Thursday, February 13, 2014

Happy Valentine's Day From Paul, Dudley & Sing-Sing

Hi Friends!

A Very Special Day Is Fast Approaching -- Love Is In The Air -- And Are You Prepared?

The love of your life is... an animal!  What do you give Fido, Felix, or Polly for Valentine's Day?  Here are some playful and yummy ideas for Valentine's Day pet gifts.

Who doesn't hang out with best friends, won't gossip about you, never leaves the toilet seat up, and adores you even if you've put on 10 pounds and you haven't shaved in a week?  That's right - your pet!  Dog, cat or bird, their world revolves around you... and food, of course.

So, when you're shopping for Valentine's Day gifts, don't forget to pick one up for the one sweetie who will love you to the ends of the earth, or at least, to the end of the leash.

Why have 'em if you can't spoil 'em!  I'm referring to pets, not kids.  So many of us do spoil them.  How many times have we tossed a special pet treat or surprise into the grocery cart while shopping? In fact, in my opinion, there are some who treat their pets better than they treat their spouses.  Could there be some truth in that?  If our spouses or significant others bark at us, we bark back.  If our dog barks at us... what do we do?  We give him a treat.  Yes, you are right, doing so is rewarding potentially behavior we are hoping to curb and eliminate.  A treat doesn't exactly send the right message and is the right course of action.  Admit it though, there are some occasions when you have given a treat inappropriately.

I am taking the liberty to offer some gift suggestions for your pets on Valentine's Day.  If you're stymied on what to pick up for Fluffy or Big Boy, consider some of these. They're not all practical, but they're fun... just like Valentine's Day.

DOGS

  • Treats Unleashed Freshly Baked In-Store Gourmet Dog Cookies.  I have to tell you, these cookies are yummy-looking enough to tempt even a human bite!  These eye-catching cookies are soft-baked with organic grains and flours from recipes especially designed around the health and well being of pets.
  • Stuffed animals: No. They're not edible, but your pup will sure have fun playing with these adorable fuzzy stuffed monkeys, lions elephants and mice.
  • Hol-ee Roller by JW Pet:  This is a durable honey combed ball chew toy that your dog can't destroy. It comes in small, medium and large dog sizes and in a variety of bright colors. Jimbo may even let you play with it too.
  • Talking Rose Dog Toy:  Made of plush, velvety material, this dog toy rose says, "I love you, I love you" when squeezed. It comes in large and small dog sizes. A little squeeze by your pup will get the message across.
  •  Petco Cudller Bed:  We all like a soft, cuddly bed for a nice afternoon snooze. Your dog does too. Cozy, new beds are always great for Valentine's Day pet gifts.

CATS

  • Crazy Circle by Pet Mate:  Drive your cat crazy chasing this ball around in circles. Various companies manufacture similar toys. Cats love 'em and they entertain us too.
  • Chill Pill by Loopies:  These 3 1/2 inch long plush pill-shaped cat toys are filled with catnip and fit nicely in a pair of paws. These are pills your cat will love taking!
  • Bellyrubs:  It's no secret that cats love fish, so the scent of these fat, dry flakes made from 100% Bonita tuna should really drive Tiger wild. This treat is rich in Omega 3's, making it healthy too.
  • Kong Kickeroo:  Your kitty will enjoy wrestling with this rectangular stuffed toy. Not only does it have a tail and appeals to its instinctive desire to stalk and capture prey, but it also has the enticing aroma of catnip.
  • Peacock Feathers:  If you're looking for a gift that's inexpensive and catches your cat's attention, then a peacock feather is the answer. After all, we know cats are so easy to entertain.

HOMEMADE Valentine's Day pet gifts on a budget!

Don't leave your pet out of the Valentine's Day celebrations just because times are tight, be creative!
DOGS: Knot together your old, holey socks. Right off your feet is the smell they like best.

CATS: ANY empty box. It's as simple as that... any empty box!

A lot of people, with this economy the way it is, will eat macaroni and cheese before they cut back anything for their pets." For many of us, that means Valentine's Day pet gifts, as well.

