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Pet-Sitting Firm Wins Chamber Award Susan Baker received the Small Business Entrepreneurial Success of the Year recently at the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce's 2006 Annual Small Business Awards Banquet at Benvenue Country Club. The Entrepreneurial Success of the Year Award is presented to an individual who owns and operates a business originally launched as a micro-enterprise and has subsequently experienced phenomenal growth in sales and creation of jobs. A Rocky Mount native graduating with honors from N.C. Wesleyan College, Baker purchased a small pet sitting business from a neighbor in 1993 with a client base of just 20 people and grew her business by over 4,000 percent in the next 12 years. Named “Pet's Best Friend,” Baker now has more 800 regular clients, adding new ones at an average rate of more than 10 new clients each week. In 2004, the company groomed 2,700 pets. In 2005, that number increased to more than 4,100 pets, and started off this year with a phenomenal increase of over 62 percent above last year. Baker currently has a staff of six full-time and two part-time people. Baker also has been recognized by “Pet Sitters International” with its “Pet sitter of the Year” award; as a finalist for the N.E.E.R “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” and in 1999; our own Chamber of Commerce honored her with that year's ”Small Business Woman of the Year Award.” Baker has been able to grow her business so dramatically and has been innovative in constantly adding new services in order to build her business. Starting with the purchase of a “faltering” pet-grooming business she purchased property on Zebulon Road for her expanding business and has since completely remodeled the grooming salon, adding state of the art equipment, such as a unique ”HydroSurge Bathing System” that allows them to bathe pets with a warm, aerated shampoo and water mixture that goes all the way to the skin releasing dirt and other residue while providing a warm therapeutic massage that relaxes the pet's muscles. In 2005, Baker's company became an authorized FURminator Shedless Treatment facility, instituted a complete pet dental hygiene program and built a Pet Boutique that has increased their income, adding retail sales of pet supplies and novelties. Baker offers her clients additional value with her sitting services, so pets can stay in the comfortable and familiar setting of their home when owners are away, having one of Baker's staff come to your home. Not only do they feed and walk your pet but they also bring in the mail, newspapers, turn on and off security lights, and they will even stock your refrigerator so that it's ready with the essentials for when you return. Pet's Best Friend also added a “pet taxi service.” Baker is planning to offer pet owners “Doggy Day Care” in the future. Small Business accounts for more than 90 percent of the area's workforce and has been an anchor of strength for the Rocky Mount community and great supporters for the work of The Chamber. Small Business Month Appreciation is an annual program of The Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce with the Awards Banquet held to recognize and honor the achievements of the Rocky Mount area small business person and what they mean to our community. The Chamber of Commerce, located in the Historic Downtown Train Station, is the largest business organization in the community and is dedicated to the recruitment and support of small businesses growth, promote community investment and engage in political action for the betterment of the community; and enhanced quality of life for area citizens.
February is National Pet Dental Health Month Contributed to the Telegram 02/19/06 The
unconditional love
you get every day from your pet is priceless.
While your pet's "smile" may be beautiful to you,
his bad breath may be a sign of something very serious.
A recent study indicated that 85% of dogs and cats over
three years of age have the beginnings of periodontal disease,
which can shorten their lives! “Periodontal disease is currently the #1 diagnosed problem in dogs and cats over the age of three," said Dr. Stuart Hicks of Hicks Animal Clinic. “Bacteria, saliva and food combine between the tooth and gum, causing plaque formulations which turn to tartar. If not removed, these pockets of infection may separate the teeth from the gum. If untreated the infection may enter the bloodstream causing heart, liver, and kidney disease.” During
the month of February, as part of National Pet Dental Health
Month, Pet’s Best Friend is teaming up with Hicks Animal Clinic
in support of better oral care for pets.
Their goal is to
help educate pet owners about the importance of regular oral
examinations and dental cleanings for all adult cats and dogs
realizing that good dental care contributes to the overall health
and well being of our pets. Dr.
Hicks challenges all pet owners to schedule regular dental
examinations for their pets every 6 to 12 months.
Your veterinarian may suggest a professional cleaning which
includes the following steps. Under anesthesia, your pet’s teeth
are cleaned with an ultrasonic or hand scaler, then examined for
loose teeth, depth of pockets, exposed roots or other
signs of disease. Some teeth can be saved with cleaning and
periodontal treatment while others will need to be extracted.
