Blue Skies Pet Care

07/25/2026

🐾 We’re hiring Pet Caregivers and Team Leads!

Blue Skies Pet Care is looking for reliable, compassionate pet lovers to join our growing team in Newton, Kansas.

✨ Paid training
✨ W-2 employment
✨ Mileage reimbursement between visits
✨ Client tips
✨ Growth opportunities
✨ Benefits available for eligible full-time Team Leads

Reliability, communication, good judgment, and a true love for animals matter most.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please tag them or share this post!

Ready to make pets and these clowns your coworkers?

More info and application link is in the comments. (If post is shared, click through to the original!)

07/18/2026

🐾 We’re Expanding Our Team Leadership! 🐾

Pet Care Team Lead in Training - Evening & Weekend Shifts
📍 Blue Skies Pet Care | Newton, Kansas
(Application link below!)

Blue Skies Pet Care is hiring dependable, level-headed animal lovers for two hands-on positions with a clear path into a Pet Care Team Lead role.

This position is a great fit for someone who provides excellent pet care, notices the details, communicates clearly, and can make thoughtful decisions without needing step-by-step direction after training is complete.

***Two Positions Available***

Position 1: Evening Team Lead Shifts

Tuesday - Friday: 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Saturday choice of:
• 3:00 - 10:00 PM
• Or, 9:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Position 2: Weekend and Monday Team Lead Shifts

Saturday: 6:00 AM-3:00 PM
Sunday choice of:
• A double shift from approximately 6:00 AM-10:00 PM
• Or, one regular shift with on-call coverage during the other shift (First shift: 6:00 AM-3:00 PM, Second shift: 3:00-10:00 PM)
Monday choice of:
• A double shift from approximately 6:00 AM-10:00 PM
• Or, one regular second shift: 3:00-10:00 PM

Reliable availability is essential.

How the Position Works

The selected candidates will begin as Pet Caregivers for approximately 90 days at the regular caregiver rate.

This introductory period provides time to learn Blue Skies Pet Care’s clients, systems, safety procedures, service standards, Bungalow routines, and daily operations.

Candidates who demonstrate reliability, sound judgment, initiative, strong communication, and the ability to work independently may be promoted to Pet Care Team Lead at or before the end of the 90-day introductory period.

In plain language: dependable, thoughtful, capable people who take appropriate ownership will not be made to wait unnecessarily for the promotion.

Pet Caregiver Responsibilities

🐶 Completing pet sitting, dog walking, and p**p-scooping services throughout Newton and the surrounding area
🐱 Caring for boarding guests at our Bungalow locations
💊 Following feeding, medication, access, safety, and household instructions carefully
📸 Writing professional visit reports and taking quality pet photos
❤️ Monitoring pets for changes in behavior, appetite, mobility, elimination, or health
🧹 Keeping pet areas clean, comfortable, and secure
🚗 Driving safely and remaining on schedule
📱 Communicating promptly and appropriately when concerns or unexpected situations arise

Team Lead Responsibilities

After promotion, responsibilities will also include:
• Supporting and guiding caregivers during the shift
• Helping troubleshoot scheduling, access, pet care, and client concerns
• Monitoring visit progress and making sure nothing is overlooked
• Assisting with Bungalow operations and boarding guest rotations
• Responding calmly and appropriately when plans change
• Documenting concerns and escalating genuine emergencies
• Helping shifts run smoothly through practical problem-solving and professional communication
• Balancing independence with knowing when management needs to be involved

Team Leads may also complete supplemental paid duties during downtime or slower seasons. These may include Bungalow cleaning and organization, special projects, training activities, door-to-door flyer distribution, and paid volunteer work with local community organizations like Caring Hands Humane Society.

