Pets are an important part of our lives. As a pet owner I admit I love my dog more than most humans (family aside) and she hold a special place in my heart. Reciprocally happy pets love their humans.
It is common for a pet to have one primary human that they look up to for their care and comfort. For an unexplained reason beyond my control this have been my role since we got our Havanese dog, Delilah when she was a puppy almost eleven years ago this coming June. I know this because she follows me around the house and watches every move I make when with her. I also know this because she feels most comfortable walking and doing what she needs to do when I walk her. I sometimes feel that she saves all of her "stuff" for when I get home and walk her.
As a primary caretaker there are important responsibilities when a person or a pet depends on you. Included in my routines are providing food and shelter, grooming, teethbrushing, veterinarian visits and walking. As such I thought I would share some articles regarding pet safety. Last month I blogged about making your home pet friendly and awhile back I wrote about Pet Safety.
In this blog post I will update a few recent articles I have read with ideas on how to be a better primary caretaker of your dog. In today's NYT click here is an article that shares tips on how to be an advocate for your pet and approach a veterinarian visit by preparing 5 recommended questions. Ideally it is always good to be prepared for the visit ahead of time with any concerns you may have.
I recently had my dog's teeth cleaned under anesthesia after much debate and fear. Plaque is a leading cause of heart disease and since she was still in very good shape it was recommended to do the procedure once while she was strong. She had severe plaque and a few teeth that needed attention. It was a nerve racking day for me but fortunately went well. I routinely brush her teeth and the vet actually said although she had 2 small teeth pulled her gums and teeth were in excellent shape. In follow up I researched pet teeth care to keep up her dental health and reduce the chance of plaque coming back. I am sharing an article from the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) here.
My favorite time of day is when I come home and walk Delilah. This gives me time to detox from a busy day, spend some quality bonding time and get fresh air. It is always important to be safe when walking your pet and here is an article with some safety tips for your ventures. Of note, on a separate note visibility is important and I do have a side business selling light up dog leashes (click here to learn more). As a matter of fact, the sun is about to come out now and I am going to do just that after I publish this post. Have a great night!!
Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham covering Metrowest Boston and the Lower Cape. She loves to blog about things near and dear to her including her Havanese Delilah. She recently started sharing short videos of her walks around the local area with Delilah to highlight her market area. You can see these by following her on Instagram or Facebook.
After a long day there is nothing as welcoming as a happy and excited dog to greet you. The second I open the front door my dog, Delilah is the first one to run to the door and greet me. This is always the highlight of my day.
Today is National Pet Day and a great reminder that having a pet may have a major impact on one's real estate choices. There is an interesting article in Realtor Magazine this week, highlighting the importance pets play in our lives and how today's home seekers are searching for property options that welcome pets and also have nearby amenities.
My main take away was that when you seek a property as a pet owner there will be new criteria in the final decision. I recommend making a list of all the factors that will be major influencers. As we all worked hard to find ideal environments to possibly raise a family it is now as common to find an ideal environment to have a pet.
If you are buying a single family home be sure there will be safe spaces for your pet to roam and rest. If you are looking at multi-owner buildings you will want to see ones that are pet friendly. Easy ability to get the pet outside for walks will be critical (thinking high rise elevator building may be tough). Check the Condo association rules to be sure pets are allowed in the by-laws. This is very important and do your due diligence. I have heard of stories where one heard a pet was welcome only to later find it went against the Condo Association Rules. If you are renting also be sure the place allows pets. Learn the local area to be sure there are safe places to walk, near by dog parks and reputable veterinarians nearby.
The article lists eleven great Pet friendly cities but excludes my home state. As a pet owner and resident of Massachusetts I can vouch for this being a great state for pets. I wrote a blog post about making your home pet friendly almost 2 years ago and it is still quite relevant. Click here. If you don't already own a pet they do make great additions to your life and I could go on and on about this subject. All I can say is I love my dog and get super excited when clients are dog owners. Feel free to reach out to me with any dog related questions. In addition, I set up a small online business to sell light up dog leashes because my neighborhood has limited street lighting. (on another featured facebook page called Bella Cose)
Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. She loves dogs, travel and blogging. For more info visit her website at www.wendybcb.com.
Of note, I recently started posting short videos called Wendy and Delilah to highlight areas of my real estate market place while we walk around metro west and Cape Cod. These are featured on my real estate facebook page @wendybcb or on youtube at wsbornstein.)
For most of us New Year's Eve 2018 was a special night of celebration to usher in the New Year. For a local friend who had out of town company this evening was not. Paco, a Shepard Mix dog was visiting with his master for a New Years Eve event when something triggered him to run out the door. The dog who lived on Nantucket was not used to the roads and smells of the Metro-west suburb of Needham where he was visiting. It was soon reported that he may be lost.
An evening of searching did not bring success and the owner immediately contacted the local authorities and began an intense search. Posters were plastered all over Needham and surrounding towns. Animal shelters and local authorities were contacted. Social media sights including the Needham facebook group and Next Door were notified. The news went viral amongst residents of Needham, Dover, Sherborn and Medfield and other surrounding areas. All were aware and keeping an eye open for a sighting of Paco. Paco is a larger dog of about 70 pounds and over the course of the next several days sightings were reported on the Needham/Dover border and then progressing to the Dover/Medfield side of town. Numerous people reported possible sightings in the woods at night and backyards in the daytime.
The owner said that Paco would be scared and may run further if he heard his name. Tips were shared on how best to approach him if sighted and it was recommended to immediately call the owner. He was driving around non-stop on adrenoline only since last Monday night. (During the course of the search I did my own research on what to do if a dog is missing. The first thing to do is put up posters and notify all local authorities. I concurred that the owner was following the appropriate protocols and found a great article on search advice dependent on the type and size of the dog.)
