Pets Need Not Be Left Out In The Cold, Even When Their Owners Leave Home
Curbside grooming company expands services to include pet-sitting and dog-walking

JUPITER, FL (December 15, 2006) – Bright-Eyed Pets (BE Pets), a curbside grooming service in the North Palm Beach Area, announced today that it has expanded its services to include in-home pet care. Just over a year ago, the company’s founders, Tim and Jessica Vogel, first began to bring mobile grooming vans right to pet owners’ doors, eliminating the hassle and stress of visits to the grooming shop. “We’ve seen a tremendous response to our mobile salons,” said Tim Vogel. “People love the fact that their pets are cared for in such a personal way just steps away from their front door.”

Clients loved his curbside conveniences so much, in fact, that Vogel began to think about ways to provide additional home-oriented services to further meet the needs of his busy clients. After receiving constant requests for pet-sitting referrals, he recognized the need for dependable in-home pet care, and so he began to focus on the creation of this new enterprise.

According to the American Pet Association, there are almost 63 million dogs in the United States, and close to 77 million cats for a total of 140 million pets. Over 70 million dogs and cats receive Christmas gifts from their owners, and some owners claim to be as attached to their pets as their best friends, their children and their spouses. The important role of pets in our lives is clear from these statistics, and the estimated $38 billion in pet spending in 2006 show us that many owners want only the best care for their beloved animals.

For many owners, having to kennel their pets is by far the most anxiety-producing aspect of leaving home. In-home pet sitting can significantly lessen the anxiety of both the pet and the owner when separation becomes necessary. The Human Society states that “A pet sitter may be preferable if your pet is timid or elderly and needs the comfort of familiar surroundings during your absence.” In-home care offers countless advantages. No transportation of pets to an unfamiliar location is required, and non-routine crating is never an issue. Most importantly, contact with other, unfamiliar animals is limited, so exposure to the threat of illness or aggressive behavior is virtually eliminated.

BE Pets’ Home Pet Care division provides mid-day walks as well as pet-sitting services, including overnight stays. Their sitting services include many additional options such as changing lighting and blinds, watering plants, and mail collection. Owners can rest easy knowing their pets, and their homes, are being personally attended to in their absence.

In an initial consultation, a Home Pet Care employee gathers all pertinent information regarding an owner’s pet and home and obtains a set of keys. Once a customer’s profile is established in this way, scheduling for any future services is accomplished with a brief phone call.

According to Vogel, the use of up-to-the minute technology is one of the many benefits that set BE Pets apart from its competition. Internet-based scheduling software allows sitters to access a customer-specific profile before each service call. Sitters report in upon completion of every job and are required to update a log for each location regularly, allowing for secure and reliable in-home care. BE Pets is bonded and insured, and each sitter is background checked and then educated extensively through BE Pets’ training program. Their full network of pet-sitters provide back-up so that pets are reliably cared for in a timely and consistent manner.

Adds Vogel, “Our clients have already come to rely on us for professional and convenient grooming care, and we’re excited that we can now become their trusted choice in pet-sitting services as well. After all, my wife and I are pet owners ourselves, and we wouldn’t consider leaving our dog with anyone but the most dependable caregiver out there.”

About Bright-Eyed Pets
BE Pets was founded in 2005 in an effort to make it easier for dedicated and busy pet owners to give their pets the best care. The company currently operates a fleet of grooming vehicles in Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens and Tequesta and serves over 1,000 pets. BE Pets also provides in-home care including pet sitting and dog walking services.

More information is available via the company’s website at www.bepets.com or by calling 561-743-7387.