Vaccine Notification

Attention Customers:  We are changing how we notify customers regarding vaccines.  Please sign up to received email updates for when our records indicate your dog is due do for vaccines.  We have a sign up sheet on our front counter.  We will be replacing our courtesy vaccine reminder phone call service with our new courtesy vaccine email system.  We will be discontinuing our vaccine phone calls as of June 30^th 2014.  When you sign up keep posted for a tester email from us, please respond to this email to ensure that we have the correct email address.  Make sure to add us to your address book to ensure the email does not go to spam or junk mail folder.  We are updating our system so even if you think we already have your information please fill out the information again.  You can also email us your email address along with your first and last name (as it is on your account), dog’s name and your email address to info@preferredpetcare.com.  Thank you!

Preferred Pet Care, Inc. Announced Full Facility Back-up Generator

Preferred Pet Care, Inc.  Announced Full Facility Back-up Generator

April 11^th, 2014

Maplewood, NJ- Preferred Pet Care, Inc. has been a resident of Maplewood, New Jersey for the past six years.  Preferred Pet Care, Inc. is proud to announce that our new brand new Honeywell generator has been installed and turned on! 

After Hurricane Sandy, like many of you Preferred Pet Care, Inc. experienced power failure.  Rain, snow, sleet, or wind will not stop us from taking care of our pups.  During Hurricane Sandy Preferred Pet Care, Inc. lost power for 8 days, during that time though we were still opened for daycare and boarding.  We operated on a modified schedule, operating mainly on daylight hours.  At the time Preferred Pet Care, Inc. was using a small portable generator for space heaters in the building.  Despite that our phone system was down we communicated and kept our customers up to date via Facebook and Twitter.  We are always striving to be the best and do what is in the best interest of the dogs.  Although we got through the storm, we felt that we needed to raise the bar by installing a full facility generator. 

At Preferred Pet Care, Inc. our policy is “Dog’s come first”, so with that in mind we recently purchased a 70 kilowatt generator.  If the power goes out, no need to fret, our generator switches on automatically all within seconds.  In a power outage all three air conditioning units, exhaust fans, and air sanitizing systems will still be in full service.  The generator is remotely monitored by Preferred Pet Care, Inc. as well as our service company.  Plus our generator runs on natural gas, so no need for refueling, and it meets EPA clean air standards.  There’s no concern regarding spilling or storage issues of diesel and it is in continuous supply.  So that means our generator will run as long as necessary—until the power is restored.  Portable generators can be loud, and we want to make sure your pup has a good night of sleep.  With our new backup generator it features a low-speed automotive style engine that runs at only 1800 rpm during a power outage, making it not only incredibly quiet but also extremely efficient. 

So the next time you’re traveling, looking for daycare or away on vacation you can rest easy knowing your pup is at Preferred Pet Care, Inc. 

A day in the life of Oscar... Part 2

A Day in the Life of Oscar…

I’m sure many of you “know” Oscar, our resident big, white Akita mix with two different color eyes.  Oscar has decided to retire to a fabulous resort with around the clock care, a spacious room, constant playtime and pampering.  Maybe you’ve heard of this place?  It’s Preferred Pet Care!  Oscar has been staying at Preferred Pet Care for the past couple months.  He’s been helping to train the new employees and to show the new pups the ropes.  Oscar was kind enough to fit us into his schedule to give us a little of an update on what he’s been doing at Preferred Pet Care Inc.

Hello again!  Thanks for checking back in with me to see what I’ve been up to.  Well in September I made a very hard decision and decided to retire and moved in at Preferred Pet Care.  I have a beautiful spacious room in the yellow section, with easy access to the yard and a great view.  It was a hard decision, but I decided it was time.  Every now and then I do miss my family, but they come and visit. 

