Meet Dudley - A Cool Cat

"Good morning, Dudley," Frank says. He bends over and taps the 14-year-old scraggly furred cat on the head.

Dudley looks up at Frank and presents his happy face. It is one of many looks he can conjure up depending on his mood and the going circumstance. He patters over to his feeding bowl and sits in front of the display for a while. He changes his mind about eating his crunchy food but licks liberally at his filtered water. Later in the day, he'll scoop one pellet at a time from his bowl onto the mat under it and chews each morsel from there.

His favourite treats are 'Temptations' for cats. Any flavour will do.

I perch where I like, thank you

He rests wherever he likes including the top of the toilet bowl.

"Be sure to leave the toilet seat down," this homeowner said, "because Dudley likes to sit on the toilet seat." At the time, we shrugged our shoulders and both imagined we'd have to see it to believe it. And eventually, we did. We are genuinely entertained by this quirk of his.

He responds instinctively to his name. He comes to Frank when he's called with his tail standing straight up. We've learned over the years as pet sitters, that when a cat holds its tail high in the air as it moves through its territory, its expressing confidence and contentment.

Dudley is a man's cat and follows Frank in and out of rooms like a puppy. If the activity is just a bit too much, like when Frank goes outside to shovel snow, Dudley lays patiently on the carpet at the door. When Frank goes out to the balconies and clears the snow, Dudley sometimes joins him and licks the ice.

Frank tending to the snow

Frank and Dudley ~ tea time

In the evening, Frank and I watch one program or another on the television. Dudley waits patiently for Frank to get settled on the luxurious leather couch and then skulks stealth-like first onto the arm of the seat, then creeps behind his head to what we've interpreted as his hidden position and then he slides carefully down the back of the couch, stops and with one paw at a time, makes his way onto Frank's lap. Once settled his wears his complacent face.

Dudley with Frank ~ evening time

During our human sleeping hours, Dudley has found many satisfying centres to curl up in. He's mastered the technique of making himself comfortable at Frank's neck on the large bed, splaying out on the blankets set on the two loveseats in the basement, or curling up contentedly in his personal cat bed in front of the fireplace.

Dudley's days are filled with things he likes to do. He's a cat. He's a cool cat.

Questions to Ask to Promote a Happy House Sit

     Tell us about garbage pickup, recycling and composting in your area.

“Every second Tuesday is garbage pickup and you set out the black container. You use the black bags for garbage. Every other Tuesday, you set out the recycling stuff and that goes in the blue container. You use blue bags for that. Also, you set out the compostable stuff with the recyclable things but you have them in a separate white bag.”

“Oh, we don’t have garbage pickup out here. Just burn it. You can put the returnable bottles and stuff in the back of the car port.”

“Please put the compost material in the compost bin in the garden. I’ll deal with it when I get home.”

Learn about the neighbourhood garbage cycles

Tell us about your neighbours.

“You may not have much luck with the guy in that house. Last year, his dogs attacked ours and he blamed us for not building a proper fence. Since then, we’ve put up a double fence which has prevented any more problems.”

“The neighbours below us are great and know everything about the dogs. They have a key to our house. I’ve written their phone number on the routine document we prepared for you.”

“The neighbours next door were aggressive toward my husband while we were building this house. You should just ignore him.”

Learn about the neighbours

Please let us know about any medications you give your pets.

“We’ve prepared a card for you showing who gets what, how much and when.”

“Oh, we didn’t write anything down. We’ll explain it to you when you get here.”

“Clem has a half dose of meloxicam each morning for arthritis. Give it to him in a small one inch long piece of banana. Bella also gets a half dose of meloxicam each morning for arthritis. It also goes in a small piece of banana. In her piece of banana, Bella also gets a half dose of methocarbamol muscle relaxant.”

Learn about the pet's medications

    Happy house and pet sitting.

