www.preciouspetstransport.comWhen we started our pet transport business it gave us such freedom. We could travel the US without much of a care, except our pets. At the time we had two cats, Tiggy & Samson and a dog Rosie.
At first it was a bit of a quandary trying to figure out what to do with them. Then the light bulb went on! What else to you do with a pet transport business, we took them with us!
Every other Sunday we loaded the van with our personal possessions including our own pets. Tiggy loved it, she was a New York kind of girl. She loved the night lights going down through Times Square and she would jump onto the dashboard and stretch out. Her little eyes just glittering at the lights.
Samson, not so much the world traveler.Our first few hours were filled with his beautiful singing, starting out at a low baritone rumble and building to his highest soprano pitch in a crescendo of a wail, or until Tiggy had enough and smacked him. Wait 2 minutes. Then the repertoire would start over, and so it went on for the first 24 hours or until the first family was picked up.
Rosie, our ever so calm happy hound, grew into the perfect protection dog. She let any pet on and off the van no problem. Kept an eye on the van when I went into use the bathroom or pay for fuel.
Sat with pets that were crying and nervous. For the five years she was with us after we started the business Rosie went on almost every trip.
At first we all rode in the van together. As the business grew we separated into two vans. We split the pets between the two of us. And so we went for another few years. Finally the business grew to where one of us had to stay home to answer phones, answer questions and just generally handle the business.
Samson applauded first, he was ecstatic! That was great but occasionally either a trip came up that was just too much for one person or we just wanted company, so we would team up and ride together. We tried taking Samson again but he showed his true displeasure by peeing on the drivers seat, not once but twice. Problem was I didn't realize my backside was wet until I stood up. Then I could smell my new perfume. "Ode to Cat Pee"the new fragrance, sold in the cat isle. LOL!
We tried re-homing Samson with my son. The first thing he did was to pee on my sons bed. So back he came. After much frustration with trying to sort out what to do with him while we were on the road taking care of other people's pets we decided to hire a pet sitter to come to our house and care for the cats. BINGO!
So to the point of this blog. One of the forms I had to fill out was a "Next of Kin". I was a bit horrified when I saw the form. The pet sitter in her most professional manner said, "what happens if your in an accident. What do I do with your pets." Now that was a thought that never crossed our minds. What would happen with my pets? The pet sitter didn't know my kids names, addresses or phone numbers.
Over the last 15 years of being a pet transporter I've seen more and more where this is such a necessity. New families will be getting new pets for Christmas Its a time of fun, love and festivities and this is such a dark unhappy subject that no one wants to think about it let alone discuss it.
We transport many senior clients and their pets. Too many to count over the years. Some clients have become true friends and we talk about family, their pets, work, even politics. Its has become something special to us. However, the one thing we have learned to do is have an honest discussion about their pets future, as uncomfortable as that talk is.
What do you have planned for your pets in the event something happens to you?
Two and half years ago one of our long time clients who we had been driving his car and cat to Florida and back twice a year, his health started failing, so we had that discussion about his cat.
At the time no one in his family was willing to take TT. Realizing this was a heartbreaking moment for the client, we talked about it and put it out there, we would adopt TT if he wanted.
Early this year we received the awaited email. Our client was coming back home early, only this time we were to bring TT home with us. She is now a loving part of our family.
Over the years we have done many heartbreaking bereavement transports where the pet parent has passed away unexpectedly. One person went in for surgery, did not make it through. Another never made it home from work that day. Many other sad heartbreaking not just stories but sad events. Events that changed not only the families life but the pet's life.
We went on vacation overseas this year I sat with my son and daughter to specifically discuss what to do with Zoe, TT, Samson, and Kiki in the event something tragic happened to us.
Its important NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE if you have a pet or are planning to get a pet, make arrangements for your pet(s) in the event something happens to you.
Many times over the years we received phone calls from attorneys of clients to inform us we were to relocate a pet to a new family member or friend. Those people understood life does not go on forever. They did the responsible thing and made plans for their pets.
Whether you have one pet or many more, make plans for them. Remember being a pet parent means making responsible decisions for your pet even after you are gone!
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