Petcetera Pet Sitting's Blog

Petsmart & Radar

Due to a cancellation in my schedule, I took a last minute trip to my favorite Petsmart (in Lone Tree by the Park Meadows mall) to pick up food for my Degu, a new UVB light for Panzer, and a new water dish for another of my birds. As you can see at the end of this post, my “quick stop” turned into a mini spree. (This always happens when I find items on clearance or on sale.)

At the check out counter, I turned to find an adorable Chihuahua mix starving for attention (OK, probably not, I just needed an excuse to pet him!) The minute I knelt down to introduce myself, his caretaker informed me that he was available for adoption (via Every Creature Counts.) After cooing and cuddling Radar, I promised to post his photo on my Facebook page. Tonight, I figured I’d go one step further and post his photos to my blog.

Radar is a 3 year old neutered male Chihuahua mix.

From the ECC web site:

“ I am a loving dog who just wants to find my forever home. I like to cuddle, sit on laps and be with my people friends. I also like to play with toys and other dogs. I would do best in a home without cats. If you would like to adopt me, please call 303-546-2704 ext 4 or email dogs@everycreaturecounts.org”

Please contact Every Creature Counts if you are interested in adopting Radar. You can read about their Adoption Process by following this link.

Chihuahua’s are one of my favorite breeds. I hope to own one someday, but that day is a long way away. In the meantime, I live vicariously through my Chihuahua-owning clients, and do what I can do help Chi’s (and all dogs) in need!

And my shopping cart at Petsmart?

This is a MINOR sampling of a Petsmart run for my household. The gerbil food is for my degu, Dobby; a new bowl for my red rumped parakeet Pongo; clearance bird toys for the rest of the flock; a new veggie dish for the guinea pigs, Oliver and Holmes; a colorful balsa wood chew toy for the green cheek conures; and a new UVB light for my Hahn’s macaw Panzer. Not pictured? All of the clearance rawhide and cat toys I bought for my clients!! :D

Thanks Fetcher’s!

When anyone asks me for a doggie day care or training referral, the first words out of my mouth are always, “Fetcher’s Dog Care.”

Several years ago, I fostered my first rescued American Eskimo dog, Domino. He’d been a stray for so long that he’d forgotten to be a pet, and as soon as he healed from his neuter surgery, he was jumping across couches (into my face) and instigating fights with my male Eskie. I knew that I couldn’t give Domino the training that he needed, and I worried that without it my own dogs would be injured. After I regrettably informed my ERU contact that Domino needed to be moved, phone calls were made and the rescue’s association with Fetcher’s was formed. (Our volunteers had used Fetcher’s day care services previously - on a non-rescue basis - and owner Cowles Self graciously extended his help when ERU asked.) At Fetcher’s, Domino was given the training he needed to erase the troublesome behavior, and was adopted not long after “graduating” from his doggie boot camp.

Fetcher’s, Cowles, and the rest of the staff have been invaluable to Eskie Rescuers United in the past several years. As the regional director, I can confidently say that without Fetcher’s, we would only be saving a fraction of the dogs we rescue. The American Eskimo breed doesn’t do well in shelters, is often under-socialized, and come to ERU with fear-aggression, often growling or nipping out of fear. In the years we have been working with Fetcher’s, every dog whose experienced board and train has become a different dog - well-balanced, trusting, and - most importantly - highly adoptable. It’s also helpful that as long as the dogs’ vaccinations are up to date and they appear in good health (no coughing, discharge of the eyes or nose, etc.) they can move from shelter to Fetcher’s without a holding period. (Fetcher’s Dog Care is insured doubly to cover their extensive work with rescue dogs, as ERU is not the only rescue that Fetcher’s assists.)

With such a great reputation, it was a no brainer to suggest Fetcher’s when one of my clients called a few days ago with concerns about her adopted Beagle. Bear is a good dog, but was exhibiting some worrisome behavior, exerting dominance over his siblings and even wounding them. My client was worried, especially since it was possible that without the help needed to correct this behavior, Bear may not have a chance at being adopted to another home. With a resource like Fetcher’s, I wasn’t about to let that happen. My client made the call and I joined her for Bear’s evaluation this afternoon.