Two Blind Dogs

Two blind dogs,

Two blind dogs,

See how they run,

See how they run,

They bump into each other

In all kinds of weather

And they all fall down.

These two well-trained Labrador Retrievers don’t miss a beat while they are being walked, but they are blind. Their owners have been issuing voice commands for the older one for years and the younger dog has only recently been diagnosed with vision loss. The older white-coloured lab knows her way around but we must watch her when she gets up from her bed as she tends to wander toward the stairs to the basement and on one occasion, as told to us by her owners, tumbled down the steps. Now, there is a gate to block access to the stairs. 

Frank with two blind dogs

Our view walking the dogs

 We’ve been witness to them both bumping into objects including each other, exaggerating their stride with a high-step gait, walking with great caution and rambling with their nose to the ground. The older one’s eyes are coated white while the yellow-coloured younger one has enlarged pupils.

Refreshing hike with the dogs

We talk to them regularly and spend time with them throughout the day in the front room where their beds are located. The younger one swishes his large tail to indicate his cooperation while the older one remains still. We are left with the impression that they are each other’s best friend. They grew up together in Australia and travelled with their owners here to Canada.

Their walk ends at the gate

They are a magnificent breed and we love them.

Happy House and Pet Sitting

Big Valley - Big Hopes

Wooden grain elevator & Red River cart

“There’s a small house just across the street and down a bit,” the woman says. “It just went on the market.”

Frank and I look at each other and we seem to lock into the same idea. Hmmm. Let’s go have a look.

We are excited about the prospect of purchasing a place in this animated town of Big Valley. It offers a wealth of volunteer and possible employment opportunities. At this posting time, there is a call for part-time bus drivers, a part-time town Administrative Assistant, and various opportunities to entertain the visitors who arrive by train each weekend during the summer months.

We learn a great deal of the history of the town from the Mayor, the librarian, and the shopkeepers at the local café.

Replica of a Red River cart

“The grain elevator is not an official Alberta Historical Society colour but it is one of the last preserved examples of a traditional wooden grain elevator. We’re satisfied with its colour,” the Mayor says. “Also, to answer your question about the Red River cart, it’s not authentic. We do use it in our parade, though.” 

“The building we’re in was purposely built in this rustic theme to bolster the history of the town and more specifically to show off the Jimmy Jock story,” the shopkeeper says. We learn that it was once a Chinese café.

Jimmy Jock Boardwalk beside historic bank building

This morning, Frank is hiking up the hill to St. Edmund’s Church. It’s fully restored, operational and under the care of the Big Valley Historial Society – another volunteer opportunity.

Blue Church on the Hill

Big Valley Railway Station

Together on the street, we are greeted by ‘Eddy’, a local who offers us a tour of the Big Valley Railway Depot. The artefacts and displays are well laid out. The visitors are greeted by the locals and given a tour of the town and a meal. Yes, another opportunity to volunteer dressed in period costume.

We are met later by a realestate agent from Stettler, who shows us the small house. We are surprised and intrigued by it, and put in a bid. We haven’t heard from the lady since.

Big Valley is a community filled with enthusiasm and hope. Travel north of Highway 56 from Drumheller or south from Camrose, and enjoy the ambiance.

Devocalized in Calgary

We arrive at our Calgary house and pet-sit in early September 2016 and are introduced to a dog that has undergone devocalization.

“Her name is Shar. She’s a gentle, well-behaved 13-year-old Sheltie,” her owner says.

“She’s lovely,” I say and pat the top of her head.

She nuzzles up to Frank and he responds with a stroke down her back.

Shar follows her owner, Frank, and me into the front room. We sit for a while before the homeowner introduces us to all the procedures he needs us to follow with regard to maintaining the pristine condition of his house. He has prepared a procedure bullet list for us which makes it much easier to follow the house rules. For example, 'put the garbage out on Thursday evening for the early Friday morning pick up.'

