BY BETHANY BROADWELL

Record-Eagle contributing writer

Marsha Wheaton not only takes care of her two dogs, a Samoyed named Sasha Bear and an Alaskan malamute named Letterman, but she also makes it her business to go to clients’ homes and care for all types of pets in the Grand Traverse area.

As owner of Dog Mom at Your Service, Wheaton described her practices for keeping pets fresh and their living quarters airy, not hairy.

“I will brush them, if desired, and always dry them off when they come in from a walk. I scoop litter boxes daily, even if the client says it isn’t necessary, and promptly clean up any accidents/spills,” Wheaton said. “My service can transport pets to the groomer, as well.”

Regular brushing and bathing are key, according to her, and a good vacuum, used frequently, is a must with furry pets. For her own home, Wheaton invested in an Oreck vacuum. Plus, she relies on professional carpet cleaning three to four times a year.

Sasha Bear and Letterman are bathed at the groomers every eight to 10 weeks. Wheaton estimated she brushes them two to three times a week and washes their bedding every time they are groomed. She said she also keeps towels by the entrance that her dogs use, so she can wipe their feet and dry their coats as needed. Wheaton said she regularly cleans up the backyard, disposing of waste, so the chance of the mess being tracked in is minimized.

Her suggestion is to clean up accidents promptly: “Blot up all you can with paper towel or rags; then use a good-quality cleaning product, specifically for pet accidents, as directed.”

When multiple pets live in a single household, she reasoned the likelihood of stained carpet and scratched furniture is greater, meaning more time needs to be devoted to caring for them responsibly.

For additional information about Wheaton’s pet care services, visit www.dogmomatyourservice.com or call 922-1760.

Pet owners who have canine or feline scents wafting through their homes can take action themselves, of course.

Dr. David Burke, a veterinarian at the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital, said shampoos, allergenreduction products and ear washes “all contribute to pet health and therefore odor control.”

For his clients, he keeps informational handouts in his office and videos that they may borrow to learn about proper pet housetraining and hygiene.

Call the Grand Traverse Veterinary Hospital office at 946-3770.

“Making sure the main sources of foul odors are clean is most important: anal glands, ears, skin, coat and teeth,” said Burke.

Jim and Jaclin Dunne of Traverse City know the challenging areas to watch. They currently have six dogs — a border collie-mix, a schipperke-mix and four Old English sheepdogs.

Not only do they have a routine grooming regimen that includes clipping, brushing and bathing, but they also have elements in place to make cleaning their home as feasible as possible.

The Dunnes say having an outdoor faucet helps to keep their paws clean before the dogs come inside if they’ve gotten dirty while playing.

Three of their dogs also sometimes wear special boots called Muttluks (www.muttluks.com), which both protect their feet from outdoor allergens and keep their paws clean.

According to the Dunnes, air purifiers in conjunction with dehumidifiers help to remove stink if the house is damp. They have a hallway attic fan, too, that allows them to quickly air the house when needed.

As far as flooring, the Dunnes agreed, tile or wood floors seem to be the best they have found for keeping the house clean. Still, they maintained active dogs are apt to scratch hardwood surfaces given enough time.

The Dyson machine for animals is the vacuum the Dunnes use, with its turbo tool, is specifically designed to remove pet hair.

Nevertheless, they explained they decided to buy a leather couch because removing the dog smell from cloth is next to impossible.

A certain amount of odor is to be expected, the Dunnes concluded, so pet owners ultimately have to be realistic.

Stores like Pet Supplies Plus sell a number of products to keep pets and their homes fresh.

Kelly Olman, a Pet Supplies Plus supervisor, said some of the most popular cleaning products they carry include Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor Remover, Simple Solution Stain and Odor Remover, Four Paws antibacterial, deodorizing shampoo and pet wipes, which are quick and easy to use.

For more information, call Pet Supplies Plus at 935-1661.

Michael Cherry, executive director of the Cherryland Humane Society in Traverse City, described some of the differences between cats and dogs in terms of cleanliness.

“Cats tend to devote time to self-hygiene. Many spend most of their time indoors and so are not as susceptible (as dogs) to bringing in odors from outside,” he said.

However, Cherry added, cat owners have to deal with litter boxes, clawing issues and fur balls.

By keeping a home with pets as clean as possible, Cherry said guests who have allergies to animals are likely to feel more comfortable visiting.

“Sometimes, the degree of effort that pet owners are willing to expend determines the degree of feasibility of keeping pets free of odors.”

Contact the Cherryland Humane Society at 946- 5116.