Why
have a contract?
A contract defines expectations for both parties.
The contract is written up before the service begins and it gives an opportunity
to discuss what is needed. It helps prevent misunderstandings. For example, if
you want certain areas of the home closed off to pets, special feeding
instructions, visit times, etc. then ensure that is all written into the
contract. Make sure you define what your pet's needs are, and of course, know
what the full cost of the service will be prior to signing off on the agreement.
Basically, define who will do what. Cover all the bases and make informed decisions.
What
is pet sitting? Pet sitting, according to Pet Sitters
International, is typically defined as
pet care in a client's home. Your pet is in the comfort of their own
home with their usual meals, sights, sounds and routine. These visits also
provide an important measure
of crime deterrence as your home is checked regularly.
Wikipedia has
defined pet sitting as"A pet sitter is a contracted
service provider who takes care of a
pet
in its own home."
Read the full Wikipedia definition at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_sitting
What
should we look for when hiring a pet sitter? On the business
side: insurance and bonding, and a business license.
The insurance must be insurance created specifically for pet sitters /
dog walkers. This provides Care, Custody and Control of pets in the care of the
sitter or dog walker, and for damage in your home. ASK for PROOF of this
insurance. The insurance companies will provide multiple certified copies
of the policy to the business owner, and either the original or a certified copy
should be available for you to see at the meet and greet.
The business license isn't an option in the city of Winnipeg. It is
required.
On the practical side: Pet First Aid (should be current), an emergency
plan and a backup plan.
There are a number of other things to look for too that we didn't mention in the
interview - memberships in professional organizations, what records the service
maintains on your pets, references.
For Interview Checklists print
the forms from the All Canadian Pet Services Network at http://www.acpsn.com/tips.htm
Does
a Pet Sitter need insurance and bonding? Pet sitter insurance covers your pet and
home while in the care of the pet sitter - the care, custody and control.
Policies include lost key coverage as well.
As professional pet sitting has been around for more than 25 years,
insurance policies are available specifically for this type of business. Pet
sitter insurance provides protection in many different areas to the client's
home and the pet. Liability coverage is “negligence insurance” and covers expenses
should the caregiver have an accident and damage the client’s property or do
something that results in harm to the pets. Bonding is a part of the insurance and of course it protects the you, the
pet owner, for the stranger coming into your home.
Pets Stay Home -
Pet
Sitting Plus is fully insured and bonded. This policy
will be available for you to see at the introductory meeting along with other
relevant business-related identification.
Does Pets Stay Home abide by standards?
Pets Stay Home is committed to providing exceptional care that will exceed
your expectations. We are committed to professionalism. We maintain
memberships with professional organizations and
abide by the quality standards of Pet Sitters International
and the All Canadian Pet Services Network.
What
experience and training does Pets Stay Home have in pet care? 1. We have over
40 years of experience in pet parenting. We have owned many dogs, cats,
birds and smaller animals.
2. We participated in obedience training (over 20 years) and
in CKC obedience
trials.
3. We completed training in pet first aid.
4. We completed a comprehensive certification
program from Pet Sitters International (PSI). We completed the
Accredited Pet Sitting Technician and the Advanced Pet Sitting
Technician level in April 2005. In October 2005, we completed the revised
program with PSI.
5. Finally, we have practical experience in working with many different
dogs and cats.
See Training
for a full list of experience and training.
Will Pets Stay Home share pet care?
Yes. There are times when you may want a family
member to check in on your pets or have partial care by someone else. We respect
those choices and will work with the other provider of care to your pet.
However, we do expect that person to communicate with us. There are certain
sharing options we will not accept - every-other-day sharing will be declined.
What is Pet Sitting as provided by Pets Stay Home - Pet Sitting Plus?
Our
pet sitting service provides care
for your pets in your own home when you are away either for the day or for longer periods. Your pets will continue
to have their regular pampering, brushing, medicine, gourmet meals or whatever your
usually provide. In your absence, the only thing that your pets will miss
is you, and your pet will happily greet you when you return home.
Are there benefits to hiring
Pets Stay Home?
Absolutely! There are a number of benefits. Here are
just a few. 1.You save time. You only need to make one call to let us know that you need our services.
See
our Services section for other services we provide. 2. Your pets stay in their own
familiar, comfortable environment. 3. If you are a dog owner, your pet
will be exercised. Arrangements can be made for multiple walks during
the day and evening. 4. Your home appears
lived in - a crime deterrent. 5. It's convenient. You won't need to impose on neighbours, family and friends who may not be available or worse, may
forget. 6. Your pets receive
unhurried love and attention. A comment we frequently hear is how relaxed the
pets are when the family returns home. 7. We engage the pets in play so that they are mentally and
physically challenged. Okay, so we spoil them a bit too, but that's part of
it, isn't it?
What
is required to use the Pets Stay Home pet sitter services?
Call us or send an email. We will then arrange an introductory meeting to meet you and your
pet(s). This no-obligation introductory meeting is to ensure that your requirements are
recorded, mutual agreement has been reached, and that we had had an opportunity
to meet your pet(s).
What happens if my pet should become ill while the in the care of Pets Stay
Home?
