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DOG OWNERS: Love your dog -- hate poop?
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 THE INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF DOG WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES

Scoopers & Friends Discussion Board Archives

Messages archived from the Scoopers & Friends Discussion Board, going back to May of 1998. The discussion board board is an online forum about the business of pet-waste removal. Browse the messages, CLICK HERE TO SEARCH by keyword, or click here to participate in current discussions.

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Page Seventy

the bomb squad
puppies & parvo
Mon Oct 29 17:22:59 2001


I spent several hours on the phone today talking to vets and their assistants about parvo. I will not change my puppy policy and encourage you to incorporate one if you don't already: DO NOT service the yard of a puppy that has not had their entire series of immunization shots (3-5 shots). Encourage or require your clients to keep their pets' vaccinations current.

To clean: some say bleach, some not--the concentrations vary depending on the person's math skills from 30:1 to 1:1...? The majority of vets & techs I spoke with do recommend a solution called Parvosol (available from vet supply distributors) to eliminate parvo contamination from shoes and tools. Parvo is not transferrable to humans.

Other details:
Parvo can live outside the body and in the soil for 6 months (+/-). Regular cleaning up of feces is the best way to eliminate the spread of Parvo, second to maintaining immunizations. If a dog is immunized agains Parvo, it could still contract it...puppies and elderly dogs are the high risk group. The disease incubates in less than 2 weeks. The symptoms (in order) are: refuse food, lethargic, vomitting, diarreah. Rotts and Dobermans are more highly susceptable to Parvo than other breeds.

It isn't necessarily fact, just what my research turned up today.

Do you know something I don't?
~Melinda
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MEL
YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY E O M
Mon Oct 29 20:30:40 2001

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Dr. Dogdirt
thanks
Mon Oct 29 18:28:37 2001


Thanks for doing the research. That's valuable information.

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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
Website - Check it out!
Tue Oct 30 09:57:45 2001


Hi All,

Tidy Pets Unlimited website is done. Please check it out at www.tidypetsunlimited.com

Amanda from Arias Web Creations did an "excellent" job. I love it:) I recommend her to anyone interested in having a webpage done.

Pat
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
KIM
Wed Oct 31 06:09:49 2001


Hi Kim, Thanks for checking out my website and thanks for the thoughts of encouragement!

Pat

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Amanda
Thanks Pat. ;) ... EOM
Tue Oct 30 18:54:29 2001
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Amanda
Web Design
Tue Oct 30 19:01:06 2001


It has occurred to me that I like doing scooper sites! I have done 2 so far (dootycalls.com and tidypetsunlimited.com). I would love to do more. Anyone interested in my services, please send me an e-mail. ;)

I offer hosting, domain registration, site design or re-design, database programming, etc..

I will offer a discount or 1 month free hosting to anyone on the boards who requests my services. =)

My fees are very reasonable and probably much less than you would think.

Take care and Happy Halloween!
Amanda Arias - Arias Web Creation
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Jim DOO-TY CALLS
Amanda's web design is reasonable. EOM
Tue Oct 30 22:54:21 2001
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dog pile patrol
i thought i had one
Tue Oct 30 20:10:53 2001


Today my business phone rang i jumped and my first customer,and it was the city department manager calling to tell me that i cant hang up anymore flyers on light poles.He said it was illegal considered littering.I am now stuck on how to advertise with starting out.
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Jim Doo-ty Calls
i thought i had one
Tue Oct 30 22:18:59 2001


DPP
Don't give up hope. I've been at this for 2 yrs. 28 customers. I hope to be come and over night sucess in about 5. If you haven't already tried this think about it. Vets, pet-stores, groomers, breeders, rescue org. (be careful the breeders and rescues do not get along well). Try for media attention TV and newspaper. Look in the phone book for anything pet, animal, or dog related. Don't give up, It was about three months before I got my first house. Get an apartment listings go to the ones who take pets. Any place that has a public bulletin board, grocery stores, drug stores, ect. Foot work, foot work, foot work. Let them know you are out there.
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floyd
dont give up yet
Wed Oct 31 19:03:21 2001


to early to, try passing flyers door to door try everything at least once. no more littering though
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Catherine
flyers
Wed Oct 31 20:41:06 2001


