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254 Guilford
Forge 210-945-8940
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Frequently Asked Questions!
The most common misconception pet owners have is that when their pet stays at a kennel, they get attention all day. Not correct!
Pets cared for by a professional pet sitter receive more time with humans than those boarded in a kennel! Sure, there are people working during the day at the boarding facility, whether it is your vet's office or a boarding kennel. However, the duties of the kennel worker are mainly to clean and feed. The kennel workers do not have sufficient time to spend with each animal due to the high volume of animals at any given time that they have to care for. There is no time for grooming, playing, or just good "love time" and they have not established a trusting relationship with your pet. Therefore they are left in a cage the majority of the time. If there is spare time, it is most likely spent restocking items, or helping the veterinarians. Most kennel workers leave in the early evening and do not return until the next morning. It is not uncommon for there to be a span of 14+ hours when nobody is around! In addition, the other staff at boarding facilities do not tend to your pet's care on a regular basis. So, even though people are milling about throughout the day, your pet stays in a cage with little or no interaction!
When you hire a pet sitter, you decide how much time your pet needs each day. We charge per visit, so if you decide your pet needs 3 visits a day or even more, we can accommodate you and your pets needs. We spend the entire visit with your pets in quality one-on-one time. A full 30 minutes of quality time at each visit - more if you would like- versus the 15 minutes or less per day your pet receives at a kennel. If the house is too quiet for your pet, we can turn on a radio or TV. This background noise puts pets at ease and they feel as though someone is there with them. After 30 minutes of playtime with their pet sitter, they are ready for a snooze in front of the TV. Most pets do much better than their owners imagine they might! If you are truly concerned, you might consider taking a short trip first - just a couple of days to see how the pet adjusts to in-home pet sitting.
If your pet needs more than two visits per day, we can certainly accommodate you and your pet's needs. We have several clients that opt for three visits per day, and some very young or geriatric pets that need four visits per day. We will customize our services to meet your pet's needs. However, most pets, do fine with two visits each day. Because most pets are used to our busy lifestyles, they are accustomed to waiting between potty breaks. When your sitter is there, your pets receive all of their attention and plenty of time out side to potty. They are not rushed! Once again though, should your pet require more frequent trips, we can do that! We cater to your needs! We can adjust the schedule to suit what your pet needs from us. Some clients choose an early morning visit, lunch time, and evening visit. Others have opted for an early morning, evening, and bedtime visit for their 3 visit/day schedule.
Cathy's background is in zoology and before beginning Cathy's Critter Care, she worked at the San Antonio Zoo where she was a zookeeper, sea lion trainer, primate trainer and enrichment coordinator! On a daily basis she handled very exotic animals including reptiles, hoof stock, birds, and exotic and delicate mammals. We have clients with parrots (large and small), sugar gliders, various reptiles, ferrets, rabbits, and chinchillas! Because we have a background in exotic animal care, we are familiar with and accustomed to the special needs of the exotic pet. We will always ask for specific details on care and handling, and will never accept a job we don't feel completely competent in handling. We've been asked to speak at the 2002 PSI Quest for Excellence Pet Sitting Convention in Nashville, TN! Our topic will be pet sitting for the exotic pet! We were chosen because of our extensive knowledge of exotics and our large clientele owning exotic and unique pets! We will be speaking to hundreds of pet sitters from around the country about this important topic. So, rest assured, your special pet has the best pet sitter available for it's special care!
A good percentage of our clients are geriatric. Because the geriatric pet is especially sensitive to any changes in their environment, they are particularly helped by the care of a pet sitter. They see the same person each day and become accustomed to them. There is not excessive noise and the unnecessary stress that is inevitable at a kennel. Keep in mind that at a kennel the geriatric pet sees various people throughout their stay - some that might not be familiar with the geriatric pets needs. They get to sleep in their own snugly bed in their own warm surroundings when they are at home - not a stainless steel cage with newspaper. If your geriatric pet has special medications, daily supplements, or specialized routines, we can follow them closely. We are familiar with almost all geriatric medications (Rimadyl, Cosequin, etc...) as well as herbal remedies used to help with the geriatric pet. At each visit your pet sitter will take care to note any changes in the geriatric pet and will administer the Snout-to-Tail Assessment on a daily basis. All information will be recorded on the visitation log which will be waiting for you upon your return.. This will tell you when your pet sitter came to your home, what was done at each visit, and most importantly how your elderly family member was doing on a daily basis.. This gives the geriatric pet owner peace of mind knowing that the pet's routine was followed closely.
Many of our client's pets require daily medication for a variety of illnesses. We are familiar with medications for allergies (including steroids and non-steroids), hyper and hypothyroid, anti-seizure medications, insulin for diabetic clients, dry eye medications, ear medications for chronic ear infections, and many others. We are trained and experienced in giving oral or injectible medications, and always follow your instructions for medications precisely. We've been PROPERLY trained in the administration of medication! You will receive a log of when and how the medication was given to your pet for each visit. We are always happy to provide our veterinary references for questions such as these.
While it is true that some pets simply would do better in a kennel situation, it is always good to keep in mind that most pets are left alone at times during their normal daily lives. We can accommodate pets that need to be kept in certain areas of your home or with other circumstances. We can schedule extra visits and playtime is always included in the visit at no charge! Remember, we are here to fit into your routine and what suits your pets' needs. Email us if you have a specific question!
Again, some pets, we must agree, need to be in the care of a veterinarian. If your pet is very ill, they need to be at a HOSPITAL! However, if it is simply to give daily medications or observe eating or behavior, we can do that! We are experienced in dealing with the special pet that requires medication and close observation. We can spend a great deal of time watching your pet's behavior. There is no need to subject an otherwise healthy pet to the stresses of a kennel where she can become ill again!
