Are you having trouble getting your pet to a routine veterinary or
grooming appointment?
Why not call a cab? Not for you, for your pet.
The Canine Caddie pet transportation service is open for business.
Morrisville residents Catherine and Kevin Wilson say they started
the business a few months ago because they found it difficult to transport
their three dogs and four cats to and from the vet for routine care.
"We were taking a lot of time off work," Catherine said.
"We figured a lot of other people, especially older people with
pets, were having the same trouble we were."
The Canine Caddie is a van that contains seven cages to transport
dogs, cats, birds and other pets, Catherine Wilson said. The van is
climate controlled and two of the cages are large enough to hold pets
that weigh between 80 and 120 pounds, she said. The van is equipped
with a ramp and an electrical lift to make it easy for the pets to
get in and out.
The Canine Caddie serves Lower Bucks. The couple will pick up and
deliver your pet to pet day care, vet or grooming appointments - or
to a relative's house. The Wilsons will even wait until the appointment
is over and deliver the pet back home.
It's all for a fee, of course. The pickup fee is $7 if you live in
Falls, Hulmeville, Langhorne, Langhorne Manor, Lower Makefield, Middletown,
Morrisville, Penndel, Tullytown and Yardley. The fee is $9 if you
live in Bensalem, Bristol, Bristol Township, Newtown, Newtown Township,
and Upper Makefield. Itıs $15 if you live in Lower Southampton, Northampton,
Upper Southampton and Wrightstown. The Canine Caddie charges $1.00
per mile; the delivery fee back home is variable. If you want the
taxi to wait for your pet, it will cost you $3.00 for each 15 minutes
of waiting.
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The concept of a pet transportation service may be relatively new
to this area, but it isn't new. Dr. Walter Woolfe, a founding member
of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association,
said the public's demand for better pet care has created a market
for pet transportation services. More than 175 pet transportation
services have joined the association since its launch in 1979, he
said.
Owners of local pet-oriented businesses say a pet taxi service is
needed. Linda Lowney, owner of Town and County Inc. in Lower Southampton,
said she provides pickup and delivery services for her kennel clients
who need to get their pets to and from the airport. The kennel doesn't
offer general taxi service for pets."A pet taxi service would
really be good for seniors, who don't have a way to get their pets
and to and from the vet during the day," she said.
Donna Steckley agreed. She's a pet caregiver at the Center for Animal
Referral and Emergency Services. The 24-hour emergency service in
Middletown offers limited pickup and delivery services. "There's
definitely a need for this service," Steckley said. "We
get a lot of calls on the weekend from elderly couples who canıt
transport their animals in an emergency."
Dr. John Kazmierczak, owner of the West Trenton Animal Hospital
in West Trenton, said, "I get a call at least once a month
from someone that can't get their pet to us in an emergency. Unfortunately,
there aren't many veterinarians who do house calls." Kazmierczak
said he plans to hire the couple early next year to transport pets
for some of his clients.
Valerie Link, owner of Four Paws doggie day care in Morrisville,
said she looks forward to working with the Wilsons. "We try
to offer a lot of pickup and delivery services for our clients,
but a Pet Taxi service can help us do more," she said.
Kevin Wilson said he's convinced the business will thrive. "We
have taxis for people," he said. "Why not a taxi for your
pets?
By WINSLOW MASON JR
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