A Strong Candidate Will:
• Have excellent attendance and arrive ready to work
• Notice details others may miss
• Follow written instructions and important safety procedures
• Use critical-thinking skills before escalating routine problems
• Ask questions when clarification is genuinely needed
• Communicate directly, respectfully, and professionally
• Remain calm when pets, clients, schedules, or coworkers are having a difficult day
• Work independently without constant reminders
• Care about doing the job correctly even when no one is watching

Minimum Requirements

• At least 18 years old
• Valid driver’s license
• Reliable, insured vehicle
• Smartphone with dependable service
• Ability to pass a background check
• Comfort working with dogs and cats of different sizes, ages, and temperaments
• Ability to walk, bend, lift, clean, manage multiple leashes, and work outdoors in Kansas weather year-round
• Reliable availability for one of the posted schedules
• Willingness to work assigned holidays (with holiday pay!)

Professional pet care experience is helpful, but strong judgment, reliability, communication, and the ability to learn are even more important.

About Blue Skies Pet Care

Blue Skies Pet Care has served Newton-area pets and their families since 2010. Our local W-2 employee team provides professional pet sitting, dog walking, limited small-group boarding, dog training, and p**p-scooping services.

We believe pets are family, safety matters, communication should be clear, and reliable employees deserve opportunities to grow.

📩 Interested applicants should apply here: https://blueskiespetcare.mfs.gg/mIfi-3m

Note in the application that you are interested in the pet care team lead promotion path.

https://blueskiespetcare.mfs.gg/mIfi-3m

Compensation

Compensation dependent on experience.

Candidates promoted to Pet Care Team Lead will receive an increased Team Lead rate based on experience, performance, and demonstrated readiness for the role.

Additional compensation may include:

• Tips from clients
• Mileage reimbursements
• Holiday pay for eligible assigned holidays
• Paid training and team development
• Health, dental, and vision insurance (full-time team lead and above only)
• Sick leave and PTO (full-time team lead and above only)
• Paid supplemental work during slower periods, including Bungalow projects, community volunteering, and flyer distribution

https://blueskiespetcare.mfs.gg/mIfi-3m

07/15/2026

Feeling overwhelmed with your busy summer schedule? Trying to get all your vacation plans set? Let Blue Skies Pet Care handle your pet care needs! Just like Chris, you and your pets can experience the peace of mind that comes with our top-rated, insured, and bonded pet sitting services. 🐾💙

Chris says, "I would recommend Blue Skies to anyone needing amazing pet care service." We're here to provide that same exceptional care for your furry friends, with the reliability of a team-based approach and the personal touch of a locally-owned small business.

➡️ Visit us at BlueSkiesPetCare.com to learn more about our services in Newton, KS, and the surrounding areas. Let us help you find the perfect care solution for your pet!

Contact us today at [email protected] and let's chat about how we can support you and your pet!

07/11/2026

A little throwback to 2021 with Watson. 🐾 This week, we were working with a small dog that is unsure about cars and I remembered Sir Watson.

I still remember this session because it was one of those moments that might have looked small to someone passing by, but felt huge for the dog and family involved.

Watson was afraid of getting into his mom’s van. He would shake once he was inside and because he was a big guy, lifting him was difficult (impossible) for her.

That day, he jumped into the van voluntarily for the first time.

We did NOT “fix” all of his fear in one short session and that was never the expectation. But we gave him a safer, more positive starting point, worked again another day, and we gave his mom practical tools to keep building on that success after I left.

These are the kinds of training moments we have always loved most: helping a dog feel a little safer, helping a family understand what their dog needs, and making an everyday task feel possible again.

Looking back, Watson’s big van victory is still a good reminder that progress does not always look flashy. Sometimes it looks like one brave choice, one relieved pet parent, and a much easier ride ahead.

💙, Ashley

"What did you do today?" Today Watson jumped into his mom's van voluntarily for the first time. It's hard for his mom to lift him and he shakes when he does get into the van for her. His fear isn't solved in one short session with us, but he's off to a great start and we plan to see him one more time as well as giving his mom the tools she needs to make van rides enjoyable for both of them.

Does your pet have a quirk? That one weird or naughty behavior? Reach out sometime and let us figure it out! In addition to our multi-week curriculums for training, we offer consultation services like for Watson here.

https://blueskiespetcare.com/pet-care-services/dog-training/

07/07/2026

Everybody is splooting today. ☀️🐾

When the weather gets this hot, the dogs have officially entered pancake mode: bellies down, back legs out, maximum floor contact achieved.

