Should You Tip the Pet Sitter?

We are asked about this pretty often! Some people wonder if it is allowed, is it expected,

what is normal? We leave that up to the discretion of our clients and the service provided. While that's not the most helpful answer we can only say that your pet sitters will take great care of your pets, regardless!

The team strives to do the best job possible to enable you to travel with Peace of Mind. They pay attention to your pet's behavior, potty habits and eating habits to be alerted to anything unusual that may need intervention. Your visit reports will be fun and informative and you can trust that if your dog has stopped eating or has diarrhea you will be kept informed.

We'll also be looking after your home and the pet sitters have alerted the manager and clients to ice makers that have failed (they leak all over the floor!), a gas burner that was on at our first visit (the pet was immediately evacuated and the house was aired out), a trampoline that had blown over the fence, a ping pong table that had blown up against a sliding glass door, a gate that was blown off the hinges (yes, we do have a windy season!), a toilet that hadn't stopped running, a sprinkler system gone haywire, pipes that had burst after a deep freeze and more! 

If you choose to tip your pet sitters our system makes that so easy! Simply log in to your account and navigate to Petcare > My Info > Details (expand the section) > Tipping. You can set a Percentage or a Dollar Amount per visit.

Tip FAQ:

Q: How much do most clients tip?

A: It averages out to $2 to $4 per visit.

Q: How is the tip distributed?

A: The system splits it per visit and the amount goes to the pet sitters completing the visits.

Q: Can I leave a cash tip?

A: Yes. Please put it in an envelope with Creature Comforts written on it so they know to take it (they are not going to take unmarked cash left on the counter). The manager will collect it from one of the pet sitters and will add it as a tip payment to have the system split it. 

Q: What if I cancel or add visits?

A: We charge at the end of service and your automatic tip setting will apply only to completed visits. If you pay your invoice in advance the cancellations will appear as a credit balance on your account and the tip amount is not applied to cancelled visits.

Q: Can I tip one pet sitter more?

A: You can do this with the assistance of a manager, just text and we'll help!

We hope that you will rest assured that our pet sitters are dedicated to providing the best care. They do love to get tips and it makes their day but they are going to love your pets just the same if tipping is not within your budget!

  

Why a Pet Sitter is Not Right for You

Believe it or not, pet sitting is not the right solution for all pets.

Why would we bring this up? We want to make sure that your pet receives the best possible care while you're traveling and that you're aware of the reasons why a pet sitter may not be right for your pet.

1: Your dog is not good with strangers. Some pet parents don't really know this or they won't fully disclose it and the pet sitter finds out in a most unfortunate way. We have had several encounters like this and they've been among our most challenging experiences.

In one situation, the owner said the dog is skittish around strangers but should be ok. We

met the dog the day before the owner left. The next evening the dog would not let the pet sitter in the house. We reached out to the emergency contact and the dog wouldn't let the friend in the house, either! Fortunately, the owner was only in Tucson and was able to come home.

We once had to contact an owner who was away on a trip to get vaccination records to take their dog to a boarding facility as he was too dangerous to the pet sitter attempting to let him out of his crate on the visits.

2: Your pet has a medical condition that is not fully managed by medication. This is most common in senior pets and pets with chronic issues whose health is deteriorating and not responding to medication. These pets require a lot of supervision and, often, veterinary intervention. We recommend boarding at veterinary hospital.

3: Your pet is on medication and is shy with strangers and/or is resistant to the medication. Pets on medication must reliably and easily take medications without force or extreme trickery. Putting medication in favorite treats is fine, as long as the pet will always accept the treat. While we can usually spend extra time getting the medication into an unwilling pet it can often be a risk; to either the pet, if we simply can't administer the medication or get the pet out from under the bed, or to the pet sitter, if the pet becomes upset and bites or growls.

4: You are having workers or guests at your home while you're away. They may be there during scheduled visits and impede the pet sitter's ability to provide care. They may leave a gate, window or door unsecured. The noise and chaos of having significant construction or repairs being done can cause your pets undue stress.