“Even one healthy tooth is better than a mouthful of diseased
teeth,” according to Hicks.
Like
humans, cats and dogs need routine home care of their teeth and
gums through daily brushing to prevent oral disease.
Susan Baker, owner of Pet’s Best Friend challenges pet
owners to establish a home dental care routine.
While brushing is considered the standard, it can be
inconvenient – and even a little difficult – for some pet
owners. Pet’s Best
Friend offers a complete dental hygiene program at their salon.
Not only do they brush your pet’s teeth, but they also
carry all of the supplies you need to continue the routine at
home. The Pet’s
Best Friend Dental Hygiene Kit contains: Oxyfresh Pet Gel to clean
teeth and soothe gums; a Triple Head Toothbrush to brush all 3
sides of the teeth at once; and Oxyfresh Oral Hygiene Solution to
eliminate bad breath and promote healthy gums, when added daily to
your pet’s drinking water.
To celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month, Pet’s Best
Friend is offering a 10% discount on all dental supplies and
services. The
American Veterinary Dental Society recommends that pet owners
follow three basic steps to ensure your pet’s dental health: 1)
Take your pet to the veterinarian for a dental exam.
Don’t wait for his annual checkup if you suspect a
problem.
2)
Begin a dental care regimen at home. Do not use toothpaste
for humans – they may upset your pet’s stomach. 3)
Schedule
regular veterinary checkups.
These are essential in helping your veterinarian monitor
the progress of your pet’s dental health routine. In
addition, feeding your pet a firm, nutritionally balanced
food is an
easy way to help slow down plaque formation through a mechanical,
abrasive action. There are specially formulated foods proven
effective in combating plaque and tartar buildup.
Appropriate chew toys are another fun and easy way to
prevent tartar. Numerous dental care products are available -
consult your veterinarian about the best products for your pet.
The Seal of Acceptance from the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)
appears on products that meet defined standards for plaque and
tartar control in dogs and cats.
Avoid feeding your pets table scraps because they
can increase the build up of plaque and tartar, and can lead to
other health problems. Be sure to seek care for
your pet if you notice any of these signs of dental disease:
Imagine how your mouth would feel if you neglected regular oral care. "Just as humans now realize that their oral health is linked to their overall health, we want them to understand that dental health care is essential to maintaining the overall health and well being of their pets, too," said Hicks and Baker. Prevention is the best cure.
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Pet's Best Friend Pet
Sitting and Salon's 2005
Year in Review The New Year has brought many changes to Pet's Best Friend! We now have three certified bather/brushers on staff, as well as an additional pet sitter!!! Your continued support has allowed us to expand our services in the grooming salon as well as adding another pet sitter to our staff of loving, qualified sitters. The early spring brought the addition of Beth Burgess to our staff. Beth is a certified bather/brusher as well as our morning front desk greeter. She also fills in as Pet Taxi driver and general "girl Friday". In late spring, Jane Barbee joined our staff. Jane is also a certified bather/brusher and fills in driving the Pet Taxi, as well as being our newest pet sitter. Susan Baker is the owner/operator, Pet Taxi driver, head groomer and 1998 Pet Sitter of the Year!!! Van Baker is our "go to man" whenever we need assistance with holiday pet sitting. Also on our "team" is Dewey Powell (Susan's dad) who is our "construction" expert! After Susan and her husband Van attended the Carolina Groom Fest in June, the salon was upgraded with a fresh coat of paint and the ClipperVac® system was installed. The ClipperVac® allows us to give your pet the neatest and smoothest cut in town. The fall brought us great things from Hershey, Pennsylvania. Susan and Van attended Groom EXPO in September. This expo is the biggest pet care show in the world. More than 3000 groomers were in attendance and over 170 vendors participated in the world's largest professional pet care trade show. The trio attended lectures on animal behavior, grooming techniques, pet health, retailing and much more. In addition to the knowledge each gleaned from the Expo, they brought back the HydroSurge® Bathing System. HydroSurge® was developed by a doctor who had a Keeshond with bad skin and did not want to shave her fur off to help heal her condition. The HydroSurge® allows us to bathe your pet with a warm, aerated shampoo and water mixture that goes all the way to the skin. This system helps to release the dirt and other residue that is on the skin, as well as