FAQ
Taking care of your pets in their home
850-293-8255
How far in advance should we ask for your services?
We will schedule an interview to get to know you and your pets, and so that you can get to know us. That should happen within a week of our first visit. If you call us a couple of weeks ahead (if you know your schedule) that should be ample notice. Remember that holidays (Christmas-New Year, Thanksgiving, around the Fourth of July) are especially busy and will require earlier notice.
What do you need to know about us and our pets?
We have a simple form we will fill out together at the interview. It includes pet names and identification, health issues, location of food and toys, your pets’ preferred schedule, your contact information and other similar matters. Remember, we will be unfamiliar with your house, so please be specific. At that time, feel free to ask any questions about us.
Our pets may not eat when we are absent. How do you handle that?
Many pets miss their parents and tend not to eat at first. They also may be shy or even aggressive around strangers. We expect that. We make sure they have food, we talk with them and give them the chance to get to know us in addition to the initial interview. Eventually, they get hungry and will eat.
Our dog can be aggressive toward strangers. Have you handled aggressive dogs before?
Yes, we have. We look for aggressive tendencies when we conduct the interview. We may suggest that you leave the house and let us approach your dog without your presence. Over time, most dogs will come around. In rare instances, they do not, and we will not waste your time or money by attempting to care for the dog.
Are you familiar with bird care?
We can do routine care, and we will ask detailed questions about your birds. For instance, if your bird tends to bite, we have techniques to distract it while we invade its cage. We do not clean inside bird cages.
We have certain signals our pets respond to. Do you need those?
That certainly will be helpful. If there are cue words, signals, etc., that they respond to, talk with us about them. We want your pets to be at-home with us, and the more they see and hear normal events, the more comfortable they will be.
Whom should we notify that you are sitting for us?
You should tell your veterinarian a pet sitter will be caring for your pets. In case of an emergency, we will take the pet to the clinic. It will be helpful if you can arrange in advance for payment with your vet. You may also wish to tell close neighbors that a sitter will be dropping by.
How will you get into the house?
Of course, you will need to provide a key or other access (garage door code, for instance). We can take the key at the interview or arrange for a face-to-face transfer before you leave. For regular clients, we often keep a key in a secure safe in our home to avoid extra time and travel picking up and delivering. In any case, there is no charge for picking up or returning a key.
We have some sensitive business material in the house. How can we be sure that is protected?
Many homeowners in the area are involved in defense matters. And some people have guns in the house. We understand that. Although we have a business relationship, we conduct ourselves as if we are guests in your home. If you lock or even just close a door, we will not open it unless a genuine emergency arises.
What do you do during hurricane season?
We try to keep to a normal schedule. If we are scheduled with you during the season, we will talk with you about contingency plans. Be aware that we may evacuate and cannot take your pets with us, so alternative plans are a good idea. We can discuss those with you if you like.
How often do you visit?
As often as you need. As a rule, we have found that cats are content with once-a-day visits. Dogs generally need two visits to accommodate their potty needs, unless they have easy access outdoors and adequate food and water are available. Some pet parents want their dogs visited as often as four times a day and cats cared for twice a day.
How early or late do you visit?
We try to follow your pets’ schedule. We prefer not to be out too much after nightfall (we need our sleep, too), but we can when necessary. We may make visits as early as 6 a.m.-7 a.m.
Will you charge for unused scheduled visits or if we have to extend our trip?
Our service is provided to make your life easier. We charge only for visits we actually make. If your plans change, just call us. We can make any scheduling adjustments necessary.
Can we call to check up on our pets?
We encourage you to call if you have any concerns or even if you just want a status update. Call as often as you want.
Can we board our pets at your house?
Sorry, we aren’t set up to do that, and covenants of our development prevents us conducting such a business on premises.
What extra services do you provide?
On your request, we can take out and bring in your trash can, bring in newspapers and mail, adjust lights and window coverings, water indoor plants. We do not do housekeeping, although we will clean up spills and pet accidents; and we try to make the house presentable for your return. If you have a special need, please discuss it with us.
We have an alarm. Are you familiar with such systems?
Yes, we are. You should provide us with the location of the keypad and the access code, of course, and we would like to have the security company password in case the alarm goes off. If the alarm sounds while we are at your home and police are notified, we will wait on premises to speak with an officer. If you decide to disarm the system while you are away, please let us know that.
We have a neighbor who occasionally cares for our pets? Can you split time with them?
We certainly understand your desire to save money. We take legal responsibility for what happens when we are on premises, but we can’t assume responsibility for anyone else. Feel free to discuss this issue with us, but we prefer not to share duties with neighbors or relatives.
I have a friend who may need your services. How can they contact you?
At the interview, we will provide at least one business card and a refrigerator magnet with contact information. If you want another card or two to carry with you or give to a friend or relative, we are happy to do that.
Winners make goals, losers make excuses.