And, among other things, my birds Dudley and Sing-Sing love to sing and dance.  I have exposed them to a wide variety of styles of music.  But, when I asked Dudley and Sing-Sing what is it that they wanted to share with you.  Dudley and Sing-Sing responded:

We wish everyone and their animal companions much Love and Happiness....and For Your Listening Pleasure:

St. Louis' own Jazz Saxophonist Extraordinaire David Sanborn performing Al Green's "Love and Happiness"

David Sanborn Love And Happiness

A Special Valentine's To A Beautiful Boxer I Love and Adore -- Audrey!  Love and Miss You!

Happy Valentine's With Love & Happiness!

Paul

Paul F. Flotron
Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC
"Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve"
314-200-8561
Cell:  314-775-7107

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Pet Ministry & Pet Therapy


Hi Friends!

Animal companions have become an important part of our culture and more and more places are starting to welcome and accommodate pets. It's becoming common to see hotels with dog beds, stores with water dishes out front and even car companies designing vehicles with pets in mind.
Religious groups are no exception.  Churches have long held blessing of the animal events and some are inviting pets to attend service.  But some congregations are starting pet ministries in order to reach and connect with animal lovers on a new level.

In 1997, when my grandmother moved into a nursing home, I wanted to make sure she was aware of the depth of my love.  So, I committed myself to visiting her frequently and to bring my parrot Dudley along.  My grandma always found Dudley so fascinated and just loved Dudley.  I got a kick out of how my grandma would even bake for Dudley.  Delicious goodies like Rice Krispy Treats, cookies, and apple pies.  Undeniably, my grandma and I enjoyed a wonderful close relationship but Dudley must have really been the "apple of her eye," since she baked especially for Dudley.  Though I enjoyed a close relationship with my grandmother, to receive even a little bite of the treats she baked for Dudley, I had to be especially good.

So, I became involved in pet therapy, visiting residents in nursing homes 15 years ago.  As I mentioned, breaking into pet ministry for me resulted from a personal motivation.  Not unlike anything, there was a journey and periods of growth, transitions from one stage to another.  A few years later, I became a member of a large, non-denominational evangelical church and was asked to lead its pet therapy team.  In addition to directing the pet therapy team, I developed a passion to support animal rescue organizations and to build a support network to make a difference in the lives of animals and throughout the animal community.  I launched an animal lovers group called Noah's Ark, a pet ministry that organizes pet-food drives, fundraisers for a local rescue group, pet therapy visits, a pet loss support group and a Bible study that discusses animal-related passages.  Lately, I have integrated the many areas of my pet ministry into my pet care business, Creature Comforts Great & Small.

I commend the faith community.  More and more churches include animals for adoption in their weekly bulletins, host adoption events and run vaccine clinics.
As a testament to this growing trend, the Humane Society of the United States hired a liaison to religious communities in 2007.  Now there are animal ministries in every state. Next month, the Humane Society will be launching a directory of affiliated ministries on their website.

In fact, you can read about me and my pet ministry in a New York Times article "Churches Take Steps To Show Their Love For Animals," in the following link:


Through parts of the faith community partnering with the animal community, animals in need are receiving the help they are so desperately in need.  It is still in the embryonic stage as many churches still do not have a pet ministry.  But more animal events are being held which may include blessing of the animals and a holiday “giving tree” that collects supplies for the local shelter).  In turn, churches and the faith community as a whole are inspiring a lot of people in their congregation to get plugged in to a pet ministry and share stories of beloved pets and connect with each other in a different way.

Animal lovers are an amazing community of people, so pet ministries seem like a great way to get like-minded people together for a good cause.

Does your church, synagogue or faith institution have a pet ministry?  If so, I would love to hear more.  If not and you are interested in learning about how to begin a pet ministry, please contact me.

Thank You and God Bless You!

Warmly,

Paul

Paul F. Flotron
Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC
"Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve"
314-200-8561
Cell:  314-775-7107


Pet Ministry & Pet Therapy

Hi Friends!

Animal companions have become an important part of our culture and more and more places are starting to welcome and accommodate pets. It's becoming common to see hotels with dog beds, stores with water dishes out front and even car companies designing vehicles with pets in mind.
Religious groups are no exception.  Churches have long held blessing of the animal events and some are inviting pets to attend service.  But some congregations are starting pet ministries in order to reach and connect with animal lovers on a new level.

