversation that included hearing a bit of each panelist’s background (it appears that the corporate world’s loss is the pet sitting world’s gain), and what spurred them to enter this profession. Perino, Hatchell and Hamilton outlined the criteria crucial to selecting a pet sitter, Glen Hatchell CBW Tampa picture with dogswhat to look for, the questions to ask, etc. Among the significant points that emerged: first-rate professional pet sitters are bonded and insured, which can have important implications if, say, water damage or some other problem develops at a client’s home—particularly in contrast to having the neighborhood kid look after the animals. We also explored the parameters—what sorts of tasks and services are reasonable to ask a pet sitter to perform, and what sorts are unreasonable. There seemed to unanimity among Shelley & Lucy Hamiltonthe three, while noting certain services only offered by one of the panelists, like Perino’s transportation (“taxi”) to a client’s veterinarian or groomer, or Hatchell’s dog training. The trio addressed a panoply of other topics, from the singular challenges of dog walking amidst the heat, humidity and rainstorms of Florida summers, to how to handle looking after client pets in the midst of fireworks, to the animals they personally live with at home, and more. (www.loveallbeingspetsitting.com, www.myhomebuddies.com/tampane, http://callperfectpets.com, www.tampabaypetsitters.com, www.petsit.com)

 

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COMEDY CORNER: Inside Amy Shumer’s “Doggy Daycare” (www.cc.com/shows/inside-amy-schumer)

MUSIC: Rebekah Pulley’s “Talking Animals Theme,” instrumentals

NAME THAT ANIMAL TUNE: Steve Miller Band’s “Fly Like An Eagle”

AUDIO ARCHIVE: