SERVICES

PET FRIENDS is a petsitting service. I visit your pets in their home for specific blocks of days while you are away.

The following non-petsitting services are available on a limited, case-by-case basis:
    -- doggie day care (in their home)
    -- dog walking
    -- housesitting

I'm sorry, but I do not offer:
    -- boarding services
Visit Length -- As much as possible, each visit lasts a minimum of 30 minutes. Occasionally, there are extenuating circumstances whereby visit length must be shortened, but should this occur, I try as much as possible to make up the difference during succeeding visits. Extended length visits can also be requested, at additional cost.

Visit Contents -- Visits include feeding, watering, scooping litter boxes, cleaning accidents (within reason, and if there are cleaning materials available), petting and playing. For dogs, the visits can also include a brief walk, if it is safe to walk in your neighborhood (I do not transport dogs to parks or other walking areas), if there is time remaining after chores, or if extended visit length has been requested.

Visit Frequency -- Visits can be scheduled as frequently as you like. For cats, the common frequency is twice a day, once a day or every other day. For dogs who do not have access to the outdoors between visits, I ask that at least four visits per day be scheduled—early morning, mid-day, dinner, and late.

Types of Pets and Care -- For the most part, all pets are welcome, and I will care for them in the manner outlined by you. There are some situations for which I may need to decline petsitting services, however. For example, I am not comfortable with care that involves using live animals as food, containing dogs or cats in crates or basements, leaving dogs or cats outdoors all the time, etc.

Medications -- The personality of the pet will determine whether it will be possible to administer oral medications. Petsitting does not include administering medications requiring injections unless the pet is very acceptant of the injections.

Medications II -- If medicating is possible, I would include that only as part of a petsitting reservation. For example, if you have someone who will be taking care of your pets, but would like me to come in only to administer medical treatments, I would need to refer you to a veterinary technician, as my primary service is petsitting.

Winter Distances and Locations -- From November 1st through March 31st, reservations are limited to very short distances and to major thoroughfares.

Winter Plowing -- From November 1st through March 31st, reservations are only accepted if automatic driveway snowplowing has been prearranged.

Emergencies -- Should pets need to be removed from an area due to hazardous conditions, they will be transported to a local boarding facility. Carriers, leashes and collars should be available for each pet.

Major Holidays -- Non-refundable payment at the time of booking will be needed in order for your reservation to go on the schedule.

Cancellations -- If I have turned other families away during the time you had reserved and are cancelling, payment for the reservation will still be needed.

What I Ask of You

Written Pet Care Notes -- It is very helpful to have a written reference about your pets. Some details to include would be names of pets, color, breed, age, personality traits, feeding amounts, location of supplies, veterinarian, any health issues, etc.

Contact Info -- Always leave contact info. These contacts would include where you will be staying during your time away, names and numbers of repair people, names and numbers of landlords, name and number of snowplow service, names and numbers of local relatives/friends who might also have a key to your home or apartment, etc.

Pet Transport -- Carriers, leashes and collars should be available for each pet in case emergency removal of one or all pets is necessary.

Who Else Will be In your Home -- Provide a list of names and numbers of all others who will be entering your home during your time away, and the approximate dates and times they will be there.

Keys -- Keys can either be provided on a per-reservation basis, or kept on file with me. If keys are provided on a per-reservation basis, please don't forget to make arrangements to make the key available. If no one else has a key to your home, it is a good idea to provide two sets of keys—one set for use, one set for backup. It's also a good idea to provide access to more than one entrance, again as a backup precaution.

Final Confirmation -- As a final check to ensure that all dates are in sync, call or email on the day you leave, or close to the day you to leave, to reconfirm the schedule of visits. Include the day of the week, date, and approximate time you will be leaving. And the day of the week, date, and approximate time you will be returning.