We have walked in on guests in various stages of undress and activities that definitely indicated they weren't expecting anyone to come barging in on them. We have been startled by people coming out of bedrooms when we thought the house was empty. In one very alarming situation a boyfriend chased one of our pet sitters out of the house. Our policy requires that no one else is at the house during our visits for the safety of our pet sitters.

Those are the Top 4 Reasons why a pet sitter is not right for you. If you have a unique situation and you aren't sure whether we can help just give us a call! After 12 years and more than 100,000 visits we have the experience to guide you in the right direction, even if it is not with us!

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How Much Does Pet Sitting Cost

Most of us go straight to the "Price" page when browsing options for things we need. It can be frustrating to not find prices published on a website. We're working on that! 

Let's dive into this topic while we are working on the rebuild of our website where our rate chart will have it's own page to make it easy to access!

If you live in Sierra Vista or on Fort Huachuca your rates are pretty straightforward. If you live in Hereford, that's where it becomes a bit complicated! We're happy to give you an actual cost, all we need is an address, but this chart will give you a good idea for your rural area.

Our pet sitters are paid fairly for their professional service, knowledge and dedication and we are confident you will find your Peace of Mind worth it! There is no sales tax on service and we do not charge fees for multiple pets or even plants that need to be watered. We offer flat rates to make budgeting for your pet care easy.

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What would happen to your pets 

Many people in our community worry about what would happen to their pets if something were to happen to them. Whether this is an accident, a sudden health issue, or hospitalization. We want to put your worry at ease!

Existing Clients: Simply put a wallet card or key chain fob to alert emergency responders that you have pets at home alone and put our contact information on it. They will call us and we will step in to make sure your pets are fed, watered and let out for potty until you are able to come home. If you want us to be on standby for this service we will need to keep a copy of your key in our safe; simply reply to this email and we'll coordinate this step.

Other Pet Parents: This is a bit trickier as we won't have met your pets and we aren't familiar with their care. We will provide this service to cats and reliably friendly dogs (think Golden Retriever personality) who will welcome us into the home. Hospital staff who call us on your behalf will also need to give us basic information, like your address, and we can arrange to get your keys from them. This is not always an easy solution and we recommend using our pet sitting or dog walking service so we are already part of your dog's family.

Alternative: What happens if you don't have an emergency contact or your pet will not allow a stranger into the home? Animal Control is the default contact when a pet parent doesn't have anyone to call, or isn't able to alert emergency staff as to who to call. Your pet(s) will be taken to the animal shelter.

Most Important Step: Please make sure to have a card in your wallet that indicates you have pets at home alone. This is critical to fast coordination of their care In Case of Emergency.

Signs of Diabetes in Dogs and Cats

How can you tell if your dog or cat has diabetes? There are common symptoms to watch for and we recommend talking to your veterinarian about prevention at each annual check up. 

1. Excessive Thirst. Dogs and cats will drink more than usual. In fact, you'll probably notice your cat drinking more frequently because getting cats to drink enough water can be so challenging. Dogs will also drink more water and you'll notice the bowl needs to be filled more frequently.
2. More Pee. This one is definitely easier to tell with cats because you clean the litter box whereas dogs may need to go outside more frequently or will start having accidents in the house. Cat pee also tends to be "sticky" and you may notice the clumps stick to the litter scoop or the litter box.
3. More Infections. This one is easiest with dogs. You may notice their feet become infected if they get thorns. They may break out in other infections such as sores that don't heal.
4. Appetite. Your dog or cat may seem to always be hungry, as though they can't get enough food. They may have an increased sense of urgency while eating. They may try to get into the food bag or dispenser between meals.
5. Weight Loss. The urgency for food can coincide with weight loss as they struggle to absorb enough nutrition from their normal diet.
6. Coat Quality. Diabetic pets often have poor coat quality. Dandruff, oily fur, lackluster appearance.

Diabetes is a serious disease and will be a life-changing diagnosis. Talk to your vet about prevention and be sure to take your pet to the vet when you notice any of the above symptoms.