When I walked in, Bear was already undergoing his behavioral evaluation and some training. Within an hour, some of his troublesome behavior was already corrected. I won’t go into every detail about Bear and his evaluation today but observing Cowle’s training techniques and the dialogue between trainer and client made me so, so thankful that ERU (and Petcetera) have Cowles and Fetcher’s in our lives. Because of Cowles and Fetcher’s, I know that there is a happy ending waiting for Bear, whether it’s with my client or another home. I know of no other day care that dedicates so much time, so many resources to saving dogs. I am so appreciative of the support Fetcher’s has provided ERU and myself. THANK YOU FETCHER’S!!!!

Cowles and Bear

My sweet friend Bear <3

The Ritzy Rover

There’s a new pet boutique & grooming salon in Highlands Ranch, CO! Although it’s been open since last June, I didn’t find out until a few months back when I spotted their business card on a client’s fridge. I decided to stop in today and fell in love!!! Here are some photos of the store:

The storefront. Note the cute dachshund “Open” sign!

Inside the shop

The waiting area for the grooming salon. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate await!

Part of the kitty section

Cute dog toys. I bought the puppy Pinot Noir!

They sell only high-quality, holistic dog foods, including Taste of the Wild, and offer a rewards program (the 13th bag is free!) They do this outside of distributor programs, which is a huge plus since Taste of the Wild’s distributor canceled their rewards program. The food is also less expensive than other boutiques; I paid $5 less for the largest bag at Ritzy Rover than another boutique I frequent.

Anyway, this store is unique and wonderful and I wanted to share it with you!

Ritzy Rover 9265 S Broadway #200 Highlands Ranch, CO 8012 ritzyroverco.com

Noah’s Unintentional Ark

While we were on vacation in February enjoying the (partly) sunny gulf coast of Florida, Colorado’s temps plummeted into icy oblivion & a sprinkler pipe froze & burst outside our home, transorming the bottom half of our bi-level house into a flat mucky pond. Fortunately, our house sitter returned from her errands in the nick of time, called us, and soon enough we had a deluge of friends working to save our furniture, belongings - and most importantly - our pets.

I’ve posted photos of my Bird Room before. (You can find them on Petcetera Pet Sitting’s Facebook Page.) All of my parrots and rodents, with the exception of our African Grey Howie, live in the pretty green bird room, which was miraculously - almost - untouched. Only a small amount of water intruded and dampened the carpet. However, because of the amount of water that flooded the house, the carpet had to be removed throughout and the animals - all 9 who live downstairs - had to move upstairs with us and the majority of our downstairs furniture.

As mentioned, we were out of town when the flood occurred (on a Thursday) and didn’t return until the following Monday. In order to protect our African Grey from drafts in the basement, he was moved upstairs into a spare large cage I had on hand. (His home cage had to be dismantled in order to be moved & we took care of that when we returned.) The guinea pigs, who live in a floor level C&C (cubes and coroplast) cage, were also moved upstairs since we weren’t sure whether the water had seeped into the coroplast. The rest of the pets stayed in their home cages since they were well above the floor. Fans and humidifiers were placed throughout the basement with instruction not to place them in ways that could harm the birds.

(For the record, our special needs dog Milo was medically boarded while we were away. Our other dogs, Evo and Echo, were boarded the day of the flood through the day of our return. Our gecko, Ember, lives in my office upstairs, which was not affected by the flood.)

We were prepared to return to a world turned upside down. Due to the help of our friends, the damage to the house and our belongings was minimal, but carpet would have to be replaced, and within days we were informed that the tile found underneath was asbestos positive. Baseboards had been ripped out, laundry room linoleum was damaged. The days after our return were stressful, spent planning on how to live on the first floor of our home with 13 pets, 6 of whom require large cages.

Most of neighbors probably shake their heads when catching a glimpse of our garage. Being an animal person, pet sitter, and Regional Director of a dog rescue, our garage is filled with an assortment of dog and cat crates, extra small animal cages, emergency bird cages, and dog beds. But I’ll tell you this - as much as our garage resembles that of an “animal rescue items” hoarder, I’ll never regret that I was able to house my pets in temporary cages until their home cages could be dismantled and moved upstairs. I never took photos of the pets’ temporary arrangements, but now that I’ve got their homes reconstructed, I thought I’d share their living arrangements.

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My office now houses 5 parrots and 3 rodents.

