Pet Care by Jocelyn

06/18/2024

My weekly walker, Buddy, just wanted to remind everyone to stay on the grass as much as possible during walks this week. I’m very strict with when I’ll walk your pups and typically avoid walking above 85 degrees unless a walk is absolutely necessary (pet parents are home and we’re unable to do a drop in visit).

If you do walk your furry friends this week, try to walk in the early morning or late evening, stay on the grass, stay in shaded areas, TAKE BREAKS, don’t walk your pups too long just for the sake of mileage, and BRING WATER and a WATER BOWL (communal water bowls can increase the risk of parvo). If your kiddo is a brachycephalic breed, an extra large pup (any XL breed), a thick-haired arctic breed, a senior, or morbidly obese please stay indoors as much as possible this week!

06/13/2024

I will be UNAVAILABLE for all services and out of the area starting tomorrow, June 13th, through Sunday, June 16th. Our NPGA National Convention will be in WV and I may be hard to reach at times but I will plan on sending out my weekly schedule at some point Saturday or Sunday as usual. All services will resume normally on Monday, June 17th.

I want to thank everyone for their flexibility! I don’t like to take more than one weekday off since I do this full time and many of my regulars don’t have back up. This show is much larger than the ones I’m able to go to throughout the year and it is a great learning opportunity, as well as a chance for my best goats to have additional practice in the ring before our next local show on June 29th.

Thank you again! ❤️

06/10/2024

Very important info! ☀️

05/30/2024

Sadly, due to continued last minute cancellations, I will be enforcing a 50% deposit for PRIVATELY BOOKED house sittings and drop in services scheduled during a vacation that requires owners to be away from home for an extended amount of time. ROVER clients will still be required to pay in full at the time of booking. I will be sending out letters and this will go into effect immediately in 2025. No exceptions! This 50% deposit is due at the time of booking and will be refundable up to 60 days before your scheduled stay. If you don’t pay the 50% deposit, I will not be able to book you and you’ll need to find another provider.

I wish I could remain flexible but times clearly have changed and I’ve lost over $2000 so far this year. I can no longer operate how I have for the last 3 years because I can’t count on people to follow through with their bookings.

I’m so sorry to have to resort to this but I have bills too. Financially, this year has been unforgivable, and a large part of that is due to sudden cancellations. I pay quarterly taxes (almost $1000 each quarter), pay for any insurance and certifications I maintain, and pay a fortune in gas each year. I shouldn’t have to scramble to earn extra income because folks cancel days before or on the day of their trip! As a small business owner, I’m on a budget.

If anyone has questions and wants to contact me directly regarding this policy change, please feel free to reach out to me and I’ll gladly explain how things will change next year!

05/29/2024

Charlie’s mom accidentally locked his dad out and he’s a happy boy because the pet sitter lady had to drive back to town to feed him dinner, walk him, and unlock the door!

We didn’t get to walk this morning due to weather and he was over the moon to get outside! I’m sure he enjoyed his extra visit today!

Book your stay on Rover here: https://www.rover.com/sit/jocelo80679

05/26/2024

When you’re so hungry that you forget you’re piggy back riding your brother 😆

Today is a WILD day. I’m literally running just trying to keep up. I’m glad someone has a full belly because I sure don’t! These growing boys ate very well and were just loving every second of attention they could get from me this afternoon!

05/24/2024

I know everyone is excited for the holiday but, just a reminder, payment is due BEFORE services are provided (anything received after services are completed is LATE). I cannot provide another service unless the first one is paid for!

05/21/2024

Due to several last minute cancellations…I now have more availability in the morning and evenings in the days leading up to and after Memorial Day. Thankfully, I’m booked with a house sitting the 25th-28th and am able to make up some of my lost profit. I do not have a cancellation fee at this time and have been committed to being as flexible as I can be but, sadly, in the near future that may need to change.

I understand unexpected things happen but, if there is a change in your plans, please let me know as soon as possible. I’m lucky enough to have a large clientele, many of whom are repeats, and some do end up reaching out and snagging spots that suddenly open up but I’m not always so fortunate! This time, I wasn’t so lucky! I’m doing everything I can not to enforce cancellation fees but I have bills to pay too. 😞

05/20/2024

Just sharing a highlight from my weekend!

Our very own baby boy, Off The Rails Elijah, won Reserve Best Wether at our show! This is my very first rosette earned at a sanctioned NPGA show and I’m over the moon that one of my own kiddos got me here after a 15 year break from breeding!

I will be reminding my weekly regulars that our national convention is quickly approaching in June. I will be unavailable Thursday, June 13th through Sunday, June 16th.

