Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 7, 1994                   TAG: 9409080037
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Ben Beagle
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LOOKING AFTER THE PETS CAN TRY ONE'S SOUL

The Journal told us of these people recently and how they make a living sitting for pets, and it has inspired me to think of a second career:

BENNIE'S DOG AND CAT SITTING SERVICE - WE NEVER SLEEP BUT YOUR PET GETS ALL THE REST IT WANTS.

It may seem that an old coot who has spent a lifetime typing with two fingers wouldn't be qualified to sit for cats and dogs.

I won't take up space here to review my experiences along these lines except to recall the time Lancelot, a very good boxer I was sitting at the time, got into the fertilizer and became very sick at 4 a.m. When I got through that, I knew I had what it takes to succeed as a pet sitter.

I my time I have kept Emily, a three-legged cat with the personality of your average first sergeant; and Buxton, a very small cat with sharp teeth and claws who likes to jump on the arms of old people as they two-finger type on the computer keyboard.

During these times we have had in permanent residence the following:

Judy, a cat with a thyroid problem; Millie, a dog with a skin disorder for which she is taking an antibiotic and other medicines; and Skeeter, a dog now far gone in senility in addition to being insane.

I have also looked after Sally, another boxer. It is well known that all boxers drool, but you haven't seen drool until you've seen Sally.

Think about it. Keeping three dogs and three cats all at the same time, not to mention the beagle that comes to the back door for a bone.

This is the kind of thing that you might want to do if you wanted to try your soul.

Sally had a couple of bad dreams during this time. Buxton threw up twice. Quite noisily for a cat his size.

I have also looked after Lancelot, who we mentioned above, and his partner Morgan Le Fay, another boxer.

Lancelot and Morgan tend to spend flawless, untroubled nights because I make sure there is no fertilizer around.

Let's face it, pal. You're looking at the Bruce Willis of pet-sitting here.

I will admit, however, that being in the same house with three dogs and three cats at the same time is not very good for your the old nerves.

It has, in fact, a definite tendency to make you rush the cocktail hour a little.

Say, about 3:30 p.m.