I have been doing door to door flyers. It's alot of work but it does get some results. You could expect 2-5 customers from 1000 flyers. Best to use a coloured paper and apparently not yellow. Hope that helps ... it takes time to get this thing rolling.
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P.E.T.S.
HUH
Thu Nov 1 13:10:05 2001


WHY NOT YELLOW I JUST MADE 2400 OF THEM IN YELLOW
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Catherine
yellow
Thu Nov 1 13:28:15 2001


That info comes from friend/owner of flyer distribution biz of many, many years. Apparently yellow flags 'cheap' to potential customers and they tend to trash them vs. taking them seriously. When I put out my first yellow ones (which I did not confess to my friend) I got not a one response. I changed to flourscent green and the calls do come in.
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floyd
flyers
Fri Nov 2 17:16:15 2001


thanks for that info my first flyers were yellow and thats how i got my first 2 cust. after only 1500 of them. will try other colors. any ideas?
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mel
DON GIVE UP
Wed Oct 31 06:57:56 2001


try a real estate office,any church,building complex,a gym, beauty salon,a school offer a discount to teachers,you have to TALK AND TALK.use the three foot rule any one within three feet of you hand a card good luck GOOD LUCK HAPPING SCOOPING MEL
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dog pile patrol
Jim Doo-ty calls
Tue Oct 30 22:51:06 2001


Thank you for the encouragement,but i think my town is to small thetre is only 40,000 people in this town.patience has paid off for you GOOD JOB.
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the bomb squad
not too small
Wed Oct 31 13:51:23 2001


My town is under 60,000 people but there are 15,000 licensed dogs! I'm guessing that 1/3 of all dogs are actually licensed...only 1/5 of my clients are.

The reason I started is becuase there are so many dogs and also a lot of $$$ in my town. The majority of my clients however are not the super-rich. If they lose their $9/hr job, they cancel. They love their dogs though!

Are your ads simple, clear, eye catching and easy to read? Avoid white paper, it blends in with all the other ads. I went with a photo of my own dog making a landmine cause I knew that people passing the bulletin board would stop and think, "What the???!!" And it's working! (I do have an alternate flier that gets used if the picture is too graphic for the board host, ie grocery store.)

Hang in there and think positive!
~Melinda
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Paul
Flyer
Thu Nov 1 05:03:01 2001


Would it be possible to get a picture of your flyer posted in a response on this board? thanks,
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the bomb squad
peachtree software
Wed Oct 31 17:43:08 2001


Wanted y'all to know that Staples has a deal on Peachtree Accounting 2002 software...free after the rebates, $169 value. Some don't like peachtree but it's better than nothing and the price is right.
(It may not be available in your area, I'm in Oregon.)
~Melinda
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Kim
Re: Peachtree
Thu Nov 1 21:35:44 2001


Thanks for the great tip! I picked up mine today, in fact. Word of caution: the rebate is only good if purchased by 11/3/01. It's also availible through the Staples web page. Thanks again! -Kim
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NIMBY
Re: peachtree software
Thu Nov 1 19:55:50 2001


Melinda, Thank you so much for the help with the organizing! But, on the Peachtree note, IF I were to send you a check, could you pick this up for me? What store did you find such a great deal at? I would be interested.. thanks Laura
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L. Claypool
Getting Customers
Thu Nov 1 09:57:39 2001


After reading the posts it seems that this aspect is harder than it would seem. A couple of questions.....To the people who are struggling.....1. What area of the country are you in....not specific locale but type of area...metropolitan...rural. I'm in sales right now and i know that it is a numbers game....Maybe you are not getting in front of enough people....just a thought.
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Red
Re: Getting Customers
Thu Nov 1 11:38:45 2001


L., your thought is right.

BTW, is your first name Les and are you the lead singer of Primus? Just curious...

-Red
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L. Claypool
Re: Getting Customers
Thu Nov 1 12:11:41 2001


Red-
Yes my first name is Les....but i'm not the bass player for Primus....I get that alot and that is why I try not to post my name on the internet...just my first initial....
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Red
Re: Getting Customers
Thu Nov 1 12:37:43 2001


Cool, I can relate as I normally go by E. Presley.