Services will resume normally starting tomorrow!

05/11/2024

Meet Cooper and Ziggy and the family leopard gecko!

I only did two drop-ins for these kiddos last year but we had a lovely time!

Cooper is a love bug and he had a blast just following me around the house while I checked food and water and cleaned the litter box! When I wasn’t working, he loved sitting next to me and getting lots of attention! If he wasn’t sitting on the floor, he was usually rolling around on top of the table ☺️

Ziggy was much harder to win over but…my infamous kitty juju was just too much for him to resist and he eventually came out from behind the couch to spend some time with me! He enjoyed playing with me, from a safe distance, or just lying down and watching me as long as I wasn’t walking around…since I was much scarier to him when I was on the move!

I’m sure I’ll see these two again! 🥰

05/09/2024

This! 👍🏼

It's Pet Sitter Safety Month!

Keep this tip in mind and share it with your team members and colleagues. 👇

🤳While you may pull your cellphone out to take a quick picture of the dog for your client (even then be sure you are in a safe spot to do so), it should be put away otherwise.

🚫Talking on your phone or having your earbuds in to listen to music or a podcast may prevent you from noticing a person, other pet or vehicle approaching you.

05/09/2024

Meet Nala and Bucky!

Nala is a repeat client but Bucky is a new addition to the family! I was a little worried about how he would react to me being away so often since my schedule tends to be brutal on young puppies but he did very well! Other than pulling down and shredding a blanket or two, this spunky boy behaved very well in his crate while I was away! It definitely helped that these two live pretty close to home 😊

Nala, as usual, enjoyed her snuggles with me but Bucky sure kept her on her toes and she didn’t get much rest until he wore himself out enough to snooze for a few hours 😆

Once little man was dreaming away, she thoroughly enjoyed some peace and quiet and telly time with me after a long work day.

I’m sure I’ll see these two again this year!

05/07/2024

Meet Phoebe!

Out of a full house of kitties, this sweet little girl was the only one brave enough to let the pet sitter lady take pictures! Once I finished setting food out and cleaning the litter box, she was always upstairs waiting for me! She never really wanted to play but she was more than happy just to have someone to sit with! Her family was very pleased with the care I provided and seemed more than happy to book again! Hopefully, I’ll see this stunning little lady and her siblings again this year!

Book your stay on Rover: https://www.rover.com/sit/jocelo80679

05/05/2024

✨ Weekly route availability ✨

Remi sure enjoyed his few months of walking with me! His mom and dad have been really lucky so far and have been able to get back on my route each year. I’m glad I could fit them in to give Remi his 2.5 mile walk throughout the week while they were at work!

I now have room for possibly two half hour slots and one full hour spot on my weekly route. These spots are perfect for working families with pups that cannot get a potty break during the work day. I offer playtime, feeding and watering, medication administration, companionship, and daily exercise.

In order to qualify, you must be:

🐾 Within 6 miles of Darlington, PA

🐾 Needing at least 2 services per week each week (minus vacations and holidays)

🐾 PLANNING TO BOOK REGULARLY EACH WEEK (anyone booking one week and then taking a break for weeks will be considered an as needed client…I can no longer guarantee spots for folks that I can’t count on booking each week so clients in this category are on a first come first served basis and I’ll try to fit them in depending on if the desired time slot is available AFTER my weekly route is scheduled)

🐾 Planning to book LONG TERM or for a shorter period of time for which I know both start and end dates (this ensures I can fill spots soon after they open back up)

🐾 FLEXIBLE regarding time of arrival. Ideally, these spots would have wiggle room between 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM to ensure I can fit everyone in during periods when I’m slammed with back to back bookings

As always, meet and greets are REQUIRED for new clients prior to booking with me. If you or anyone you know is interested in this opportunity, please reach out to me via email at [email protected] or by phone at (724)-312-1338. Messenger is also fine but I’ve been having issues receiving notifications.

Thank you! Happy Sunday! ❤️

05/03/2024

Due to a last minute cancellation, I now have IMMEDIATE availability for a house sitting starting May 5th and extending until May 9th (I also have availability May 4th if needed).

New clients will need to schedule a meet and greet with me prior to booking. I doubt I’ll have time to fill this but I wanted to let folks know that I have room.

I can be contacted via phone at (724)-312-1338 and email at [email protected]

Thank you!