Left to Right: Hahn’s Macaw Panzer’s cage; Green Cheek Conures Bonzai! & Miso’s cage (their home cage is double the size in width & could not be brought upstairs. The cage they live in is Pocky’s home cage.) The guinea pigs are sitting between Bonzai! & Miso and Pocky’s cages on the floor. Pocky, Senegal parrot, is in the brown cage, which is the cage used to temporarily house our African Gray before his home cage was moved upstairs. The cage otherwise lives in the garage for emergencies just like this one!) 

Pongo, the red rumped parakeet’s cage (in back) and Dobby the Degu’s cage.

Dobby’s cage, supplies underneath and his exercise ball.

Dobby in his wheel. Degu’s are Chilean rodents.

Pongo the red rumped parakeet. He is not tame but he loves singing to us.

Panzer’s cage had to be dismantled and reconstructed in order to move upstairs.

Hahn’s macaw Panzer.

Green cheek conures Bonzai! and Miso’s cage.They are in the top left corner.

Another view (pre-toy explosion) to show where the piggies are. Bonzai! and Miso are visible in the top left hand corner. Miso is the lighter one (called a “Cinnamon” color mutation.)

Moving the guinea pigs (Oliver and Holmes) into a cage this small was very difficult. This cage is about a quarter of the size of their home cage, but it’s the best I could do with the space that I have. I keep telling myself it’s only temporary, and it is.

Sengal parrot Pocky’s cage. In this photo she is near the top, sitting behind a toy.

Pocky! She turns 7 on March 10th!

Our gecko Ember moved into our living room, as well as our African Grey Howie:

We have a way to go before the downstairs is livable again, but we’ll get there!! In the meantime, the birds will be undergoing their annual veterinary exams so that we’re prepared to board them if necessary. (Painting the house may require that the birds be removed; it’s dependent upon how well ventilated the house is, the type of paint used, and how well the painted areas can be sealed off from the parrots. Oh, and the tile is being removed with no risk to the parrots. Fortunately, it’s not fibrous or air borne and can be wet down and peeled up. We’re removing it ourselves using respirators, latex gloves, and protective clothing.)

The good news is that when the basement is finished, the birds and rodents will be upgrading to an even larger bird room!! Since we had to give away much of our upstairs furniture (not enough room to store it), we’re rearranging the entire house and giving the former guest room to the pets. I’m currently eying a color called “Peacock Tail” for the new room. I can’t wait to show it off … though you might be waiting a few months ;)

Happy Days

The past few days have been very rewarding & I feel the need to share!

I’ve been walking with my friend Riley since September of 2008. He’s always been so excited to see me and eager to venture out into the suburban Colorado wilderness (i.e. the nearest open space park) for our afternoon walks. Suddenly, Riley’s behavior changed when I went to visit one day. Instead of wiggling in excitement when he saw me, Riley became visibly nervous, panting and shaking. He wouldn’t walk much that day.

Riley’s vet suspects that he’s suffering from a neurological disorder, a type of “Doggie Dementia.” Over time, Riley found himself lost in his own backyard, snapping, not recognizing friends, and refusing to walk with his own people. It became difficult not to take Riley’s resistance to walk with me personally, but his Mom assured me that his behavior was the same across the board.

On Sunday I had a new opportunity to walk Riley. In the last few months since I’ve seen him, Riley’s made improvement at home. However, when I first arrived, Riley presented the same symptoms of nervousness (shaking, refusing to walk). After attempting to walk, we ventured into the backyard for a bit. When we came back inside, Riley started barking in the way that’s always meant “Let’s go WALK!” So we leashed up and headed out front again … only to find Riley at a dead stop just a few steps out of the house.

So, as we’ve done on every visit since Riley’s behavior changed, we took things slowly. A few steps here, a few more there … and before I knew it, Riley started walking. Slow but steady, we went one block north . . turned around and went one block south . . and he kept going! In fact, he didn’t want to head home when it was time to turn back! LOL

I texted Riley’s Mom with the great news and I think we were both near tears! Riley is WALKING! We’re both SO happy, and I’ll hopefully see Riley again soon so that he doesn’t forget me. In the meantime … CELEBRATION!!