We’re keeping things cool with shade, water breaks, shorter outdoor time, and plenty of indoor lounging. Stay cool out there, friends ---- and may your pets find the perfect cool spot for their dramatic summer sploot!! 💙

07/07/2026

We are so grateful for all the care and heart that Vanessa has brought to Blue Skies Pet Care during her time with us. She has made a meaningful impact on our training clients and their dogs, and we hope you’ll join us in wishing her the very best as she takes her next steps!

In the future, Vanessa will be moving on to her own niche training services centered around trauma-informed work, with plans to focus more specifically on trauma-informed therapy and service dog work down the line. We’ll miss having her here and we are grateful for the care she has brought to Blue Skies Pet Care and proud of the nuanced work she is continuing.

Blue Skies Pet Care will continue offering science-based and force-free dog training support, including puppy training, everyday manners, life skills, behavior solutions, and therapy dog prep. As always, our goal is to help families better understand their dogs, build trust, and create more peaceful, practical routines at home and out in the world.

Please join us in thanking Vanessa for everything she has contributed to Blue Skies Pet Care and in wishing her all the best in her next chapter. 💙🐾

07/02/2026

Wednesday Woof: ***Fireworks are not dog-friendly.***
Please leave your dogs safely at home and indoors.

Last year, one of our training team members observed three dogs at a local fireworks show, so this year we wanted to offer a small PSA: even the “best” dogs can be scared of fireworks.

- Even calm dogs.
- Even social dogs.
- Even dogs who usually seem confident in public.

All three dogs were overwhelmed within the first 20 seconds - the moment the first big boom happened. Their reactions looked different... One dog took off like a shot the opposite direction. One dog jumped into their humans arms, shaking. One dog got low and under their person.

Fireworks are not just loud. Dogs can also feel the vibration and pressure from the explosions. To them, it may be sudden, unpredictable, painful, and completely impossible to understand.

A dog does not need to look dramatic to be terrified. Their body may go into survival mode before they even have time to think.

You may see:

Trembling
Trying to bolt
Pulling hard on the leash
Panting or drooling
Hiding behind people or under objects
Barking, whining, or screaming
Shutting down
Refusing treats
Becoming frantic or disoriented

A huge concern is that one hugely frightening fireworks experience has the potential to create a lasting fear response. Dogs can develop noise sensitivity or a true noise phobia after scary events, especially when the sound is intense, unpredictable, and inescapable. That fear may not stay limited to fireworks either. Some dogs begin reacting to thunder, cars backfiring, construction sounds, gunshots, dropped objects, or other sudden noises.

Fear does not usually improve by forcing a dog to endure something overwhelming. More often, the dog learns that the world is unsafe and that they cannot escape.

For fireworks nights, the safest and kindest choice is:

- Keep your dog home.
- Keep them indoors.
- Be sure their tags are on with an up to date phone number, microchips up to date in the registry, and/or write your phone number directly onto their collar with marker.
- Make sure doors, gates, and windows are secure.
- Use white noise, fans, music, or the TV.
- Give them a safe resting space.
- Offer chews, enrichment, or comfort if they want it.
- Talk to your veterinarian ahead of time if your dog has a history of panic.

And please, do not take your dog to fireworks shows.

Loving your dog means protecting them from experiences they do not understand and cannot consent to. They do not need to be included in everything. Sometimes the best way to include them is to let them stay safe, calm, and comfortable at home.

06/29/2026

We love getting to celebrate the amazing people on our team, both for the care they give pets and for the beautiful work they do in our community. ❤️

Today we’re sharing a special project from one of our team members, Hilly - also known as Ashley Hillman of Ashley Hillman Photography.

She is looking for three volunteer participants, age 65 or older, for a black-and-white portrait project centered on honoring the beauty, strength, dignity, and stories of a life well lived.

