Pet Sitting FAQs
How Do We Get Started, And What Can I Expect After Completing The Contact Form Info?
Click here or click the “REQUEST HELP NOW!’ button above (or within the menu section on mobile devices) at any time.
You have taken the first step in what I know will be a great relationship. I will respond back to you shortly.
You can expect:
A welcome-reply via email, along with the necessary paperwork attached in the email, to be filled out and returned to me for my records. I will either get them from you at our consultation, or upon first visit when service begins.
We will also determine a date and time window for our consultation at your home.
What Is The Purpose Of The In-Home Consultation/ Onboarding Registration?
The in-home consultation gives you the opportunity to meet me, your new pet care provider, and communicate any information necessary so I may provide the best care for your pets. This will give me time to meet you and your pets, learn their normal daily routines and understand the individualized care necessary for your family. All paperwork will be emailed to you prior to our consultation. To maximize our time during our visit, please fill out the forms before I arrive so that we can spend all our time getting to know your pets. If email is not an option, no problem! Just let us know ahead of time. Please do not schedule any outings/phone calls for the agreed upon 3-hour window arrival time frame. You will be notified by text day-of with a more solid ETA. Thank you for allowing us to run efficiently and timely. Please take note that any further meet-ups after the initial consultation does incur regular pet sitting rates.
When Should I Use Pet Care Services?
Avoid kenneling and day care- Let's face it, kenneling and day care can be a hassle, and expensive when multiple or hyperactive/anxious pets. Rounding up the pets and transporting them to and from isn't the easiest of tasks. Also stress and sickness to your pets are not an uncommon occurrence as a result of kenneling or day care.
Long hours at work/short day trips- Don’t feel stressed or rush home from a fun-filled day trip. V.I.People & Pets will feed and take care of your pets when work or vacation keeps you away from home. Your pets will feel loved even when you can’t be there.
Weekend vacations, business trips- Keeping your pets at home and in a comfortable environment will make for a stress-free vacation or business trip. I’ll come over and provide love and attention when business or play keeps you away from home.
Family celebrations/emergencies/sickness/injuries- Are your hands full with a newborn baby or are family emergencies keeping you away from your pets? During times of expected and unexpected happenings, V.I.People & Pets can help keep your pets happy and healthy while you spend time with family or recover from illness or injury. Every family has times of chaos and I can make those times a little less stressful by providing care to your pets.
Puppies and elders- Does your pet need mid-day care but you can’t make it home? I’ll take care of your pets by providing necessary mid-day care. Whether it be letting dogs out for potty breaks, a good brisk walk, administering medication to elders, or playing with your pets, V.I.People & Pets is here to help with their needs.
We offer private on-leash walks, in-home pet visits, pet transport to the groomer/vet/trainer. Special requests? Please let us know!
What’s The Difference Between Pet Sitting And Boarding My Pets?
Pet sitting provides in-home services. This means that your pets can stay happy and comfortable at your home, and often times for half the cost! Keeping your pets on the same routine as when you’re at home will greatly reduce the stress on your pets. Here are some other differences:
No transporting of your pets- Its more convenient for you. You won't have to carve time out of your busy schedule to drop off or pick up your pets from the kennel. V.I.People & Pets comes to your home, reducing the hassle of crating and hauling your pets.
Less risk of sickness- Keeping your pets in your house will keep your pets in their usual routine, with the sights, sounds and smells to which they are accustomed, and reducing the risk of stress-related illness. Plus, in-home care eliminates germs that are passed around in a boarding setting.
Peace of mind- V.I.People & Pets will provide you peace of mind by meeting you and your pets before the date of care begins. Getting to know you and your pets ensures personalized care.
One-on-one time- While at your house, your pets get my full attention. I’ll give your pets lots of love and attention while providing all the necessary cleaning, feeding and theft-deterrent services.
Security- Keeping your pets in your home can provide extra security. Also, while we’re at your home, we’ll bring in the mail, rotate lights, turn TV and radios on/off as instructed...all as a complimentary service! This will make your home look lived-in while you’re away.
Your pets will be home, waiting at the door to greet you when you arrive!
What Kind Of Pets Do You Care For?
V.I.People & Pets cares for all common household pets, plus exotics. We offer individualized care for your furry/feathered/shelled/cold-blooded/finned and scaly family members, including dogs, cats, birds, fish, frogs, turtles, gerbils, hamsters, ferrets, rabbits, non-venomous reptiles, rats, mice, potbellied pigs, and more.