After reading this, be sure to check out our Value Page to see how a trip might cost LESS using a professional pet sitter rather than boarding. Cost is always a factor when we are shopping for a service. When you hire a professional pet expert to sit your pets and home, you are paying for someone who is devoted to the well being of your pets and property. Many things go into making a professional, expert pet sitter: continuing education, bonding, insurance, supplies, office maintenance. While these things seem unimportant to the care your pet receives while you are away, they are VERY IMPORTANT! It shows that the sitter is devoted to caring for pets as a profession, and they all lead to overhead expenses.
If you have more than one pet, IT'S USUALLY CHEAPER to hire a pet sitter! Really! And no need for unnecessary vaccinations that add to your boarding costs. See our Top 10 Reasons to Use a Professional Pet Sitter. Plus you get the added security of knowing your home is being watched by an expert and professional who is bonded and insured while you are away. How much is TRUE PEACE OF MIND worth while you are on vacation or business? We charge between $12-$17 for each 30 minute visit depending on the number of pets you have and the care they require. For an exact quote go to our Request References Form and we will email you a quote!
Professional pet sitters pay for thousands of dollars of insurance to cover themselves and your home and pets. If you are considering "hiring" a neighbor or kid down the street like we all used to do years ago, keep in mind that YOU are at risk, not just your pet! If ANYTHING happens to the uninsured, non-professional person caring for your pet on YOUR property, even through no fault of yours, YOU are RESPONSIBLE! This means that your home owner's insurance will be held liable and if they deny the claim, then you can personally be SUED! In this litigious society, it's not far-fetched!
Anything that happens as a result of your pet, even while you are away, is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY if you hire an uninsured "hobby sitter" or neighbor or friend. What if your neighbor takes your otherwise always nice dog for a walk, and a "roller-blading" passerby startles the pooch and she bites the skater's leg? YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE! Did you know that if you hire an insured, professional pet sitter, the PET SITTERS INSURANCE COVERS THE INCIDENT not to mention that a professional sitter knows how to handle this situation so that it is less likely to occur in the first place! The above is an actual claim that was made against the insurance company in the last quarter - so it DOES happen! Again, how much is true peace of mind worth?
What if your friend accidentally leaves a faucet running overnight and damages your property and your neighbors property? By now, you've guessed it - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE! With an insured pet sitter, the PET SITTERS INSURANCE COVERS THE DAMAGE!
YES! Through Pet Sitters International! We can send you our bonding and insurance information or look at the information on the Bonding and Insurance page on this web site. Please feel free to contact the company with any questions you might have. In the 4 years we have been in business, we have never had any incident that required us to make payment to a client or to file a claim! However, it is nice for the client to know that should anything happen, there is an insurance policy to pay for damages.
Yes! Please see our Policies page for details on booking, canceling and setting up services. While we focus on professional service and personal care, we hope you understand the need for policies in our business practices. We always strive to treat our clients as we would want to be treated and to maintain a positive and fair relationship.
Again, it is important for your own peace of mind to hire an insured pet sitter. In addition to providing that peace of mind, we also offer expert care by trained professionals who know what to look for in pet behavior and in general how to manage a pet sitting assignment. Would your friend's daughter know not to tell anyone that she is watching your pets while you are out of town? Doubtful. Most neighbors and non professionals are not as discreet as they should be when caring for a home and pets while people are away. This can cause a serious security problem if someone disreputable were to find out about your absence. Finally, we provide you with documentation of your pet's care through our visitation log, snout-to-tail assessment, rating form and open lines of communication while you are away. You have at your disposal all of the services you would expect from a professional company. We know what to do in an emergency, either with your home or your pets. And, lastly we leave some special treats and gifts for your pet at the completion of each service agreement. With all of these benefits and extras, you are receiving much more for your money when you hire a professional sitter than when you hire and inexperienced friend. It's all about peace of mind while you are away!
It is BECAUSE we are honest that we can obtain bonding and insurance. It is important for a professional company to have bonding to insure peace of mind for their clients. All of our sitters have had complete criminal, personal and credit background checks as requested by our bonding company. Although we only hire absolutely honest people, it is still a good way to provide that extra security to the pet owner in knowing that should anything happen, there is recourse! In the case of insurance, it is absolutely necessary to carry insurance to protect our business, our personal assets, and to insure your safety from litigation as well. Please see the examples cited above in "It is too expensive to hire a pet sitter!"
At each visit the sitter will visually inspect all animals upon arrival to insure that they are at the house. She will also visually inspect property on her way in to determine that nobody else has been there since the previous visit. If the dogs are kept indoors, she will promptly take them outside into their fenced yard or out on a leash at unfenced property. The dogs will have ample time to potty if necessary. She will then bring the dogs back inside and feed them, give them fresh water and treats and do a snout-to-tail assessment of each. She will scoop the litter pan and tidy up around the pan area, cleaning as necessary. She will conduct a snout-to-tail assessment on your cat and feed the cat per your instructions and give fresh water. She will turn on/off aquarium lights and feed the fish per your instructions, checking to make sure all look healthy. She will call into the main office to log her visit with an electronic time/date stamp. While inside she will attend to the cat's emotional needs. The remainder of the visit will be spent outdoors (weather permitting) playing with and walking the dogs so that they have more time outside to potty. At the end of each visit, the sitter will fill in the visitation log and leave it on the counter in a secure place. She will insure that all doors and windows are closed securely and locked, and walk the house to make sure there are no obvious hazards. If allowed, each pet will receive a treat just before the sitter leaves at the end of the designated visitation time. All trash, litter, food cans, etc...are collected and the sitter takes them and disposes of them in a proper container off premises so you do not have to come home to smelly trash.
