Critter Sitters - 30 Years of Outstanding Pet Care.

Critter Sitters has over 30 years’ experience caring for pets. our 5 Star Google Reviews show we really care. We are bonded and insured. We provide you with a written contract and gather emergency contact information, including the number for your vet. Each visit is customized to your individual needs.

Critter Sitters will be happy to take care of a few household chores while you are away. Your mail and newspapers are brought in along with any packages. Your curtains and lighting are adjusted to give your home a lived-in look. Indoor and outdoor plants are watered, and trash is taken to the curb.

From birds to rabbits, Critter Sitters has the experience to care for all manner of pets. Just let us know how to best care for your smallest family member.

In addition to the usual excellent care, Critter Sitters has experience in administering insulin shots, subcutaneous fluids, and other medications to your geriatric pets.

Give us a call, we'll come and get to know you and your precious pet. (630) 844-9554.

 

15 Valentine’s Day Dog Treat Recipes

15 Valentine’s Day Dog Treat Recipes

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Looking to make your dog feel extra special this Valentine’s Day?  Make your dog's Valentine’s Day by making her some yummy dog treats!

 

Spooky Pooch Parade, Oct 13th

Spooky Pooch Parade, Oct 13th

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Sunday, October 13, 2019
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

 "For two very special hours only, dogs are allowed in the Chicago Botanic Garden. Cleverly costumed canines march the parade route to celebrate Halloween. Spectators are invited to line the parade route for a barking good time."

Bird, Bird, Bird…Bird is the Word.

For many of us in the Fox Valley our exotic parrots are part of our family.  With proper care, some live for decades and bring joy to a household through generations.  Not only that, but they are not cheap!  Buying the right bird to suit your home is an important decision…properly caring for it is even more important.

If you are ready for an extended vacation, you may have some guilt about leaving your beloved parrot(s) for an extended period.  Maybe you’re afraid that your baby will be traumatized.  Perhaps you are convinced that you are the only person on earth who can properly care for them.  Or, just maybe you are worried that they won’t forgive you.

They are very much like humans with feathers and if you need to leave your Southern Fox Valley home for a few days or more someone who is trained in the care and feeding of exotic birds should be looking in on them.  The answer is Sandy and her amazing team of pet lovers at Critter Sitters.  Give her a call for a free in-home visit at (630) 844-9554.

A Proper Dog Walk.

Just what is the proper method and time as well as frequency to walk your dog?  There is a right way to walk your dog.  Your pooch should either walk beside you or behind you, never in front of you. You should walk your dog, not the other way around.  It means a great deal in your dog's world.  When you let a dog walk in front of you, you're communicating that he's the one who is in charge of the walk.

How long a walk does your dog need, anyway?  Twenty minutes is a good amount of time to aim for most dogs—even seniors, if they’re in good health.  If your dog is very active, he may need longer, more vigorous walks, maybe even two or more times a day.  Or try slow, short jogs to get your active senior moving.

Proper dog walking is an art.  It is one that has been mastered by the pet care professionals at Critter Sitters.  Twelve months a year a Critter Sitters loving pro is excited to walk your dog…puppy or senior or in between.  Call Sandy at Critter Sitters serving the Southern Fox Valley of Western Chicagoland for an in-home visit at (630) 844-9554.

I Just Can’t Give my Four-Legged Friend a Shot.

For some of us in the Fox Valley this is just too much to ask.  The good news is our pets are living longer.  The bad news (as with humans) they are subject to more of the illnesses associated with old age.  The best news is that there is a team of caring, loving pet sitters that know how to administer shots to your best friends.

Have you ever Googled “how to give your dog a shot”?  It is a bit of an eye-opener.  It tells you to lift the skin above the shoulder.  It then says to insert the needle beneath the skin and pull back slightly on the plunger.  If you see blood returning through the plunger then pull the needle out immediately.  All of this assumes that you have a willing patient!

One of the alternatives is to bring on Critter Sitters serving Aurora, Sugar Grove, Elburn and the surrounding area of Chicagoland’s Fox Valley.  You not only get the best pet sitters in the area, but you also are hiring some of the best pet care experts anywhere in Chicago.  Give Sandy a call at Critter Sitters.  That phone number is (630) 844-9554.

2019 Holiday Haunted Houses in Illinois - St Patrick's Day and Easter

2019 Holiday Haunted Houses in Illinois - St Patrick's Day and Easter

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"Multiple Illinois haunted houses have announced that they will be open for St. Patrick's Day and Easter in 2019."