While pet sitting is by far the best choice for most pets, it may not be ideal for some. Pets with separation anxiety, behavioral issues including aggression, or delicate medical needs may do better in a kennel or veterinary facility. Sorry, no farm/stable care.
Large dog breeds over 40lbs accepted if no leash-walking required, and if leash-walking is necessary, then little-to-no leash-pulling/leash-reactiveness toward other animals/people.
Why Shouldn't I Have My Neighbor’s Child/Friend/Family Member/Hobby Pet Sitter Watch My Pets?
In most cases, you get what you pay for; the cheaper rate also means less experience, less knowledge and foresight, and no liability insurance! You won't have to inconvenience family or friends. While they may mean well, and intend to give excellent care, sometimes they may fall short of your expectations; they may forget to feed or water (pets and/or plants), or may forget to make the visit altogether; and they may have unreliable transportation. If your pet is sick and needs to go to a vet, or is attacked, or attacks, or darts into oncoming traffic- friends/family/neighbors/hobby sitters do not carry insurance to cover unforeseen incidents. Isn't it worth a little more to ensure your pets and home are in safe hands? If something goes wrong, wouldn’t you prefer a pet sitter that is fully insured, with years of experience? When you hire a professional pet sitter, it creates a business relationship with clear expectations for you and your pet sitter. We become quite fond of any and all pets we care for and we’ll provide excellent service! Its my profession to provide loving care to pets and homes.
V.I.People & Pets is a legitimate and dependable pet sitting business; this is my full-time job just like any other career. I know it is shocking, but the pet industry has changed quite a bit. As a professional (not a hobby sitter or teen) we have to pay into things like registering LLC with the state, business license, pet sitting and tax accounting software, liability and bonding insurance, first aid and cpr certification pet care accreditation. I have nearly 20 years of experience in pet care. After all that, you know you are getting a pet sitter who is going the extra mile for you and your pet. There have been so many times I have heard horror stories of people not showing up, losing dogs, leaving doors open or water faucets on, not handling injuries or sickness correctly, and immature/irresponsible sitters having parties and drugs in your house, driving your vehicle, having intimate sleepovers, generally trashing your house, and stealing your possessions. Pet sitting might sound small and insignificant, but so much more goes into it; it encompasses someone taking care of your pets, your property, and everything you own as well. You don't want to hire the wrong person. As a professional, and courteous, pet sitter, I will leave you home in the same condition or better than when you left. Your pets are guaranteed to be well-taken care of. Taking your chances on hiring an uninsured pet sitter is like living life without car/health/home insurance; it may be cheaper, but is it really worth it? Things can happen, and things do happen; accidents happen.
15 Reasons We Won’t Do Every-Other-Day Cat Sitting Visits
(By Purrfect Pet Sitting, Albany NY)
Every once in a while we get an inquiry from someone who wants us to come to check on their cats every other day or every third day. I explain to them that for their safety and our sanity, our policy is all cats must be seen at least once every 24 hours and dogs must be seen at least every 12 hours. Some people think we’re just trying to gouge them for more money. They don’t understand our policy and claim that their cats are “self sufficient” and will do fine seeing someone for 20 minutes every 3 days. Once we explain our reasons we’ve had people change their mind and have us come twice a day instead.
Here are some things have happened just within 24 hours between visits. These things could have been catastrophic and potentially fatal had more time lapsed between visits:
Indoor cat greeted pet sitter outside. Cleaning crew had been there and accidentally let her out.
Client had accidentally locked cat in closet before they left.
Cat managed to crawl into a vent and was trapped inside a wall.
Cat had gotten tangled up in the computer wires and was unable to get free.
Cat had gotten the cords from the mini blinds around its neck and was hanging.
Cat got stretchy collar stuck on its lower jaw and was unable to break free.
Arrived at a house to find the door wide open and cat was gone. Realtor had done a showing and didn’t close the doors. Thankfully we found the cat!
Arrived at a house to find it had been broken into and one of the indoor cats was missing. I searched for days and eventually found the cat hiding under their shed.
Cat had been peeing blood, took to vet and discovered he had a urinary blockage.
Cat who normally doesn’t miss a meal suddenly wanted nothing to do with food. Took to vet and discovered a fecal impaction. Emergency surgery necessary.
