First of all, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the nice pet parents that have been coming out to our events! We've had repeat customers at our PetProductDelivery.com booth at several events. We appreciate you! :-D

This last weekend found us at Sunningdale Senior Living in Shenandoah, TX on Friday the 28th and then we were back at the Conroe Sunday Market on the 30th. What a weekend!

​Here are a few highlights starting with Sunningdale...

Norma M. was the WINNER of our drawing at Sunningdale (see above). She chose a Large Buba Chew for her prize!

A very special shout-out to Elsa, the manager of Sunningdale for inviting us back next month. :-D We all had such a great time. We really look forward to doing this again soon.

The weather could not have been nicer last Sunday at the Conroe Sunday Market. But, it did get warmer than any of us expected. Thank goodness for sunscreen! ;-D

Senor Poco de Amor was my co-pilot for this event (see below). The ladies were really lovin' on this little guy!

Meet this week's featured vendor, Tim Ballas (photo below). His company, located in Montgomery, TX, is truly unique. All Out Hooking creates CUSTOM lures for folks that love to go fishing. Their slogan is "Go catch a Monster!" If fishing is your passion, you absolutely MUST check out their website HERE.

Erma H. of Conroe, TX was the WINNER of our drawing on 4/30. We spoke on the phone, but she has not decided on her prize, yet. When she does, we will update this blog post accordingly.

If you missed us last weekend, no worries. PetProductDelivery.com will be at the Rayford Sunday Market in Spring, TX on May 7th. As always, we will be handing out lots of FREE samples for cats and dogs and will have a prize drawing, too. Hope to see you all there! 

This spring, PetProductDelivery.com is available at events several times a month and just about every weekend. In fact, we are sometimes at 2 or 3 events in 1 weekend. WOW! We invite you to come out and say hello. In the meantime, we're posting photos as we are able.

Our last 2 events were at Avanti Senior Living - Augusta Pines in Spring, Texas and the Conroe Sunday Market. We were busy at both events, so not as many photos as we would have liked. But, hopefully they convey that a good time was had by all!

Jana S. was the WINNER of our drawing at Avanti Senior Living - Augusta Pines on April 15th. She chose Mika & Sammy's Paw Lickin' Pumpkin Chicken for her prize! Her Labrador Retriever could not be present, so she showed an adorable photo of her pup on her cell phone. SO CUTE! (See below.)

This enthusiastic doggie was SO excited about all of the treats!

Special shout out to Crystal the Activities Director for allowing us to present a fun event for the pet lovin' residents of Avanti Senior Living - Augusta Pines.

The very next day PetProductDelivery.com was out in Conroe, TX. The weather was absolutely perfect and we met the nicest pet parents and some fur-kids, too. Check out these photos from the Conroe Sunday Market (see below)...

This week our vendor spotlight is on Fiercely You Boutique! Lexy (shown below) and Lydia are best friends. Lexy found that she was disappointed in the selection of clothing offered to plus size women, so she decided to partner with her long time pal and give ladies better, and in her words - CUTER,  options. If sassy styles in larger sizes is what you've been looking for, you can check them out HERE. They cater to many people with sizes from Small through 3X.

Last, but not least, CONGRATULATIONS to Alexis D. of Panorama Village, TX! She was the WINNER of our drawing at the Conroe Sunday Market and chose the Good Dog Rewards New Zealand Lamb Recipe as her prize. Since she was not present when her name was drawn we shipped the treats to her.

Want to meet us at our next event? Sign up for our eNewsletter on the HOME page of PetProductDelivery.com! Every week we send info on events, new products and more via email.

​Info is also posted to this blog which is usually updated about twice a week, so check back frequently.

See you all soon! :-D

When PetProductDelivery.com participates as a vendor at events locally and across the country, people sometimes ask us what exactly it is that we do. Primarily, we are Holistic Health Products for Pets delivered direct to your door or shipped anywhere in the world. But, to be fair, that is only part of the story. When asked how we differ from other online pet retailers, for the sake of brevity I usually answer, "Those retailers will sell you anything. We'll only carry what we know to be healthy for your pet." And that is 100% true. But, there is still more that you might want to know about us, so here's the entire 411 for our local friends as well as those living in far away places...

