|
| top
- How much do you
charge for pet-sitting?
The rates vary depending on where you live, and how often you
need me to stop by. My services can be very cost-effective if you have multiple animals, since I do
not generally charge by the animal.
[TOP]
- What
other services do you provide?
I will take care of most household necessities while you are
away at no additional charge. This includes bringing in the
mail, watering indoor and outdoor plants, putting the trash
out on trash day, etc. Due to my commitments to my own family
and pets, I am unable to stay at your home for extended
lengths of time during the day or overnight, but I do spend lots
of quality time with all of my customers! [TOP]
- What
types of animals do you take care of?
Pretty much any animal that is friendly to me. I currently
count among my customers: dogs, cats, birds, mice, hamsters,
snakes, lizards, tortoises, hawks, goats, sheep, ducks, geese,
and horses. [TOP]
- My dog is
anxious and has never been away from me. Is a pet-sitter the
best option?
The answer is: absolutely not, unless your pet-sitter can
supervise your dog 24 hours a day. Anxious dogs are at risk
for separation anxiety, which can manifest itself in very
dangerous behavior, such as ingesting unusual items, not
eating or drinking, urinating
and defecating indoors, running away, and destroying furniture.
[TOP]
- My
neighbor is taking care of my animals while I am away. Can
I give her your number in case she has an emergency and cannot
take care of them?
Absolutely. It is a great idea to have a backup in case your
primary person has an emergency. It is also smart to leave an
extra key with a neighbor, in case your pet-sitter gets stuck
somewhere out of the area (this has happened to one of my
clients who had me as a backup, and had an extra key!). One
thing to consider is that most pet owners I talk to feel like
they are imposing on friends and neighbors by asking them to
pet-sit. They are afraid to ask them to clean the cat box, or
scoop the back yard, or prepare their pet's food exactly the
way they like to. If you hire a good pet-sitter, don't
be afraid to ask for the things you and your pets need to feel
safe, happy, and secure. That is what you are paying
for! [TOP]
- Do
you ever take animals to the vet for your customers?
I do - and I don't charge for the service if I am already
pet-sitting your animals. I consider it part of their routine
care, and if they need to be taken care of while you are gone
- so be it! My clients love to come home from their trip and
their pets have had their teeth cleaned, their heartworm tests
and all their shots and they didn't have to pile them in the
car and deal with it. I also provide this service outside of
pet-sitting for a reasonable fee. [TOP]
- Do
you administer medications?
Due to my extensive veterinary nursing background, I am very
comfortable medicating just about any animal, even if they are
a bit tough to medicate. I can also administer insulin
injections for diabetic animals, and subcutaneous
("Sub-Q") fluids for animals wuith kidney or liver
disease. On
occasion, I even draw blood and urine samples for routine
tests from animals who have a hard time at the vet. [TOP]
- What
if something happens to you while you are pet-sitting my
animals?
That is a very good question, and one you should ask anyone
who cares for your pets. I have several
associates who are experienced
veterinary health personnel who also pet-sit, albeit not as
regularly as I do. They are prepared to
cover for me in an emergency, or if I am planning a trip out
of town. In that case, they come over and meet with the client
before they provide services. Several of us actually have mutual clients, and it works out great for everyone.
We are almost always available this way, but can take time off
without interrupting our service. [TOP]
- How much
notice do you need?
As much as possible, but I do recognize that emergencies come
up, and people sometimes have to leave in a hurry. You can
call 530-925-2770 and let me know what your situation is. I am
almost always able to accommodate last-minute reservations.
You can e-mail me as well at paula@paulaspets.com,
as I check my e-mail often during the day. [TOP]
- Do I
need to call my vet to authorize treatment in case of an
emergency?
It is a very good idea to do this any time you leave your pet
in someone's care. It is also a good idea to let your vet know
you are leaving town and that you authorize billing to your
account. If you are not sure if you will be able to be reached
at all times, your veterinarian's office should be able to
keep a credit card number on file. In case your pet needs to
go to an emergency clinic, you may want to provide contact
information for a friend or relative who has your credit card
number. For your safety, I do not keep credit card numbers on
file. [TOP]
- Which is
better, a kennel or a pet-sitter?
I am asked this question more frequently than any other.
The decision is a very individual one, and I encourage anyone
who is not sure to call or e-mail me and I can help you decide.
[TOP] [HOME]
|
|
|
