Six-Figure Pet Sitting: Catapult Your Pet Sitting Business to Unlimited Success, (aff) by Kristin Morrison, of Six Figure Pet Sitting Academy, covers a wide range of topics to help pet sitters create a successful business. This includes writing a business plan, managing finances, organization techniques, marketing, hiring employees, customer service, and other subjects essential to operating a business. Where Six Figure Pet Sitting differs from other books geared to the pet sitting industry though, is that Kristin also stresses the personal and emotional aspects of operating a business.

In her book, Kristin asks people to dig deep and think about their goals, desires, and aspirations in order to create a business that works for them. Through years of working with professional pet sitters, she has developed exercises to help her clients define the what, how, and why of what they envision as a successful business – as well as a successful personal life. Once they are clear what that means, and what their goals are, she helps them put it all together to create a plan that will enable them to achieve those goals. She essentially takes an all encompassing approach to helping her clients, and her readers, create a better life.

Kristin includes some of the exercises she uses with her coaching clients in her book. Some of them are in the form of action steps such as organizing your office, setting up your bookkeeping, writing a marketing letter, etc. Others are more introspective, and require you to list your successes, failures, shortcomings, what you’d like to accomplish, etc. in your business and personal life. They will require some thought, and will likely challenge you. But if you go through the action steps and exercises as she suggests, you will get a clearer idea of what you want and how to get there.

The goal of Six Figure Pet Sitting isn’t just to help people create a successful pet sitting business – although that certainly is one goal. The bigger goal is to help people create a fulfilling life by building a business doing what they love. I highly recommend it to all pet sitters, regardless of how long you’ve been in business. In fact, even though I’ve owned my own business since 2001, her advice has me changing the way I do some things. And, I might add,  it’s all for the better. Thank You, Kristin!

You’ll find Six-Figure Pet Sitting: Catapult Your Pet Sitting Business to Unlimited Success, (aff) at Amazon.

The FDA has issued a list of observations made during an April 20, 2012 inspection of the Diamond Pet Foods plant in Gaston, SC. The sloppiness of how the plant is maintained provides for numerous ways for the food they manufacture to become contaminated. Here’s the bulk of the report:

OBSERVATION 1

All reasonable precautions are not taken to ensure that production procedures do not contribute contamination from any source.

Specifically, no microbiological analysis is conducted or there is no assurance that incoming animal fat will not introduce pathogens into their production and cause contamination of finished product. Also, the firm’s current sampling procedure for animal digest does preclude potential for adulteration after sampling and during storage in warehouse. On 4/13/12, an employee was observed touching in-line filter oil with bare hands.

OBSERVATION 2

Failure to provide hand washing and sanitizing facilities at each location in the plant where needed.

Specifically, there are no facilities for hand washing or hand sanitizing in the production areas where there is direct contact with exposed finished feed/food.

OBSERVATION 3

Failure to maintain equipment, containers and utensils used to convey, hold, and store food in a manner that protects against contamination.

Specifically, paddles conveyor (South or Middle conveyor leading to the screeners going to packaging) were observed to have gouges and cuts, which exhibited feed residues. The damage to the paddles may allow for harborage areas for microorganisms and are difficult to clean and sanitize.

OBSERVATION 4

Failure to maintain equipment so as facilitate cleaning of the equipment.

Specifically, firm utilizes cardboard, duct tape, and other non cleanable surfaces on equipment. These materials were observed to have residues adhering. The foam gaskets around access doors to the bucket elevators were observed in deteriorating condition exhibited an accumulation of feed residues and dust.

Despite Diamond’s touted 151 Quality Checks, according to the report, the Diamond plant is a total mess. And obviously, the things mentioned in the report don’t just happen overnight – deteriorating gaskets, duct tape, lack of cleanliness, etc. With a manufacturing plant in that condition, it only makes sense that this has been an ongoing problem. So, how many people and pets have become ill over the past – who knows how long – as a result of contaminated food manufactured by Diamond?

My guess is that all of the Diamonds plants are a total mess. They still have openings in all three of of them for Quality Control Technicians. But it seems to me they’re going to need a heck of a lot more than a few new technicians to clean things up. They need to overhaul their entire company and learn to walk the talk they display so proudly on their website:

All of us take pride in our work, our departments and our company as a whole. Pride that manifests itself in uncompromising product quality and unsurpassed customer service. Pride that helps our company overcome any short-term obstacles and achieve long-term success.

If the observations made by the FDA inspectors represent Diamond’s “uncompromising product quality,” Diamond needs to take a serious look at how they’re doing things. From what’s in the report, it sounds like there’s plenty of room for improvement. And, I suppose the people and pets who have become sick due to their sloppiness are simply a “short-term obstacle.”

Nestle Purina has recalled one lot of canned cat food due to low levels of thiamine.

Nestle Purina PetCare (NPP) is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of its Purina Veterinary Diets® OM Overweight Management canned cat food, available through veterinarians in the U.S. and Canada. This precautionary measure is being taken in response to one consumer complaint received by FDA. Analytical testing of the product sample by FDA indicated a low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1). Purina has received no other complaints of thiamine-related or any other health issues related to this product.