If your pet is diagnosed with diabetes we're here to help. Read our article on hiring a pet sitter to take care of your diabetic pet.

  

Diabetic Pet Care

How do you travel or even have evenings out if your pet is diagnosed with diabetes? 

We hear this concern from our new clients all the time. They feel tied to an insulin schedule and it makes it challenging to spend a day or evening out, go to Tucson, visit with friends, go camping or even take a vacation. It's a life changing diagnosis, that's for sure!

We're here to help! We have diabetes certified pet sitters on our team who are experienced taking care of diabetic cats and dogs. Whether you need care for a vacation or an evening out, we are just a click away!

Our requirements (we're sorry to single out cats but they've given us the most stories!): 

1. Your pet must be friendly. We've had some pretty scary encounters, mostly with cats as they are the most common diabetic pets, but also with a few dogs. Cat bites are a serious issue and can lead to infections. Your dog or cat must be well-socialized and must not have any issues with injections.
2. Your cat cannot hide. If you have a diabetic cat who is friendly but is known to sleep soundly in odd locations, like in the box springs or under the sofa, we'll ask that you keep all bedroom doors closed and block other napping places that may require moving furniture or the use of ladders. 
3. Identical pets must be distinguished. This is most easily done with collars of opposite color. You might be able to tell two nearly identical littermate cats apart at a glance but we can't accept the risk that the cat with the slightly more pronounced stripes on the tail might not be the one who gets the insulin. 

Most of the time diabetic pets are pretty easy and their owners can travel with peace of mind while the pets are in our care. The above criteria is from our 12 years experience in all sorts of situations! We've had cats hiss, growl, bite and chase our pet sitters. We've had them hide inside box springs, which required disassembling the bed. We've had to use a restraint bag (specifically designed for testing the blood glucose of cats who are less than impressed by this event) to give insulin injections (this usually only works once and then they are on to us). 

How can you tell if your dog or cat has diabetes? Here are 7 common symptoms to watch for.

Because insulin is not optional we will take extra steps prescreening your diabetic pet. New clients should expect to schedule 2 to 3 practice visits for us to come by at the evening feeding/insulin time while you are out. These visits will let us know whether your pet will cooperate with our pet sitters before your actual trip leaves them in our care for several days.

Let's talk about your diabetic pet and how we can help! Call or text 520-333-7387 and tell us about your pet!

Beware of Low Cost Service

We've been in business for a long time and we've seen our share of low cost alternatives. While we are not in competition with them for your business we do want to share our thoughts to help you make a sound decision.

No Credentials. Most of these providers are not licensed to do business and they don't have insurance or a bond. It is wise to choose someone who places value and professionalism on the service they are providing. Are they bonded and insured? Are they licensed to do business? (you can check with the city) Are they a member of the Chamber of Commerce? Look for signs that they are legitimate and have a professional business presence in the community.

No Accountability. Hobby pet sitters without a business don't have a reputation at stake. There are no documented reviews and they don't have a presence with a professional network. Be wary of trusting anyone in this position.

No Structure. While professional businesses offer a local manager you can always reach and online scheduling with GPS tracking to show you their location and time of arrival and completion, hobbyists don't have these safeguards. We have heard from so many pet parents who call us in a panic that their pet sitter didn't show up, they can't reach them and they don't know if their pets have been cared for since they left for vacation. Yikes. In one situation, the pet owner called the hobbyist who said she was at their house yet they were watching their security cameras and she wasn't! They abandoned their travel and made the 5 hour drive home. This isn't possible when you have flown to your destination.

Very Low Cost. Be skeptical over a business or hobbyist that offers a rate that seems too good to be true. When you consider the travel time and expense between jobs and that, with travel time, it can easily take almost an hour to do a 30 minute visit, how do they support such low wages? Are they invested in the care they provide?

We've all heard the saying "You get what you pay for". We know it is true when we hire team members and we are selective in our hiring process. It is also proven true in any service-oriented business from landscaping to home improvement projects to auto mechanics. The difference in our industry is that, not only are you giving someone the key to your home, lives are at stake. There is a lot riding on your choice. 

