Very Kind Words

An incredibly kind, frequent client, John, who takes wonderful care of his cat, Louie, wrote the following referral to a potential new client. He recently deemed me a "pet nanny" instead of sitter, which I take to be quite a compliment!:

Without any hesitation, I gladly recommend Jennifer Coleman to take care of your pets. She has taken care of my cat Louie on several occasions since July. Jennifer is very thoughtful, caring, and thorough; just a cursory glance at her website will leave you with the understanding she truly loves animals -- and this will be easily confirmed the first time you meet her.

Before I met Jennifer, I was minutes away from canceling a flight 36 hours before I was to depart, for lack of a pet sitter.  She answered my email at 10PM and promptly called me to discuss my needs. While I remained somewhat reluctant for obvious reasons, she dropped by the next morning and any apprehensions I had immediately vanished.

I have honestly never felt more at ease leaving my little friend behind, even when I was gone for 10 days for training. Louie isn't used to a lot of guests and this showed by his hiding in his condo whenever Jennifer arrived. But this didn't stop her from trying to get on his good side, as evidenced by the routine emails or text messages she sends me in my absence.

It is never easy letting a "stranger" into your home, and even harder to leave your pets behind.  These concerns are justly warranted.  But I will guarantee you will be comfortable knowing they are in Jennifer's care.  I consider myself fortunate for having her as my pet nanny.

Feel free to call me if you would like to further discuss my own experiences with Jellicle Pet Sitting. But you will not be disappointed.

My Kitten, "Dumpsta Cat"

“If we ever get a cat, I’d like him to look like a male version of her,” my husband, Jon, said about Silverbell, a 2-year-old gray and white cat who I pet sat in July. Though he said it casually, his statement gave me great hope that sometime, maybe in the next year or two, we’d adopt a pet together. It had been a few years since I lost Schuyler, an adult rescue cat who developed multiple health problems during the five years she was my constant companion. I was itching to adopt again while also trying to be respectful of my new husband’s hesitancy to become a first time pet guardian.

A few days after Jon met Silverbell, I met Claude. I went to Prytania Veterinary Hospital (PVH) to post business cards for Jellicle Pet Sitting, and couldn’t help but take a look at the kittens in the front cage. A small gray and white, green-eyed, shorthaired one caught my eye, and my mind began racing. I wasn’t sure at first if I would even tell Jon about the kitten, but I asked to hold it anyway. I found out it was a he, nicknamed “Dumpsta Cat” because he was rescued from a dumpster, at about 3 weeks old and 1 lb., and brought to PVH by a very kind man.

The vet who examined him, Dr. Biondolillo, thought he was going to have to be put to sleep due to his condition, but when the staff cleaned his face with a cotton ball, he started sucking the water from it. Apparently, the little guy was quite a fighter, and his health improved. I was told that even though he was smaller than the other kittens in the cage, he was a bit of a bully who kept the others under his paw, which was hard to imagine but quite amusing. I sat and watched him for a while, and decided that whether he became mine or not, he looked like a kitten who should be named Claude.

Of course I called Jon as soon as I walked out of the office. Surprising me again, he agreed to go in the next day “just to see” the kitten. He liked what he saw...

Read the rest of Claude's adoption story at NewOrleans.com, and in the upcoming first issue of Prytania Veterinary Hospital's newsletter.

"Ask A Vet" with Dr. Biondolillo, Claude's Vet

My new "Ask a Vet" series on NewOrleans.com will interview a local vet each month. The series launches with helpful information from Claude's vet, Dr. Biondolillo.

Following is an excerpt from our two-part interview. Click here to read Part I in full, and here for Part II.

If you have a question for a vet, or are a vet and would like to participate, please email me at jelliclepetsnola [at] gmail.com.

Q: What can I do to make my pets less anxious while I’m at work?
A: The first place to start is independence training before you leave the home. Be forewarned, this takes time and repetition to teach... 

Q: I see so many types of leashes at the dog park, some of which don't seem to be the right leash for the dog. Is there a general rule of thumb for selecting the correct leash?
A: I use a flat collar and leash for my dog because she is trained to heel. I prefer voice training, using simple, one-word command...I do not recommend choke chains if your dog pulls a lot. The best collar is the head harness...

Jennifer's Bio

Jennifer Coleman knew it was time for a change when she frequently caught herself daydreaming about becoming a zookeeper while she was the managing editor of an advertising magazine in New York City. At the same time, when she passed dogs on the street, she’d turn around to look back at them and found they too were looking at her.

Born in Charleston, SC, she received a BA in Journalism at The University of Georgia before moving to New York in 2000. She enjoys the irony that her Northern-born husband's job led her back to the South in 2008. After happily settling into life in New Orleans, Jennifer conceptualized and founded Jellicle Pet Sitting and Jellicle Lagniappe, which allow her to combine her passions for animals and writing. She can be spotted daily throughout the city wearing a black and white hat, t-shirt, cargo pants and sneakers, with a dog in tow (or sometimes being towed by said dog).

Jennifer also likes pop culture minutia; adventures with her husband and friends; playing hide n’ seek with her kitten, Claude; P&J oysters, chicory coffee, and other New Orleans culinary specialties; living within walking distance of Tipitina’s; Audubon Park; and of course, catnapping.

You can reach Jennifer at jelliclepetsnola@gmail.com or 917-406-3328.

October "Cause for Paws" Columns

Laissez Les Bon Temps Romp

When I first met Charlotte, an almost two-year-old black Lab (in the photo to the left, she's sniffing Shih Tzu Gumbo, another client), she was sweet but cautious while I interviewed with her mom. On our first afternoon walk, she trusted me enough to take her out in the world, but wouldn't let me pet her. Over the last few months, Charlotte has warmed up to me so much that when I enter her house, she immediately gives me her belly for a good rubbing.

Earlier this week during a post-walk couch snuggle, she even allowed me to rest my head on her soft, muscular back for a few minutes. At Jellicle Pet Sitting's Fall Park Romp, which was held last month at Coliseum Square Park, one of the best parts of my day was watching Charlotte race around off-leash with the other dogs, greet strangers, and occasionally check in with her parents or me. I'd like to think our weekday walks have helped increase her comfort level in various situations. Read more at NewOrleans.com.

Bark for a Good Cause: 
The Bywater Bark Market
The Bywater Bark Market, a dog lover’s paradise, is a variation on the montly Bywater Art Market and benefits the LA/SPCA heartworm fund. Blake Vonder Haar, human member of a four dog, three cat family, is also the president and founder of both markets. She answered the following questions about the next Bark Market, on Saturday, October 17.  Read the full interview at NewOrleans.com.


Two "Pet" Peeves
As I write, Claude is batting a yellow mouse all around the newly vacuumed living room. When I finish this blog post, I’ll take out his ball on a string toy and interact with him instead of watching him play, unless he has tired and curled up next to me by then. In that case, we’ll watch “Project Runway,” or maybe a little DVR’d “Housecat Housecall.” Sometimes he gets excited by the noises. Not so much by Heidi Klum. Of course, having a pet isn’t just play and snuggles. It’s not always fun or easy either, but paying attention to two of my most frequently observed (pet) pet peeves – which I am sometimes guilty of too – will make life more enjoyable and healthy for both you and your pet. Read more at NewOrleans.com.