Especially 4 Paws

July 7th, 2010

To Whom It May Concern:

Jen Ristau, the owner of Especially 4 Paws, has asked me to write this letter of reference for her company.  She made this request a week ago; I’ve found it difficult to write this letter.  I have finally pieced together why I’ve encountered this difficulty.

I’ve been reliant upon Jen’s services since 2003.  I still remember the day I met her; she came over to my house so that we could discuss the possibility of her helping with our cats and dogs while we were on vacation.  As Jen & I talked, I learned that she was living with Huskies – which helped me in my initial decision to trust her with my pack.  Over the next few months, Especially 4 Paws began to play a larger role in our daily life, caring for all our pets.  During this period, my wife & I lived with 2 cats and 3 dogs; one of those dogs was a Siberian Husky named Sebastian.

Sebastian was the dog who changed my life.  I’m not sure that’s appropriate to put in a letter of reference, but there it is:  it’s on the table, and can’t be taken back.  Sebastian died in 2004; he was put to sleep in our great room.  Jen was there to say goodbye to her friend and to offer us her support at a quite difficult time.

Since then, Jen (& later Ed) have been members of my family.  I trust their judgment to make the right decisions regarding the care of those who are so important to me:  my pack.  Either Jen or Ed are with my pack on a daily basis while I’m at work, checking to make sure that everybody is healthy & happy.  As a small example of their attention to detail, during the recent heat wave we’ve been suffering through, they have been bringing over bags of ice to help cool my Alaskan Malamutes.

If neither Jen nor Ed is available, I trust Jen to pick an appropriate associate from Especially 4 Paws to work with my pack.  Jen has always made sure that we have ample advance notice of such a change; she encourages us to spend some up front time with the person, and helps to properly introduce them to our pack.

Since Jen & Ed are family, I find it quite difficult to speak objectively to their abilities, for I am blinded by their unfailing loyalty, their compassion, their sense of what is right and important, and their love.  Which, upon reflection, is a fitting endorsement of Especially 4 Paws:  they will care for your pets as they care for their own.  You can, and should, trust them with those who are so important in your life.

In closing, if you have any questions, please ask Jen for my phone number, and feel free to contact me to discuss any concerns you might have in engaging their services.

Kindest Regards,

Bob W, Brecksville