04/18/2024

Henry and Hilda will be kicking off my work week after I get home from our first goat show of the year! Here are some snapshots from their services with me last year. After MANY services, Hilda finally found the courage to come out and say hello (from a safe distance). Henry is always out and about looking for yummy treats from the pet sitter lady so I’m hoping her brother’s ravenous appetite will continue to encourage her to come out and be social! ❤️

Just a reminder! I’m not accepting any more services for today, April 18th, or tomorrow, April 19th. Once my 30 min drop in is finished, I’ll be hustling to get my goats and I on the road since it’s a long drive. I’ll be UNAVAILABLE for all services this weekend and I may not be able to immediately respond to phone calls, texts, or emails.

Services will resume as normal and I will be available for HOUSE SITTINGS again starting on Monday, April 22nd. All services are first come first served. New clients, as always, need to schedule a meet and greet with me prior to booking their first service.

04/13/2024

Due to a very full week and a full day of work today, I’m blocking services for Sunday, April 14th so I can have one off day to catch up on stall cleaning and show prep on our farm.

Thank you!

04/11/2024

Just a reminder!

Next week is goat show week and I’ll be on shortened schedule on Friday, April 19th and will be completely unavailable for ALL services Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st. Pet care services will resume normally on Monday, April 22nd and I’ll also be available for house sittings again starting on Monday! I may be hard to reach that weekend since I’ll be tent camping so please plan ahead if you need last minute services.

I would like to be finished up for the day by noon on Friday since I’ll be driving 4 hours. I’ll be in touch with my regulars on a case by case basis.

Thank you all for your flexibility! 🐐

04/11/2024

Did you know that the longest house sitting I’ve done for a single client was 17 days?! That’s almost a full month!

It is incredibly rare for me to be available for this long without there being a conflict, whether it be another house sitting or a goat show, but I made it happen! My clients, returning regulars, love to camp as a family and they reached out to me almost a year ahead to make sure I had enough room for their lengthy adventure.

I’m sure Snoops, Reese, and Stanley were happy to have their mom and dad back after such a long trip! I often wonder if they thought I’d be there forever! 😆

If you’re planning to book care for a massive trip, even for just endless drop in visits, please remember to reach out to me as early as possible. I can’t guarantee availability but, as long as your other sitter is reliable and stays in communication with me, I’m willing to cover even a portion of your trip if I’m unable to cover the entire time you’re away. Bookings are first come, first served. I do not hold dates unless I receive confirmation from you that 1) those are the dates you’ll be needing and 2) that the trip is planned and/or booked. If you’re booking drop in visits, you are not officially booked until I know 1) approximately how many visits you’ll be needing per day and 2) the times I’ll be required to arrive (this will determine my availability and I cannot book you until I know if I’ll be available). As always, unless I get burned more frequently, payment IN FULL isn’t due until the first day of your service BEFORE (not after) you leave for vacation. Early payments are always appreciated!

Summer will be here before we know it! Let me know if you’re in need of care during those warm months ☀️

04/09/2024

Charlie, one of my weekly walkers, would like to remind everyone that flowers are blooming and warm temps are on the way!

Please remember to:

🟡 Provide fresh water outdoors during potty breaks and outdoor playtime

🟡 Bring fresh water and a collapsible bowl with you during walks

🟡 Use caution outside if your pup is an extra large fur baby, carrying a little extra weight, brachycephalic (short nose), or a senior as they are at a higher risk for heat stroke

🟡 Protect those feet and check the temperature of the asphalt before you walk. If it’s too hot for your hand, it’s too hot for them

🟡 Try to walk in the early morning or late evening

🟡 Be on the watch for off leash dogs, especially in parks that require dogs to be leashed. As the weather gets nicer…people tend to not obey the rules

🟡 Avoid communal dog bowls. Although it may seem like a kind gesture…they can spread parvovirus and canine influenza

04/08/2024

My weekly regular, Kodiak, and I both forgot our glasses for the eclipse but thankfully we didn’t need them today 😆

04/05/2024

New clients that call and raise their voice at me if I’m unable to provide them with a service will be turned away immediately. I will NOT tolerate being disrespected first thing in the morning. I’m not your punching bag and you will NOT be welcome to book with me in the future ✌🏼

03/31/2024

Meet Jackson!

This adorable Golden Retriever lives next to Artie, the pup I just featured, and he was lucky enough to get drop-in visits 3X per day while I was providing my house sitting nextdoor.

This big guy was a little shy at first but he opened up quick! He had so much energy and loved stealing items out of my hands ranging from leashes, treats, balls, pieces of paper…anything and everything 😆

We spent most of our visits outside and he loved chasing his ball and meeting up with his pint-sized bestie! If it was raining, he was more than happy to sit on the kitchen floor with me and chase his ball but he got bored pretty quick inside. Thankfully, we had lots of pretty days to enjoy and, if it was too hot, we could just relax on the porch!

