Free consultation is pretty vague, let’s break it down…
The consultation phone call is as important for you as it is for the team at Perna’s Pet Care. There many reasons we do this which we will go through now and hopefully answer any questions you might have before your appointment.
How long do they last?
Usually about 30 minutes. This can sometimes be shorter or longer depending on the number of pets you have or the intricacy of things like medications or special diets. The main reason they will go long is if we get chatty, and that’s usually my fault 😉
Do I need to do anything beforehand?
Mostly, just be prepared to go through your pets’ routine and care instructions. All of the information will be put into our industry leading software Time to Pet for the sitter/walker’s convenience, but it’s always helpful to hear it straight from the source.
You should also consider how the pet sitter or dog walker will enter your home. We do not keep keys on file so if you do not have a key pad consider a lock box (we can sell one to you), a hide-a-key, or what will need to be done for apartment access. If we need to schedule pick-up and drop-off of a key we have a small service fee.
Can I schedule a visit with out a consultation?
No. There are a few reasons why we never book clients without meeting first. Number 1 is that we want to build personal relationships with our clients. There are large, national companies that are a lot more impersonal and we are not trying to be that. ‘Perna’ is the owner’s last name- it’s personal!
Number 2, is that not all clients will be a good fit for us- or vice versa. We never want to send a pet sitter or dog walker blindly into someone’s home. Especially with dogs. It is for the safety of the pet sitters as well as the pet.
Number 3, perhaps we are not exactly what you need. We don’t offer everything and sometimes it’s just not possible for us to give you what you need. And that’s ok! It’s better that we establish this before visits are needed and someone is left frustrated or disappointed.
Lastly, it’s easier to get all questions answered in one go instead of trying to do a million emails or messages. We can easily explain all of our policies and procedures and you can give detailed notes about your pets and home. If you have follow up questions afterwards, no problem.
What happens afterwards?
Assuming all goes well during the consultation, the next step is signing you up with our software. This is where you’ll input all of your pet and home information (in detail, please!), request visits, make payments, and send and receive messages. You will get a Welcome Packet that walks you through everything you’ll need plus a few extra resources.
We will also set and in person meeting 3-5 days before you leave. This will help keep everything fresh in your sitter’s mind. The pet will also be more likely to remember the pet sitter.
I’m new here, what are your services?
-We offer dog walks, 30 or 45 minutes. I think that’s pretty self explanitory.
–Cat sitting/pet sitting. These are drop in visits that are great for if you’re going out of town, or will be gone long hours. Pet sitting is the more inclusive drop-in visits for dogs and multi-breed pet homes.
-Or you can hire one of our Litter Box Poop Fairies. We will come and do the deep clean of your cat’s litter box(es) so you don’t have to!
We look forward to meeting you and your pets! Schedule your Free Consultation today!