Policies/FAQs
When should I contact The Pawsitive Pets Sitter?
Bookings for service are made first come, first served. Please contact us as soon as you're considering travel/away dates to be sure your service (check in visits, overnight visits, live-in service, or homestyle boarding) is available. Contact us via the forms on this website, email, text, or phone. We are happy to discuss your options to determine which service is best for your pets/situation.
How do I schedule service?
If you have not used our services before, submit a service request to let us know what dates/services you need. We will follow up to determine if we have availability for the service requested, or discuss services to ensure the best fit. Please note, we do have minimum service requirements for a first schedule, as outlined below. You will be emailed links to fill out our contracts online (which gives you time to review, and download for your files), and a preliminary invoice. Once those are received, we will schedule a consultation. At the meeting, we will answer any questions, and carefully go over your pet(s) needs and routine, and caretaking items, as well as pick up your key/determine other means of entry. Please see Rates section below for our key policy.
We want you to be absolutely secure and confident in your decision to leave your pet(s) with us!
In order to build rapport and confidence in both clients and pets, a 5-visit minimum for check ins/walks, 3 nights minimum for homestyle boarding, and 2 nights minimum for overnights and live-ins is required for the first booking/schedule. Subsequent bookings are not subject to these minimums.
Our care standard requirements:
Dogs - with dog door, minimum 2 visits per day
Without dog door, minimum 3 visits per day
Cats - minimum one visit per day,
All other animals - minimum one visit per day
After your first schedule is complete, you may contact us via email/phone/text, whatever is easiest, to schedule future service.
What Services Are Provided Each Visit?
We are devoted to your pets' care and comfort, and to your sense of security. We create a Care Sheet that lists our instructions for pet/home care, and notes from each visit, which is emailed to you at the conclusion of your schedule.
Basic check in services during each visit include, but are not limited to:
Dogs:
* overall health check
* feeding, bowls cleaned; water bowls cleaned, refilled;
* yard picked up each visit; yard/home inspected for pet damage, areas tidied
* playtime, or walk if booked. Use of enrichment toys when indicated
Cats:
* overall health check
* litter box cleaned/refreshed, litter box area cleaned
* feed/water/clean bowls
* playtime . Use of enrichment toys when indicated
Caged pets (hamsters, gerbils, birds reptiles, etc);
* water and food checked
* bedding cleaned/replaced as necessary.
Additional Complimentary Services (upon request) :
* pick up mail
* water indoor plants
* watch for/retrieve packages
* turn lights on/off
* take out/bring in trash containers
PLEASE NOTE: Check In Services provided are limited to the time frame of the visit selected. If extra time is required (excessive clean up of in-home accidents, emergency services, etc), an additional fee commensurate to the time spent may be assessed.
Extra Pet Fee: We assess an additional fee for more than 2 pets per visit. We add time to these visits to ensure that ALL pets receive basic care (feeding/cleaning, etc) as well as dedicated engagement and attention.
Overnight and live in services provide all the basics, plus the extra care and attention given with extended time. There's a lot of petting, belly rubs, and quiet "conversation" during all of our visits. We go for walks, play, and enjoy puzzles and other games.
Homestyle Boarding - pets enjoy a comfortable home that is safe, secure, and exclusive to your pet(s). Is your pet allowed on the furniture at home, or to sleep in bed? Then your pet can do that here. We enjoy walks (we do not engage with other animals or people for your pet's safety), and play in the yard. We provide lots of indoor toys and enrichment games, too, and will provide a walk each day. Puppies get special care and attention to their needs and development. Our yard and home is cleaned and sanitized regularly.
What About Visitors and Service Vendors? Can My Family/Friends Stop By?
While The Pawsitive Pets Sitter is caring for your pets, no other persons are allowed in your home. This is an insurance requirement; we cannot "share" petsitting duties with other providers, family members or friends. If you have housekeepers or other inside services, please do not schedule them while your pet is being cared for. Outdoor services may also be put on hiatus during pet sitting. This is to ensure the complete safety of your pet(s). Other persons on/in your property void our liability.
How Do You Communicate While Pet Sitting?
We communicate via Text or, if a client is overseas, via WhatsApp. A text after the first and last visit are standard. From then on, texts and picture check-ins are happily provided upon request. Some clients like to hear and see all about their pet(s) "vacation," while others feel that "no news is good news." You'll also receive a detailed report at the end of each service ("Care Notes").
What Do I Do When I Get Back?
Please call or text upon return to your home so that I know your pets are safely back in your care. For in-home and boarding clients, please keep us posted if anything changes in your schedule. We will do our best to accommodate. Fees for any additional services will be due upon your return. Your pet sit notes will be emailed to you once we know you're safe at home with your pets.
Business/Service Hours, Service Area
Pet sitting services are provided on a 24-hour a day basis. Business/contact hours are 7-days a week, 6am to 7pm. All calls, texts, emails and messages are returned promptly, no longer than 24 hours, but usually much shorter than that.
The Pawsitive Pets Sitter LLC services clients in Ahwatukee zip codes 85044, 85045, 85048, within 7 miles of our business address. We may service clients outside of these areas with an additional mileage fee.
Effective May 1, 2022, The Pawsitive Pets Sitter also serves Chandler (and limited range within Gilbert) , extending East from our Ahwatukee service boundary. Click here to see our Chandler service area. We may service clients outside of these areas with an additional mileage fee.
When Do Pet Sit Visits Happen? When Do I Drop Off/Pick Up for Boarding?