In other happy news, while walking my pug friend Tilde the other day, I picked her up (her owners prefer her not to interact with other dogs during walks) and we stopped to chat with a neighbor and her cute Pekingese, Sophie.  The neighbor walks Sophie every day with the help of a walker. She noted how much she liked Tilde’s mesh body harness and wanted one for Sophie (her pulling makes walking difficult some days). Lo’ and behold, I had a similar harness at home, a holiday gift from clients Mike and Jennifer Stamm. Since the harness was too small for my babies, I held onto it hoping to donate it to an ERU dog, but I felt that Sophie was the right choice :) I brought the harness with me and gave it to Sophie and her Mama today!

Here’s Smiling Sophie! You can’t really see the harness, but she’s wearing it!

Sophie and her Mama :)

Lost, then Found

This week has been unforgettable in the worst - and best - of ways.

If you know me well, whether you’re a client or friend, you know that my favorite breed of dog is the American Eskimo. In fact, my second “full time job” is my volunteer position as the Rocky Mountain Regional Director for Eskie Rescuers United, a 501c(3) non-profit rescue organization for the American Eskimo breed and mixes. I’m Mom to Milo, a special needs Eskie and permanent ERU foster, and Evo and Echo, male and female Eskies (both rescued outside of ERU).

But fifteen years ago, another Eskie started it all. Rocky is the Eskie that changed my life, and he is the one who “rocked” my life again when my mother informed me that he was missing.

Rocky was a pet store puppy, something that I’m not proud of, but whose puppy-mill-likely beginnings I wasn’t aware of at the age of 14 (neither were my parents). What we knew was that the tiny, fluffy white pup stood out from the rest, and after all of the family members had gone on their own to visit and coo over Rocky, my father finally gave in and told my mom to “Bring the damn dog home!” I think my pleading had gotten the best of him ;)

Rocky was my most beloved friend through the tough trials of high school and beyond. Of course, when I became engaged and moved in with my husband, we weren’t allowed to have pets in the college residence hall my husband managed. I had to leave Rocky at home, though we visited frequently. Years later, my husband and I moved to upstate New York; Rocky stayed behind with my parents, my father’s steadfast companion, and as time passed we realized that my parent’s house would always be Rocky’s Home.

Regardless of the mileage between us, or the three Eskies that I call my own, Rocky is still my baby, still “mine” in the ways of the heart. We’ve been blessed to have him in our lives for so many years, and when my mom called on Tuesday night and began to tell me in a wavering voice that she’d let Rocky out to pee that afternoon (not usually something she’d call to tell me)… I expected to hear the worst … that he had laid down and passed away. The last thing I expected to hear was that he’d disappeared from the yard … our beloved family member was LOST!!

Rocky’s routine had been flawless for those fifteen years. As he got older, we began to let him wander the yard unleashed (though supervised). Over time, my parents let him wander unsupervised, and he returned every time, numerous times a day, until last Tuesday. We guess that Tuesday must have been a good day for a walk. (We can laugh about it now that the story has a happy ending; it wasn’t humorous on Tuesday.)

I’ll be honest - in my upset and fear I reacted with anger towards my parents. Rocky didn’t wear a collar because my father felt it bothered him. He wasn’t microchipped, and my mom had let him outside unsupervised. Now he was missing. Though he’d never wandered away in his long, long life, the opportunity had come and he hadn’t been found in 8 hours. I had to hang up the phone because I was too upset to talk.

When the anger cleared, I hit the internet, posting on every Lost and Found web site that targeted Palm Beach County and my parent’s development. Between a deluge of tears, I emailed the ERU Yahoo Group, posted on every Facebook page I could, imagined the worst scenarios, and collapsed into Evo or Echo’s fur, unable to find the hope that I so desperately needed. I felt so helpless … in Colorado, I yearned to be searching on foot for Rocky in South Florida.

On Tuesday, we all went to bed in tears. We all tried to find Rocky in our mind’s eyes. We prayed he was safe and warm.

Wednesday morning, my mother set out on foot, scoured the neighorhood by car, Lost Dog flyers in hand, knocking on doors of neighbors she’d never even met. By the end of the day, two neighbors recalled seeing Rocky on Tuesday, running down various roads. (We couldn’t fathom our fifteen year old Eskie running anywhere; it was so unlike him!) This at least relieved my fears that he’d been stolen from my parent’s property or picked up to be sold or used in dog fighting (I told you I’d imagined the worst). It wasn’t much, but the sightings infused some hope in me. I still cried on Wednesday, but I cried a little less - although to be honest, I think I was just beginning to go numb.

