New Year Prep: Organizing Pet Records, Supplies, and Goals

Start the year fresh for you and your pet

There is something about a new year that makes us want to reset. Fresh calendar. Fresh routines. Fresh energy. Your pet benefits from that reset too, especially when their records are up to date, supplies are safe and ready, and you have a simple plan for health and enrichment. A little organization now can make the rest of the year feel smoother, calmer, and more supportive of your pet’s whole well being.

At Pawsitive Dawg Walking and Pet Sitting, we love anything that makes daily care easier and more Fear Free. Here is a practical New Year prep guide you can do in one afternoon.

Reviewing and updating vet records and vaccines

Pet records are one of those things that matter most when you need them fast. Think travel, boarding, grooming, daycare, emergencies, or even just a new pet care provider.

What to gather: Create one simple folder, digital or physical, with:

• Your pet’s most recent vaccine records and due dates

• Rabies certificate and tag number

• Spay or neuter records

• Current medications and dosage instructions

• Allergies and sensitivities

• Any chronic condition notes or post surgery care instructions

• Microchip number and registry info

• Vet contact info and closest emergency hospital info

Also, don’t forget to email Pawsitive Dawg Walking and Pet Sitting your updated Rabies certificates.

Quick check. Are you missing anything?

If you are not sure when something is due, call your vet and ask for a record summary for the last 12 months plus upcoming vaccine reminders. Many clinics can email this in minutes.

Bonus tip. Make records easy for real life.

Save a copy to your phone as a PDF or in a clearly named folder like “Pet Records. Bella.” If you ever need to share records quickly, you will be very glad you did.

Inventory check-Leashes, tags, toys, and treats

Supplies wear out slowly, so it is easy to miss when something is no longer safe. A quick inventory check helps you catch the small stuff before it becomes a problem.

When checking leashes and harnesses look for:

• Fraying, cracks, weak stitching, rust on clips

• Loose buckles or worn Velcro

• Chew damage near the handle or clasp

Double check collars and ID tags and make sure

• Your pet’s ID tag is readable

• The phone number is current

• The tag ring is strong and not pulling open

• Collar fit is comfortable and secure

This is also a perfect time to confirm your microchip information. Many chips are registered once and then forgotten. Updating your address and phone number is huge.

Sort toys and enrichment items into three piles:

• Keep: Safe, intact, still loved

• Repair: Washable toys or items you can re stuff safely

• Retire: Broken pieces, exposed squeakers, torn seams, sharp edges

For cats, check wand toys and strings for loose threads. For dogs, toss anything that can splinter or break into swallow sized pieces.

Do a quick check of your pet’s treats and food for

• Expiration dates

• Stale treats or open bags that have been sitting too long

• Treat containers that need a wash

• Any treats that consistently cause tummy upset

If your pet has a sensitive stomach, consider keeping a short “treat log” for a couple weeks to see what agrees with them best.

Creating new enrichment or health goals

Goals should feel supportive, not stressful. The best goals are small, measurable, and tied to your pet’s needs.

Pick one health goal

• Add a daily sniff walk for dogs, even if it is short

• Increase low impact movement for senior pets with shorter, more frequent walks

• Build a consistent dental routine, starting with just a few seconds at a time

• Schedule a wellness exam and ask about weight, mobility, or itchy skin patterns

• Refresh cooperative care skills like “chin rest,” “touch,” or “paw” to make grooming and handling easier

Pick one enrichment goal

• Enrichment does not need to be fancy

• The goal is meeting natural needs like sniffing, foraging, shredding, climbing, and exploring

Ideas to rotate through the week:

• Snuffle mats or scatter feeding

• Food puzzles or lick mats

• Scent games, like “find it” with treats around one room

• Cardboard box play for cats, with safe paper stuffing

• Short training sessions that build confidence, like targeting, mat work, or recall games

Make it realistic and repeatable

• One daily habit, 5 to 10 minutes

• One weekly adventure, like a new walking route or a longer play session

• One monthly check in, to adjust what is working and what is not

If you want help creating goals that support anxious dogs, shy cats, or pets who need a Fear Free approach, our team can help you choose enrichment that feels safe and motivating for your individual pet.

Organized pets equal healthier, happier households

When pet records are current, supplies are safe, and goals are simple and consistent, everything gets easier. You spend less time scrambling. Your pet spends less time stressed. And your household feels more calm and predictable.

If you want extra support starting the year off strong, we would love to help with reliable dog walks, cat visits, and enrichment focused care that supports your pet’s emotional well being along with their physical needs. Here is to a fresh start, and a happy, organized year ahead for you and your furry family.