Drop in pet sitting visits are scheduled within the following windows of service,: Morning, 6am-9am; Midday, 10am-2pm; Evenings, 4pm-7pm. Each client is scheduled with an eye to how many hours between visits are desired. Requests for visits earlier or later than posted hours may be honored, with an additional fee.
For Overnight Services, arrival and departure hours (such as arrive at 8pm, depart at 6am), are set with a grace period of approximately one hour, with minimum hours met or exceeded.
Live-In service guarantees a minimum of 16 hours in-home during each 24-hour period, starting from first check in (i.e., service starts 7am first day, ends 7am final day). If additional hours are needed due to later return, we are happy to provide coverage for an additional fee.
Pet boarding clients may drop off/pick up between business hours of 6am to 7pm, 7 days a week. I request drop off after noon the first day, and pickup prior to noon the last day. Drop off prior to noon/pickup after noon are subject to early/late fees of $20 each.
What are Your Rates and Payment Policies? What If I Need to Cancel?
Our basic rates and fees are available on the services/rates page of this website. Rates are subject to change. Should rates increase after you book your service, the rate at which the service was invoiced is honored.
PLEASE NOTE: when gas (unleaded) goes over $5/gallon in our service area, we may add a $1/visit fuel abatement fee.
A deposit of 1/2 of the balance of services at the time of booking is required to confirm dates, with the balance due on or before the first day of service.* No fee is required prior to the New Client Consultation.
Deposits are non-refundable, and may be carried over to the next service within the same calendar year, with the exception of holiday bookings and those cancelled with fewer than 48 hours notice.
Balance of Payment is due on or prior to the first day of service. Clients will be invoiced; we accept checks, cash, Zelle; and all major credit cards are accepted with a 3% processing fee. We prefer payment via Zelle (many clients ask me this), but I will happily accept the payment most convenient for you.
Boarding Clients: We request drop off on first day after 12pm, and pickup on final day prior to 12pm.
Drop off/pick up outside those parameters is accepted, with a $20 early/late fee. All pickups/drop offs should be made during business hours of 6am-7pm, 7 days per week, unless special arrangements are made.
Key Pick Up/Return: If we receive a key for entry to your home, you will have the option of our holding it for you for future service at no charge. If you wish your key returned after service, a $15 return fee applies, as well as a $15 fee for any future pickups.
Gratuities: Pet Sitting is a service, and clients may acknowledge our level of care by tipping. Gratuities are neither required, nor expected; we do not solicit them on our invoices, or in any billing. If you wish to tip, you may do so by including the amount in your payment/send a payment via Zelle after the service, or leave cash/check for your sitter. Tips are always greatly appreciated.
HOLIDAY DEPOSITS *Effective 1/01/2022, All holiday bookings (bookings that include the following dates: December 24, 25, 31; January 1; "Spring Break" Kyrene & Local school calendars; Memorial Day; July 4; Labor Day; "Fall Break" Kyrene & Local school calendars; Thanksgiving) require a 1/2 balance upon booking; deposit is non-refundable; and, non-creditable if cancelled less than 30 days prior to the start of the booking.
HOLIDAY RATES Effective 10/1/2023 Pet sits that take place on the following holidays will be charged at 1 1/2 times the regular rates: Thanksgiving; December 24, 25 and 31; January 1; Memorial Day; July 4; Labor Day; Veteran's Day; Columbus Day; President's Day; Martin Luther King Day.
CANCELLATIONS
We use your reservation to plan availability to our clients. When you book our services, we reserve exclusive time for you and your pets and have likely turned away other clients during your scheduled time.
Please notify us as soon as you can if you must cancel service.
Deposits are non-refundable, but will be credited to a future service within the same calendar year if cancellation is made with more than 48 hours notice (with the exception of holidays, please see above). No credit/refunds are given for less than 48 hours notice. Please note, there are no refunds/credits for clients returning home early.
Privacy Policy
We consider it a privilege to have access to your home during pet sitting services. We hold no judgement towards any family lifestyle, and I do not divulge any personal information about our clients. Any documentation provided for our services will not be provided to any 3rd party, UNLESS agreed upon if a 3rd party is needed for completion of services; in the event of illness or other unavoidable incapacity by The Pawsitive Pets Sitter, reputable backup is provided.
In-Home Camera Policy
We understand our clients' desire for security and safety when using in-home cameras. When we are pet sitting in-home, we require disclosure of all camera locations, inside and out. We do not allow active cameras in areas in which we sleep or have personal purpose; if there are cameras in those locations, they must be disabled when we are in the home, for our privacy. Non-adherence to this policy is cause for immediate cancellation of service without refund/credit.
Promotional Picture Policy
We own, and may use pictures taken during our services in our promotional materials/Facebook, website, etc. These are NOT published while the client is still away during services, and identifying names of clients and pets are NOT used (unless specific permission is given). Many clients enjoy seeing their furry family members spotlighted! If you do not want your pictures used in this manner, please let us know.
Feedback and Reviews
We strive to provide the absolute best service at all times! We also want to know what we can do to be better. All feedback is appreciated, please email tracy@yesspet.com.
We really, really appreciate positive reviews on Facebook and Google!
Facebook The Pawsitive Pets Sitter LLC facebook.com/YessPet
Google g.page/r/CX7GEOiCWIfkEAg/review
Referrals
There is no greater compliment than referral of my services. To show my appreciation, I offer a Client Referral Program. Ask us about it when referring your friends!