I haven’t heard from his mom and don’t have him booked for this year but I’ll be watching his side kick in June so we’ll see if he becomes a repeat client this year! Until next time, kiddo 🎾

03/31/2024

Meet Artie!

This adorable little boy spent a few days with me last summer and he was a dream! He definitely doesn’t like it when his family leaves him and it was a little challenging to get him to eat for a bit but the warm water trick eventually did it’s magic and he had a full belly for a majority of his stay!

This was a particularly busy week for me because I was heavily booked and prepping my goats for their show. I was running myself senseless but he understood that the pet sitter lady was tired and we spent most of our time relaxing in front of the telly, munching on goodies and fresh veggies from my garden, and snuggling! Anytime we weren’t snoozing or eating, we loved to go see Jackson (his best friend nextdoor). I had to do drop-ins for Jackson as well so I was able to let them both out at the same time for some playtime!

This little guy will be a repeat client this June ☀️

03/26/2024

Tadpole and Jerry have been with me since almost the very start of my business and their mom booked with me at least once last year! These adorable kitties love sitting around and watching me drink coffee since I usually stop to fuel up at the time of day these boys are used to getting their dinner! Jerry did his usual pouting since I don’t let him roam outside like his mama does while she’s away but he was still very happy to get fed and loved on! Tadpole has gradually come out of his shell over the years and looks forward to sitting next to me and occasionally playing with his favorite toys.

For the most part, these kiddos love just sitting around and relaxing for a half hour and I can’t complain! I’m sure I’ll see them again this year!

Until next time, pretty boys ❤️

Book your stay on Rover here: https://www.rover.com/sit/jocelo80679

03/25/2024

If you’re a ROVER client, the app is down and I’ve been unable to get it to open! I’ll be sending messages and photos online but I cannot start cards or send videos. I have a video or two on my phone from each service and am saving them for later on. I’m so sorry…this app is complete garbage. If you have any doubts I’m at your home, please check your cameras or text or call me at (724)-312-1338! If anyone wants to join my private business, that can be arranged because I’m completely over dealing with this platform and their outages. Message me privately if this is the case since I have to turn you away on the app if you mention private services 👍🏼

03/10/2024

First time mama, Jasmine, welcomed a 3.5 lb black agouti doeling almost completely unassisted late this evening! I came home from my farm service and immediately found her streaming. She showed no signs of labor today but her udder was filling significantly. I was expecting her to go in the middle of the night or tomorrow but she surprised me! Baby girl had a purple tongue and was a little slow to come around but she’s doing great! The only assistance I provided was grabbing a foot and applying gentle downward pressure while I got baby girl’s big head free. Mama is still figuring out the whole nursing thing so I do have to pop in and hold her leg so she can nurse but…she loves her baby and is currently all snuggled up with her.

This concludes our very short kidding season with two healthy boys and a beautiful little girl. After a heartbreaking kidding season last year, this is a breath of fresh air. 🥹❤️

I want to thank everyone for their patience and their flexibility! I am still blocking tomorrow but things should return to normal by Monday!

03/09/2024

Hi, everyone!

I will be unavailable for any additional services this weekend. Our last doe to kid is a first timer expecting a single kid and I absolutely need to be home.

As of right now, I only have twice daily farm services and that service is booked. With her farm feeds, my own, and baby watch/newborn baby care, my hands will be too full to accept anyone else this weekend!

I’m sorry for any inconvenience.

03/08/2024

I want to take time to thank my weekly regulars for being so flexible today when I had to postpone or cancel 4 services out of 7 to accommodate a very sudden and long labor!

After needing to get elbow deep into Gemmy to save a kiddo, we are all exhausted. Gemmy delivered two healthy twin boys! The grey agouti is 3.9 lbs and the caramel with black markings is 3.5 lbs. They were stubborn to get to eat and couldn’t find mama’s teats at first but I got them to eat and I’ll keep working with them.

Jazzy is last to kid. Once she’s finished, we’re done for the year.

Again, thank you all for your flexibility!

02/29/2024

Due to Gemmy appearing to be very close to delivering her babies, I don’t feel comfortable booking any additional services for this upcoming weekend. If you’re booked and in my schedule for this weekend, you’re all set!

I apologize for any inconvenience.

Also, since kidding season is in full swing, I apologize if I’m harder to reach than I usually am. Being alone on baby watch means that I have to sleep in shifts. I promise that I’ll return messages and calls when I’m able. Please just be patient! 😊