Knoblauch Animal Care

09/04/2026

🐾🎉 FRIDAY FUN DAY: PET HEALTH & SAFETY EDITION! 🎉🐾

We’re continuing Pet Sitter Education Month, and today we're talking about something that might not sound particularly “fun”…
Being prepared! 📋🐶🐱🐴🐰

When you leave your babies in the care of a pet sitter, we want to know them almost as well as you do. Their routines, their quirks, their favorite treats, their “please don't touch my feet” rules 😂—all of it matters!

But there’s another side of preparation that is EXTREMELY important: having their health and emergency information readily available.

🚨 WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Imagine your pet sitter notices that your dog isn't acting like himself.

Or your cat suddenly vomits repeatedly.
Your horse has a wound.

Your pet gets into something they shouldn't have.

Or an unexpected emergency happens while you're unreachable.

In those moments, we don't want to waste precious time searching for information.
That's why we recommend keeping an up-to-date pet information sheet somewhere your sitter can easily find it.

📋 WHAT SHOULD YOUR PET SITTER HAVE?
🐾 Your veterinarian's name and phone number
🐾 Emergency veterinary clinic information
🐾 Your contact information + an alternate emergency contact
🐾 Each pet's name, species, age, and a current photo
🐾 Medical history and existing health conditions
🐾 Current medications & exact dosing instructions
🐾 Known allergies
🐾 Normal behaviors & anything that's unusual for your pet
🐾 Feeding instructions and schedules
🐾 Potty/exercise routines
🐾 Special needs or mobility concerns
🐾 Microchip information
🐾 Pet insurance information, if applicable
🐾 Permission/authorization for emergency veterinary care
🐾 House access instructions
🐾 Where food, medications, leashes, carriers, cleaning supplies, etc. are located
And if you have farm animals, exotics, birds, reptiles, pocket pets, or other unique critters, make sure their species-specific care instructions are included too! 🐴🐔🐷🐰🦎

❤️ HERE'S THE BIG REASON:
Your pet sitter isn't just taking care of an animal.

We're caring for a member of your family.
Having this information allows us to respond faster, communicate more effectively with your veterinarian, recognize when something isn't normal, and make informed decisions when you're unavailable.

It can also help reduce stress for everyone—you, your sitter, and most importantly, your pets.

💡 KNOBLAUCH ANIMAL CARE PRO TIP:
Create a Pet Emergency Binder or digital folder and update it regularly.

Keep one copy somewhere obvious in your home and make sure your pet sitter knows exactly where it is.

And don't forget to update it when:
📌 Your veterinarian changes
📌 Medications change
📌 Your pet's health changes
📌 Emergency contacts change
📌 Your phone number changes
📌 Your pet's routine changes

A few minutes of preparation today can make a HUGE difference tomorrow. 🐾
Because when you're away, your pet sitter shouldn't have to guess.
The more information we have, the better we can care for your babies. ❤️

🐾 Learn. Grow. Care. Connect.
— Knoblauch Animal Care

Our mission: to love your babies like they're our own. 🐾❤️

09/01/2026

🐾📚 HAPPY PET SITTER EDUCATION MONTH! 📚🐾

September is officially Pet Sitter Education Month, and we’re kicking things off with a whole month dedicated to something we absolutely LOVE…

LEARNING! 🧠🐶🐱🐴🐰

Being a pet sitter is so much more than showing up with a leash, scooping a litter box, or filling a food bowl. Every animal has their own personality, body language, needs, quirks, fears, and “I swear they’ve never done this before!” moments. 😂

And the more we learn, the better we can care for them. ❤️

Throughout September, we’ll be sharing tips, facts, safety information, pet-care education, and behind-the-scenes knowledge about what goes into being a well-rounded professional pet sitter.

We’ll be talking about:
🐾 Pet health & safety
🐾 First aid & emergency preparedness
🐾 Animal behavior & body language
🐾 Enrichment & mental stimulation
🐾 Fear-free care
🐾 Medication & special-needs pets
🐾 Farm & exotic animal care
🐾 Professional pet-sitting practices
🐾 And SO much more!

