Date: Fri 27-Feb-1998

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

business-pet-sitting-Jordan

Full Text:

Critter Sitters: Home Care For Rover

(with cut)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

Critter Sitters, a professional pet-sitting service, has opened in Newtown.

The firm will service pet owners in Newtown, Sandy Hook, and Bethel.

Critter Sitters provides in-home pet care as an alternative to kennels or

leaving pets in the care of neighbors or friends. Along with the pet care

visits, the company provides additional services to its clients, such as

bringing in newspapers and mail, watering plants, turning lights on and off,

and generally giving the home a "lived-in" look.

"Critter Sitters is fully bonded and insured," said Pete Jordan, owner of the

service. "Our goal is to make it easier for local pet owners to travel."

Mr Jordan said that using the pet-care service eliminates stress for both the

animals and their owners; the pets remain at home, in familiar surroundings,

and the owners will know that their homes are being looked after while they

are away.

Mr Jordan said the cost of the service depends upon the number of pets (up to

three are included in the basic rate) and how many times a day he makes a

visit to the home. For cats, no less than once a day; for dogs, two or more

times a day.

"Some people think cats can be safely left for a few days but a cat can

develop a urinary blockage or other problem and die in 24 hours," Mr Jordan

said. "It is important to check on them every day."

Mr Jordan said he spends 45 minutes to an hour with the pet, to play with and

exercise it.

Critter Sitters is a member of Pet Sitters International, an educational

organization for professional pet sitters, and Connecticut's Best Professional

Pet Sitters, he said.

Mr Jordan said he decided to open the business after becoming acquainted with

a similar operation in Maryland. A resident of Newtown for the past three

years, he previously was employed in corporate accounting for 17 years.

"I hated it," he admitted. "I thought about what I like to do -- I've always

liked working with animals -- and decided to open this business."

Interested persons may call 270-3696 for more information. Mr Jordan said

Critter Sitters prefers several days' notice before a client is planning to

leave town so that a sitter can visit the home, become familiar with the pets,

review needed services, and confirm the assignment.

The new business was established just in time for National Professional Pet

Sitters' Week (NPPSW), March 1-7, a week which recognizes the contributions of

professional pet sitters, many of whom spend 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days

a week, 365 days a year providing in-home pet care for thousands of pets of

all kinds, Mr Jordan said.

The week also presents an opportunity to broaden consumer awareness about the

advantages of using a professional pet sitter for in-home pet care. Pet

Sitters International has a toll-free locator line, 800/268-SITS (7487) that

helps owners find a pet sitter anywhere in the United States and Canada.

Track And Field Teams Compete At Masuk

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 27-Feb-1998

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