My sister came over to help my mom post signs to the entrances to my parent’s development. They searched, checked with the town police, and I continued refreshing the Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control’s “Found” page, hoping to see that white ball of fluff. Wednesday had come and gone and there was no sign of Rocky. Neighbors and friends reminded us that it was still early in the search, that their dog had once been lost and came back a week later … we tried desperately to hold onto optimism and hope. 

Thursday morning my mother had to have a root canal. Numb and recovering, she hit the streets again in search of Rocky. A neighbor had suggested that she venture into neighborhoods across the street (a busier two-lane road) because there were a lot of kids in that neighborhood and, well, most kids like dogs.

I’m not sure where the house was or how long my mother had been driving when she saw the sign: FOUND DOG. The photo on the sign was Rocky … !!!!!!!!! I was on my way to walk Mimi and Tuffy, around 11a, when my mom called exclaiming ecstatically, “I HAVE ROCKY! I HAVE ROCKY!”

… and the levee broke, and the tears and relief, pain and celebration, came pouring out of me.

Rocky’s saviors weren’t fluent in English, so my mother isn’t sure how long they had Rocky … long enough to name him “Snowflake,” though, and it seemed that they’d planned to keep him if his owners weren’t found. He had a kid brother and a little canine brother, another little white and fluffy guy sort of like him. Most importantly, he was healthy, he was happy, and my mother forced this kind, wonderful family to take their reward for being so kind to take in our sweet boy.

The relief is overwhelming, and my parents have learned their lesson regarding Rocky’s requirement to wear a collar and tags. They’re planning on fencing their yard, but in the meantime Rocky won’t be let out unsupervised and without identification. He’s on his way to the vet tomorrow to make sure he’s in tip to shape, and my countdown to our Disneyworld vacation has been replaced by the countdown to see my boy!!

Special thanks to my friends and fellow volunteers. The news of Rocky’s disappearance spread like wildfire on the internet. Everyone was sharing his photos and information. Most importantly, though, are thanks to my sister, who created amazing signs and comforted my parents, and to my incredible mother, who went in search of Rocky directly after having had a root canal . . and in 80 degree weather! Without my Mom, Rocky would not be home - I am SO grateful for her!!!

Happy New Year!

I know, I know …  I’m a few weeks behind on wishing the blogosphere a Happy New Year, but a busy pet sitter is a good pet sitter, right? :)

The inauguration of the new year is one of my favorite annual events; not in terms of champagne glasses clinking and glittery balls dropping, but because I spend much of my time focusing on what the new year means for my business. While others spent New Year’s Eve celebrating, I navigated snow and ice patches walking Cooper, Autumn, Bosley, Llano, Oscar, and Ernie, and planning Petcetera’s future. Temps were barely above zero, but the energy around us vibrated with a sense of renewal, hope, and optimism - enough to keep our hearts warm (but I have to admit our noses were still pretty cold!)

If you’re a Petcetera client or friend, you should have already received our 2011 Winter Newsletter. (If not, you can follow the link or sign up here.) In our newsletter, I announced a new Client Referral Program. In a nutshell, every time you refer a friend to Petcetera Pet Sitting Services, you will receive a credit for one 30 minute visit upon completion of the referred client’s service. Of course, new clients must be located within Petcetera’s Service Area, and I will be fairly restrictive about going outside of those boundary lines. Nonetheless, referrals are welcome and clients should be expecting a postcard reminder in their mailboxes soon!!

When I created the postcards for the referral program, I used photos I’d taken of pets in my care. (The postcard features Ava, Gekkers, and Patrick.) When the postcards arrived, I realized that I loved them so much, I wanted to recreate my business cards with the same template. With some tweaking and more photo additions, I finally designed and ordered new business cards, which should be here soon!

Front (featuring Quigley, Ava, Gekkers, Patrick, and Tessa)

Back (featuring Scout, Bode, and Coco)

Once my holiday schedule calmed down, I also spent some time revamping my Craigslist ad and Petcetera Pet Sitting’s web site. Specifically, I wanted to add links to Petcetera Pet Sitting on Facebook, Twitter, and Yelp. I love investing time in having an online presence for clients to see and interact with, so I’m proud to show it off!!