During our
introductory meeting we will discuss emergency procedures regarding your
pet. A veterinary release form is part of the required paperwork that we
will go over with you. It is required that you have an ongoing
relationship with a veterinarian for your pets.
Will an update be provided of
how my pet is doing during my absence? We would be pleased to
provide this to you. We will provide
updates on how your pet is doing by email or through other means. We will also supply other reports which we will
discuss during the introductory meeting.
What is the
"ready-key program"?
The optional "ready-key program" ensures that with one phone call
prior to your departure, whether on a business trip or other reasons, your pets
and home will be looked after. The ready-key program is especially
convenient for those who need to travel on business on short notice. We keep a key on file of your home.
The ready-key program is free, and you only pay when our services are needed -
whether once a week or once every couple of months. For
your security, your keys will never be stored or have an identifying
label with your address. We will discuss our privacy and security measures with
you.
For your security, credit
card payment is through PayPal. To use PayPal, you do not need an account with
them. We can either send you an
invoice through PayPal, or you may log in directly from the Rates page to the
secure PayPal site.
Does
Pets Stay Home shovel snow in winter/mow the lawn in the summer? We will sweep the steps
and do a quick snow removal with a shovel in the winter. For heavy snow removal
from driveways we recommend that you make alternate arrangements. For
example, residential snow clearing companies are prepared to keep your property
clear. They bring their own equipment and are ready to clear
your property. After
a snowfall they arrive promptly, unload the equipment, and in less than 30
minutes, they are done. By not having to haul a snow blower with us
to each site, we are
able to concentrate on offering your pets the best of care. :)
In the summer we will water your plants
outside (greenhouses extra charge), but again, one of the yard services will
ensure your lawn is mowed and your yard is beautiful. They bring their own
equipment so that yours remains unused.
What
pets has Pets Stay Home personally owned? Currently our family
includes Scout, a Golden Retriever. Deke, a Golden, passed away in 2007. Prior to Deke, we had Tuke,
also a Golden. Tuke was trained in hand signals to work out in the field
to do what he loved to do - retrieving. Also, Joey, a cockatiel, was a
member of the family for over 22 years. We had Mika - a rescued cat,
Prince - a rescued dog, Koko - a chocolate lab, and many other large and small pets over
the years.
Our goal from the time we started in 2004 to
today was, and still is, to remain small and personal, always providing the best that we
can give. For that reason, and for your peace of mind, we limit the number of
pet sits we will do in a day so that we can provide the time and attention to
detail that pets in our care need. When we are unable to accept new clients we
are pleased to provide you with names of other service providers that we network
with.
It is important, for many reasons, to teach your dog to be home alone. Start
teaching them when they are still young to spend time without you.
My own dogs recognize the
signals of when I am going out and they know they won't be going too. When
they see these signs they go to their beds and they know that they will have an
opportunity for some quiet rest.
Is
Pets Stay Home listed in the MTS telephone directory? We sure are!
We are listed in
the Winnipeg MTS telephone directory yellow
pages under Pet Sitting Services. On the online MTS yellow pages you will
find us under a number of categories including dog walking, pet sitting and house sitting.
Boarding
vs pet sitting - please explain. There are many
wonderful kennels in and around Winnipeg. We respect the work they do and
the care and attention they provide animals. Pet sitting is an alternate form of pet care
allowing the pet to remain in their own familiar surroundings with the least
disruption, and as an added bonus,
your home continues to be cared for
as well. Many pets do very well at home and other pets are better off
being boarded. Each case is different and care is assessed on an individual
basis.
The dogs that are better off being boarded
are the ones that become bored quickly, those that cause damage by chewing, or
those that need to be kept in crates because they haven't been trained. Keeping
a dog in a crate for 20 or more hours a day is not fair to that pet and we
discourage it, however if the safety of the dog is compromised when it is left
loose then training should be initiated. Reasonable use of crating is encouraged
however.
Other pets do very well at home. Most cats do
very well in their own home environment. Dogs that don't need to be confined
also do very well. But even better, is when there is more than one pet in the
home and they keep each other company.
Dogs and cats need mental stimulation and that is
accomplished through exercise, play and interaction with humans. It is important
to ensure that your pets receive enough stimulation each day.
How
much exercise does a dog need? There are a number
of articles on the web regarding the required/suggested exercise for adult dogs. Some
say a minimum of 20 minutes a day of some activity that provides either aerobic
or anaerobic activity for the muscles. As it is actually possible to over-exercise dogs they need to be monitored
and, of course, follow the advice of your vet and breeder. However,
one exception is exercising puppies. Puppies need short bursts of exercise
rather than sustained walking. Their needs are different. Also, their resistance
to disease is lower until they have had their 3rd set of shots. Disease such as
Parvovirus is present in the soil and unfortunately, it is very contagious.
Will
I still need to have my pets vaccinated if I use Pets Stay Home?
There are many diseases and
using a pet sitter will not ensure that your pet will not be exposed. We
ask that all cats and dogs be regularly examined by a vet, and we suggest that
you follow your veterinarian's recommendations on vaccinations.