 

Spring Has Almost Sprung!

I know that we have a ways to go, and memories of this harsh bitter-cold winter will linger for a while.  When March begins, we have the right and privilege to look forward to a break from cabin fever.  When is spring break at your kid’s school?  Also, if you did not know, Easter is April 21st this year, so you have some time left to plan a getaway.

Wait a minute.  Are you planning on staying home this spring because of your pets?  We understand, except that we also understand that it is a long run between January 1st and summer.  Why not plan that perfect spring vacation and leave your four-legged children to us?  We want to get to know them and give you the freedom to leave home on YOUR schedule. 

Ah, there is the rub.  YOUR schedule.  If you are a busy, working professional who leaves behind an empty house for a week or more then you want to be fair to your dog.  How about trusting us to care for your pets while you’re gone?  We are Critter Sitters serving the Fox Valley Area in Western Suburban Chicagoland with pet sitting services.  Call us at (630) 844-9554.

Most Pet Owners Agree on This.

Pet lovers and pets themselves come in all shapes and sizes.  There are dog lovers and cat lovers, or people that embrace exotic animals.  There is one thing that most all of them would agree on (especially the dog and cat ones).  That is, adoption from a shelter is better than a pet from a puppy or kitty mill.

Purebred puppies, for example were not the product of evolution.  I mean, you did not think that cavemen homogenized their best friends to produce a bulldog, a corgi, or a golden retriever…did you?  It was just a couple of centuries ago that purebreds became all the rage and now, some of them suffer from a myriad of genetic diseases shortening their lives!

We would like you to visit our website at alltopcrittersitters.com.  Please click on the resources tab and visit petfinder.com.  You will see an array of future “best friends” that are looking for a forever home.  There are thousands of others in The Fox Valley.  When pet sitting becomes an important need in your life, please contact me…Sandy Hafenbrack at (630) 844-9554.

It’s Okay…I Have a Cat.

Do you think that because you are one of our area’s cat lovers you can leave your feline(s) alone for extended periods while you take a winter vacation?  How long should you leave your cat alone in your Far West Suburban Chicago apartment?  There are horror stories about leaving cats alone for too long of a period.

How do you ensure that they get the exact amount of nutrition each day while you are away?  Plus, what about boredom?  Not every kitty wants to just be left alone!  Cleaning a litter box, giving the proper food and water, and just “human time” are all missing while you are enjoying the sunshine on that cruise ship.

Why not choose the pet sitting professionals at Critter Sitters?  One of their caring, loving staff will come to your Southern Fox Valley home as often as you wish to care for your kitties.  If you live in the Elburn, Aurora, Sugar Grove area of Far West Suburban Chicagoland call Sandy at Critter Sitters (630) 844-9554.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

February is National Pet Dental Health Month! 

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Get those teeth cleaned! 

Could your Dog get Sicker in the Winter?

But the reality is, just like us humans, your canine buddy is susceptible to a range of illnesses brought on by exposure to Chicagoland’s Winter weather. Among these are hypothermia, frostbite, a cold, and kennel cough.  The obvious answer is to make your sure that your four-legged kid is not exposed to the harsh elements any more than they need to be.

What are the symptoms of a canine cold?

1.  Coughing, but know the difference between a cold and kennel cough.

2.  A runny nose…not just a normal wet nose.

3.  Sneezing.

4.  Watery eyes.

At Critter Sitters we understand that the health of your dog is nearly the same as to the health of your two-legged children.  We take extra care when we walk your canine in winter.  Far western suburban Chicagoland can get bitter cold this time of year and we are always aware of that.  Please call me, Sandy Hafenbrack at Critter Sitters serving Aurora, Sugar Grove, Elburn and the surrounding area at (630) 844-9554.

Fox Valley Ninja Warrior

Fox Valley Ninja Warrior

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"Calling all girls and boys! Drop in and put your ninja skills to the test! Compete against yourself, your friends and the ninja course to achieve the top time! There will be two different age appropriate courses, 4-6 years old and 7-11 years old. Each participant will create their own ninja headband."

 

Walking your Dog in the Winter.

