ORGANIZE YOUR LIFE WITH PETS

from Las Vegas Pet Scene Magazine, November/December 2021

TIPS FOR PET CAREGIVERS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

PET ORGANIZATION

Organize Your Life

with Pets By Gail Mayhugh

Keeping our pet’s things organized is no different than our own; they can overtake our home with clutter if we don’t keep it under control. When things are organized it’s much easier and quicker to get what you need rather than searching for them So, where do we start to keep things under control?

Even with my own things, I gather up what I want to organize in a better way by bringing them together in one place. If you have time to do them all, that’s great. But if doing that seems overwhelming and your time is limited, do one type of category at a time. I love this saying I saw on a sugar packet and have taped to my computer, “The best way to get there is to start.”

Then I sort them by category, just like the pet stores do. Looking for a new leash, you can head right to that aisle. Look through what you have and ask yourself, are there things you no longer need or have seen better days. It will be amazing how many expired medications you’ll find, or ones where you can’t even read the label. I had a couple of these.

Now that you have all the like items together, where would be the most convenient place to store them and take them to that area. It’s essential you do this to see how much room you have and to have an idea of the type and size of containers to buy. Do you have room in a cabinet and don’t need something decorative, or are they visible, and do you want to conceal them in pretty containers?

If a couple of family members walk Fido, have a walk station by the door. Use a tote to place his leash, harness, waste bags, and baby wipes if you need a quick clean-up. A small first aid kit would be a good idea too. Then put it by the door or hang it in a closet for easy grabbing. This way, everyone knows where his leash is.

Have one shelf in your storage pantry just for their things. I like to use clear plastic boxes to keep things that are not boxed or too small to stack, like their chew bones, vitamins, medication, and grooming items. The dollar stores have all types and sizes of boxes. I use a separate container for each type and label them

Don’t have room in your pantry? You can do a doggy drawer. Use drawer organizers or plastic boxes to keep it organized; you don’t need another junk drawer. Also, clear-over-the-door shoe organizers work great for small items.

Now how do you tackle their toys? There’s no perfect way around toys being on the floor and having to pick them up at the end of the night. You want them to be able to keep themselves occupied and play when they want to. So, either you have them where they can get to them, or you pull a couple out each day. I like mine to pick what they want, and I figure what’s the difference between gathering up two toys or ten.

If you’re going to have them out, have just one place where they get put away each night. A quick grab and drop are better than stepping on their squeaky toys in the middle of the night. There are all kinds of attractive containers you can use. If you get one with a handle, you can carry it around when doing your toy run.

How about a large decorative ice trough? Cut down a wine barrel. A trip to an antique store can get your creative juices flowing to find something unique. In my master retreat, I have my baby rocker where I put the toys they play with in the morning when I’m getting ready.

Want them out of sight but easy to get to? Storage ottomans are perfect and dual-functional. Pull their toys out and get your feet up after a long day. Vintage suitcases can add a nice touch. They stack, close, and are very chic. You can even sort their toys by suitcase – one for bones, one for plush toys, and one for their squeaky toys.

No matter how and where you store your fur baby’s things, you need to be diligent in putting them away; otherwise, you’ll be back to where you started. As they say, “A place for everything and everything in its place.”

Gail Mayhugh, the owner of GMJ Interior Design, has been designing in Las Vegas for over 20 years. She also supports animal rescues and shelters through her non-profit, www.SeniorsToTheRescue.org.

Thank you

for helping LVVHS to be the eyes and ears of the community this year, looking and listening out for the stray and abandoned animals in need. Your calls alerted LVVHS to many, many feral cats in need of trapping to be spayed or neutered, as well as mother cats and kittens who needed to be taken in and found homes. Your generosity during food drives and fundraisers was heartwarming, and your donations have helped us feed and foster many animals who have ended up on the streets when their owners could no longer care for them. The outpouring of support from you, our donors, helps keep positivity and hope strong even as the pandemic wears on and times seem tough. No gift is too small, EVERY gift makes a difference and LVVHS appreciates each and every one.