Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is pet sitting?
A. We come to your home and take care of your pets as opposed to you taking them to a boarding facility or asking friends and family while you are away. We will walk the dogs, feed and refresh water, play with them, scoop the litter box, bring in your mail, etc. while you are away. See our services page for more in-depth information.

Q. Will my pets be OK at home alone?
A. In a word, yes. They are in a familiar environment and their routine will stay intact. Routine changes are very stressful to animals, the more you can do to keep the routine the same the less stressed they will be.

Q. Are your pet sitters insured and bonded?
A. Yes, all Pet Minders sitters are covered in a group policy through Pet Sitters International. Please read the terms and conditions of your contract for items not covered.

Q. What is the purpose of the consult?
A. The pet sitter will come and introduce themselves to you, meet your pets, and become familiar with your home and your pets routine. There is no charge for this visit. We do require a consult for all new customers and customers that acquire new pets or have significant routine changes to ensure we provide the best service possible while you are away.

Q. What happens if my sitter becomes ill or injured?
A. There is always a back up sitter available who is trained and aware of your specific needs.

Q. What happens if my pet becomes injured or ill?
A. We are dedicated to excellent care of your pet and have a 24 hr. vet on call. In the event of an emergency we will take your pet to your vet or the nearest animal hospital, if after hours. We will contact you or your emergency contact person for further instructions.

Q. What is the purpose of the email service confirmation that gets sent when I book a service?
A. The schedule confirmation messages are a service we offer primarily for peace of mind for you. Having the dates of service correct and the services to be delivered clearly documented eliminates any possible confusion or misunderstanding. The email is also sent to your pet sitter and his/her schedule is automatically populated with your service dates and times to ensure no missed visits.

Q. If I get a confirmation, and need to adjust the dates of service or services being delivered, what should I do?
A. You can email the changes to us or you can call our office.  We will make the adjustments in our system and send you an updated confirmation.

Q. How do I pay?
A. If you would like to pay by credit card simply click on the Paypal button on your electronic invoice. You may also leave a check prior to departing made out to Pet Minders for the assigned sitter to pick up.

Q. Will I always have the same pet sitter?
A. We always strive to assign the same pet sitter for your visits. Please understand that pet sitters also take time off or have scheduling conflicts. Booking as far advance as possible helps insure that your pet sitter is not already fully booked for you requested service dates. Pet Minders always insures that at least 2 pet sitters are able to take care of your pets through additional consults at no charge to you.

Q. Why do you need two sets of keys?
A. In the unlikely event the sitter locks themselves out during service or is unable to finish the service due to an accident, we always have a spare key locked in our office.

Q. How are gratuities handled?
A. Gratuities are always appreciated by your pet sitter. We prefer you pay them directly, but you may include the gratuity in your payment to Pet Minders and the sitter will be reimbursed.