Frequently Asked Questions 2022-07-07T13:23:33+00:00

Frequently Asked Questions about Pet Sitting Services

How do you determine your service area? 2018-03-05T23:18:49+00:00

Our service area includes homes within a 10 driving mile radius of the home office or any of our pet sitters. Sometimes, we will include homes that are just outside of this area for a small gas surcharge. However, all final decisions about inclusion in our service area will be at the discretion of Cuddles on Call.

Do you board pets? 2018-03-05T23:17:51+00:00

We do not board pets at our facilities, but we will provide regular visits with your pets in your home according to your individual needs which is more convenient for you and less stressful for your pets.

If you are keeping my keys on file and I move or discontinue service, how will I get my key back? 2018-03-05T23:17:07+00:00

We will be glad to mail your keys if we have them on file with us. We can also arrange for them to be dropped off for a trip fee of $15.

What do you do if I forget to leave enough food or litter for my pet(s)? 2018-03-05T23:16:21+00:00

If this happens, we will give you a phone call to notify you that there is not enough food, and you can let us know if you have more food in another location in your home. If there is not, never fear, we can make a special trip to purchase more food or litter. There will, however, be a $10 trip fee plus the cost of the supplies.

If I leave later than expected or return early, will I receive a refund or credit? 2018-03-05T23:15:53+00:00

No, unfortunately, we have scheduled time for your visits and have potentially turned down other clients to allow time these appointments.

What is your cancellation policy? 2021-10-07T03:29:27+00:00

We have a 24 hour cancellation policy for all visits not including a holiday date. Please call, text, or e-mail us within 24 hours before your service if you need to cancel in order to incur no cancellation fees. Cancellations less than 24 hours before your service are subject to a 100% cancellation fee.

There is a separate cancellation policy for holiday bookings because of high demand for these dates. We require 10 days notice of cancellation to receive a full credit for bookings including a holiday date. Holidays include dates on and around: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. If you have questions about which days surrounding a given holiday will incur holiday fees, please reach out to us directly. Cancellations made between between 10 and 7 days before the start of service are subject to a 50% cancellation fee. Cancellations made less than 7 days before the start of service are subject to a 100% cancellation fee.

If a client’s card has been charged before cancellation is made, any remaining payment (after any applicable cancellation fees) will be applied as a credit to the client’s account with Cuddles on Call for future services.

How is payment handled? 2021-10-07T03:30:39+00:00

We accept debit and credit cards only. For new clients, full payment is due at the initial consultation. For repeat clients, payment is due 1-3 days before the date of the first visit (14 days before visits including a holiday).

Do you charge a holiday fee? 2021-10-07T03:39:22+00:00

Yes, we charge an additional $5 holiday fee for each visit on the following holidays: New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. We also charge the holiday fee for certain days surrounding these holidays as well. If you would like to know the exact dates that a holiday fee will be charged, please inquire with us directly. This is a way for us to reward our pet sitters who are working during the holidays.

What happens when there is severe weather? 2018-03-05T23:13:01+00:00

In the event that your Cuddles on Call pet sitter is unable to reach your home due to severe weather with impassible roads, we will contact a nearby friend/relative (whom you have provided to us), and request that they take over care of your pets in our absence until we can resume service again. We will do everything we can to make sure your pet is taken care of in emergency situations like these, and we will keep you continually updated of these developments as they happen.

Are you insured and bonded? 2018-03-05T23:12:24+00:00

Yes. We are insured and bonded through Mourer and Foster. Proof of insurance is available upon request.

May I give my pet sitter / dog walker a gratuity? 2018-03-05T23:11:21+00:00

Absolutely. You may leave a gratuity for the sitter at your home, or you may add it to your debit or credit card payment. Gratuities are never expected, but always appreciated.

If I am leaving town very soon and don’t have time for a consultation, will you take care of my pets without meeting them first? 2022-07-07T04:02:49+00:00

I’m sorry, but we do not take care of pets without meeting them first. However, if we have availability, we can try to work with you to set up a consultation quickly, so that we can start our pet sitting services before your trip. We typically need at least 48 hours to get new clients set up.