...nothin' but a hound dog,
-Red

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Jim Doo-Ty CALLS
Getting Customers
Thu Nov 1 15:54:37 2001


Hey guys I think you've started somthing. My name is James Ingram. So here to you L. & E.
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Jim DOO-TY CALLS
Another place to advertise
Sat Nov 3 09:07:56 2001


I was checking e-mail and this comp. sent me a message that I had been added to their site. (No charge) there where a few more of us there also. Take a look. http://www.envirolead.com/infozone.html

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nimby
Thanks Jim! I added my site too! eom
Sat Nov 3 14:45:03 2001
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Catherine
Help
Sat Nov 3 17:12:20 2001


Okay, so I am not a computer whiz .... how did you get your name listed? Did you use the section on the first page for adding info?
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nimby
Yes, right on the first page! Good Luck!! eom
Sun Nov 4 14:50:52 2001
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Catherine
site
Sat Nov 3 11:55:34 2001


Thanks for the tip. Cool site.
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Wave707
Hi-like the site
Sat Nov 3 23:40:28 2001


Hi Mel,
This is a very interesting site. So much to check out!!!
What an imaginative occupation. I will think about it for my neck of the woods.. Like being outside, too!!! LOL
Take care... Wave707
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
Melinda - the bomb squad
Mon Nov 5 10:40:57 2001


Hi Mel,

This weekend I sent out 45 letters to landscapers and lawn service companies. How much response did you get from your letters?

Pat
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the bomb squad
landscapers
Mon Nov 5 13:35:48 2001


I only got 2 clients directly this summer.
However, last week I ran into a landscaper while cleaning a client's yard. We'd met earlier in the summer once before and he was interested but not too much. He vaguely remembered the letter I sent. This time he wanted some cards to send to his clients with dogs (approx. 120!) because he wanted to recommend my service as maintenance they should do to maintain a healthy yard over the winter. He also mentioned sending out my cards/brochures with his "Welcome Back" spring letter.
Networking pays off! sooner or later.
~Melinda
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE: Landscape
Tue Nov 6 05:50:39 2001


Hey that's great! Hope you get ALL 120 :) I really debated whether I should mail them now or wait till spring, but I decided, what the heck. I'll just mail again in the spring to refresh their memories.

Pat
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PetMaids
Anyone from Canada?
Tue Nov 6 19:11:28 2001


Is there anyone here from Canada. We have been thinking of relocating our business there. Would like to get an idea on how Canadians would respond to our type of business. Appreciate you info.
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Rachelle
I am Canadian!
Wed Nov 7 22:56:51 2001


PetMaids
Greetings! I am in Canada, Ontario to be exact. If you want some information, you can e-mail me.

Rachelle - Owner
What's Left Behind!
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Catherine
Re: Anyone from Canada?
Tue Nov 6 19:16:11 2001


There are many scooper business' in Canada. Several have been going for years already. Check the International Directory and see.
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
Jackie, Becky or whoever else does Pet Sitting
Wed Nov 7 12:32:37 2001


Hi,

Have any of you pet sitters ever offered your customers the choice of giving you a key and keeping on file or attaching a lock box to their door with their key in it? Thought I might offer that option to my pet sitting clients, because some of my litter box clients do it that way. Any experience with this?

Pat
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Becky's Pet Sitting
Ready Key Client
Wed Nov 7 21:58:06 2001


Do try to offer the ready key option. If they don't like the idea then I tell then they need to find a hiding spot outside. I don't have the time for picking up and droping off keys. Never leave the key in the house at the last visit. The client could get delayed coming back on the scheduled time and you would be locked out of the house. You need to type up a form that gives you permission to hold a key in your office. Good idea to have them in a locked box. Always carry your keys on you so you don't set them down in side the clients house and then leave after locking up. You lock your self out and then the neighbors get to see you break in. Code your keys with a number system, I use the round tags you get from the office supply store and put stickers with the code on the keys. I start with A1 A2 A3 until I get up to ten A10 then go to B1 B2 and so on. Hope this helps. Here is an example of a permission form for the ready key client.

Release for key on file
I (we), the undersigned, do hereby authorize _____________
to retain in her possession the key(s) to my (our) home on file to access my (our) home to care for my (our) pets or home at my (our) specific request.

