Thriving Pet Project Defies Economic Tough Times

Unfortunately, President Bush left San Diego last week before I could brief him on some good economic news locally.

True, our banks and aerospace plants are in the Dumpster (and don’t forget that Sluggo’s hotdog emporium fled Hillcrest!).

But there is one segment of the business community that is thriving despite the recession: pet-sitting.

In fact, it’s doing so well that the top dog (sorry, I couldn’t resist), Pet-Tenders of San Diego, has decided to sell franchises. It’s an American story: When the going is good, the smart franchise.

Cheryl Dagostaro, who founded Pet-Tenders in 1983 and boasts 2,000 customers and 20 employees, has already sold two franchises (one in North County, one in the pet-heavy Pasadena-Rialto-Yorba Linda corridor).

She’s asking $9,500 for a “raw� territory (where you get expertise and five years of management help) and $19,000 to $34,000 for a “developed� territory (including customer list) in San Diego County.

Somebody has seen the future and it’s in feeding/pampering/medicating/running/walking pets whose owners are out of town.

Not for nothing is the same business consultant who once franchised Midas Muffler, Orange Julius and the International House of Pancakes now peddling Pet-Tenders.

Pet-Tenders charges $14 a day for one visit to the pet’s home, $23 for two visits. Requests can be idiosyncratic.

Like the Point Loma woman who wanted her chihuahua to have a daily aerobic workout. Or the Santee couple who wanted their parrot to be spoken to in French. Or the family who wanted chicken boiled just so for their cat.

Or the guy with the 15 lizards that had given the run of the house. Including his favorite, a 2-foot-long lizard who was named McAllister and had a very bad disposition if approached in the daytime.

“Most people who hire us have overwhelming attachments to their animals,� Dagostaro said. “They’ll scrimp and save on entertainment, living expenses, anything for themselves, but they will not scrimp and save by denying their animals.�

See, economic growth and family values, too.

Mayor Takes a Jab at Drug Czar

Just saying no (to the czar).

Here’s federal drug czar Bob Martinez on July 9 writing to Mayor Maureen O’Connor, stating the federal government’s implacable opposition to needle-exchange programs for AIDS-prone drug addicts:

“As mayor, you should not fall prey to a policy of desperation to deal with the AIDS crisis. Needle exchange programs foster continued drug use. . . .

“Furthermore, in most states it is illegal to distribute drug paraphernalia, including needles. I encourage you to ensure that private groups, no matter how well intentioned, uphold the law in your city.�

Here’s O’Connor, last week, writing back to Martinez:

“It is unfortunate that your letter was long on moralistic advice and short on the resources that cities desperately need to contend with a devastating crisis. . . .

“If you ever had dealt personally with a person dying of AIDS, you would not question a program which holds out hope of preventing others from contracting the disease.�

The bottom line: Despite the Martinez letter, the city of San Diego’s policy remains unchanged.

There is no city-sponsored needle-exchange program. But cops are under orders not to arrest or otherwise hassle those private individuals and groups engaged in such efforts (mostly in downtown).

TV News Editors Out of Picture

The visual arts.

* Nothing makes television news crews madder than a judge’s order to use electronic “tiling� to disguise the faces of criminal defendants in court.

So last week a meeting was arranged among San Diego judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and television news editors to discuss the issue.

Problem was that none of the TV people showed up.

* Dead on arrival.

Tub-thumpers for the new movie “Buffy the Vampire Slayer� are sending kits to San Diego reporters that include tiny Buffy blue-and-gold pompons, Buffy Band-Aids, Buffy nail files, Buffy dog tags, Buffy lipstick, a tube of vampire blood and vampire teeth.

All in a hand-size black coffin.