As a New Year's resolution, most people pledge to lose weight at this time of the year. Rita Joseph, a petite brunette, has never had a problem with her weight; her problem is pet clutter. This upcoming year, Rita's vows to get pet organized. As the owner of two dogs living in a New York City apartment, Ms. Joseph wants to maintain a pet–friendly home but just keep it straight.
“My dogs are my family. Like kids, my dogs have toys and clothing-most of which are scattered around the apartment,” says Joseph. “Although it's just easier to leave the stuff where it is, I’m embarrassed to invite people over.”
Joseph’s immediate family consists of two French Bulldogs, Patricia and Lily. Joseph admits to spoiling them by purchasing a variety of dog toys to keep Patricia busy and by buying Lily sweaters and t-shirts to keep her glamorous. As a result, the dogs’ possessions have taken over her Upper Westside residence.
Owner of Organizing Goddess Inc. and president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers Sharon Lowenheim MBA, MSE explains that people who live in smaller, residential spaces with limited closet space have challenges when storing possessions. “Even so, it is important to eliminate the clutter and find a place for everything,” she advises.
Solution orientated pet design team, Sepi Banibashar and Gerardo Herrera of {YepYup} created their best-selling pet organizer because too many times, they would visit friends whom like Joseph had pet stuff scattered throughout their homes.
“By creating the organizer, we helped our dog loving friends and other pet owners store their pet gear in one place,” explains Ms. Banibashar. The Hanging Pet Organizer, available in seven colors, is sold at Frontgate for $39.50, and looks like a hanging, pocket shoe organizer. The organizer can be hung with two adhesive hooks (not included) on either the back of an apartment door or on the inside of a closet door so that toys, leashes and grooming supplies can easily become accessible and orderly, fitting neatly into the various sized pockets.
After receiving the Hanging Pet Organizer as a holiday gift for her dog, Kala, Emily Dodge was pleasantly surprised. “Now, when I come home from work, everything is right there for a dog walk- the leash, dog bags, and the water bowl. I no longer get frustrated looking for everything.
“Although it is important to store items where you use them, another strategy is to store like items together,” recommends Organizing Goddess Lowenheim.
For toys around the house, Dodge uses a children’s toy caddy. A caddy allows her to pick up toys as she moves from room to room. Additionally, Dodge can leave the caddy on the floor so that Kala can easily pick out the items that she wants to play with. Dodge prefers the toy cady to a doggy toy box because the caddy is functional and stylish as opposed to many pet products she deems to be "home decor eyesores" not welcome in her small house. And, when guests come, she easily stores the caddy in the closet or on a bookshelf.
Pet industry experts agree that other than pet food storage containers, there is a limited selection of pet organizational products that are stylish and functional. According to Beth Cronk, a dog groomer with 23 years of experience and an expert on allexperts.com, “dog owners have to be resourceful and improvise when dealing with pet storage issues.” Cronk encourages her clients to use a gardener’s bag to organize grooming products. “The outside pockets can be used for combs, brushes, nail clippers and scissors, and the larger, interior one can hold shampoo and conditioner,” says Cronk.
Other than grooming tools, pet apparel can be stored similar to human clothing. Prior to storing sweaters, coats and t-shirts, dog clothing “should be clean and hung or placed in canvas bags to keep them dust-free,” says Lowenheim. To prevent moths or other insects, place cedar blocks in the sealed storage containers.
But, what about those pets with busy social schedules? It seems that a breed calendar will no longer serve as an appointment book. Miami dog owner, Nicole Thompson uses a phone ap to schedule Budgy's (her five year-old Bichon Frise) vet appointments, trips to the groomer and yoga classes. Recently, Budgy had an appointment to meet and be photographed with Santa Paws.
"Budgy attends charity events, participates in fashion shows and works with a trainer. I needed to keep up with his schedule," says Thompson, a self-employed public relations executive. To organize Budgy's schedule, Thompson uses The Pet Dossier, a pet ap to organize her pet's life.
YepYup's, Gerardo Herrera (a former Nokia employee) created the digital organizer to keep dog, cat, bird, fish, critter and other animals’ information at a pet owner's fingertips. "The ap keeps track of your pet’s history, medications, and appointments, and is able to email the information directly to your pet’s caregivers," explains Herrera. "Pet owners can customize their pets information to fit their needs by editing, adding new fields and leaving notes throughout the application,"he says. Additionally, a portion of the sales benefit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
With helpful tips and product suggestions, pet owners can maintain a pet organizational strategy thoroughout the New Year.
For more pet organization tips, visit my blog, Pets Are My Business at www.charlottereed.com. Sign up for the Charlotte’s Web newsletter so that you will have the chance to win a YepYup Hanging Pet Organizer on January 5, 2010.
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