Let me tell you about my day.  I wake up Monday-Friday promptly at 7am and I’m ready to start my day.  On the weekends I sleep in a little bit.  I start my day by running out to the playgroup.  Some days we are in yard 1 there is a lovely flowering tree in the summer and an umbrella.  In yard 2 there is the most shade, one of the big tents cover about 80% of the yard, it’s a great yard to run and play ball in.  Yard 3 is probably the yard we are in the most.  Yard 3 is the yard that’s hooked up to the TV in the upfront office; it has a tent and a little patio area.  I think it would be great if we could have a fire pit in there, wouldn’t that be wonderful on a brisk autumn night?  Yard 4 is the yard right next to the parking lot, this yard also typically has the little playhouses that everyone likes to hang out in.  Lastly Yard 5 is the final yard, this yard also has a tent it’s almost a perfect square.  When the group is small or if there is a small play group created we will then use this yard.  Many times yard 5 is reserved for taxi dogs or for dogs that get individual attention. 

As I said earlier, my room is in the yellow section.  If you haven’t seen it let me tell you about how this lovely resort is setup.  I have a double room, so that means I have a 6 by 8 room. Single rooms are 4 by 6, doubles are 6 by 8, and the rooms with an indoor/outdoor run are 4 by 12.  At night while I lie in my bed I can even gaze at the stars through the sun-light above my room.  I get an unblemished night of sleep on my Kuranda Bed, just the right firmness for me.  The sun-lights throughout the building allow for the natural light to wake me up in the morning.  The temperature in my room is always to my liking, never too hot or too cold.  I’m very excited that soon enough we will have a generator so I won’t have to worry about power outages.  

My day is composed of running the playgroup, meeting new dogs, getting love and attention from the staff, and occasionally napping.  I’ve slimmed down a little since I retired here.  It’s certainly not due to the food; I love the Fromm Adult Gold dry kibble.  I’ve also been getting so much activity I might even be in the best shape of my life.  I have to say retiring is extremely rewarding.  I get to meet so many new dogs all the time; I’ve made so many friends.  Over the Christmas holiday there were 108 dogs (if you include me) boarding overnight at Preferred Pet Care- that’s a lot of new friends!  I can’t wait to see if any of my new friends will be boarding over Presidents week in February.  (If you haven’t booked your pup yet for boarding please call the office at (973)762-7007 to schedule their boarding stay). 

I’m pleased with my decision to retire to Preferred Pet Care.  The staff is fantastic, the cuisine is magnificent, and my room is extremely comfortable.  Not a single complaint, everything is to my liking.  Well I must go, time to get back to my daily activities. 

December 2013 Calendar

Yippie Gimli & Hira!

We have had for the past 2 months two adorable French Bulldogs, Gimli & Hira boarding with us.  Their owners moved overseas and needed to get everything in order before they could arrive.  We are delighted to say they have arrived in their new home, Singapore safe and sound.  

Hello Seth, Crystal and the gang.                                                                       11/12/13

Gimli and Hira are now in the air - Wonderful! We greatly appreciate you guys sending the kids off with lots of love. We were able to rest assured knowing that our babies were in your care for the entire 2 months while waiting to be transported to Singapore to reunite with us. You're THE "Preferred" Pet Care, indeed!

Big thanks for our friend who recommended you guys when we moved from San Francisco to Manhattan in 2009. We'd been sending our girls to Preferred Pet Care every time we needed to go on a long trip (5 to 20 days) since then. This means at least a few long-term overnight boardings a year over the past 4 years before having to relocate to Singapore (for work) a couple of months ago. Every time to and from PPC, the girls looked happy and never had any health issue after any stays. We know they had a good time. And that they always got the TLC from you guys. 

Their most recent and last stay (only because now we've all been relocated to Asia) happened to be the longest - 8 weeks! We made the right decision to leave our girls with you. You guys have been responsive and kind to accommodate all of our needs, be it the extra milk runs, the day trip to their vet in Manhattan and the caring packing for departure. You've also been doing a great job coordinating with our animal hospital and pet relocation agents. We truly appreciate your being a great home away from home for our babies. We would recommend Preferred Pet Care to our friends. Most definitely, we will stick with you when we move back to NYC!

Thank you so much and BIG HUGS to all of you! 

Chantima and Parames

Hi guys,                                                                                                11/15/13

Great news. The girls just arrived safe and sound last evening. It was also a nice coincident that the rain came down for a while around their landing time as well. So heat was not an issue at all. Our pet agent told us that upon arrival Hira's appetite was really good although they had to hand feed Gimli. Then Hira kept coming for Gimli's food after she finished hers! Haha Doesn't it sound familiar? I can just picture it...haha

Anyway, they were spending last night in a pet facility at the airport. Later today, they'll be transferred to the quarantine facility where they'll stay for another 10 days before coming home to us. The facility looks quite nice. We talked to our new friend here and she confirmed had only heard nice things about this place. we are resting assured. And now, so can you @^_^@

Happy Friday, everyone!