In 1997, when my grandmother moved into a nursing home, I wanted to make sure she was aware of the depth of my love.  So, I committed myself to visiting her frequently and to bring my parrot Dudley along.  My grandma always found Dudley so fascinated and just loved Dudley.  I got a kick out of how my grandma would even bake for Dudley.  Delicious goodies like Rice Krispy Treats, cookies, and apple pies.  Undeniably, my grandma and I enjoyed a wonderful close relationship but Dudley must have really been the "apple of her eye," since she baked especially for Dudley.  Though I enjoyed a close relationship with my grandmother, to receive even a little bite of the treats she baked for Dudley, I had to be especially good.

So, I became involved in pet therapy, visiting residents in nursing homes 15 years ago.  As I mentioned, breaking into pet ministry for me resulted from a personal motivation.  Not unlike anything, there was a journey and periods of growth, transitions from one stage to another.  A few years later, I became a member of a large, non-denominational evangelical church and was asked to lead its pet therapy team.  In addition to directing the pet therapy team, I developed a passion to support animal rescue organizations and to build a support network to make a difference in the lives of animals and throughout the animal community.  I launched an animal lovers group called Noah's Ark, a pet ministry that organizes pet-food drives, fundraisers for a local rescue group, pet therapy visits, a pet loss support group and a Bible study that discusses animal-related passages.  Lately, I have integrated the many areas of my pet ministry into my pet care business, Creature Comforts Great & Small.

I commend the faith community.  More and more churches include animals for adoption in their weekly bulletins, host adoption events and run vaccine clinics.
As a testament to this growing trend, the Humane Society of the United States hired a liaison to religious communities in 2007.  Now there are animal ministries in every state. Next month, the Humane Society will be launching a directory of affiliated ministries on their website.

In fact, you can read about me and my pet ministry in a New York Times article "Churches Take Steps To Show Their Love For Animals," in the following link:


Through parts of the faith community partnering with the animal community, animals in need are receiving the help they are so desperately in need.  It is still in the embryonic stage as many churches still do not have a pet ministry.  But more animal events are being held which may include blessing of the animals and a holiday “giving tree” that collects supplies for the local shelter).  In turn, churches and the faith community as a whole are inspiring a lot of people in their congregation to get plugged in to a pet ministry and share stories of beloved pets and connect with each other in a different way.

Animal lovers are an amazing community of people, so pet ministries seem like a great way to get like-minded people together for a good cause.

Does your church, synagogue or faith institution have a pet ministry?  If so, I would love to hear more.  If not and you are interested in learning about how to begin a pet ministry, please contact me.

Thank You and God Bless You!

Warmly,

Paul

Paul F. Flotron
Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC
"Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve"
314-200-8561
Cell:  314-775-7107

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

I Appreciate You!

To My Valued Clients - You Are My Friends and You Are My Family --

I am writing to you because I am at a loss for words.  Irony?  Obviously, not a loss in the written but the spoken.  Many of you who know me I'm sure are quite shocked.  Paul is struggling to express himself and not able to communicate?  Cough Cough, smirks, laughter.....

The key words here are "feeling a loss."  At the moment, I'm shedding some tears as one of my wonderful clients is moving out of state.  This client is a family made up of the most wonderful people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing.  I frequently share with them the long and winding road I have been in my career path.  And, yet, I happily acknowledge that starting my pet care business 5 years ago has been the best decision I've ever made.  This family is a great example why.

You see, they are my family.  I love them like my own family.  I love their adorable dog, Audrey as she were my very own.  Another "adopted family" of mine will be moving out of state soon.  Their dog Delilah and cat Farley mean the world to me -- I love them dearly.  Family, that's a strong word.  For me, it means to feel secure, to have someone who you can count on, who shares your problems.  But, it also means to have respect for each other and responsibility.

And, I not only believe in the importance in the Family, but I believe in the importance of a relationship.  My strong beliefs, values and philosophies are all centered on relationships.  I am committed to cultivating the best relationship with you and your pets.  But, without love as the foundation and cornerstone, the relationship can not be built.

What is love?