Frank and Shar on her daily walk

Another daily routine at this house and pet-sit arrangement includes Shar’s morning walk. She is leash trained. She is very cooperative and stops when we stop, rests regularly to relax her arthritic back leg, and uses her nose to identify what’s going on in her neighborhood.

Suddenly, she spots a large rabbit and lunges at it. Frank holds onto the leash and makes a comment. 

White Tailed Jack Rabbit

“Is she barking?” he says.

We listen and watch her head move forward. The noise coming from her throat sounds like a muffled Crow’s caw. We learn later from her owner that the breeder apparently got in trouble from her neighbours for all the noise her Shelties made. She took the bylaw warning seriously and decided to have all her dogs ‘devocalized’. Here’s the definition we found on the Internet:

Devocalization (also known as ventriculocordectomy or vocal cordectomy and when performed on dogs is commonly known as debarking or bark softening) is a surgical procedure applied to dogs and cats, where tissue is removed from the animal's vocal cords to permanently reduce the volume of their vocalizations.

Susan with Shar

Shar barks at squirrels, other dogs, cats, rabbits, and whatever is outside her house belonging to the animal kingdom. We believe that she thinks that’s her true voice, and for her, since her young years, it is.

We consider our daily outings with Shar the Sheltie  as mini-adventures. She is captivated by her surroundings. While we admire lawn ornaments, parks, signs, and stuff people put in the back alley, she trots along with her nose wide open, her limited vision, and her sensitive arthritic legs. She’s a wonderful dog and is very grateful to arrive home after her walk to rest on her padded bed.

A sample of neighbourhood lawn ornaments

A sample of  a back alley item

A local park

Questions to Help Promote a Happy House Sit

"Please tell me about the rodent problem in your area."

Rodents come in various sizes, shapes, and categories. They are small mammals which have sharp front teeth. Rats, mice, and squirrels are rodents.

We sat a house and five animals on an acreage in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island and several of the rat-beasts got into our recreational vehicle. They made a nasty mess.

As our problem continued, we learnt from the locals that the rodent problem in this area is considered an epidemic situation. Sadly, we had not thought to ask the homeowner about the rodent problem in their area and regrettably, they did not inform us of the wide-spread critical condition.

Rat damage under the hood

We spent several hundred dollars to have all the holes in our RV filled, some tubing under the hood replaced, and a new windshield washer tank, and many hours cleaning our home back to its original condition.

Be a wise and confident house and pet sitter and ask as many questions as you like of your next client. An open-ended query like the one above will show diligence on your part as a competent home and pet carer.

“You stated in your advertisement that you are offering a car. What is the make and model of the vehicle? Is it a standard or automatic transmission?”

Standard or automatic?

Our experience with a homeowner offering a vehicle turned out to be false. We took their online offer to be of value and did not question their proposition of a car during our phone interview. When we arrived there was no mention of a vehicle. They left for the airport in one.

We’ve discovered that if you ask about the vehicle, the owner will have to explain the situation and make it clear to you that there is a car for you to use or there is not.

Open-ended questions will initiate a conversation between you and the pet/homeowner and lead down a path to clarity.

“When was the last time you left your pet in the care of someone else?”

It was explained to us by one of our pet owners that they had never let their dogs on their own for any length of time. They always brought them along, no matter the short-distance destinations. “This will be the first time we’ve ever left them alone with anyone,” this pet owner said.

Dog's comfort stations

This conversation is essential for you to overcome any obstacles to your having the best experience with their pet. You might like to suggest that they try leaving their pet alone for a short time with a favourite toy or laying comfortably in their cage. Usually, the pet owner will come up with their own ideas, as they should, and this puts the training responsibility on them.

Our pet sitting policy is to attend to the animals as carers and not trainers.

What are some of your pet and house sitting policies?

A Mouse in the House

"Honey, what's that noise?" I say.

"It's mice chewing on the mattress. Grab your pillow, we'll sleep on the couch upstairs," Frank says.