Singed________________Dated___________________
Pet Owner

Signed________________Dated
Owner of Business

Ready Key Code________________________
(For Office Use Only)

I request 48 hours notice unless it is an emergency. Holiday periods are excluded from this arrangement.
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Pat - Tidy Pets Unlimited
RE: Keys
Thu Nov 8 07:10:03 2001


Thanks for the information. Hiding a key on their property is also a good idea. I already started that color coding system like you are talking about.

I want to ask you something else. Look for an email.

Thanks,
Pat

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Catherine
Christmas ideas
Wed Nov 7 12:39:11 2001


Anyone do extra stuff for the Christmas sales? Like gift cert. at vet/pet stores (how do you work it?) Extra brochures to present customers for gift ideas? What ??
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NIMBY
Re: Christmas ideas
Thu Nov 8 22:43:36 2001


Hi Catherine! I have a gal who is making dog stockings for me that have my logo on them and say "Merry Christmas". In the stocking, I am stuffing dog treats and a copy of my gift certificate (voided) to remind customers that they are available. On the top of the copy it reads "For the hard to buy for dog-lover" My gift certificates are really very nice---suitable for framing. I did that I did that as a novelty (because our business is funy to those who don't know yet what we do) By-the-way, If anyone is interested in the dog socks, I will direct you to the gal...Laura
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Catherine
Re: Christmas ideas
Fri Nov 9 11:24:07 2001


This is the type of stuff I am looking for!
What deal do you offer on your cert? How do you work it? Do you print them up on shiney paper or use the carbon style? Would you be willing to send me a copy? Have you tried putting the stockings into vet/pet stores too? Thanks for sharing.
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NIMBY
Re: Christmas ideas
Fri Nov 9 22:20:38 2001


I went to a company that specializes in printing and bought really nice parchment paper certificates with gold trim they are about 5x7. I made a flyer that describes the certificate in detail and the fact that I can frame it for them (I get frames at the dollar store) I can try to send you a copy but, the gold doesn't show up well, and the quality doesn't show up well either. I haven't left any of the socks at vets offices because I am not selling or making the socks myself. I don't think potential clients would look through the socks and the staff might like the idea, but the socks alone are $2.00 apiece. I would love to get a vet to buy my certificates, but that is a long shot. Email me with any questions I may not have answered.. Laura
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Anna-Rover's Butler
Re: Christmas ideas
Thu Nov 8 11:39:58 2001


A few weeks before Christmas I send out a notice reminding customers that I do offer gift certificates.
Just before Christmas I make gourmet all natural dog biscuits for all my customers (the canine ones not the owners)and give them to the owners so they can choose if and when they want to let the dogs have them. I wrap them up in colored plastic with a ribbon and attach a business card.

Anna
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Mark
Re: Christmas ideas
Thu Nov 8 19:45:52 2001


Anna,
Would you post the recipe for the gourmet dog biscuits?

Thanks
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Anna-Rover's Butler
Gourmet Dog Treats
Fri Nov 9 11:45:56 2001


I have more than one, but this is one of the easier ones, so I use it often. It's not an original, I got it off the internet somewhere. Of course I suggest you use only the finest quality, hopefully organic ingredients available for the ones that supply our "bread and butter".
An Apple a Day Dog Treat
2 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 apple-chopped or grated (if you use applesauce, reduce the amount of water accordingly)
1 egg- beaten
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
3/8 cup water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray cookie sheet with vegetable oil spray. Blend flours and cornmeal in large mixing bowl. Add apple, egg, oil, brown sugar and water; mix until well blended. On floured surface, roll dough out to 7/8-inch thickness. Cut with cookie cutters of desired shape and size. Place treats on prepared sheet. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Turn off oven. Leave door closed for 1 hour to crisp treats. Store baked treats in airtight container or plastic bag and place in refrigerator or freezer.
Makes 2 ot 2 1/2 dozen treats
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minesweepers
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!%$&%^#^$#&^
Wed Nov 7 13:29:13 2001


i can't stand it does anyone have any idea how to speed up or resize animated gifs i see some of you have used ones from the same site i found.mine keep leaving trails because the website i'm uploading to runs them to slow
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Amanda
Use less graphics or...
Thu Nov 8 17:35:04 2001


There is not really much that you, yourself can do. Use less graphics or have a professional optimize the animations frames...

Take care,
Amanda
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