So, how cold is TOO cold for your four-legged children?  Here is a general rule of thumb for winter in Chicagoland.  If your dog(s) are medium to large they should be able to handle a 30-minute walk if the temperature is above 20 degrees.  Smaller breeds should be limited to about 15 minutes…and nobody should be out there walking if it dips below zero!

There really is no pat answer.  Observe your canine (as we will).  See how they are handling it.  One thing we recommend, especially around here, is always factor in the wind chill.  That has as much to do with comfort as the surface temperature.  Also, consider snow cover.  And naturally, we recommend a sweater especially for short-hairs.

There is no dog-walking manual for winter weather.  What we bring to the table is experience and care.  We are Critter Sitters of Aurora, Sugar Grove, Elburn, and throughout the Southern Fox Valley.  Our loving staff of pet sitters always considers health and safety first and foremost.  Just give us a call for a free in-home visit at (630) 844-9554. 

Family New Years Eve Party!

Family New Years Eve Party!

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"Join us for a family friendly New Years party includes a “midnight” countdown at 7pm, Live DJ, Confetti Balloon Drop and Pizza Buffet"

 

How to Become a Pet Sitter.

Have you thought about this wonderfully rewarding profession?  Talk about warm and fuzzy feelings…this is the ultimate!  Would you like to make some extra money in 2019 and beyond doing what you already love to do?  Pet parents everywhere need your help with their pets when they can't spend as much time with them as they would like or when they are on vacation.

Here are some pointers before you embark on your first pet sitting job –

1.  Dogs will often mark their territory…don’t freak out.

2.  There is also likely to be a smell that you are not used to.

3.  For some breeds shedding is also a factor.

4.  You need to know about the pet’s behavior and feeding habits.

5.  What commands does it (or they) understand?

Great pet sitters are always in demand.  Do you have what it takes to sit with all creatures great and small in the Sugar Grove, Elburn, and Aurora Illinois area?  If you feel that this is your calling, then contact Sandy Hafenbrack of Critter Sitters.  She would love to meet you!  Call this phone number at (630) 844-9554 and visit the website at www.alltopcrittersitters.com.

Where to see Santa in the Western Suburbs 2018

Where to see Santa in the Western Suburbs 2018

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Make a date to give your wishes to Santa and take advantage of the photo op!

It’s More than Just Pet Sitting.

How many homes do you think will be burglarized in America this year…try one in every 35 or so!  When you consider those numbers, it could send chills up your spine.  When you hire a full-service pet sitter to take care of your four-legged kids you should also think about the peace of mind you could derive when someone is checking-up on your castle as well.

Here in Western Suburban Chicagoland and the Southern Fox Valley we are all vulnerable.  This is not to mention the fact that when the master leaves the house that next 10 hours can be very lonely and stressful for the best friend(s) that you leave behind.  Consider safety and the comfort of your pets.

When you hire Critter Sitters you get much more than a pet sitter.  They routinely pick up newspapers and packages that may arrive during the day.  Your home will have a lived-in look if anyone is outside “casing the joint”.  In Sugar Grove and the surrounding area dozens of pet and home owners count on Critter Sitters.  Call Sandy today at (630) 844-9554.

Day of the Dog: Run, Walk or Jog 5K & 10K - Chicago (Virtual Race)

Day of the Dog: Run, Walk or Jog 5K & 10K - Chicago

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"Third annual Day of the Dog: Run, Walk or Jog 5K & 10K!  You are invited to complete a 5K or 10K anytime before December 31st for, or with, your favorite four legged friend. 15% of every registration will be donated to Freedom Service Dogs of America."

Walk the Dog.

No, not a yo-yo trick, but rather a strategy for your four-legged best friend.  How often your dog needs to be walked mostly depends on what breed you have and its health condition and capability.  There are many factors that determine the number of times you should walk your dog every day.  There are some breeds for whom once a day walks are enough, but some others, especially high-energy ones, require more walks each day.

Walking is very important because it becomes a physical daily routine…just like us humans.  It keeps his bones stronger and keeps him from getting bored and chewing things or exhibiting other destructive behaviors (that might be true of humans as well!).  Plus, it is productive that they socialize with other people and dogs.

You know how important it is to make sure that your dog(s) has/have plenty of exercise.  Now, whom do you trust?  If you live in the Southern Fox Valley around Aurora, Sugar Grove, etc. you can count on the crew at Critter Sitters.  Meet them all by visiting www.alltopcrittersitters.com.  Then give Sandy a call for a visit at (630) 844-9554.