provide a warm therapeutic massage for the muscles. The experience is that of a Jacuzzi and the pets love it. We have several new services on our grooming list. The FURminator Shed-less Treatment® program was added recently to help relieve you and your pet of unwanted shed hair. The Shed-less treatment involves a specialized bath and conditioning that help to loosen the undercoat and loose hair, followed by removal of the unwanted hair with the FURminator deshedding tool. The FURminator reduces shedding up to 90 percent and is recommended by doctors for people with allergies, and by veterinarians who recognize the need for keeping your pet both clean and comfortable. The treatment is designed for both long and short-haired dogs, as well as cats. In response to numerous requests, we now offer tooth brushing! A dental hygiene kit can be purchased in our boutique for use at home as well as becoming a part of your dog's regular grooming at our salon! If brushing your dog's teeth isn't on your to-do list, we also offer Oxyfresh breath and mouth freshener solution. Oxyfresh Oral Solution is simply added to your pet's drinking water daily and it begins to destroy the bacteria that cause "doggie breath" and helps add years to your dog's life. By age 3, Fido has enough bacteria built up on his/her teeth to cause odor as well as some health problems. Oxyfresh is recommended by the N.C. State School of Veterinary Medicine as well as members of our own staff. Of course we wouldn't sell anything we wouldn't use on our own pets. Also new to Pet's Best Friend is our boutique. Inside you will find some of the best products for use on your pets, including shampoos, colognes and conditioners that we use right here in the salon. Collars, leashes, name tags, flea control products, grooming tools, collar cover bandanas, apparel and pet related gifts are just a few of the treasures you will find at Pet's Best Friend Pet Sitting and Salon. We would like to thank our clients who opened their hearts and made donations for the pets left homeless from Hurricane Katrina. Your love accounted for over $300. Thanks for remembering the pets. Our staff also made personal monetary donations. Pet's Best Friend Salon donated combs, brushes and clippers to the groomers in Louisiana to aid in the cleanup of the animals so badly soiled from the flood waters. As always, the victims are in our thoughts and prayers and may God bless each of you for your efforts. Wow! What a year!! Don't forget you can check us out online at www.petsbestfriendinc.com. Information on our services, products and community events are updated frequently. Take a moment to see what's happening, you might even see your pet's photo there!! We're looking forward to 2006 with you and your pets.
What's new at Pet's Best Friend? Contributed to the Telegram 07/25/05 Have
you ever wondered how your hairdresser stays “on top of their game”? How about your dog’s
groomer? Do styles change? Are there new and better products available to make your pet look his or her best? To find answers to these questions, Susan Baker, head
groomer/owner operator of Pet’s Best Friend Salon recently attended the 2005 National Dog Groomers Association of America’s “Carolina GroomFest” in Charlotte. Along with the new equipment, Susan also learned that “styles” change for dog breeds just like for humans. She also brought back a new Oatmeal Shampoo that we have been using for dogs that have particularly bad, itchy skin. As with all the shampoo used at Pet’s Best Friend Salon, this new shampoo is all natural, no chemicals added. This helps to ensure that your pet will not only have a relaxing bath, but a safe bath. Many shampoos on the market today have additives that tend to irritate skin, especially if the skin is already irritated, dry or itchy. As always, we strive to provide the best, complete care for your pet. Pet’s Best Friend Pet Sitting & Salon. We look forward to caring for your pet soon!! Stop by and see what’s been happening at 3240 Zebulon Road!
Pet's Best Friend is supporting the American Lung Association in its annual campaign by distributing purple wrist bands with "Breathe Easier Act Now" on them. The bands can be obtained at Pet's Best Friend for a donation of at least $1. "We are accepting donations, distributing wrist bands and putting purple bandanas on the dogs we groom and bathe during the campaign period," said Susan Baker, owner of Pet's Best Friend on Zebulon Road. The American Lung Association and GlaxoSmithKline are working together to promote asthma awareness. Together, they've launched the "Breath Easier" campaign. GlaxoSmithKline has provided the Lung Association with wristbands at no cost and will match the first $250,000 raised through the campaign. All proceeds will benefit the American Lung Association's asthma programs and the fight against lung disease.
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