Chantima

Help Snickers!

Please help Snickers Find a New Home!!!!

Pup Looking for a New Family

Snickers needs a new home. He’s a two-year-old male

Aussie-Pug-Beagle mix and weighs about 25 pounds. He

is really smart, playful, and loyal and learns quickly.

This energetic pup has been well cared for and has

thrived with a loving family, but lives on a very busy

street and the constant stream of bikes, cars, people

and dogs going by make him anxious.

He’s looking for a new family, ideally on a quieter

street with a fenced-in yard. Snickers has been well

socialized, is house-broken, up-to-date on all his

shots, and has been neutered and microchipped.

Snickers is a fun pup who loves to play and is ready for

a new home!

For more information, please contact Ingrid @

ingridturner123@hotmail.com or 862-205-1753

Doggie DNA? Part 1 of 2

Do you have a mutt?  Have you ever wondered about what kind of breed your dog could be? 

Obviously you love your pup, but wouldn't you like to know what they could possibly be mixed with?  Do you really think they are the breed mix they were labeled at the shelter?  Labrador retriever mix?  Shepherd mix?  Hound mix?  Pitt mix?

Wouldn't it be interesting to see what breeds they really are?  I wondered how accurate are these DNA tests that can be purchased in pet stores and online.  I decided to do a little research of my own.  Breed tests have been sold in the United States for about six years.  The process that can match DNA sequences (microsatellite genotypes) to specific dog breeds, with reportedly 90% accuracy in trials.  The breed test’s accuracy depends largely on the number of breed-related genetic markers in the database.  If the company has more breed markers than the better and more accurate the result will be.  Of course these DNA results are not 100%, but perhaps they could give some insight into your curiosity of your pup.

My interest in discovering what breeds my pups could be sparked after reading an article on MSN in July regarding Ohio’s dog breed mandate.  Check it out here: http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/dog-owners-use-dna-tests-to-fight-mistaken-breed-identity?stay=1.

I have two shelter dogs. 

Dallas was labeled as a husky mix when he was rescued.  He has one blue eye and one brown eye.  Dallas has a double coat that is two toned-salt and pepper coloring; even though he has short hair he does go through seasonal shedding. Dallas is about 75 pounds with a big head, big ears, and stubborn as anything personality.

Natalya was said to be a Shepherd mix.  She’s about 55 pounds of sweetness, but don’t let her fool you.  She’s extremely protective of any place she considers her home and is very vocal.  Natalya has strong prey instincts.  She has brown and tan coloring, with extremely soft fur (like she never lost that “puppy fur” feel), and black spots on her tongue. 

I decided why not lets see what these tests have to say about my shepherd mix and my husky mix.  I purchased the Wisdom Panel 2.0.  It claims to detect 100% AKC Breeds, Mixed breed dogs (Breed ancestry identification back to great-grandparents), Purebred dogs (Certification and level of genetic diversity inbreeding), Designer dogs (Certification that your dog is a true 50/50 hybrid of two purebred parents), gives an adult weight range prediction, breed insights, and covers +200 breeds and varieties.  Wisdom Panel test is preformed by the Mars Veterinary, which is a division of Mars® Incorporated.  Mars Veterinary has been one of the leaders in genetic testing for dogs. 

My DIY kit was extremely easy to use.  Directions were easy to follow.  Your pup can’t eat (have a meal or a treat) for two hours before hand.  You open one of the cotton swabs and you swab between your pup’s cheek and upper gum.  They provide you two cotton swabs so that they may compare the results from the two.  After you’re done swabbing for at least 15 seconds you let the cotton swabs air dry for five minutes.  Once they’re dry you put them back in their slips.  Activate your kit, fill out the code on the prepaid shipping label, and drop it in the mailbox.  Voila you’re done! 

The test takes about 2-3 weeks for results.  However you can track your pups test progress online.

Now, is the waiting game….  Check back in 2-3 weeks…