BECKY'S TAKE ON OUR FOUR LEGGED FRIENDS

Hello everyone and thank you for taking the time to read my little blog. My name is Rebeca J So… Where to begin?

Well, to be quite honest I suppose I  should start with the fact that I am an animal lover. And it’s comforting to see so many people out there  that share the same passion. I don’t know what it is about puppy breath or fuzzy fur but it drives me bananas every time. You would think that after having seen SO many four legged friends, they would all seem the same. But as luck would have it, they are all as unique as you and I. Its feels so sweet when I see patients return for follow up vaccines and products, they are all so grateful for our service. And we are equally humbled by their loyalty to The Pet Stop. We have seen our fair share of heart- warming and funny tales.

It always brings a toothy grin to my face when I see pet antics, you know, the kind our canine friends do to get away from getting their vaccines. It so cute to see how they figure out what’s going on. It’s quite the adventure and owners get a kick out of seeing their pets health being loved and cared for in the same way that THEY love and care for their pets. Whether its excitement, fear, or the anxiety of the unexpected, everyone is anxious to be near the vaccination table. It’s great to see the surprised look on our customers faces when they realize how swiftour doctors are. The most common reaction is “You’re done?!?! Wow, you guys are great!” We love it and want the experience to be great for owners and animal alike, every time.

I don’t want to forget to mention our feline friends. Meow! They teach us a fundamental fact, “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” We have seen our fair share of Hello Kitties and Tony the Tigers. They are beloved creatures and offer a sense of serene tranquility to their owners. They’re greeeaaat !

I hope I have amused you a bit. And always remember to appreciate your pets, because they live to please you!     
Rebeca works in the corporate office as well as out in the field hands on with pets and pet parents alike.     

 PET CULTURE: EAST MEETS WEST

Being here in the United States for almost 6 years has shown me how Americans love their pets. It was different back in my home country Malaysia. Yes... I am from Malaysia. In case you are wondering where Malaysia is, its located smack right in the middle of the Equator in South East Asia where China, Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia meet. There is a vast difference to what I personally call “Pet Culture” between what I’ve experienced growing up back home and what I am experiencing now living in the States.  

In Malaysia, back when I was growing up, dogs and cats are allowed to roam around freely in the neighborhood. I don’t think any of them were vaccinated or taken to the vet for any wellness check up. You can see a pack of dogs chilling and laying on pavements and sidewalks .They were not as friendly as the dogs here. They would bark and chase any passerby. Ironically all these dogs are not wild dogs, they belong to someone. I remembered carrying a stone or a stick as I play outside and when I walk to school every morning just in case we get attacked by any dogs.  I remembered numerous times when my sister and I were chased by a pack dogs while we were cycling around or walking to the grocery store. We will also witness a lot of dogs fighting in the streets, especially during mating season. Hence my fear of dog bites/ dog attacks. It was a miracle, that we were never bitten by any dogs before.

 The universe works in mysterious ways as I had the privilege to work with a team of people who are passionate about animals. My fear of dogs diminished when I met Jimmy, our wonderful company mascot. He was the most wonderful and friendly dog ever. Of course, the first time I met him, I was petrified because he was such a big dog, as Michelle had already introduced him in her post, a standard poodle.  He is such a big teddy bear and has the most earnest eyes any dog could have. He is our “big little kiddo” in the office.

 Working at The Pet Stop has opened my eyes on how valuable dogs and cats are as part of one’s family member. They are not merely animals, when treated right they can be your best companion, even better than perhaps a human companion at times. I’ve met and played with numerous friendly dogs these days and I have grown to love them and not fear them.  It makes me happy that I am a part of a team that makes a difference in the community and in the lives of these valuable pets. Kudos to all pet owners here who truly care and love their pets. It sure did open up my eyes and perception to what pet ownership is all about to a whole new level.

I hope that I can adopt a good dog(a poodle) someday—when I have a nice big back yard. For now I will stick to loving my diva cat Luna and my rambunctious little toddler Logan.

