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Who, What, Where, When,
Why and How Much?
Policy
and Procedure
A Dog’s Life provides loving
at home pet care while owners are away. Whether you go on vacation, a business
trip, need a midday visit to walk, feed or cuddle, or medicate your pet; A Dog’s
Life will be there when you can’t be. Don't let our name fool you, we do also
care for cats, fish, birds, and even some chickens!
Office hours: Monday through
Friday, 9-11 am and 1-4 pm. All inquiries for services will be
answered at those times. For for clients using our services who are
calling to check in on their 'babies' we will return calls/emails as soon as
possible.
Reservations: It is best to plan a couple of weeks in advance in order to
obtain services on the dates you desire. An in-home consultation is required,
prior to reservations, for all new clients. While we can tentatively pencil in
your dates, we must meet you and your pets and access your needs before we make
a commitment to providing your pets’ care.
Consultations: During this initial meeting we will also review and complete
forms and sign agreements. Please have Vet
Release,
Legal Considerations
and
Pet
Info. completed for this initial visit. You may print these forms now, or request a
welcome kit to be mailed to you.
Keys: A Dog’s Life will obtain your house key during the initial visit,
when service is scheduled and agreements are signed. Keys can be returned, upon
request, within 7 days of the end of your service, in person or by certified
mail. It is recommended your key remain in your A Dog’s Life file for
convenience in future use of our service and to enable telephone reservations,
thus avoiding future key pick up charges of $11.00.
Reservation confirmation: Always directly confirm your reservation with A
Dog’s Life. This ensures that we won't miss your message and your pets care will
continue uninterrupted. A confirmation will be e-mailed to you within 48 hours
of your request, and again 1-2 weeks before you are scheduled to begin service.
If you do not receive a confirmation, it is your responsibility to contact A
Dog’s Life before service is to begin.
Extended Absence: In the event you have to be away longer than planned it
is mandatory that we hear from you! We will only accept extensions of service by
direct confirmation. Your pets’ well-being depends on our communication!
“Comfort Calls”: You may call A Dog’s Life between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. CST
daily to check on your pets during your absence. Since we do not usually answer
our phones while doing a sit, please leave a message and your call will be
returned promptly. We can also e-mail you daily reports and pictures.
“Honey, I’m Home” calls: Please remember to call when you have returned
home safely! Otherwise, we may need to continue visiting to assure the safety
and well-being of your pets. Additional trips will be added to your bill at the
regular rate. Please call at ANY hour and leave a voice message, or send an
e-mail that you have returned.
Choose the plan that fits your needs
Vacation Plan: This type of service, designed for vacations and business
trips, has a beginning and an end date. Your options are:
• Once daily visits - minimum number of daily visits for cats, birds, fish,
hamsters and other small caged pets are visited at approximately the same time
each day.
• Twice daily regular visits - twice daily visits, minimum number of daily
visits for dogs and available for all pets.
• 3-4 visits daily - Visits available by request for pets with special needs.
• Value Visits - available by request, when twice daily visits are scheduled,
for those dogs that need a mid-day potty break between the morning and evening
visits, the optional Value Visit is available. Value Visit is an abbreviated
version of the regular visits, lasting approximately 15 minutes. A charge of
$13.00 is assessed for this extra (3rd) visit.
In addition to the daily pet care, this plan includes the ‘extras’ as requested:
pick up mail and newspapers, water plants or garden, daily clean up (scoop yard
/litter box), cage cleaning, lights and TV/radio turned off in the morning and
on at night (twice daily visits), fill outside bird feeders, set out trash on
collection day, etc.
Daily Plan: This type of visit will occur Mon. – Fri. between 11am and 2
pm and is designed for dog walking and midday meals/potty breaks for youngsters
and old timers. This service is very beneficial to pets whose owners are unable
to perform midday care tasks due to work schedules. Of course, A Dog’s Life must
have client’s key on file for daily visits. Prices start at $13.00.