Because when you leave your babies in someone else's care, knowledge matters.
At Knoblauch Animal Care, our mission isn't just to love your babies like they're our own…
It's to keep learning how to care for them even better. 🖤🐾

So grab your favorite beverage, bring your questions, and follow along this month!

📚 LEARN.
🌱 GROW.
❤️ CARE.
🐾 CONNECT.

Here's to a September full of wagging tails, happy purrs, healthy hooves, curious noses, and a whole lot of learning!

Happy Pet Sitter Education Month! 🎉🐾

08/30/2026

Every year we are amazed with these beauties, they show up all over the farm. Several times one will perch on our porch or doorway which is a special little gift meaning they trust us. Starting in September we watch them in awe as they create more little lives and we always mourn them when they pass. Each one who comes to the porch for safety gets a name.

So many find them scary but they are some of the sweetest garden spiders we've ever seen.

Have you seen her this summer, the big yellow and black spider with the zigzag stitched down her web?

Old folks call her the writing spider. She has about six weeks left. The first hard frost ends her, and she seems to know it, because right now she is spinning something that will outlast her. A papery brown sac, hung in the goldenrod, packed with hundreds of eggs.

That sac holds through ice storms, wind and snow. In spring it opens and her children ride silk threads out over your garden, exactly the way a certain barn spider promised in the book.

Let the web stay through October. She is writing her will. 🕷️

08/29/2026

When you're pet sitting and on the verge of Spooky Season, you watch horror movies. The "ber" months start in just a few days and I'm already gearing up. Aspen... Not so much. 🤣 I've never seen a pup look so interested in a horror movie and yet so nervous at the same time.

07/23/2026

Yesterday, we said goodbye to one of our beloved KAC family members, Orion.

Some animals leave hoofprints far deeper than they could ever know, and Orion was one of them.

Orion was a true gentle giant. Before finding the life he deserved, he spent years working tirelessly before being sent to a kill pen when his body had given all it could. Thankfully, fate had something far kinder in store for him.

For the last four years, Meg gave Orion the life every horse deserves—a life filled with love, patience, safety, and dignity. Instead of endless labor, he knew soft hands, gentle words, warm meals, and a family who adored him beyond measure. She gave him the retirement and unconditional love that every faithful horse earns.

Yesterday, I was given one final gift that I will forever treasure. I had the chance to tell him how loved he was, feed him his last treats, stroke that familiar face, and say goodbye before he crossed the Rainbow Bridge. It was heartbreaking, but it was also an incredible honor.

It was equally an honor to stand beside Meg during one of the hardest moments a horse owner can face and to be there for Lakota as he said goodbye to his faithful companion. Witnessing the quiet bond they shared was something I will never forget.

Those soulful eyes, his gentle spirit, and his quiet kindness touched everyone who met him. Caring for Orion was never just another farm sitting visit—it was a privilege. He reminded us that even after hardship, animals can still choose to trust, to love, and to give their whole hearts.

Our hearts ache for Meg and for everyone whose lives were made brighter by this remarkable horse. Thank you, Orion, for every gentle greeting, every soft nicker, and every peaceful moment we were blessed to share with you.

Run free now, sweet boy. May your pastures always be green, your legs forever strong, and your spirit forever free.

You were rescued, deeply loved, and you left this world surrounded by those who cherished you.

Until we meet again, handsome boy. 💙🐴🌈

07/16/2026

🔥 Smoke Doesn't Just Affect Us—It Affects Our Animals Too. 🐾

With wildfire smoke drifting into our area from the fires across Canada and Minnesota, air quality may be unhealthy at times. Even if you can't smell the smoke, tiny particles in the air can impact both people and animals.

