Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • July 20, 2011 Business Coddled Creatures reps attend Garden State Pet Fair Pictured (L-R): Mike, pet care specialist; Heidi Wise, president; Kristin and Tom, pet care specialists, and dogs Princess, Sugar, and Frankie. (Photo courtesy of SherriL. Photography.) Always at the forefront of modern and prevailing trends that are in the best interest of pets, Coddled Creatures Pet Sitting and Dog Training staff members attended the recent Garden State Pet Fair at Ramapo College. The fair featured home pet care options, veterinary chiropractic and massage, homeopathic options, fresh food providers, and positive dog training. There were several pet adoption groups at the fair and a pet photographer. The American Kennel Club also participated by offering the Canine Good Citizen test. This test recognizes and rewards dogs that are well mannered at home and in the community. Heidi Wise, president of Coddled Creatures, works with her two Pomeranians, Sugar and Princess, in print ads, TV, and film. This requires a sophisticated understanding of dog behavior and positive training techniques. Sugar and Princess have appeared on NBC’s sitcom “30 Rock” and ABC’s “What Would You Do?” They have done work for companies such as Macy’s, United Colors of Benetton, Vogue, and Mighty Dog, and appeared in commercials for the national company Telebrands that made the “As Seen on TV” logo a household name. Both dogs have auditioned for Hollywood films. Coddled Creatures has been providing “in home” pet care in Bergen, Rockland, Morris, and Passaic counties for nearly two decades and employees over 35 area residents. For details, call 1-877-750-0869. A home disaster can be stressful enough without having to reconstruct important records and account for belongings. The Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers to safeguard their financial and tax records before disaster strikes. Listed below are a few simple tips on preparing for a disaster. Record keeping: Take advantage of paperless record keeping for financial and tax records. Many people receive bank statements and documents electronically and important documents like W-2s and tax returns can be scanned into an electronic format and stored on a flash drive or CD in a safe place. Keep it with other essential documents like home closing statements, vehicle titles, insurance records, and birth, death, or marriage certificates, and legal paperwork. Some online services can automatically back up computer files and store them offsite. Regardless of how you save your documents (whether it is electronically or on paper) ensure they are safe from the elements, but also encrypted and/or locked up to guard against disclosure or theft. Document valuables: The IRS has disaster loss workbooks for individuals that can help you compile a roomby-room list of your belongings. One option is to photograph or videotape Tips on how to prepare before a disaster strikes the contents of your home, especially items of greater value. You should store the photos or video in a safe place away from the geographic area at risk. This will help you recall and prove the market value of items for insurance and casualty loss claims in the event of a disaster. Update emergency plans: Make sure you have a means of receiving severe weather information. If you have a NOAA Weather Radio, put fresh batteries in it. Make sure you know what you should do if threatening weather approaches or if a fire occurs. Review your emergency plans annually. Count on the IRS: In the event of a disaster, the IRS stands ready to help. The IRS has valuable information you can request if your records are destroyed. If you have been affected by a federally declared disaster, you can receive copies or transcripts of previously filed tax returns free of charge by submitting Form 4506, Request for Copy of Tax Return, or Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return. Clearly indicate the official name of the disaster in red at the top of the form, to expedite processing and waive the usual fee for tax return copies. For more information, type “preparing for a disaster” in the search box at www.irs.gov.