What an incredible passion project. Every face really does tell a story, and we love seeing one of our own creating space to preserve and celebrate those stories in such a meaningful way.

If you or someone you love may be interested, or if you know of a senior living community that might be a good fit, please reach out to her page directly through the contact information in her original post.

We’re so proud to cheer on another small, local business - and one of our own. ❤️

‼️ Seeking 3 Volunteer Participants for a black & white portrait project. ❤️
I’m looking for 3 individuals to participate in a very special portrait project centered around celebrating the beauty, strength, and stories of a life well lived.

This project was inspired by my grandmother, Viola. It’s been on my vision board since she passed away in 2022 and I’m finally putting pieces together of how I want it to come together. Toward the end of her life, she moved into a senior living community. During our lunches together in the short time she was there, I had the privilege of meeting some of her new friends. As I listened to their conversations and watched their expressions, I found myself wondering about the incredible lives they had lived before arriving there…the families they raised, the careers they built, the hardships they overcame, the adventures they experienced, and the love they shared.

Every face tells a story.

Through timeless, expressive portraits, my hope is to honor those stories and preserve the dignity, personality, and presence of a generation whose lives have shaped and still shape, so many others.

…I mean…look at this project…she’s still shaping mine. ❤️

Volunteer participants must be willing to be photographed in a portable studio-like setting and grant permission for their portraits to be used in future artistic projects, publications, exhibits, and social media. Participation is completely voluntary & you will receive a free digital copy of your portrait when it is completed.

If you or a loved one may be interested, or if you know of a senior living community that would embrace this project, I would be honored to connect! More volunteers will be needed down the road but needed to start somewhere to kick it into motion.

Please contact me at 316-804-8735 or
Email me at
[email protected]

06/14/2026

Storm season leading right into fireworks season can be ruff. ⛈️ One way to help your dog build more positive associations with storm or fireworks sounds is to practice before the real thing happens.

This is actually something I’ve even done with my own dogs, Luna and Skye! Keep in mind that we have practiced this over weeks and months.

The goal was never EVER to scare them or make them “deal with it.” The goal was to make those sounds feel boring, predictable, and paired with something they already loved.

And now? The attached photo is what Luna and Skye look like during a fierce storm. Calm, comfy, and completely unbothered. 💙 (This is also a thinly-veiled excuse to share photos of my pups)

Start by playing storm or fireworks sounds at a very very low volume while your dog enjoys something wonderful - like dinner, a stuffed Kong, a lick mat, or another favorite enrichment activity.

The key is that the sound should be so quiet your dog notices it little to not at all. We are not trying to scare them or make them “get used to it.” We are pairing a tiny version of the sound with something they love.

A few tips:

🐾 Start quieter than you think you need to.
🐾 Keep sessions short and positive. Sound ends when their dinner or food toy runs out.
🐾 Watch your dog’s body language.
🐾 Stop or lower the volume if they seem worried at ALL.
🐾 Build slowly over days or weeks, not all at once.
🐾 Find videos by searching "fireworks" or "thunderstorm" on YouTube. Alternatively, ask your smart speaker for storm noises.

Signs your dog may be worried can include pacing, panting when they are not hot, lip licking, yawning, whale eye, tucked tail, pinned ears, trembling, hiding, refusing their food or enrichment toy, barking, whining, or trying to leave the room.

This works best when your dog feels safe, successful, and in control. The goal is calm practice - not pushing through fear.

If your dog already panics during storms, talk with your veterinarian and a qualified force-free trainer. Some dogs need additional support - and that’s okay. 💙



Counterconditioning source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10705068/

04/13/2026

Bigsby understood the assignment: full speed, ears up, zero regrets. 😄🐾

This is your reminder that sometimes the best part of the day is a big open field, a little fresh air, and letting your dog do their thing.

Bigsby brought the energy, the zoomies, and that “I am having the BEST time” face - we're totes here for it.

Got a pup who could use a little extra adventure (or a lot 😅)? We’ve got you covered.

https://blueskiespetcare.com/pet-care-services/dog-walking/