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By Liz Mathews
06/18/2003
Published in the Loudoun Times-Mirror
Humans aren't the only ones catching a taxi these days. Whether it's across town or across the nation, pets now have more options for getting around as pet taxis join the ranks of standard pet services.
Although primarily a pet-sitting and dog-walking organization, Kit & Kaboodle Pet Care Service, in Leesburg, has expanded to include taxiing to meet a growing need in the area. "A lot of our clients started asking our sitters if they could drop off their dogs at the groomers ... so we started doing it casually," said owner Carmen Velasco. "We do pick up and drop off to the groomers or vet appointments, sometimes door to door depending on the situation."
As business picked up, Velasco switched from case-by-case pricing to a flat rate, charging one way or round-trip rates. The service is now a regular feature for Kit & Kaboodle's clients.
"It's hard trying to get home in time to take your dog to an appointment," Velasco said. "[Taxiing] is a little less stressful for the client."
Other companies provide delivery service to and from their establishment, like The Animals' House, a doggy daycare in Sterling.
"We pick up dogs on a regular basis, from 10 to 12 in the morning, and drop them off between 4 and 6 in the afternoon," said Nicole Canzanese, an employee at The Animals' House. "I think a lot of people use it, probably about half the people who use the daycare."
Action Pet Express owner Jerry Mishler ships animals all around the world.
"My main business is pet shipping for people relocating," he said. "There's a real demand for it."
Mishler spent 20 years in California doing a combination of pet shipping and taxiing.
"I would do it, and I'm equipped to do it, but I live too far away," Mishler said. "Hopefully one of these days I'll make enough money to move in closer to Leesburg."
For now, he sticks to taking care of travel arrangements for animals, picking up and transporting animals to local airports, and making sure they get safely to their final destination.
In addition to filling the needs of area pet owners, safety is also an issue.
"All taxiing has to be approved through me, so we can provide a carrier or harness if the sitter or pet owner doesn't have one," Velasco said. "When you're transporting an animal, a lot of things could happen."
At The Animals' House, dogs are transported in a company van equipped with kennels.
"There are kennels in the van for each dog," Canzanese said. "For the safety of the dog, we have to have a kennel for each of them."
With pet shipping, Mishler provides a list of tips on his Web site, www.actionpetexpress.com, including health certificate requirements and what not to give your animal (like a large meal) pre-travel.
Though many people prefer to ferry their own pets to appointments, taxi services provide owners with an option when they plan their pet's next vet visit or trip to the groomer's.
Contacts
*Action Pet Express
525-K E. Market St.
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: 1-888-234-5028
Web site: www.actionpetexpress.com
*Kit & Kaboodle
709 Clark St. Suite 302
Leesburg, VA 20176
Phone: 703-443-2499
*The Animals' House
20789 Great Falls Plaza
Sterling, VA
Phone: 703-433-1300
Web site: www.theanimalshouse.com
©Times Community Newspapers 2003