Three days prior, we had arrived at a scheduled house and pet-sit on a small farm just outside the Hamlet of Islay, Alberta.

“Hey. Hi. Welcome,” says our newest client. She extends her hand to me and I shake it enthusiastically. She turns to Frank and says hello. Her young daughter, a mystery breed of cat, and a Mai-shi dog are standing with her.

“We’re so happy that you’ve come. That’s Koda.” She is pointing to the male Staffordshire Terrier tethered to a large tree by a thick chain and barking at the top of his lungs.

“He’s harmless although he does have a pretty ferocious bark,” she says.

I release her friendly grip and walk with her and Frank toward the dog. His tail is wagging and he seems happy. 

Frank and I have learnt not to approach a strange animal, especially if it is tied up or on a leash. We hold back and wait for its owner to stand beside it and grip its chain close to its neck.

Susan with Koda

“You can pet him if you want,” the little girl says.

We move a bit closer and immediately it puts its ears back, curls its tail between its legs and lets out a large yelp spewing saliva between its lips. The owner laughs but does not correct the behaviour. Days later, on our own with the animal, we earn its trust by taking him on long walks and rewarding his cooperation with scratches under his chin.

“Come into the house,” the homeowner says.

Great Pyrenees

She steps through the porch area where the Terrier sleeps at night. We can hardly hear what she is saying – the yapping of two over-the-top excited Great Pyrenees-Border Collie cross dogs are drowning her out. They leap recklessly at Frank and me. They’re held back by a plastic door gate. One is beige with caramel coloured ears and the other is white with a black patch on its left eye. They’re working hard at getting over the barrier – their intention is to get to us.

“You can pet them if you want,” the young girl says.

Frank puts his hand on my shoulder to relax my anxiety. I don’t like lunging, jumping, barking, uncontrolled dogs and here are two of them.

Border Collie

“These are the puppies I was telling you about,” the owner says. “They are very excitable.” 

She turns to her 19-year-old son and directs him to get their leashes. I hear the click of metal on metal but I’m not reassured that they are under control. In a flash, my worst fear comes true. The homeowner opens that gate and both dogs lunge at us pushing us back with their paws. They are standing on their hind feet. Instinctively, I raise my knee at Dot and then at Sophie. The teenager is struggling to control them.

“Dot, Sophie, stop!” the owner says. She takes the leads and pulls them both toward her. “They’re just puppies and are very excitable. I’ll bring them outside. They can go into their kennel.”

Frank the Dog Walker

Throughout our stay, they pushed, pulled, barked, and lunged at one another, Frank and me, and Koda. Koda’s gentleman-like mannerisms on a leash did not influence the two wide-eyed sisters. We walked all three large dogs every day.

“We also have three cats. Joker stays outside and hunts for his food; Charley eats mice and stuff and also comes inside for the cat food. Tipper, who we think is a Siamese, is sick with ulcers. We feed her the soft food. And, Baby, our little white dog, has cancer. We’ve stopped bringing them to the vet,” the owner says.

Frank and I exchange a straight-faced glance at one another. We hope for the best.

Sunny the Arabian Horse

Outside again, the owner brings us to meet ‘Sunny’, their lame Arabian mare. She’s a brown beauty with that strong bone structure common to the breed. She approaches us in a friendly stroll and stops at the well-chewed fence. We are instructed to feed her specific nutrient-filled pellets and to keep her water trough full.

“You can pet her if you want,” the sweet girl says.

Frank and I stroke her narrow face and sleek neck. She remains still and takes in the admiration and touch of the human race.

It was the best of times. The panoramic view from their front porch was breathtaking. The pitch-black nights presented a sky filled with star constellations, and the evening silence was broken only by the scampering sounds made by mice between the basement and upstairs floor.

The owner’s whispered message to me in their backyard, ‘We have mice’ comes to mind now. It never occurred to me that they lived in her house.

View from the front porch

Blessed Is The Spot