What information will you need at the initial meet and greet? 2022-03-28T20:09:03+00:00

Prior to the consultation, you will need to fill out all the profiles listed in our online software (you will be provided with a link to this in our initial communications), and have them ready for us. Doing so will provide us with all of the information we need up front, which will allow us to spend all of our time getting to you know you and your wonderful pets!

We also will need you to provide us with 3 keys. All keys are labeled with the pets’ names only and locked in a safe when not in use for your protection. We do have some exceptions to this policy in cases that the client has a lockbox or an electronic door lock. Please inquire directly with us for details about this.

What experience do you have with pets? 2018-03-05T23:05:29+00:00

All our team members have pets of their own. Our team has plenty of professional pet experience as well. Many have veterinary experience, dog training experience, and pet fostering experience. Additionally, our team is certified in pet first aid and CPR. Every team member is extremely caring, compassionate, and shares a deep love for pets. And, above all, we will go above and beyond to keep your pet healthy and happy while you are away.

How many visits a day do you provide? 2022-04-12T19:56:54+00:00

That is largely up to you. For dogs, we require a minimum of 2 visits per day. Although, many people prefer to have 3 or more visits depending on their dog’s needs. We recommend at least 3 visits per day for smaller breeds as well as younger and older dogs. We do require at least 3 visits per day for dogs that are crated.

For cats and other small animals, we require a minimum of 1 visit per day for the entirety of the time you are away. We cannot skip days with any pets in our care. We are very concerned about the safety of your pets, and something could happen to your pet on the day that we do not see them (they could become suddenly ill, their collar might get caught on something, they can get trapped behind something or inside an enclosed space, etc). And many situations could turn serious if not caught quickly enough. Which is why, for the safety of your pet and our own peace of mind, we must see them on a daily basis while you are away. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

What hours do you provide services? 2018-02-26T23:52:55+00:00

Our pet sitting visits are done between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm, and dog walking is done between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Other times can be arranged as well, though. Please call if you need special accommodations.

If my pet makes a mess, will you clean it up? 2018-02-26T23:52:23+00:00

Yes, we would be happy to clean any pet messes in your home to the best of our ability free of charge using cleaning products you provide. We will make every effort to clean all messes during the scheduled pet sitting time slot. However, if the mess will take longer than our appointment to clean, our pet sitter will contact you so you can decide if you would like the pet sitter to stay longer to finish cleaning for a reasonable fee.

Can you give me updates on how my pet is doing while I’m gone? 2023-03-22T04:34:36+00:00

Absolutely! Included in all of our pet sitting services is a daily update on your pet’s well-being while you are away! Included in this update is a picture or video of your pet(s) and a daily report card letting you know how great your pet is doing while you’re away.

What do you do on a visit? 2023-03-22T04:26:23+00:00

On each visit to your home we will spend lots of quality time with your pet(s) and take care of your home as well. Each visit includes: lots of love and petting for each pet, feeding, fresh water, dog walk, kitty litter scooped, play time, medication given (if needed), brushing (if they like it), cage cleaned (if applicable), mail and packages brought in, indoor and/or outdoor plants watered, and lights and blinds rotated.

Why should I use a Cuddles on Call pet sitter instead of a kennel? 2018-01-23T06:34:32+00:00

In a kennel environment, your pet is exposed to illness from other animals, gets very little time outside of their cage, and receives very little if any personal attention. Pets experience a great deal of stress when they have to leave their homes for an unfamiliar, noisy, cramped kennel. Many will not even eat because they are so stressed!

However, with a Cuddles on Call pet sitter, your pet can avoid all this stress by staying in their own home where they are familiar, secure, and can follow their regular routine. Plus, they get long walks outside, and plenty of love, cuddles, and sweet talk! And, as a bonus to all that, your home will be taken care of while you are gone and will look lived in (which will deter break ins).

For more info on this please see our detailed comparison of Pet Sitting vs. Kennels here.