slides: Organize + Energize: 8 Ways To Organize Your Pets

One: Food dishes

Purchase food dishes to match the decor of your home so they blend in, not stand out. Keep the dishes in a spot out of the path of people.

Two: Toy control

Buy a decorative container (be creative) to hold their toys. Home Goods (www.homegoods.com) always has nice decorative containers that will work as a toy chest for your pet's toys.

Three: Keep meds in line

Keep track of your pet’s appointments on a calendar. Most importantly, monthly medication such as flea/tick medication and heartworm should be tracked on the calendar.

Four: Contain their food

Try not to keep their items all over the home. Keep in a designated area so the entire family is aware of where items are stored. If you have the room, dedicate a closet space or an area in your home for the following.

Pet food and treats Keep in seal tight containers. Label if you must. Keep them stored together.

Medications Keep in a small bin with the items organized. When you need the medication, you will know exactly where it is and won’t have to go searching for it. Label if you must.

Clothing Keep this contained in an area also, depending on how many clothes your pet owns.

Shampoo, wash cloths, towels, blankets, etc. Store in bins or containers that work for you.

Five: Phone numbers

Keep important phone numbers that pertain to your pet organized and stored in this area also, keep a backup stored in your phone also.

Six: Leashing it in

Keep dog leashes near the door where you take them out, or keep them contained to the area with all of the other items.

Seven: Keep records

We keep records of our medical history so don't forget to keep a folder of your pet's medical history. When you need to refer to it, the information will be at your fingertips to grab at a moment’s notice.

Eight: File receipts

Keep all important vet and store receipts filed and labeled.  You can file it in the area of the home where you keep your paperwork or keep it on the shelf in the closet you have designated for your pet. You can also keep a spreadsheet with documentation of every time they go for their shots. Break out files into topics of each category. If you don’t have too much information, you can purchase an accordion file and label.

Systems!

Have systems set up in your home for your pet's belongings and maintain those systems to keep your pet supplies from taking over the home. Organize! Energize!

Kristin Carcieri-MacRae, the founder and owner of Organizing in RI, has always enjoyed finding creative ways to streamline the environment around her. Kristin has appeared on air on www.talkstreamradio.com and Patricia Raskin's Positive Business Radio. Her articles have been published in the Rhode Island Small Business Journal and New England Home Life. She is also available for organizing workshops.