What should you do? If budget is your primary concern and you are not able to afford a professional service, with all of the benefits that come with that service, we would strongly recommend choosing a family member or close friend that you know and trust. 

Cat With Asthma

We take care of many special needs pets. Most are diabetic dogs and cats who require insulin injections twice a day. We've also given fluids to pets who have kidney disease, injections for pain medications and plenty of oral medications for all sorts of conditions from blood pressure to thyroid. We have all sorts of tricks to get those pills down when the pets aren't cooperative.

Rama is a cat with asthma. He's on an inhaled steroid once a day after every evening meal. He must sit quietly with the pet sitter and take 8 to 10 breaths from his inhaler. The client also has a rescue inhaler standing by should he have an asthma attack outside these treatments and we monitor his breathing comfort on every visit to work with the client if he starts to have symptoms that may lead to an attack. 

No matter what condition your special needs pet has we can help! Give us a call to talk about it and we'll come up with a plan to allow you to travel with Peace of Mind.

Barking Dogs

Is Your Dog Barking?

Whether you're trying to have that zoom meeting and your dog is barking at every little noise that you may not even hear or your neighbors have told you they can hear your dog barking when you're not home, we can help!

A tired dog is a quiet dog! For as little as $15 a day we will take your dog on an adventure to burn off that excess energy! Schedule Today! 

You're also going to love getting our dog walk maps that show you the walk distance and where we went!

Live Pet Sitter Map

Our Live Sitter Map is monitored throughout the day. It shows the manager where every pet sitter has clocked in, how long they've been clocked in, details about the visit (client, visit type, visit length) and, when zoomed in, the dog walk route as it is in progress!

Any late arrivals (alerted when the pet sitter hasn't clocked in within 15 minutes of the visit end time) will also be shown on this Live Sitter Map and a pop up notification is sent to the manager and the scheduled pet sitter. Late arrivals are uncommon and are usually only seen on busy holiday weekend mornings when we often start earlier than scheduled to let all the dogs out for potty by the end of our first hour of the day.

Travel with Peace of Mind knowing your pet care is being managed at all times!

Preparing for Your Personal Emergencies

Pet Care Tips for Personal Emergencies

We get a lot of calls from patients in the hospital and from hospital staff on behalf of patients when they learn they have pets at home. While it isn't ideal to walk into a home with pets who don't know us, we have skills that allow us to manage the situation. 

Here are our Helpful Preparation Hints that, should you find yourself in an emergency, will help us step in to take care of your pets. This is especially helpful for seniors who live alone and everyone in the community who doesn't have a family member, friend or neighbor who can help.

1: Put a card in your wallet with emergency contact information and, in large print, that you have pets at home alone.

2: Use a hide-a-key. You can place these just about anywhere and they come in all sorts of disguises. This is a far more secure solution for hiding a key than placing the key in or under a flower pot or under the door mat or furniture. 

3: Keep the food and medication in an easy-to-find location. In the event you aren't able to call us and the nurse calls on your behalf we'll be able to find it.

4: Tape a note to the food storage container or nearby wall that has feeding and medication instructions.

5: Notify your veterinarian of your emergency pet care provider's name and they will let you know what they need to provide treatment in your absence. They may also be willing to supply more medication, should you not have enough, and bill it to your account.

Of course, it is helpful for your emergency contact to be familiar with your pets. We are happy to come by to meet you to alleviate your concern over this important decision and we're always just a phone call away!

Always Fresh Water For Dogs

Are you frustrated by water drool all over your floors? Does your dog play in her water bowl and spill it everywhere? Do you worry that your dog will run out of water while you're away for the day? Are you still using a gravity fed water dispenser that is heavy and awkward to fill and becomes slimy with bacteria between cleanings?

We have a product for you!

The Lixit water faucet is Always On and Always Fresh! No more water mess in your house, no more drool and debris making the water bowl gross. With a Lixit faucet your dog's water will be clean and cool, all of the time! For less than $10!