Local Services
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Small Animal Pet Sitting
Why should humans have all the fun? While you're away your small pet should have their own special vacay! We'll spoil your friend with lots of attention and we'll text photos of your little buddy having a good time. You choose the length and number of visits. Unlike other pet sitting services, we do not charge an extra fee for holidays or multiple pets!

Learn 2 Groom
Pet parents, are you nervous about dropping your little fur-kid off at the groomer? Do you enjoy brushing and bathing your pet at home? If so, I can teach you the basics of grooming your dog in your own home in about 2 - 4 hours. This service is available 7 days a week to fit YOUR schedule, by appointment. Your will save thousands of dollars by learning this skill.

Professional Grooming, Levels I, II or III
For those folks that are looking to change careers, I am happy to teach you. Naturally, it will take longer than grooming your pet at home: a minimum of 6 months to get the basics, up to 18 months if you want to be competitive. You'll have the advantage of learning from a National Certified Master Groomer with over 40 years experience. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for those that truly LOVE pets. Click HERE to learn more.

NEW! Pet Taxi
Need to get your pet to the vet or trainer, but can't get away from work? We'll do it for you! We will drive your pet anywhere within a 10 mile radius of our office. Give us a call to learn more: 832-549-1730

NEW! Pet Errands
How many times have you remembered that you need to pick up your pet's medication, but the vet was already closed? Do you have larger animals that need supplies picked up from the feed store? Are all those errands really inconvenient? Not anymore! We're here to help! Just give us a call: 832-549-1730

Services for anyone in the world

Product Consultation for Pet Parents
Confused about what to feed your pet? What's the difference between grain-free and other types of pet foods? Does it even matter? What are rendering plant ingredients? Which toys are safe for my pets? 

The wonderful world of pet products can be full of terminology and recommendations that change every few months. If your pet has food sensitivities or you just want honest answers about pet products in general, send us a text or email and we'll schedule a FREE consult for you: 832-549-1730 / [email protected]

Ask a Master Groomer (Online)
If you are already bathing and/or grooming your own pet @ home and would like some pointers, this is an excellent option for you. Don't miss this opportunity to schedule a live one-on-one with a National Certified Master Groomer via computer. Click HERE to set up your appointment.

Consultation for Pet Professionals
Whether you are starting your first pet business or have been in business for awhile, you may benefit from my many years of experience. As someone that has owned several pet storefronts in two major cities, I offer consulting services for the owners of all kinds of pet businesses. In addition, I have trained the staff of boarding kennels and doggie daycares, AND interviewed staff for those that really weren't sure how to screen new groomers or kennel techs. These services are completely confidential and can be offered in person or via ZOOM. Please, call for pricing and more information: 832-549-1730

Bottom Line...
PetProductDelivery.com is so much MORE than an online pet supply store! We are THE premiere site for today's busy pet parents...and fellow pet professionals, too!

Sincerely, 
 Sandy Stutz NCMG - owner
 PetProductDelivery.com

In this video we talk about ways that we can "vote" for companies and organizations that reflect our values. I share some of my personal and business affiliations that promote positive causes for pets and the people that love them.

PetProductDelivery.com
[email protected]
832-549-1730

National Association of Professional Pet Sitters 

The Bissel Foundation

aniMeals on Wheels

Survey 2023

Social Media:
LinkedIn 
facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

#cats #dogs #pets #ecofriendly #holistic #raw #sustainable #charity #gmofree #petsitter #adoptdontshop #values #allnatural #usa #mealsonwheels #rescue #rescuedogs #rescuecats #rescuecatsanddogs

Lately, I've seen a lot of dogs wearing red service animal vests in public that were not behaving like service animals. I've also become aware of advertisements online offering a "kit" containing a service animal vest, fake credentials and certificates so that pet parents can "take your pets with you everywhere." Is that okay? What exactly is a service animal and why should you or I care? 

In this article we're going to take a dive into the sometimes confusing terminology that separates service animals from emotional support and therapy animals. We'll also explore the important roles these animals play in the lives of millions of people. Stay with me 'til the end. I think you will enjoy learning more about this fascinating topic.