Only cans with the following “Best By” date and production code shown are included in this voluntary recall:

Purina Veterinary Diets® OM (Overweight Management) Feline Formula
Can size: 5.5 oz.
Best by date & production code: JUN 2013 11721159
Can UPC code: 38100 – 13810

*”Best By” Date and Production Code are found on the bottom of the can.

Cats fed this affected lot exclusively for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurological signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, falling, circling and seizures. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

This product was distributed to veterinary clinics between June, 2011 and May, 2012 throughout the U.S. and Canada. The product is not sold in retail stores.

No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved in this voluntary recall. No other Purina Veterinary Diets® products are involved, and only Purina Veterinary Diets® OM canned cat food which match the “Best By” dates and production code above are included in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased Purina Veterinary Diets® OM canned cat food cans with these specific “Best By” Date and Production Codes should discontinue feeding the product, and discard it.

At Nestle Purina PetCare, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience due to this voluntary recall. For further information or to obtain a product refund, please contact Nestle Purina as follows:

U.S. Consumers & Veterinarians: Call toll-free 1-800-982-8837 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, or visit www.purinaveterinarydiets.com .

Canadian Consumers & Veterinarians:Call toll-free 1-866-884-8387 Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, or visit www.purina.ca.

For more information visit www.purinaveterinarydiets.com.

Natural Balance has corrected an error on the list of pet foods recalled on their May 4 recall notice. The error only affects 5 LB. Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog.

There was a typographical error in the press release announced on May 4, 2012 – The 5 LB. Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog Best By Date should have been “March 13, 2013″ but instead it read March 12, 2013. The correct complete product code on recall is 5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC#7-23633-88650-5 Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date March 13, 2013.

See their website for Natural Balance pet food recall information or see the FDA recall notice here: Natural Balance Pet Foods Initiates Voluntary Recall of Certain Dry Pet Food Due to the Potential for Salmonella Contamination.

Solid Gold Pet Food, which has some of their food manufactured by Diamond, has issued a recall of two dry dog foods. Apparently though, they don’t think the recall is all that important because they don’t have a prominent link to the recall on the front page of their website. Instead, you need to click on the tiny “News” link at the bottom of the page. It sure would be nice if they didn’t try to hide it!

May 7, 2012

Just a few hours ago, Solid Gold received information that two batches of our foods were made at the Diamond Gaston plant around the same time period as some of the previously recalled foods of other brands. Though we have had zero complaints about these particular batches, we have decided to recall them as a precautionary measure. Due to the time difference between us and the appropriate FDA office, there was not enough time in the day to further discuss this voluntary recall with the FDA. We are announcing this now because we know our customers are concerned and didn’t want an entire night to go by without this information being available to the public. Tomorrow morning (May 8th), after speaking with the FDA, Solid Gold will officially institute a voluntary recall of two batches of food made at the Diamond Gaston facility.

The following products will be part of this voluntary precautionary recall. Only the two foods with this particular best before date and batch code will be part of the recall.

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Food
All sizes
Best before December 30, 2012
Batch code starting with SGL1201

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food
All Sizes
Best before December 30, 2012
Batch code starting with SGB1201

No other Solid Gold products are affected.
We greatly apologize for any concern and inconvenience this may cause and greatly thank you for your patience. Further information will be available in the official recall tomorrow morning. As always, please contact us at 800-364-4863 or dane@solidgoldhealth.com with any questions and we will respond as quickly as possible.

You’ll find more information on the Solid Gold website. As of this writing, the Solid Gold recall is not listed on the Diamond Pet Food Recall website.

In 2002, I made the decision to adopt a dog.  I was already so happy with my rescued cat, Zacky, that I wanted to expand my little ‘family’.  I remembered how fun it was playing with my dogs growing up…walking, biking, and sledding with them was awesome! (I obviously didn’t grow up in Texas!)  My dogs were my best friends. My Lucy Goo is no exception.

I’m a firm believer in animal rescues, the SPCA, the Humane Society, and especially no kill shelters, like Friends for Life.  So, when the time came for me to get a dog, I put myself on some rescue lists, and visited the SPCA…It was there that I found my Lucy.

According to the SPCA, Lucy was between 6-12 months old, and a ‘terrier mix’. (I personally think Lucy looks kind of like a Golden Doodle and a terrier, so I call her my ‘Goldendoodlerrier’.)  Whatever Lucy was, though, didn’t matter..she melted my heart the instant I met her; she was my canine soul mate.

Lucy had been a neglected dog, and was skittish of certain things, such as loud noises and sudden movements.  She was extremely skinny, had fur missing, and the fur that was there was terribly matted. She was a colossal mess. But that didn’t stop me from falling in love with her the minute I saw her. The energy that Lucy put out was amazingly sweet; she was one of the most awesome dogs I had the honor of meeting and I knew I just had to be her mommy!  However, the SPCA had not spayed her yet, so I was instructed to pick her up the next day.  I went home Lucyless, and extremely eager for the next 24 hours to pass.