Couldn’t find two indoor cats anywhere. After searching house found a torn out screen in the window where they had escaped. Took a while, but managed to find both cats and coax them back inside.
Cat had been playing with a ‘bird toy’ and gotten the string knotted around its front legs and was unable to move.
Cats had been playing and accidentally closed the bathroom door, trapping them inside with no food, water or litterbox.
Pet sitter could hear cat crying, but could not find cat. After much searching, found the cat trapped inside a sofa sleeper.
Arrived at house to find the burners on the stove on.
Please take these real life scenarios into consideration when planning for your cat’s care!
Are You Accredited/Certified? Bonded? Insured?
Yes, bonded and insured through Pet Sitters Associates LLC. I have also completed Pet Sitters International’s (PSI) Accreditation program, as well as National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) Certified Pet Sitter program. These certifications provide pet sitters with a broad-ranged and in-depth program in pet sitting. The curriculum includes topics in pet care, health, nutrition and behavior, as well as business development and management, and a complete Pet First Aid course. You are guaranteed quality care: I am Cobb County’s Exclusive PSI & NAPPS Certified Professional Pet Sitter since 2005!
What this means to you is expertise and peace of mind. V.I.People & Pets takes responsibility for your pets and possessions when you put them in my care. Your property and your pets are fully covered, should anything occur while in my care. Having these policies in place shows a level of professionalism and commitment that you can trust.
How Are My Keys Handled?
An arrangement will be decided upon during our consultation. We can hold your key for an indefinite period of time in a secured lockbox, or we can leave the key after each final visit in a location to be determined. Please be mindful that keys are exchanged at initial consultation; any key exchanges after the consultation or last scheduled visit does incur fees. If a key is not given to us to keep on file, please understand that extra charges will incur when extra time is needed to remedy any issues stemming from lack of access/entry to your pets
When Can I Expect My Pet Care/Consultation Visit Or Errand Service?
Pet sitting/dog walking/errand driving routes can change dramatically on a daily, and even hourly, basis. Routes are planned night before or morning of, and usually never sooner. In order to get to everyone in a timely manner, it is most feasible to generally work within a reasonable 3-hour window since too many unknowns often arise while out on route. It is certainly possible to break route and get to your pet within any requested 1-hour window, but there will be an extra $4/visit ‘insurance’ fee to guarantee your preferred timing. (When Available, and dog clients always take priority). For consultations, please do not schedule any outings/phone calls for the agreed upon 3-hour window arrival time frame. You will be notified by text day-of with a more solid ETA. Thank you for allowing us to run efficiently and timely.
What Is The Payment Policy?
For regularly-scheduled 3+ times per week clients, payment is to be made on or before 8a.m. day-of first scheduled visit for the current week.
For pet sitting and less-than-3x/wk dog walking, a 50% deposit is due before your desired dates are added to calendar. Remaining payment is to be made on or before noon of the day before first scheduled service.
Cash or Check (made out to Jeff Ball) can be left in-home to be picked up on first visit, or you may choose any one of these virtual payment options:
Zelle: 6782312874
Cashapp: (Click on hyperlink) - $VIPeoplePets
What Is The Cancellation Policy?
It is not unusual for trip plans to change at the last minute. However, please understand that V.I.People & Pets turns away business in order to accommodate your requested scheduled services.
Please be mindful that you are not just paying for pet sitting; you are also paying to reserve scheduled times that cannot be resold when canceled/rescheduled.
A 50% deposit is required AT TIME OF BOOKING, to secure your desired calendar spot, which becomes nonrefundable/nontransferable when cancellations/reschedules are made less than 5 days before 8am of first scheduled service day.
Since holiday travel is a peak service time for pet care (2 business days before major holidays, on major holidays, and 2 business days after major holidays, as well as any time between Christmas and New Year, and Cobb Schools Spring/Fall/Winter breaks), the 50% holiday pet sitting deposit becomes nonrefundable/nontransferable when cancellations/reschedules are made less than 10 days before 8am of first scheduled service day.
All return home early/leave late will be charged 50% for each scheduled pet sit that is canceled. Day-of return early/leave late are nonrefundable, including any cancels after 8pm the night before.
No single-visit refund will be provided when notification of cancel/reschedule occurs day-of or while already en route to your residence.
For regular 3+ days per week daily dog walking clients: cancellations made after 4pm on the day prior to scheduled service will incur a 50% cancellation fee.
All refunds under $300 will be issued as a credit for future service.