Service Animals

​Currently, only dogs can legally be recognized as service animals. But, what is it that they do? According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a DOG. It can be any breed and any size of dog trained to perform a task directly related to a person’s disability. For example, a person who uses a wheelchair may have a dog that is trained to retrieve objects for them. A person with a mental illness like depression might have a dog that is trained to perform a task to remind them to take their medication. If the dog is performing a TASK that is beneficial to the person with a disability, and it was trained specifically for that task, then that dog can be considered a service animal.

You might be surprised to learn that a service animal is NOT required to wear a red service dog vest. However, this vest is very important for some animals to make the public aware that the dog is WORKING and should not be distracted. Generally, businesses and non-profits that are open to the public as well as state/local governments must allow service animals to go most places where the public can go. This is true even if they have a “no pets” policy. 

So, here's where the problem comes in: Some pet parents will purchase a red service dog vest and pretend that their dog is a service animal so that they can have access to businesses where personal household pets are typically off limits. Since the household pet is not really performing a task, the pet parent may invite members of the public to pet and play with their animal which sends the WRONG message. Also, if the (fake service) animal is untrained and out of control, this is even worse as it makes life very difficult for people with disabilities that need their service animal to work for them without distraction. For example, if someone from the general public has mistaken a fake service animal for the real thing, they may try to interact with a REAL service dog while it is working. Another possibility is that after seeing an out-of-control animal wearing a red service dog vest, they may not want to allow service animals in public at all due to the expectation of bad behavior.

FAKE service animals create situations that are a lose - lose scenario for everyone, most notably the disabled.

At this point you might be wondering about animals wearing a blue vest. Those are emotional support animals. They do NOT have the same privileges as service animals because  providing emotional support or comfort is not a task related to a person’s disability. An emotional support animal can be absolutely any species that provides comfort for the handler. A service animal can only be a DOG.

To be clear, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, then it is an emotional support animal. It is not a service animal under the ADA.

Since service animals can go anywhere to assist their human handler, they are also allowed on airplanes and all public transportation. Emotional support animals are required to obey the same rules as any other household pets when flying. They must remain in their carrier during the flight. The Air Carrier Access Act, not the ADA, protects the rights of people with disabilities in air travel. It is important to protect people with disabilities and their service animals. Therefore, any person violating those rights should be reported. For information or to file a complaint when traveling, contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, Aviation Consumer Protection Division: 202-366-2220.

A business or state/local government can ask someone to remove their service animal if:

• The dog is not housebroken.
• The dog is out of control, and the person cannot get the dog under control.

And, let's face it, if the dog is not housebroken and if it is out of control, it is probably not a real service animal. It is most likely a FAKE service animal.

Therapy Animals

Animal therapy or pet therapy refers to the use of animals as a way to help people cope with and recover from some physical and mental health conditions. Any type of animal can be chosen to do this work. 

The goal of animal assisted therapy is to alleviate or help people with mental or physical conditions and cope with some symptoms of various conditions where possible. Animal therapy builds on a concept called the human-animal bond, which describes people’s desire to interact with and relate to animals. For many people, by interacting with a friendly animal, they can form a bond with them. This bond can produce a calming state in the person. Some of the goals of using a therapy animal are:

• providing comfort and reducing levels of pain
• improving movement or motor skills
• developing social or behavioral skills
• increasing motivation toward activities such as exercise or interacting with others

Some individuals that do not have a disability, but who may wish to help others, can train their own pets to be therapy animals. This is very rewarding volunteer work that not only helps other human beings, but it can be a wonderful opportunity for the pet as well. If this sounds interesting to you, then you may wish to contact an organization called Pets with a Mission. They are one of many all-volunteer, charity organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals through interactions with our animal companions. Pets with a Mission works primarily with dogs, but there are many other groups working with other animals.

