March 08 E-News - Most Unusual Client Requests

      “I received a phone call from a gentleman who was in need of a pet sitter for his elderly dog. (Did I mention that this was a very old dog?) After talking for a while, the owner told me that his 100-pound dog had a problem with ‘going number two.’
     “He told me that if I took the assignment and the dog had this problem, to simply light a match by the back end of the dog until the dog did his ‘business.’ The man requested that I move the dog’s tail out of the way while performing this procedure and stated that it may take a few tries. And I needn’t worry. He would provide the matches! WHAT?!
     “He went on to explain that if this did not work, I was to take the dog to his veterinarian. All this for my ‘basic pet-sitting fee.’ I am sure the look on my face was priceless! I rechecked my calendar for availability and - wouldn’t you know it – I was already booked! I referred him to another agency!”
Marcia Gaglianone, Paws N' Tails Pet Sitting Service, Vacaville, CA

"A few years ago, I was asked to keep two pugs at my house so my clients could get married and go on their honeymoon. This was no problem. Then the strange request came - they asked me to bring the pugs to the church and dress them up in bride and groom doggy costumes! (The pug’s “Mom” and “Dad” wanted them included in their wedding pictures.)

"I took the pugs to church and it was like dressing greased pigs! They wanted no part of the cute little outfits! I finally got them dressed just as the couple was walking out of the church. All of the guests thought both dogs were just the cutest things. After the wedding, the dogs were so happy to be out of their outfits that they took a long nap!"

-Pat Olson, Angel Paws Petsitting, Olathe, KS

"I was responsible for bringing a client’s dog to the church on its owner’s wedding day so that Titan, a black Labrador retriever, could greet all the guests as they entered the church! Titan wore his special groomsman bow tie and knew 90 percent of the people in attendance."

-Jackie Ghirla, Jackie's Ark PetSitting Services, Orlando, FL