Q. How do I sign up for dog walking or pet sitting service?
Alexandra will contact you to arrange a complementary in-home consultation and she will happily discuss your pet care needs. This will provide an opportunity to meet Alexandra and review your pet’s routine, diet, and exercise needs. Click here to make an Appointment for a Free Consultation
Q. How much advance notice do you require before service?
You should contact Lovable Pet Sitter as soon as you have plans and will need pet care. During holidays and summer time the schedule quickly fills up.
Q. What is your service area?
The service areas are Service Areas: Santa Clara, San Jose, The Alameda, Rose Garden, Naglee Park, Santana Row, Willow Glen, Fruitdale, Burbank, Alum Rock, Evergreen, South San Jose
Q. What is the earliest you can visit? The latest you can visit?
The earliest visit in the morning is 7 am. The latest visit in the evening is 7 pm.
Q. Are you insured and bonded?
Yes, Lovable Pet Sitter is fully insured and carries a rider for bonding coverage. Any professional, responsible business carries liability insurance.
Q. What type of special training do you have?
Certified Professional Pet Sitter and Certified Dog Walker. We trained in Pet First Aid and Pet CPR by the American Red Cross.
Q. What is the purpose of the In-Home Consultation?
An in-home consultation provides an opportunity to meet your sitter and communicate any information necessary to provide the best care of your pets. It provides an opportunity for your pets to meet the pet sitter and become familiar with the sitter prior to providing service.
Q. Do I have to leave a copy of my key on file with you?
Most clients prefer this option as we are then available for short notice visits (as little as a couple hours notice). All it takes is a phone call/email to set up future trips. It can also be difficult to arrange drop off and pick up key visits that are convenient for both of us. We also can let you in if you’re locked out of your house if we have a copy on file. Mid-day dog walk clients must leave a key on file with us for their regular visits. Methods of key return are listed on the contract if you do not wish to keep a key on file for future needs.
Q. How is payment handled?
During the initial consultation an advance payment for the initial service will be required. Once you are an established client, payment will be due the day service begins. Payment is expected before services are rendered or a late fee charge of $20 will be applied.
Q. What type of payment do you accept?
We accept Venmo, Zelle, cash and personal checks. Returned checks will be charged a $30 fee to cover bank costs.
Q. What are your services hours? Our Service hours are 7am – 7pm. Services are finished by 8pm. You may want to consider our Overnight service instead and your home will be secure since your sitter will be there, making the house appear occupied.
Q. Can you keep my pet at your home?
Boarding or kenneling facilities are not offered right now. Only care provided in your home is available. This allows your pet to stay in the security of his or her own home and routine.
Q. Will you just do the morning and afternoon visits?
My friend will come by in the evening after work to care for the animals (or will you do visits from XX date to XX date? My brother will do the rest of the visits until we get home). A. No, we do not do job shares. This means we will not pet sit when someone else (a friend, neighbor, relative etc) is also caring for your pet. We should be the only person caring for your pets while you are gone. There are many issues that arise when you have multiple people caring for your pet. Communication often breaks down between caregivers. Pets get double food, double medication, visits missed, the other person does not show up when scheduled, they move needed items to different locations, leave the door unlocked, etc. If something goes wrong you would not know who the responsible party was. Our insurance and bonding would not be in effect if we were not the sole caregivers, so please do not ask us to do job shares. If other friends, family, contractors or other pet care people are in your home while you are away, Lovable Pet Sitter will NOT be held liable for any damage to your home, theft, or escaped pets. When someone else has access and permission to be in your home while you are away we cannot be held responsible for what they may or may not do.
Q. How Do We Respond to Last Minute Booking for New Clients?
If we are able to help the potential client we will plain & simple. But we insist we meet with them in person at their home prior to their departure. Its amazing how many people are willing to not meet you, leave a key or just give out the code to their home & not think anything of it! If they can not meet with us before they leave we will not accept the job. Most people appreciate the professionalism of insisting on a face to face meeting. If we are booked and know of a sitter who may be able to help them we will refer them to another business. We pride ourselves on not just the quality of service we provide but the quality of my clients. They are excellent pet owners who have their pets best interest in mind. We would rather turn away a potentially poor business & keep a smaller higher quality of clientele. This helps the integrity of our business & increases our business on a quality level. We always wait for the bomb to drop the week before a holiday. Our clients know we book way in advance for Holiday & therefore book us ahead of time. In our eyes the good pet sitters will be booked for Holidays because they are in such high demand for good services provided. Pet owners who decide to wait until the last minute to make arrangements for their pets for the Holidays personally annoy us because majority of the time the pets are an after thought. When and if we are able to take last minute potential clients we keep the philosophy they may be a one & done job. The people who use you once & you never hear from again. However there is always room for error. Some of my best most loyal clients are the last minute calls who we thought might be one & done. They learned their lesson of waiting until the last minute & really appreciated our professional courtesy & being able to help them out.
Q. Why shouldn't I use my neighbor’s child or a low cost pet sitter?
In most cases you get what you pay for. Is not it worth a little more to ensure that your pets and home are in safe hands and that if something goes wrong it will be taken care of by a professional pet care provider?
Q. Will you do a visit for our cat every other day or every few days?
No, we require that cats get at least one visit per day. Cats can get trapped/stuck in areas of the home or have other emergency medical conditions.
Q. I’m going to be traveling for 2 to 6 months. Do you provide long-term overnight sitting?
Absolutely. Long-term pet and overnight sitting in your home is available.
Q. Will you just let my dog outside to potty with no fenced yard or tie-out? He just does his business and comes right back in.
No, for liability reasons we would not let dogs out without a leash. He could get lost or injured or he could injure someone else while not under leash control. It is also against the law. Even if the dog is well behaved and obedient for you off-leash, it does not mean they will listen to us. Dogs need to be let into a fenced yard (an invisible fence is okay) or pen, clipped to a tie-out or walked on leash.
Q. What will you do if my pet becomes ill while I am away?
If it appears that something is wrong with your pet, we will be called at the emergency numbers on file for you. If you believe the veterinarian should see your pet, the pet will be transported to the veterinarian’s office for examination and treatment. If you cannot be reached, we will decide if the veterinarian should see your pet. If necessary, your pet will be taken for treatment. You will be billed by the hour and for transporting costs for any extra time spent in providing these services.
Q. Can you take my dog to a dog park or for hikes on trails off leash?
Yes, this is an option if your dog responds to voice commands. Dogs will be taken off leash only in locations where it is allowed. You will need to complete an authorization and waiver document. Please complete the document in full. It requires three signatures. You can mail the waiver to the address on the form, or leave it at your home to be picked up during the first visit. Without a completed and signed authorization and waiver document it will not be possible to provide this service.
Q. Are there additional fees charged on holidays?
We do charge a $20 extra charge per day (Christmas Eve (24th) and Day (25th), New Year's Eve (31st) and Day (1st), Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, President's Day).
Q. What is your cancellation policy?
Overnight: cancellations made 30 days in advance will result in a full refund. If overnight cancellations are made less than 30 days in advance, no refund will be given.
Christmas and New Year Holidays: No refunds when booking for Christmas and/or New Year
For All other cancellations, 72 hours notice will result in a full refund. If cancellations are made less than 72 hours in advance, no refund will be given. There is a $30 fee for key return if necessary.