That afternoon, I received a phone call from the SPCA. They did blood work on her which is mandatory before performing the surgery, and found that she had heart worms. They told me that they would normally euthanize a dog under these circumstances, however, since I had already adopted Lucy, they could not do anything without my permission.  The woman I spoke with on the phone tried to persuade me to have Lucy put down.  She said that it would be the best thing to do.  My response to this was a resounding ‘NO’!  I told her to go ahead with the surgery; I would pick Lucy up afterwards, and find a solution.

The next morning I got on the phone and called my vet. Then, I called the vets my parents use for their pets, and, for good measure, I called the vet a friend of mine uses. All of them gave me the same answer…there was no reason to put Lucy down. Lucy’s heart worms would indeed be treatable, and she would be cured.  I remember sitting on the edge of my bed, crying with relief.

When I finally picked Lucy up, her eyes were glowing, and it looked like she was smiling at me; I felt so blessed. I took her home, let her spend some days resting and recovering from the surgery, then we were off to the vet to start up her treatments.  The treatments were hard on her, but her spirits were always so high.  Then, after some time, Lucy’s fur started growing back in full and glossy, and she started gaining weight. She looked like a whole new healthy, fluffy dog!  And now, Lucy has been heart worm free since 2002!  We’ve had so many great adventures together…from our walks by the bayou, to our boating adventures and road trips. Lucy is such a special part of my life, I decided to name my business after her…my ‘Lucy Goosey’…my ‘Lucy Goo’.

I hope you can use this true story as an inspiration.  If you decide that you’d like a pet, please try going the rescue route, and adopt one.  And remember, the puppies and kittens are the first to be chosen. Take a walk over to the section where the full grown dogs and cats are kept.  They may seem skittish at first, but all they need is love. Once they are given the love and attention they so desperately need and deserve, you’ll not only have a friend, but a new family member. You can save a pet’s life…one just like Lucy Goo.

For those of you who have rescued a pet, what’s your pet’s story?

–

Nicole Bruder is the owner of Lucy Goo Pet Sitting in Houston, Texas.

Diamond has already had to correct some of the information they released regarding their recent pet food recalls. (See the corrected FDA pet food recall notice.) I don’t know if or when they may update their information on the recalled pet foods again, so rather than trying to keep up with the most current information I’m including the following list of pet foods being recalled along with links to the recall notices on the FDA website, Diamond Pet Food Recall website, and company websites. I believe this is the best way for people to get the most up-to-date information. I’ll update this post if necessary.

APEX

• Diamond Recall website
• FDA recall notice on Apex Pet Food recall

CANIDAE

• Diamond Recall website
• FDA notice on Canidae Pet Food recall
• Recall notice/info on Canidae website

CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PET LOVER’S SOUL

• Diamond Recall website
• FDA notice on Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul recall
• Recall notice/info on Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul website

COUNTRY VALUE

• Diamond Recall website

DIAMOND

• Diamond Recall website
• FDA notice on Diamond Puppy food recall
• FDA notice on Diamond Pet Food recall (expanded recall)

DIAMOND NATURALS

• Diamond Recall website
• FDA notice/info on Diamond Naturals recall

KIRKLAND SIGNATURE/KIRKLAND SIGNATURE NATURE’S DOMAIN

• Diamond recall website

NATURAL BALANCE

• FDA notice on Natural Balance recall
• Recall notice/info on Natural Balance website
• Diamond recall website – Natural Balance is being recalled, and it is part of the Diamond recall. However, for some reason Diamond has not included it in their Diamond Recall website.

PREMIUM EDGE

• Diamond recall website
• Recall notice/info on Premium Edge website

PROFESSIONAL PET FOOD

• Diamond recall website
• Recall notice/info on Professional Pet Food website

SOLID GOLD PET FOOD

• FDA notice on Solid Gold recall
• Recall notice/info on Solid Gold website.
• Solid Gold is being recalled, and it is part of the Diamond recall. However, for some reason Diamond has not included it in their Diamond Recall website.

TASTE OF THE WILD

• Diamond recall website
• Recall notice/info on Taste of the Wild website

WELLNESS

• FDA recall notice
• Recall notice/info on Wellness website

4HEALTH

• Diamond recall website

Apex Chicken and Rice Dog food, distributed in North Carolina, is being recalled as part of the Diamond Pet Food recall. Although the release is dated May 4, Diamond didn’t add it to their website until sometime today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 4, 2012

Apex Pet Foods announced today that it is issuing a voluntary recall of all dry dog food formulas manufactured on January 24, 2012.

Although there have been no animal or human illnesses related to Apex Dog Food and the product has not tested positive for Salmonella, the company has voluntarily initiated this recall out of caution to ensure the health and safety of consumers and their pets.

The following products are being recalled

Apex Chicken and Rice Dog
40 lb.
Production Code:  ACD0101B32
Best By Date:  24-Jan-2013

Apex Chicken and Rice Dog  
20 lb.
Production Code: ACD0101B32
Best By Date:  24-Jan-2013

This product was only distributed in the State of South Carolina.

Apex Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused pet owners and their pets.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Apex Pet Foods via a toll free call at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 6pm EST. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all affected product is removed from shelves.

You’ll find more information on the Diamond Pet Food Recall website.