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Slow Down Dog Bowl

Some dogs gobble their food so quickly it causes them to vomit! For some dog breeds this behavior can be dangerous, even fatal! Eating quickly can contribute to a condition commonly referred to as "bloat". Read this WebMDPet article for more information about this condition.

Our Favorite Product highlight is for the use of "slow down" feeding dishes. If your dog eats quickly you're going to want to get him one of these! Simply place his meal in the dish and the dish slows him down by forcing him to take his time picking his food out of the nooks and crannies.

Check out this product we recommend!

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Our COVID-19 Protocol

We are following recommended protocol to protect our clients by using hand sanitizer before and after every visit, washing our hands at every visit and using sanitizing wipes on doorknobs, gates, garage entries, keys, lock boxes, fobs, food bins, scoops and all other contact points. 

We are doing all that is possible to protect our clients and their homes as we continue providing an essential service to the pets in our care.

  

Managing Care for Senior Pets

Senior Pets Are Beautiful Souls

We take care of a lot of senior pets. Some of our clients, seniors themselves, have difficulty with pet transportation and sometimes a senior pet is not able to get into a vehicle.

I started thinking about how we can prepare ourselves for our pets' senior years when trips to the vet are more frequent and illnesses are often more difficult to treat.

Here are our Top 5 recommendations for managing care as your pet ages.

1. Make sure your pet is comfortable getting in and out of vehicles. Many pets are very stressed by this experience and that will only make transportation more difficult during an emergency. If your pet is fearful consider working with a trainer who can help you through desensitizing him and create a calming experience. If you have a cat it is wise, at any age, to make your cat comfortable in a carrier.
2. Pet insurance, while more expensive as pets age, can be very helpful with the medical bills for common procedures most senior pets will require. Ask your vet which insurance they recommend for best coverage.
3. GoodRX is a free app that can save a lot of money on prescriptions. Senior pets often need pain management and anti-inflammatory drugs on a daily basis.
4. Know where the emergency clinics are that can help you late at night. That link has information on 24 hour clinics, local on call availability changes and you should call your vet to know their availability after office hours. Save all clinic phone numbers and addresses in your cell phone contacts. During an emergency it will be a relief for help to be just a few clicks away - rather than at the end of a frantic Google search.
5. Think about End of Life choices before you are faced with this most heart-wrenching decision. What treatment options will you pursue? What is the expected outcome and survival rate if treatment is recommended? What is the quality of life during and after treatment? If you make choices while your pet is healthy it will be clearer in your mind when your pet is ailing as to what you've already decided you are willing to do as he nears the end of life. Deciding today whether you would choose chemo if your dog, as a senior, develops cancer and knowing your reasons for that decision can make it a less emotional choice when the time comes.

If you are lucky enough to have a pet who has lived into their senior years you know the lifetime of joy and unconditional love they have given. It's such a special time with your pet. Prepare for their needs and enjoy their golden years!

  

Oley Catches a Treat

Oley hadn't quite gotten the hang of catching a treat but on this, our 4th try, he got it!

He wants you to know that your pets will love our pet sitters, too!

Credit Card Security

Your security is important to us and that includes the security of your credit card information used in our online scheduling system. Here are our security measures:

1. We don't have access to your credit card information. When you log in to add or update your credit card you are directly accessing the encrypted merchant processing portal. That information is not available to us nor to our scheduling software provider, LeashTime. 
2. If we take your credit card information for you over the phone we do so only through the secured merchant portal; the card information is not written down nor stored locally in any way. Doing so is a violation of our Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance. 
3. We complete an annual PCI Compliance validation process. This ensures that our credit card processing policies and methods are up to date and in compliance with merchant processing regulations.
4. For our clients who do not wish to make online payment by credit card we are happy to accept personal checks and Venmo payments. Each invoice will have instructions for those payment methods.

Why Pet Owners Should Be Over Rover

You've probably noticed the international listing services, like Rover, that are popping up for people to do side gigs in pet sitting. Simply plug in your zip code and a slew of profiles appear. You may not have heard the horror stories (search Rover horror stories). Unfortunately, those of us who are professionals in this industry have a front row seat to the unbelievable things hobbyists do, and don't do. 

