Being Prepared Is Part of Loving Them

 

After nearly 10 years of caring for other people's pets, teaching pet first aid, and seeing firsthand through Thorin's Promise what can happen when a pet suddenly needs emergency veterinary care, there's one thing I know for sure:

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Emergencies rarely happen when we're ready for them.

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They happen on a Sunday night. While we're traveling. When the regular vet is closed. When we can't immediately find the vaccination records. Or when we're standing there trying to remember the name of the emergency hospital we know is somewhere in our phone.

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We can't prepare for every possible thing that could happen to our pets—and I don't think we should spend our lives worrying about all the things that might go wrong.  But we can do a few simple things now that make a scary situation a little easier to navigate later.

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That's really the idea behind so much of what I believe about pet care:

 

Care before the concern. Wellness before the warning signs.

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This month, we're putting that philosophy into action.

 

The 7-Day Pet Emergency Ready Challenge Starts September 15

 

I've created a free 7-Day Pet Emergency Ready Challenge to help pet parents tackle some of those important things we all mean to get around to.

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Over seven days, we'll take a few minutes at a time to work through things like organizing important pet information, checking emergency contacts, reviewing first aid supplies, thinking through evacuation plans and making sure you're better prepared to act if something unexpected happens.

 

This isn't about expecting an emergency.

It's about not having to start from zero if one happens.

 

The challenge begins September 15, and it's completely free.

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Know Their Normal. Notice Their Change.

 

Being prepared isn't only about having a first aid kit or knowing where the closest emergency veterinarian is.  It's knowing your pet well enough to recognize when something is different.

 

Maybe your dog usually flies down the stairs in the morning, but lately you've noticed they're taking their time. Or your cat is normally waiting in the kitchen before you even think about opening the food, and suddenly they're nowhere to be found.

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Maybe your dog isn't quite as excited to finish their usual walk. Your cat is visiting the water bowl more often. Someone isn't eating quite as much, their bathroom habits have changed, or they're just acting a little...off.  Sometimes those little changes mean absolutely nothing but, sometimes, they're the first whisper that something needs our attention.

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That's why knowing what's normal for your pet matters. When you know their normal, it's a whole lot easier to notice their change.  That's something our Weather or Not and Kitten Sittin' teams pay attention to when we're caring for pets, too. When you see a pet regularly, you begin to learn their routines, habits and personalities, and changes can stand out.

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Know their normal. Notice their change.

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Your 60-Second Pet Check: Lift the Lip

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Here's something you can do before you even finish reading this email.

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Go find your pet. Lift their lip and take a look.  What do you see?

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Take a quick look at the teeth and gums. Are the gums red or swollen? Is there visible tartar? A broken tooth? Bleeding? Anything that looks different than you remember?  

 

And give that breath a sniff while you're there. (You're welcome. 😂)  Bad breath can be easy to dismiss as normal "dog breath" or "cat breath," but persistent or unusually strong odor can be worth discussing with your veterinarian.  This isn't about diagnosing dental disease at home. It's simply another opportunity to know what's normal for your pet and notice when something changes.

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Wellness Spotlight: Plaque Control

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Dental health is also something we can support between veterinary visits.

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I've been using pawTree Plaque Control with Marshall, our four-year-old orange grandcat, for the past few months—and I've actually been able to see a difference in the amount of buildup on his teeth.

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Plaque Control is an easy addition to a pet's daily routine designed to support oral health and help manage plaque and tartar buildup.  It doesn't replace veterinary dental exams or professional cleanings when they're needed. Think of it as another piece of the everyday-care puzzle.

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Pet First Aid Minute: Know Their Breathing

 

Here's a first aid skill that doesn't require anything for your first aid kit: learn what your pet's breathing looks like when they're healthy and relaxed.

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When your dog or cat is sleeping or resting quietly, watch their chest rise and fall. One rise and fall counts as one breath. Count the breaths for 30 seconds and multiply by two to get their resting respiratory rate per minute.  More important than memorizing a number is getting familiar with what's normal for your pet. Pay attention to what their breathing normally looks and sounds like, too.

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That gives you a baseline to compare against if something ever seems off.

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Difficulty breathing, obvious distress, blue or very pale gums, collapse, or a significant change in breathing can be signs of an emergency and warrant immediate veterinary attention.

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First aid starts long before an emergency. The better you know your pet when they're well, the easier it can be to recognize when they're not.

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Why Thorin's Promise Is Part of This Conversation​

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Preparation matters. Pet insurance can help. Emergency savings can help. Having a plan can help.

But sometimes a family can do everything right and still find themselves facing an emergency veterinary bill they simply can't afford.

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That's why Thorin's Promise exists.

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We help bridge that gap when an unexpected veterinary emergency leaves a family facing an impossible decision.

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Every pet we're able to help is a reminder of why this work matters—and why I believe so strongly that supporting pets means supporting the people who love them, too.

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Something Pretty Special Is Happening Next Month...

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​In October 2016, Weather or Not welcomed our very first clients.

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Which means somehow...WE'RE ABOUT TO TURN 10!

 

Ten years

 

I've been thinking a lot lately about those early days, the hundreds of pets we've cared for since, the people who trusted us with them, the team that helped us grow, and how much that little dog-walking business has changed along the way.

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I have a lot more to say about this one.  But I'm saving that story for October.

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Save the Date!

 

Paws & Pumpkins 
 

November 1, 2026

 

We're celebrating Weather or Not's 10th anniversary with pets, people, local businesses and plenty of fall fun.

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More details are coming soon!

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Until next time, give your pets an extra scratch from me—and maybe lift a lip while you're at it.

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Lisa