Please take a little extra care over the next few days:

🐶 Keep walks shorter and avoid strenuous exercise, especially for puppies, senior pets, and those with heart or breathing conditions.
🐴 Limit riding, training, or heavy work for horses when the air looks smoky or the Air Quality Index (AQI) is poor. 🐱 Keep cats indoors whenever possible. 💧 Make sure all animals have access to plenty of fresh, clean water. 🏡 Keep windows closed when smoke is heavy and use air conditioning or air filtration if available. 👀 Watch for signs of smoke irritation such as coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, watery eyes, unusual tiredness, or reluctance to exercise.

Farm animals need extra attention too. Ensure they have access to shade, clean water, and, if possible, shelter from the worst of the smoke.

If your pet or livestock is showing signs of respiratory distress, contact your veterinarian right away.

Let's all do our part to keep both our families and our four-legged companions safe until the air clears. ❤️

Stay safe, stay hydrated, and give your pets a little extra love from all of us at Knoblauch Animal Care. 🐾

07/14/2026

WILD WEST WRANGLERS

SHIAWASSEE COUNTY FAIR SPONSORS WANTED!

Help our young exhibitors and horses make this fair one to remember as a NEW 4H Club!

🥉 TIER ONE — BRONZE SPONSOR | $30 Helps pay for fair feed and new hay nets. Looking for 5 sponsors!

🥈 TIER TWO — SILVER SPONSOR | $50 Helps purchase a new grooming kit for our club horses. Looking for 2 sponsors!

🥇 TIER THREE — GOLD SPONSOR | $100 Helps sponsor our Kids' FREE Day! Parents manage the barn while our exhibitors enjoy dinner together as a group and attend one Grandstand Event. Looking for 2 sponsors!

⭐ SPECIAL SPONSOR — ANY AMOUNT Every contribution makes a difference! Special Sponsors will receive a shout-out on our webpage and the 4H Page!

EVERY SPONSOR RECEIVES:
A team photo signed by our exhibitors, along with a personal thank-you card for supporting the Wild West Wranglers!

PLUS...
ALL SPONSORS WILL BE ADVERTISED ON OUR FAIR TEAM SHIRTS!

🐴 SADDLE UP & SUPPORT THE WILD WEST WRANGLERS! 🤠

07/04/2026

🇺🇸❤️ Happy 4th of July from all of us at Knoblauch Animal Care! ❤️🇺🇸

We hope you and your families have a wonderful Independence Day filled with laughter, great food, and unforgettable memories. As you celebrate our nation's birthday, don't forget that the holiday can be overwhelming for our four-legged family members.

🐾 A few ways to help keep your pets safe tonight:
🎆 Keep pets indoors before the fireworks begin.
🎆 Make sure collars and ID tags are secure and up to date.
🎆 Close windows, curtains, and blinds to help reduce noise and flashing lights.
🎆 Turn on a TV, fan, or calming music to help mask the sound of fireworks.
🎆 Give your pets a cozy, safe place where they can hide if they're feeling anxious.
🎆 Never bring pets to fireworks displays—they're much happier celebrating from home.
🎆 If your pet is known to have severe anxiety, speak with your veterinarian ahead of time about calming options.

Most importantly, shower them with a little extra love and patience tonight. ❤️

From our family to yours, we wish you a Happy, Safe, and Paw-sitively Wonderful Fourth of July! Stay safe, enjoy the celebration, and give your furry (and feathered, scaled, and hoofed!) family members an extra cuddle from all of us at Knoblauch Animal Care. 🇺🇸🐶🐱🐴

05/31/2026

🚨 Sunday Pet Safety Reminder 🚨

With summer temperatures rising, pavement can become dangerously hot for your dogs’ paws! 🥵🐾

If you can’t comfortably place your hand on the pavement for 7 seconds, it’s too hot for your pup to walk on.

✔️ Walk early morning or evening
✔️ Bring water everywhere
✔️ Watch for signs of overheating
✔️ Never leave pets in vehicles

Stay safe and enjoy your weekend adventures! ☀️🐶

05/29/2026

🤣🤣🤣 Pretty much, the husband has to deal with however his dinner is made while the pups get spoiled. He still gets belly rubs so he survives.