Many of my clients may not realize that I spend very little on advertising. Most of my business comes via word of mouth/referrals and online searches. Having been in business for 3 years, Petcetera’s name pops up in many online searches for local pet sitters, and the free Craigslist ad has certainly been worth the small amount of time invested in creating the listing. I’m also fortunate to have a wonderful client base who refers me often, and the close working friendships with local veterinarians and pet boutiques is helpful in bringing in new clients as well!

Another “Something New” was inspired by the generosity of my clients during the 2010 holiday season. Those clients who book services during the holidays (any major holiday) have learned that I like to leave seasonal surprises for my clients and their pets! This past holiday season, every pet I cared for received a gift from Santa Paws, be it toys, treats, or a new fleece blanket. What was even more of a surprise was the generosity that my clients displayed towards me (I was truly touched) and I’d like to reward that generosity all year long.

SO … 2011 is the Year of Surprises! You won’t know when, but clients and their pets will be randomly rewarded for simply choosing Petcetera Pet Sitting Services (and me) to care for their pets! As you can see below, the fun has already started, and my car is stocked full of goodies to bestow upon my favorite furry friends.

That wraps up this blog entry, and I’ll start planning the next one soon. In the meantime, I can’t wait to spoil new friends and old. I’m so blessed to have the BEST job in the world, working with the BEST clients and their CUTEST “kids!”

<3
Heather Schriefer

Owner, Petcetera Pet Sitting

www.petceterapetsitting.com

A Pet Sitter’s Thanksgiving

Holiday vacation visits are underway, and I’m in the midst of final preparations for the busy weeks ahead. I’ll spend the weekend sleeping with my favorite Great Danes; getting together with clients; and slipping in an afternoon screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows with friends. (If I don’t see it then, I’ll have to wait until DVD!) Of course, I’ll be visiting a ton of animals this weekend as well, and when Monday rolls around, the craziness begins!!

This is one of the only times of year when I work from 6a to 11p (maybe later) with little or no down-time between visits. My husband will assist me, and he’ll care for our pets at home. It’s important to me that our special needs dog, Milo, receives ample time outside of the weather is nice, and I won’t leave him outside if we aren’t home. (I’m a tad paranoid about him being dog-napped, and our other two dogs stir up the neighbors by barking at the usual - squirrels, leaves, … clouds!

Preparing for the holiday season isn’t that different than preparing for any other busy time. I’ve spent the free time I’ve had getting my own house in order, cleaning not just our space but our pets.’ As some of you know, parrots can be awfully messy creatures and I know that no matter how meticulously I cleaned today, there will be more mess tomorrow; shredded paper, strewn food and toys, poop, poop, and more poop! I’ll still have to vacuum and spot clean during the busy time (husband will take care of water and food) but at least their homes will be clean. Unfortunately, they won’t have a lot of time to spend outside of their cages for a few days, but that’s why they got “new” toys (I like to move toys from cage to cage so that the birds always have something new without my having to purchase new toys. Somebirdy usually tears one to bits and I’ll have to replace them, but it’s a fun way to provide variety and save a little in the bank!)

Next week, I’ll be up before dawn to shower and make the coffee. Armed with caffeine of all types, I’ll wake up house after house of pets. Walk the dogs, feed the pets, cuddle the furries, play with them all, scoop the letterboxes, walk the dogs, feed the pets, and so it goes. Dachshunds, Doxi-poo’s, Great Danes, Green Cheek Conures, Blue Russians, Bunny Rabbits, Maine Coons, Siamese Lynx, Chihuahuas, King Charles Spaniels, Budgerigar’s (Budgies!), St. Bernards, and Pugs. The list doesn’t even cover the variety of species and breeds that I’ll be caring for! I’m so excited!!

If I’m lucky, my schedule will coincide with the Thanksgiving dinner our neighbors invited us too. If not, I’ll carry on and have my husband bring home a plate. (If you’re wondering, I pack my meals for the road.) These are the small sacrifices I make to do a job I love, and while I will admit that I miss my family during the holidays, I make sure to see them as often as I can. That allows me luxury of happiness, of spoiling your pets and celebrating the holidays with them.

So toss me a turkey leg, and let’s go!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!