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FAQs
Selecting a pet sitting and dog walking service
is just as important as selecting a daycare facility for your child
or a physician for yourself. They both require a great deal of consideration
as they are built on confidence and trust just like the relationship
you will have with your sitter. Most client/sitter relationships
develop a strong bond as both you and your sitter will share the
love and care for your pet.
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| Pal Martinez, Walnut Creek |
What happens at the
"get acquainted visit"?
During
this complimentary visit to your home a Petcentric sitter
go over your pet's routine and Petcentric's duties and they will spend a considerable time getting to know you and your pet. This is an important component as it will facilitate your pet to feel safe, happy and at ease in your absence. Just as crucial is for to you feel comfortable and satisfied with your sitter and Petcentric's hope is that you will feel peace of mind knowing your pets are being cared for by a sitter who is loving, experienced, trustworthy and compassionate. Why
do you request two sets of keys at the "get acquainted visit"?
Your pet sitter will use one set and the other set will remain in
our office to be used in the event of an emergency or a last minute
pet-sitting request. If your primary sitter is out of town and/or
unavailable we will provide another trained sitter with your key.
Are you
bonded and insured?
Yes, Petcentric and staff are covered under a general liability
policy through Business Insurers of the Carolinas. We have a dishonesty
bond through Troy Fain Insurance, Inc. How long have you been in business?
We've been pampering pets since 1998!
Are
you licensed?
Yes, like most legitimate businesses we have a valid city business
license. The pet sitting industry is self-regulated, so there is
no such thing as a professional license, which some other professions
require.
Can
you provide references?
Yes! Please request in advance and we will provide a list of satisfied
clients at our "get acquainted visit". If you would like
to hear what our clients are saying about us prior to meeting us,
please visit our client testimonial page.
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| Thirsty Twila |
Are you a member of Pet Sitters
International?
Yes! Petcentric has been a proud member of PSI
since 1998! Pet Sitters International is the largest leading organization
in the pet care industry and requires members to abide by the highest
standards in the industry. Please click on below links for more information:
Are
you a member of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters?
Yes. Petcentric is a member of NAPPS.
What is
NAPPS?
The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters is a non-profit
membership organization founded in 1989 which provides education,
networking and professional integrity to promote excellence among
pet sitters and to serve as a voice for the expanding industry.
What type of animals do you
care for?
We care for most house pets but have also sat for chickens, pigs,
and a goat! If you’re not sure if we can accommodate your pets,
please ask! All sitters are fully experienced with cats and dogs
and we do have several sitters on staff that specialize in birds
and reptiles. We love them all!
Will
you provide the same sitter each time we use your service?
Petcentric policy is to have the same sitter for your pet each time,
as we believe this helps in creating a bond between the sitter and
the pet and also provides consistency for our clients. In the event
that your primary sitter is unavailable or an emergency arises to
which they are unable to fulfill their duties we will immediately
provide another capable replacement sitter. If any changes occur
we will notify you right away.
Do
you offer boarding?
No. We believe in most situations the best place for the pet is
in their own environment. "There’s no place like home for your
pet." Animals are creatures of habit and so we come to your
home and work around their normal routine. We understand that there
may be special circumstances when a pet cannot stay at home and
in those instances please contact us and we will try to refer you
to a suitable alternative.
My
pet is on medication. Would you administer the medication and will
it cost an extra fee?
Most of our staff is very experienced in medicating animals from
oral medication to injections. We always like to arrange the “get
acquainted visit” at the same time that you will be medicating your
pet so that we may observe which method works best for your pet.
We suggest having an alternative plan in the rare case that your
pet does not accept medication by one of us. In the unlikely event
that this happens we would suggest your pet being boarded by your
veterinarian so that the veterinarian could safely medicate your
pet. We usually do not charge extra for this service unless the
time is rather involved.
How
long will each visit be?
Pet sitting and Dog walking visits are at least 30 minutes long
but many of our staff members tend to stay longer! Beach trips for
Santa Barbara area dogs are at least 45 minutes to 1 hour long,
as are all dog hikes. The dog is out enjoying nature and all its
smells for at least a 30 to 35 minute walk or run. When staying
overnight the pet sitter tends to stay for at least 12 hours (although
it can be more) – the hours may vary according to your pet’s needs
and the sitter’s schedule, but typically the sitter is at your home
from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. If your pet requires more love and attention
during the day we can schedule a mid-day visit for an additional
fee.
Do you
charge additional fees for holiday visits?
Rather then spending less time with the pets on holidays and not
charging a fee as some pet sitting services do, we believe in maintaining
the pets normal routine on the holiday just as we do on the adjoining
days.
Do you charge
a fee for picking up and dropping off my house key?
When we meet you for our “get acquainted visit” we request two sets
of keys and do not charge for this, however if you decide you do
not wish to keep the keys on file we do charge a minimal fee for
dropping off or picking up keys. If you would like to avoid the
fee keys can be mailed or you can drop off or pick up the keys at
our office. We prefer not to have keys hidden outside your home.
Do I need
to stop delivery of my newspaper and mail?
No – we’re happy to pick up your newspaper and mail and any packages
that may be delivered. We neatly stack your mail and newspapers
in an area inside your home, which is out of sight from passersby.
Would
you mind watering a few plants I have indoors and outdoors?
No, we don’t mind at all and in fact that comes along with the service!
Our main priority of course is loving and caring for your pet so
if the plant watering is substantial we may charge a bit more per
visit so that we can stay longer and make sure your pet is still
getting plenty of special time with us!
What
if I get delayed and cannot make it home to resume care of my pets?
No problem, if you don’t check in with the office your sitter will
continue to visit your pet until we either get a call from you or
see you! Before you leave on your trip we always like you to tell
us what time you expect to return home and we request that you call
once you arrive home. If we don’t hear from you we will try to contact
you by phone but if unsuccessful we will stop by.
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| Sparkle Martinez |
How is Payment handled?
Payment by check or credit card is due in full prior to all services. Unpaid balances are considered past due on the first day of service and client may be charged a late fee. Thank you for your prompt payments, as a small business they keep us going!
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