So You Decided To Hire A Professional Pet Sitter- Now What?
How will I know when my pet sitter is coming?
For all of our visits we use time blocks- chunks of 3 hour blocks throughout the day that you can choose from.
We do this so that the sitter can plan the route that makes the most sense, wait out bad weather if needed, and have the flexibility to add visits as needed. Cat only visits have their own time blocks.
We do this so that the sitter can plan the route that makes the most sense, wait out bad weather if needed, and have the flexibility to add visits as needed. Cat only visits have their own time blocks.You can, however, also make note of a preferred time or time range. It’s helpful to know if a puppy needs to go out or if medications are needed, we always take that into consideration.
If you need a specific time we will do our best to accommodate that, too!
How will the pet sitter know what to do if we have never met?
Perna’s Pet Care uses industry leading software called Time to Pet. After your free consultation (which you can book here) you will be sent a link to create a profile. There, you can input all of your pet’s information- behavior, likes/dislikes, leash and harness location, food, litter box, medications, if they can have treats etc.
Your pet sitter will be able to review all of this information before the visit and can message you with any questions they might have. We schedule sitters with pets we think they will be the best match for.
How does the pet sitter get into my house/apartment?
A few options! If you have a keypad, all you have to do is put the code into Time to Pet so the walker has access. Any security alarm codes will go in the same place.
If you do not have a keypad, you can buy a lockbox from us (or get your own) to leave on your property. It can be hidden so as not to make it obvious no one is home. That code will go into Time to Pet for the walker to have access.
For those of you that live in an apartment that need a fob or private access, you will have to let the office know that a dog walker from Perna’s Pet Care will be arriving on whatever days you have booked and usually in exchange for an ID we can get access to the building and your apartment.
What is included in a drop-in visit?
Drop-in visits include pretty much everything. If you only have cats we have special services just for you, that’s mostly for our time blocks as cats usually have more flexibility than dogs.
The visits include giving fresh food and water, medications, scooping litter boxes, play time, cuddles, potty break or short walk if required.
We also do a bit of house sitting for you as well. Watering plants, bringing in mail, bringing trash and recycling bins in/out, opening closing blinds, turning lights on/off.
What if I have more than 1 type of animal?
All of your pets and their detailed information will be in Time to Pet. Your sitter will follow your instructions to make sure all pets are cared for. If you do not have a fenced yard, any outside time for dogs will be after everyone else is fed/cared for. If your pup requires a longer walk then more time can be added to the visit up to 45 minutes. Be sure to leave any notes about specific time requirements for puppies, medications or other needs and we will make that a priority.
How do I know that my pet sitter has completed the visit?
Once again our handy dandy app Time to Pet comes into play. For each visit you will be send a report card through the software. It includes cute pictures, notes from the visit, and checklist that includes things like if they got their food, medications, litter box scooped, plants watered etc
You can even respond back to the sitter!
Wondering about the difference between a professional and hobby pet sitter? Read here
What about Covid-19? Is it safe to have someone come to my home?
We take Covid-19 very seriously. All of our walkers carry hand sanitizer to use before and after entering your home and will always have a mask on while inside.
Everyone uses their own leash as well to avoid cross contamination.
Learn more about our Covid-19 safe practices here.
Will I always have the same pet sitter?
Generally speaking, yes. We try to match up our sitters with pets we think they will be a good fit for. However, one of the perks of having a professional pet sitter is that we have a team of sitters ready as back up if needed.
If your regular sitter is sick, out of town, or otherwise detained, Perna’s Pet Care will be able to sub in another dog walker. They will have access to your notes in Time to Pet and will be able to pick up where your regular walker left off.
Any other questions? Feel free to give us a call at 530-637-8702 or send us an email at hello@pernapetcare.com