Neighbors and friends constantly posted updates across all social media sights and this was very helpful in the search. Given we live in and near wooded areas there are several wild animals around and rustling could ofter be heard by other predators. Fortunately Paco is a large enough dog to challenge them, we all hoped. As I read a recent article about it now being coyote mating season I was very nervous, personally.
After 5 very long days Paco was found alive and well today in Medfield. A few family members drove to Medfield to hang posters around a neighborhood and when they returned to their truck Paco was sitting next to it and looked at them as if to say "what took so long.". All were soaking wet from the rain but more so from tears of happiness. Owner and Paco were reunited and I am sure now they will have a very happy 2019.
I learned a lot about the importance of our community this week. It was amazing to see all the love and support that came out in search of Paco. As I watch the news each day and see all the divisiveness in the media it has been such a welcome experience to see how great people can be and how we can all come together for the things that really are important. To me a dog is man's best friend and they bring us such comfort. The love of our local community has been very inspiring.
Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. She is huge dog lover and enjoys writing and sharing inspirational stories particularly involving the local community where she lives.
The holidays are approaching and you may soon open your house to welcome guests. I love entertaining and find this time of year especially fun. My goal is to always have my home be a warm and welcoming environment with the hope that guests will enjoy their time and want to return for future visits. To accomplish, however I have learned that the secret to successfully entertaining requires planning and preparation ahead of arrival time.
Generally in anticipation I clean and stock my house. I like to have areas that are clutter free and welcoming. If visitors are staying overnight prepare the guest rooms: ie: beds made and arrange places to put personal belongings. In addition, stock the bathrooms with toiletries and clean towels. If my kids are coming home, I have my washer and dryer ready to throw in their suitcase filled laundry loads.
Its always good to have plenty of the basics on hand in the kitchen. My list includes fruit, cheese, eggs, English muffins, always ice cream and other easy snack foods. For fluids I stock bottled water, coffee and wine. There is always something everyone will like.
When hosting there may be parts of your house that are open for guests as well as areas to keep off limits. Don't be afraid to set boundaries but clearly mark off the areas you consider private. I suggest giving guests a tour if its their first visit and showing them the areas that they are welcomed to be. If necessary, guide them where to best park their car.
If your home has any dietary restrictions please tell your guests in advance. For example, we keep Kosher so I always remind visitors that we do not allow non-kosher foods in our home. Likewise if a visitor is on a special diet, as a hostess I want to be informed ahead of time to be sure I have food they can eat.
Pet owners should always inform visitors ahead of time. Let them know of acceptable behaviors and treats that are permitable for your pet. Warn them of dangers such as chocolate and not being let outside. One of my neighbors had let their dog out off leash during a holiday dinner a few years ago, only to be attacked by a coyote. A guest of ours last year gave my dog, chocolate and we had to call pet control to induce vomiting. There are not things you want to deal with. In today's NYT is an article that outlines pet safety recommendation during the holidays.
The holidays are a time to have fun and enjoy family and friends. Keep in mind that conversations should be inclusive and welcoming. This is an opportunity to share stories and traditions with those you love and don't see often enough. Under the current political climate it is important to be aware of your guest list. If you are hosting anyone with extreme political or social views that may make others feel awkward you may want to set conversation parameters. Real Simple Magazine put together a suggested list of conversation starters to keep everyone on track.
Hosting is an honor and privilege. I am always thankful when people want to come to our home and always do my best to make them feel welcomed. I hope my suggestions will make your holiday time special and your guests feel like there is no place like your home. Happy Holidays!!
Note: For additional suggestions on How To Be a Perfect House Guest see an earlier blog.
Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham. If you are are thinking about a move or know anyone who is she would love to help.
According to the North American Pet Insurance Survey over 68% of Americans own pets and this translates into over 85 million families. A large number of these owners have a dog or cat who they enjoy traveling with. These pets typically are considered a family member and thus usually are treated as a vibrant part of the nuclear family dynamic.
As a dog owner I was horrified to hear of two separate incidents last week with United Airlines concerning pet travel. In the first a flight attendant forced a passenger to put her 9 month old puppy in the overhead storage cabinet on a flight going from Houston to New York. Although if it were me I would have asked to speak with the pilot or would have gotten off the flight, I am not writing to pass judgement on the passenger but to point out the inherent dangers of pet travel. On the second incident a German Shepard was accidentally flown to Japan instead of its domestic destination of I believe Akron Ohio.
I have put together some travel tips for those planning to travel with a pet. The Wall Street Journal had a useful article today with many suggestions if you must fly although ultimately recommends making alternative arrangements if you are traveling somewhere short term as travel puts unnecessary stress on a pet.
Below are some useful websites to check before planning your next trip with your pet
Petfriendlytravel.com- list of airline, hotel and other accommodations for traveling with a pet
AAA.com PetBook- before you go by plane, train or automobile, advise on documentation and what you will need to know
ASPCA.org- wide range of health and safety tips to consider for all steps in preparing for safe travel
RedCross.org - insight into how to prepare for an emergency before and during travel
III.org -article on pet safety during an emergence evacuation
Of course, common sense should prevail. After you travel with your pet you will be at your destiny whether it be a new home for you due to a relocation, a hotel. or you are a guest at someone else's home. I wrote a blog post about having a pet safe home about a year ago and have some other articles below. Safety is key and you want to be proactive to be sure you are vetting a safe environment.
Pet Safety Guide
Sharing Your Home with a Pet
How to Make Your Home Design Pet Friendly
Wendy is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Needham and enjoys writing about issues near and dear to her heart. She advocates for pet safety and her own pet fits this bill. She runs a small side business selling light up dog leashes to improve pet visibility (
Bella Cose .
For more blog posts or real estate information please visit her blog at www.wendybcb.com.