Pack of "Wild" Dogs:  Ironically Owned by Someone

With Lil LZ

Miss Luna the Diva=She has grown so much since this picture was taken

Growing up in South Florida to dog loving Cuban parents, I quickly embraced the fact that pets were not just pets but are part of the family.  As I grew up these four legged siblings had a lot on their plates and I don’t mean just leftovers.  They were in charge of mending broken hearts and healing scrapes and bruises. They were caretakers and friends and the best medicine on sick days.  Never missing a celebration and at times unfortunate events they were always there with a comforting look and a wagging tail.  Bringing unconditional love as their greatest treasure, they have a key part in the person I am today.  My brother and sister have blessed me with a loving nephew and two beautiful nieces. It is a joy to see them growing up with the same love and admiration towards all animals as we did.  This has taught them to be gentle and respect all life and see the beauty in nature.

 As I ponder my blog I wonder what my life would have been like without these pets. I wonder if my sensitivity chip would be lost. I wonder if I wouldn’t have picked up that lost dog and felt the joy of returning him to the owner. I wonder if I would have been able to watch Marley and Me and not cry. I wonder……So as I blog and share my thoughts I realize that my life is turning out just as I want it to be and I’m glad I don’t have to wonder because everything I love is in it.

 I have the pleasure of working with an incredible group of people who love and appreciate pets as much as I do.  I get to come to work every morning and spend the day with “Jimmy” our office mascot and “more human than most humans” Standard Poodle.  Working at The Pet Stop enables me to not only help our customers but learn from them as well.  It is a pleasure to see how many people are just like me, people that love their furry friends as family.  Finding this common ground makes my job all the more special.  After work I come home to my best bud, cleverly named “Buddy”.  He is my best friend, my bodyguard and my child all in one 40lb bundle of love and joy.  Some might not take to his hyper ways but in my eyes he can do no wrong. I can’t imagine my life without him.  I finish my blog hoping that my reflections brought familiarity and a smile to those who love and have or have had special bonds with their pets.

Today is the first day of our blog. I wanted to start by saying...HI! I'm Tina and I have the privilege of working with some very cool people, doing some very cool things. This blog will be about whatever it is we all need to express. It might be about The Pet Stop daily life, it might be about pets, it might be about love and life, it might be about the pets in our life that we love.

Some of the team went to "Shark Valley" this weekend. It was a fantastic little getaway for us. Right there smack dab in the Everglades. We did a 15 mile bike trip and saw alligators literally two feet away. It was great.

I kept thinking that I was in the African Savanna. I would pedal ahead of the group and I would look as far as the eye could see, and everything I saw was nature, and beauty, and Earth as it was way before we were here. I kept imagining myself biking through Africa, minus the probability of a lion attack of course. It's in my backyard and it's the first time that I have been to Shark Valley. I have lived in South Florida for 22 years. Shame on me you say? Shame on me I say!

So this is how the blog will work. I'll write one day, from my perspective, my life, my world. I'm 43, with two awesome kids, 9 and 7. I'm married to a great man, have been for 12 years. It's not always perfect but it's perfectly mine and I love it. After I write Sharon or Michelle will write. I'll let them introduce themselves. They rock, just wait and see.  Then Rebeca might jot a line or two and of course we have to let Anthony have his say. Anthony...in an office surrounded by women. Like we say in the South...Bless his heart.

I am excited about this blog as much as I am about The Pet Stop. I encourage feedback and comments from all of you. I am excited to see where this blog will lead us. Discovery of self, discovery of our journey together here at The Pet Stop. Won't you join us?

We Love Pets & People!

At The Pet Stop, besides striving to provide quality affordable pet services, we believe in giving back to the community. We value all pets and pet lovers and treat them like family. We think that being able to communicate and share our ideas, experiences and stories is important for us to let  everyone out there know that we are not merely an organization, but a family unit that cares for you and your pets.  Hence, The Pet Talk- a space where all of our team members can communicate, share their life's experiences, their pets, ideas and just random nothings with all our customers and everyone who loves pets.