Finally, I want to leave you with a beautiful story about a VIP service dog's last flight on Southwest Airlines. These animals serve others their entire lives and deserve our deepest respect. I hope this video touches your heart and inspires you to consider the rights and beauty of this kind of animal. Enjoy:

Kaya the Service Dog - Last Flight

Cole and Kaya's Story

The human - animal bond is one that goes back for many, many generations. As we spend so much time interacting with our companions at home and in public, it is important to communicate our expectations about their behavior to them in a way that is fun and rewarding for all involved. For more information about teaching your own dog to be a Canine Good Citizen and perhaps trying some training as a therapy or service animal, I recommend this book:

Canine Good Citizen - The Official AKC Guide 2nd Edition by Mary R. Burch, PhD.

It will take you step-by-step through the 10 essential skills every dog should know. You'll have fun training your pet and your best friend will enjoy it, too!

For positive reinforcement during training, you'll want to keep a high value reward in your pocket or in a treat bag worn on your belt or around your waist. These air-dried treats are my absolute favorites because they are clean in your hand, healthy for pets and dogs go crazy for them:
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​Good Dog Rewards New Zealand Beef Recipe

​Good Dog Rewards New Zealand Lamb Recipe

​Good Dog Rewards New Zealand Venison Recipe

Did you enjoy this article about service, emotional support and therapy animals? What other topics would you like me to write about? Let me know in the comments below.

Lots of love and best wishes to you all and our animal friends!

Gosh, PetProductDelivery.com had three events in one week: March 19 - 25. Can anyone get too much of a good thing? If it involves talking with pet parents about Holistic Health Products for Pets and enjoying their wonderful fur-kids, then my answer is definitely, No Way!

In case you cannot make it out to one of our events for FREE samples, coupons and prizes, you can enjoy these FUN photos. (We posted photos from 3/19 last week. These are from 3/24 & 3/25.) Check them out!

On Friday the 24th we were located in front of The Biltmore Apartment Homes from 6 - 8p. food truck style! The neighbors were awesome. This community is luxurious and centrally located to all The Woodlands, TX has to offer. If you're looking for a pet friendly, quiet and serenely beautiful apartment community, this is the place! Did I mention that Tamarac Park has a LARGE dog park directly behind The Biltmore?  (See all photos, below.)

Brenda M., a resident at The Biltmore, won our drawing on 3/24. She chose the Northwest Naturals Raw Rewards Single Ingredient Shrimp Treats for cats and dogs as her pet's prize!

The very next morning, The city of Oak Ridge North (just the other side of I-45 from The Woodlands) hosted Dogapalooza! It was held in the Mary Edgar Park on a beautiful, sunny Saturday. What an event it was! People turned out en-masse with their kiddos and fur-friends. We were fortunate to be located under one of the pavilions, but there were activities (like a pet photographer, training demonstrations, ect.), food trucks, and vendors all over this large park. If you missed it, I'm told they will offer this event again next year. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these photos (see below)...

The super heroes of this event were Operation Pets Alive. They brought dogs for adoption and were receiving donations. Please, consider supporting this worthwhile cause. They save hundreds of animals every year.

Many pet parents stopped by our PetProductDelivery.com booth, so most of the photos were taken from there. There was no time to walk around to get other photos! (See below.)

This young lady (pictured below) was showing me a sweet puppy for adoption. Moments later a woman ran over and adopted the puppy on the spot! How awesome is that!?!

Some dogs were walked in on leash, some were carried and others...well, they were ROLLED in! :-D

You never have to look far to meet nice people. Matthew Britton (see photo below) is a financial advisor for EdwardJones and was my next door vendor at Dogapalooza. He said that he grew up in New Zealand and used to work in logistics, but prefers his current vocation because he likes building relationships with clients. Now he and his family live in The Woodlands. You can learn more about his services by clicking HERE.

John T. of Oak Ridge North, TX was the WINNER of our drawing on 3/25. He chose a bag of Steve's Real Food Freeze-Dried Raw White Fish Recipe for dogs and cats for his prize. Since he was not present when we drew his name, we delivered the package direct to his door!

I hope you enjoyed viewing these photos as much as we enjoyed taking them and meeting everyone. 

Our next events will be at the Sunningdale Apartments in Shenandoah, TX on April 7 and then we're back at the Rayford Sunday Market in Spring, TX on April 16. Hope to see you all soon!