There are many different definitions.
Some say it's a feeling.  Others say its an emotion.  While still others contend it's a verb.

Whatever it is… it's powerful.

A plethora of songs, books, poems and sayings have been written about this potent word.

There have even been wars fought and people murdered in the name of love.

Love comes in many forms and variations…

From the simplest uses like Hannibal's one-liner, "I love it when a plan comes together" to the more complex form, like the love a parent has for a child.

Having been married once, but a number of years ago yet without any children, besides my family the greatest love in my life has been without a doubt my birds — Dudley & Sing-Sing.

Dudley and Sing-Sing are extremely intelligent, loving and loyal.  They mean the world to me.  I couldn't have asked for a better lifelong companions.

Though Sing-Sing has only been with me since 2006, Dudley has shared many life experiences with me over the past 21 years.  Dudley has been with me during some

of the most pivotal times in my life.
… my first true heartbreak
… marriage, divorce and attempt at reconciliation of my marriage for almost 4 years
… buying my first house
… relocating to Southern California, returning back home to St. Louis, and various moves
... job/career changes
.... pet therapy/pet ministry at churches, nursing homes....
.... and finally, finally seeing me pursue the biggest love of my life...working with animals -- establishing a pet care business

It's nuts to think that you can develop such a bond and kinship with an animal that can't even speak your language.
But why is that?

After thinking about it I think it's simply because I "take care of them" and there is mutual trust, respect and unconditional love...and they depend on me — we depend upon one another.  I am their care giver.

You take care of someone long enough and it's impossible not to feel some sort of bond.  Doesn't matter if it's an 80 year old stranger or a 3 month old infant, the longer you "care" for them the more you develop a bond… and the more you care for their well-being.

Well, I hope you know how much I care about you and your animal companions.  That is why you hear people like Jay Abraham and other "gurus" talk about the key to growing a thriving business is to "fall in love" with you customer.  It's true.

And it translates into: "take care of your customers because they depend on you."

Essentially the relationship with your customers is no different than the one with your family pet (I know that sounds a bit absurd, but bear with me). 
If you provide for them (care for them) and look out for their best interests (they're depending on it), they will reward you with their loyalty — their un-wavering loyalty.
Think about a brand or company that you seriously admire.
Do you have loyalty to them?…
A good example of this is Costco.
How many times have you heard someone say, "purchase if from Costco, because if you want to return it, you can."?

Costco enjoys this kind of loyalty and word of mouth recommendations because they are taking care of their customer's needs first and looking out for the customer's well-being.
And in return — we give them our loyalty.

Yet, for me, this pet care business is not just a business and I do not prescribe to any gurus who espouse the "care giver" mentality in order to build a business.  It is inherit within my nature and is pure.  I genuinely care for you and your pets -- and it is from the very core of my heart.

I will always care about my extended family -- You!  I am saddened for this loss.  Members of my "adopted family" are moving away.  In spite of any distance, I will always keep them close in my heart in a special place.

With love and appreciation to you My Family,

Paul (and Dudley & Sing-Sing too)

Paul F. Flotron
Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC
"Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve"
www.CreatureComfortsGreatnSmall.com
314-200-8561
Cell:  314-775-7107

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Creature Comforts & Paul Flotron In Need of Your Help -- Angie's List Review & Testimonials

Dear Friends!

When someone takes the time to recount a positive experience, it speaks volumes.   And so I would like to request a small favor – a testimonial that will give others a sense of the experience and service I offer.  Whether you are a client employing my pet care services business Creature Comforts, a fellow supporter of animal rescue, a community advocate partnering with me to serve in my animal community outreach programs, or a listener/special guest of my radio program Animal Adventures, I would appreciate you sharing some positive words.

I have always felt that the testimonial is a powerful indicator of excellence.  I strive to provide such excellence with each and every time I provide a service and interact with you and your pets.  I sincerely hope that describes your experience with me.  This testimonial can be as short or as long as you like.  It is valuable to my future business and, just as importantly, allows me to continuously improve upon the level of service I provide.

Recently, a client submitted a glowing testimonial to Angie's List.  I would be eternally grateful if you would also submit your testimonials about me and Creature Comforts Great & Small to Angie's List.