Your pets are too important to trust to someone doing this as a side gig; without standards of care, without a background check, without supervision. This is a long article but it's a big problem and we've heard it all from our new clients. Do you really want to deal with an agent in a call center when you have a problem? In a recent article about a lost dog in Canada (remember, they list sitters all over the world) Rover CEO, Dave Rosenbaum, said, "Individual sitters, not Rover, are liable for any damages arising from a situation gone wrong because everyone on the platform operates as an independent contractor." 

How do you think that is going to make you feel when you are desperate to resolve a problem?

What if the person you choose never shows up for the scheduled visits? What if they cancel on you the day before you leave? How do you know if they have a boyfriend or other person come with them to your home? We have had calls from frantic pet parents who are out of the country and they desperately need someone to go take care of their beloved pets because the other person (friend, neighbor, Rover sitter, facebook referral) hasn't shown up. Thank goodness for cameras, alarms and door locks that let them know no one had been there! Some people don't know this until it is too late and they return home to the unimaginable. 

From the Rover website Terms of Service:

"Rover does not employ, recommend or endorse Service Providers or Pet Owners, and, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, we will not be responsible or liable for the performance or conduct of Service Providers or Pet Owners, whether online or offline."

We've had calls from stressed out pet parents who are leaving and have not been able to reach their Rover sitter for days, or have had the sitter cancel on them at the last moment. They are leaving tomorrow. Or later today. Can we please help them?!

Our answer is yikes and yes. Not because it is easy to accommodate them (it isn't!) and not because our calendar is vacant (it isn't!) but because we are also pet parents and we care. If they are already out of town we will do what we can to take over their pet care, hopefully they have a hidden key or a landlord or emergency contact with a key. If they are still home our pet sitters will do what is necessary to go over to meet them on short notice. These real situations are not ideal for anyone! We have an emergency surcharge to help cover the myriad changes that must take place.

What is your recourse? If there is a problem with a pet sitter on an international listing website you are going to get a call center agent in another state who will attempt to manage your concerns. There is little else they can do from a remote location except offer apologies and refunds. 

We urge you to be very careful when searching for a pet sitter. Luckily, you've found our website and that's a great place to be! You will find abundant information here about our culture, our practices, our safety measures and our assurances that we will go above and beyond your expectations. Following us on Facebook will give you a daily insight into our interactions with the pets in our care. 

Here is a brief summary of why we hope your search is over now that you've found us:

• We are locally owned and managed. You can call or text any time you have a question and you will get the owner of the company, right here in your community.
• We have a team of pet sitters. As life throws curve balls we all experience our own crises and our team is always there to cover every visit.
• We have been in business since 2009. We are invested in our reputation and we are a financially stable company able to function through economic peaks and valleys. 
• We have safeguards and guarantees in place every step of the way. You will receive confirmations, visit completion notices, GPS tracking and visit reports with full disclosure about everything your pets are doing; how they are behaving, if they are eating, if they are off. We are like Santa; we know if they've been bad or good and we're going to tell you so you aren't surprised when you come home to a shredded couch cushion.

We have hired many pet sitters in our 10 year history. The most surprising discovery for new hires is that they only think they know what is involved and how to deliver the best pet care and customer service. We have a mentor program for our new pet sitters to learn all of our practices. What we have learned is that service at our level does not come intuitively.

Your pets are definitely worth hiring our experience, reliability and dedication. We're glad you are reading our articles and we hope to meet you soon!

  

Pet Accidents and Destruction

Destruction Happens!

Sure, they are cute and we love them but some beloved dogs can seemingly have wild parties when they are home alone. If you suspect your dog may be prone to this behavior (Lab, Boxer, Pit and Any Adolescent Dog parents) read on for our helpful travel preparation hints!

In this collage of destruction you will find the remains of what used to be couch stuffing, things taken out of a closet and the contents of the shred bin. Oh my! Potty accidents also happen! We have seen it all on our visits and we have advice for you before you travel.