Duration of visits: There are many time plans to choose from. Every
attempt will be made to give your pet the care and attention required in the
allowed time. (If I’m not real busy in the afternoon your pet may get a longer
walk, more play time or extra TLC). However, if the number of your pets and list
of chores exceeds the plan chosen, please expect to be charged $6.00 in 15
minute increments.
Rates:
New clients’ fees for scheduled visits are due during the initial
consultation, or at the time reservations are made.
Fees for subsequent scheduled service periods are due as follows:
Vacation Plan: 100% balance due on the first day of service.
Daily Plan: Payments are due each Friday for the following week, or paid
in advance monthly.
Fees due for unplanned expenses (see below) or emergencies will be billed
bi-weekly. Balances left unpaid in excess of 30 days will be sent to collections
~ the client will be responsible for those fees, as well ~ unless other
arrangements have been made in advance.
Holidays: Holiday seasons are hectic for everyone - make your
reservations early! There will be a $5.00 daily fee in addition to the regular
per visit fee charged for services ON the following holidays: New Years Eve, New
Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving,
Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. All deposits for these holidays are NON-
REFUNDABLE and due at the time of the reservation.
Cancellations:
Cancellations may be made up to 8 days in advance of your scheduled service. If
canceling less than 8 days prior to the first day of your scheduled service
period, a fee of 20% of the total service fee is applied. There are no refunds
for cancellations with notices of 0-48. There are no refunds for cancellations
of holiday periods; including Christmas week, New Years, Memorial weekend, Labor
Day weekend, and Thanksgiving weekend.
Unplanned fees: There will be a travel charge as well as reimbursement if
the sitter has to restock depleted supplies – it is the owners’ responsibility
to provide more than adequate amounts of food, litter, treats, medications, and
other items needed for complete care of their pets.
Acceptable methods of payment: Cash, checks and money orders are
accepted. In certain situations I may accept paypal payments, please inquire.
Returned checks: Client agrees to pay a $25.00 fee for each check
returned by the client’s bank regardless of the reason. After two instances,
only cash will be accepted.
Late payment fee: Payment is
due at the first scheduled visit. If payment is not made, a $2.00 fee per
visit will apply, until payment is made. Any balance 30 days old will be
sent to collections.
Late booking fee: This
applies when you book services 48 hours or less than your departure date,
$15.00.
Other Stuff
Visitors: Please notify A Dog’s Life if others (maids, friends, family
members, etc.) will have access to your home during your absence. It is
understood that the client will notify anyone with access to the home that A
Dog’s Life’s’ services have been engaged. The police will be called on all
intruders or suspicious acts without exception.
A Dog’s Life, company owner, agents, assigns, successors and heirs are not
liable and are completely indemnified for any and all liability stemming from
the act(s) or failure to act of third parties, whether known or unknown,
including but not limited to, friends, neighbors, relatives or other service
persons, that shall enter your residence for any purpose while A Dog’s Life is
caring for your pets.
Emergencies: Everyone has them! Feel free to call if an unexpected need
arises; while we will make every attempt to accommodate your needs, availability
on short notice is dependent on our current schedule. A Dog’s Life networks with
other area sitters for this reason and if we can’t fulfill your emergency pet
care needs we will try to help you contact another competent professional pet
care provider who can.
I will carry a copy of YOUR emergency contact form with my daily log (your name
+ contact’s name and phone number) in the event I have an unexpected accident or
illness. Please be sure this information is current and that the designated
contact has access to your home to ensure your pets care continues
uninterrupted.
Unsecured pets: A Dog’s Life will not be responsible for free-roaming or
outdoor pets in the event of illness, injury, loss or death. It is strongly
advised that all pets have some form of permanent ID and that they remain inside
the home or confined to a yard or pen for their own safety and welfare in your
absence.
It is the pet owner’s sole responsibility to “pet-proof” any areas of the home
and/or property to which the pet has access. This includes thoroughly inspecting
fences, gates, latches, doors and other devices meant to contain the pet or
restrict access to specific areas. The pet sitter does not assume responsibility
and has no liability for any injuries the pet may sustain or property damage the
pet may cause while in its own home/property.
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