Pet Education and Therapy, LLC

March 1st full week - Professional Pet Sitters Week

Pet Sitters International, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, will celebrate Professional Pet Sitters Week during the first full week in March.

For nearly one million discriminating pet owners in the United States, Canada and abroad, there is no substitute for professional in-home pet care. Professional pet sitters offer a unique and beneficial alternative to using boarding facilities or having to rely on family and friends for quality pet care. Because many professional pet sitters receive specialized training in areas such as animal behavior, emergency preparedness, pet first aid, and other important skill sets, pet owners can leave their homes for business or pleasure with the knowledge that their beloved pets are in safe, capable and caring hands.

Recognize the pet sitters who make in-home pet care possible this week.

The Iditarod Dog Sled Race is known as The Last Great Race on Earth.

Iit will send mushers and their dog sled teams approximately 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome. The event will cross two mountain ranges, parallel the Yukon River and run over the Frozen Norton Sound. Weather can range from 40 degrees and rain near Anchorage to 40 degrees below zero and blowing snow in the middle of the state.

The ceremonial race start begins on Saturday. The official race re-start begins on Sunday. Live event streams are available at the Official Site of the Iditarod for a fee.

Iditarod Facts:

• The winning team usually arrives in Nome in about nine days while the back of the pack teams show up approximately a week later.
• The first race was held in 1973.
• The 2006 winner finished in 9 days, 11 hours, 11 minutes, and 36 seconds ... winning the $69,000 first prize.
• There has been one 5-time winner, Rick Swenson. He is also the only person to win the Iditarod in three different decads winning in 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982, and 1991.
• The fastest time was set in 2002 by Martin Buser who finished the course in 8 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes, and 2 seconds.
• The slowest time ever to win the race was in 1974 when Carl Huntington won in 20 days, 15 hours, 2 minutes, and 7 seconds.
• A red lantern is awarded to the last musher to finish. The longest time for a Red Lantern was 32 days, 15 hours, 9 minutes, and 1 second by John Schultz in 1973. The fastest time for a Red lantern musher was David Straub with a time of 14 days, 5 hours, 38 minutes, and 12 seconds.
• The closest finish occurred in 1978 when Dick Mackey beat Rick Swenson by one second. The winner was decided by the nose of the lead dog across the finish line.
• Teams average 16 dogs ... which means over 1,000 dogs leave Achorage for Nome!

Do you have a pet sitter in case you have to go away on business? What if you want to take a vacation? Do you have a dog walker so your dog gets some much needed exercise. Click here to read about how to find a pet sitter.