Puppies and young, energetic dogs should be crated between our visits. Crate training is an important safety measure. Your dog will need to be comfortable being crated well in advance of your departure. Dogs with severe anxiety will need a sturdier crate than the typical wire or plastic crates to prevent injuries during escape.

Before you leave here is a list of things we recommend:

Biking with Luna

• Exercise is to dogs what location is to retail businesses. A tired dog is a good dog. If you have a high energy dog adding dog walks, dog biking sessions or hiking adventures to your schedule is a great idea.
• Pet proof your home to keep pets away from children's toys, remote controls, upholstery and valuables. Keep bedroom, den and bathroom doors closed.
• Gates and Scat Mats are excellent barriers for normally well-behaved dogs to keep them away from certain areas of your home.
• Cleaning Supplies. Have an abundant supply of paper towels, carpet/tile/wood floor cleaner and grocery bags on hand. You'll want to keep them where your dog can't reach them.
• Anti-nausea and diarrhea medication. Pepto bismol is handy for puppies and dogs who are prone to bouts of diarrhea. *
• Dogs with separation anxiety may benefit by taking CBD oil* a month in advance of your travels. This supplement works wonders to soothe anxieties and is also an excellent anti-inflammatory for senior dogs. 

*Consult with your veterinarian before giving your dog new medications and supplements.

We will do our best to manage potty and behavioral issues. Our visit reports are full-disclosure; you won't come home to surprise destruction and we will consult with you while you're away to protect your home.

We reserve the right to extend visits by 15 minute increments to allow sufficient time to clean up after potty accidents and destructive incidents. Creature Comforts Pet Sitting Service is not liable for pet destruction.

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Top 3 Reasons Pet Sitting Isn't The Right Fit

Our 10 years of experience have prepared us for everything that can and will be waiting for us on the other side of a locked door. It has also prepared us for the worst-case scenarios.

Here are our Top 3 Reasons we may not be the right choice for you.

Collage of Destruction

1: Destructive Dogs. If you have young, energetic dogs or nervous dogs with separation anxiety your property is at risk. We have walked in to our fair share of disasters caused by rambunctious or anxious pets. They have destroyed couches, walls, carpets, tables, curtains, blinds and more! Yikes!

Our visit reports are always full disclosure. We are going to tell you the good, the cute, the funny and the destructive. You won’t come home to a surprise. Getting these reports will cause you to have stress while you’re traveling and it will involve increased visit charges for cleaning and hefty repair bills! We recommend boarding pets in this situation to save your own sanity and to prevent the possibility of pet injury.

Thor Being Taken to Boarding

2: Aggressive Animals. If your dog has dominance behavior and shows aggression to people who come to your home (growling, charging, nipping or biting) we are not going to provide service. If this isn’t evident or disclosed at the consultation and becomes apparent during our visits we will require your dog to be boarded during your travels.

We won't place our pet sitters at risk for injury. Thor, for example, became aggressive when the other dog in the home went into heat. We took him to boarding and continued to provide care for the other pets in the home.

There are also cats and other animals who will charge and bite. You know your pets and livestock better than anyone else and if there is a risk to a stranger coming to your home when you aren’t there we need to know in advance. We are willing to come for an evaluation and, if appropriate, a trial visit before your travel. You should be prepared with a backup boarding reservation.

3: Hospice Pets. If your pet is suffering from a medical condition that is not managed to allow quality of life, such as not being able to eat, drink, stand or walk on its own, we will refer you to your veterinarian for medical boarding. 

Most often, this situation presents with our existing clients as their pets age. We already love them and seeing them in such poor health is heartbreaking. We've had dogs who couldn't get up from their beds to walk outside. We have experienced these beloved pets dying at home, alone. We have to make the hard choices to suspend future service when it becomes clear that the pet would be better off with medical boarding.

We're here to help! We know you want what is best for your pets and we strive to provide that to every client. If you have any questions about your pet's suitability for pet sitting just give us a call. We turn away very few clients and we'll give you an experienced evaluation.

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