Creature Comforts Great & Small uses Angie's List to assess whether we're doing a good job keeping valued customers like you happy.

Please visit www.angieslist.com/review/8102391  to submit your review of me and Creature Comforts Great & Small in order to grade our quality of work and customer service.

Please feel free to also e-mail me your testimonial at PaulFFlotron@yahoo.com to share your thoughts on your experience with me and Creature Comforts.

Examples of some of my past client testimonials are below.  I sincerely appreciate your help and look forward to serving your needs for years to come.

With kindest regards,
Paul

Paul F. Flotron
Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC
"Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve"
Cell:  314-775-7107

Testimonials
 
What Our Clients Say About Us:

"I have known Paul Flotron for many years and use him exclusively as a pet sitter for our family dog.  Paul is trustworthy and extremely conscientious in providing the best possible dog sitting services.  Paul goes above and beyond what we expect and our dog looks forward to his visits.  I cannot imagine anyone providing the level of service and care as Paul does with Creature Comforts, and I strongly recommend his services to those considering a pet sitter."

-Kevin Marquitz

"I so appreciated your rapid response to a stranger in my hour of need.  You did, indeed, go the extra mile.  Your thoroughness and professionalism was very much appreciated."

-Connie Rose

"After meeting Paul for the first time, I felt more than 100% comfortable entrusting my girls' care to him. I knew without a doubt that he was a trustworthy, caring person.  I could tell how much he loved animals.  He exceeded my every expectation, with frequent phone calls, texts, and email summaries of how the girls were doing while I was gone.  Paul knew that I was nervous about leaving them, and made sure I knew that they were being well taken care of.  Paul changed his schedule to accommodate my own, drove farther than usual, and did everything he could to help me since my departure was last minute and unexpected.  I would recommend anyone needing a petsitter to contact Paul Flotron, as he is great with animals, trustworthy, honest, responsible, and will take excellent care of your pets.  Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC went above and beyond."

-Cheryl
*Mommy to Prissy and Pebbles, and Foster Mommy to Ellie and Belle

We moved from Chicago one year ago not knowing anyone and we were blessed to find Paul to look after our dog Milo.  Paul is very conscientious and trustworthy.  We recently lost Milo to cancer and Paul has been wonderful and instrumental in helping us find another Boxer to adopt.  We look forward to having Paul walk our new dogs in the near future.
 
Richard and Mary

We highly recommend Paul to take care of your pet.  He was outstanding with our little dog (she really gave him a fit, but he handled everything beautifully).  He was also highly responsible about the care of our home while staying with our dog.

Marlene I.

A Community Outreach Testimonial:

"I was able to witness not only the spirit Paul brings to the situation, but also the organization and teamwork.  Paul has recruited an army of volunteers to help him in this endeavor to make a difference in people’s lives.  These individuals have touched patients in our own hospice settings.  When words are too complex to reach across limitations occurring in the minds of our patients, Paul, his army of volunteers and pets cross that barrier with their energy and spirit of love!"

-Brenda McGarvey 
Regional Volunteer Program Coordinator 
Unity Hospice

A Recent Client Testimonial:

"Paul has been taking wonderful care of my four legged kids for three years.  He has been there for me when it is a day that he is not scheduled no questions asked.  I work very long hours and am peace knowing that he will be at my home taking care and tiring my children out.  I will always recommend Paul and his service to anyone. He cares for my kids as if they are his."

  Nancy, Katie and Tucker.

Client Testimonial For Creature Comforts Great & Small
Submitted to Angie's List
"I care for my animals very much and only want the best for them. I was referred to Paul Flotron to take care of my beloved pets.  Paul is amazing with the animals!  He’s just so good. While I was gone he maintains the cleanliness of the house.  Paul brought my mail and newspaper in while were we gone, and while he's away he maintains the lived in effect.  He also gave us a diary of what he did with the dogs while we were gone everyday. The dogs were healthy, taken care of, and walked.  Paul works 7 days a week.  He’s very well spoken.  He's very much dedicated to the animals, his clients and his business.  In closing, it took me 5 years and many interviews to find someone with such high standards while valuing my pets as much as I do.  To me, that's an irreplaceable feeling."

Hannah & Ron