Cathy Sweet is the owner of Four Seasons Professional Pet Sitting. As an adult, Cathy entered into the corporate world. However, after several years, she tired of the corporate scene and made a career decision - to retire and become a professional pet sitter, which she has been doing successfully for the past three years. Cathy has been a lifelong animal lover. "For as far back as I can remember, I have always had a passion for animals." Says Sweet. "I wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of animals. In addition, I needed to do something rewarding. Pet sitting has definitely fulfilled both of these things. It is the best feeling to have pet owner's call me upon returning home to thank me for a great job, and to say how happy their pets are. I love my job and I know that I am doing exactly what I should be with my life," says an excited Sweet.

Cathy is also certified as a professional pet sitter by the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). She recognized what this certification will mean to you and your pets. "I believe that clients and perspective clients will see the value in this certification, and understand that it means that their pets are receiving the highest quality of in-home care services available. In addition, the education and training I received has armed me with the latest and greatest in in-home pet care techniques and practices," says Sweet.

See Cathy's pets (links below) for photos and amusing tails (er, tales) of Cathy's own cats!

Four Seasons welcomes Ruth Ziman, our newest Four Season’s consultant. Ruth came to us in response to an advertisement for FSPPS consultants.

Prior to joining Four Seasons, Ruth was a full-time homemaker focused on raising her twin children during their early years. Recently, her children started attending school, and Ruth began to consider pursuing employment that would be both enjoyable and afford her the flexibility in scheduling she needed as a mom. Happily, she saw an ad for Four Seasons consultants, and submitted an online application to join our team.

Ruth is not only a human mommy… there are two lucky Golden Retrievers that call her ‘mom’ as well. Cody, the senior canine sibling, is twelve years old and has laid claim to the prime doggie real estate beneath the Ziman kitchen table. Two-year old Abby is the newest pooch in the Ziman clan, and Ruth dedicates her free time (what precious little there is) to working with Abby to train her for obedience competitions. Welcome, Ruth!

We are delighted to welcome Gail Taddeo to the FSPPS team.  Gail is actually a former FSPPS client. This past year, she lost both a beloved dog and cat to illness.

While she just was not ready for new furry babies of her own, she missed their companionship and was thinking about contacting FSPPS to see if we needed a hand. Low and behold, the latest version of our newsletter hit her inbox, and she saw that we were looking for additional consultants! Talk about karma…

Gail is a retired State employee who lives in North Greenbush with her husband. She has two grown children, and has been a member of the Human Society of the United States and the ASPCA for several years. Says Gail of her work for Four Seasons, “I have a love of all animals, and am looking forward to spending time in their company again.” Welcome, Gail!

Erin Gavin

When she is not visiting her FSPPS friends, Erin takes care of a 9-month old baby as a part-time nanny. She resides with her significant other and her 'baby' Magic, a black cat that she adopted from the Mohawk-Hudson River Humane Society. In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family.

Celia and her husband share their home with three cats, Val and Atlas (two older Siamese) and a huge domestic long haired fellow that answers to the name of Andy. (Andy simply walked through their front door one day and has not left since…) Celia describes Val as, “the world’s cutest Siamese, made even cuter after a middle ear infection left him looking perpetually quizzical.” She explains that Atlas is, “the world’s most annoying Siamese” and of Andy, she simply says that, “he’d like to eat and sleep on someone’s shoulder.”

Celia and her husband are always on the move, which prevents them from adding a dog to their clan. But Celia grew up with dogs and enjoys spending time visiting and caring for her new FSPPS canine pals. She also had horses growing up, and is a volunteer at the Saratoga Therapeutic Equestrian Program, where she assists with barn maintenance and lessons.

Celia is a character who asserts that she and her husband have “become those crazy old people who travel with cats,” because they bring Val and Atlas with them on their annual July vacations so that they can personally attend to the cats’ senior medical needs. Seems pretty sane to us pet lovers! Welcome, Celia!