FAQ’s

Please take a look at some of our most Frequently Asked Questions here at Joyful Pets Services. If you have additional questions that aren’t answered here … please contact us.

Are you accepting new clients?
What type of animals do you care for?
Is an initial visit (“meet and greet”) required?
Do I have to sign a contract?
Do I have to provide a key if I use a keypad or garage door opener?
How will I know my keys are safe?
How are keys retrieved and returned?
What are your hours?
How soon should I schedule pet sitting visits?
How many visits per day are right for my pet(s)?
What time will you visit my pet(s)?
What is the cost?
When is payment due?
What do I need to do when I come home?
What if the weather is inclement during a scheduled walk (extremely hot or cold)?
What if I need to cancel?
Do you offer boarding service?
What if I don’t have pets or my pets are traveling with me? Can you check on my house?

Are you accepting new clients?

We are happy to consider new clients, but several factors determine our overall availability. When requesting services, please be as specific as possible — provide your address, types of services desired, and exact dates for services to begin and end. Because availability may be limited, we encourage prospective clients to schedule consultations at least two weeks in advance when possible.

What type of animals do you care for?

Most domestic pets, primarily dogs, cats, rabbits, small mammals, and fish.

Is an initial visit (“meet and greet”) required?

Yes and it’s free! Please allow approximately 30-45 minutes for our initial in-home visit. The purpose of this meet and greet is to get to know you and your pets and vice versa, get details about your pet(s) and home and answer any questions. We will also pick up the completed contract and obtain keys (two keys are needed, one is used by the sitter during visits and one is kept in our office lock box as a back-up). We want to make sure everyone is comfortable before you leave town (you, your pets, and our sitter).

Do I have to sign a contract?

Yes. It is a record of your agreement to allow us into your home to care for your animals. It makes sure you are aware of our policies and procedures when we pet sit and provides us with vital information about your pets and home, your contact information, emergency contact, etc.

Do I have to provide a key if I use a keypad or garage door opener?

Yes. We need to have a reliable way to consistently enter your home to care for pets. Power sometimes goes out, batteries sometimes fail, and we still need to access your home to care for pets. If you wish to provide a garage door opener or keypad code for the sitter to use during visits, that is great, but we still need a key.

How will I know my keys are safe?

We take your security and privacy very seriously. We label keys with a code that contains no identifying information (no names, pet names, address, etc.). Your key is kept on the person of your sitter when in use and locked in a lock box when not in use.

How are keys retrieved and returned?

We will pick up your keys during our initial visit before you leave town and we encourage leaving keys in our custody for future services. This allows future visits to be easily scheduled without coordinating another time to meet in person before you leave town. However, if you opt to have your keys returned, that can be arranged once your arrival back home has been confirmed. Leaving keys in “secret” locations compromises our safety and your home’s security. A $12 key exchange fee will be added to each scheduled pet sitting appointment to retrieve/return keys. In the event we are unable to access your home due to lock malfunctions / poor key copies / faulty fobs / broken garage door openers, we reserve the right to employ a locksmith / other contractor in order to access your home and care for your pet(s), and all fees will be billed to you.

What are your hours?

Our service hours are 7:00 am – 8:00 pm.

How soon should I schedule pet sitting visits?

For first-time clients, we request as much notice as possible because there will need to be time for you to complete a contract and we will need to schedule a time to come and meet you and your pets before you leave town. At least a week is needed for this, but that is subject to availability in our schedule.

We ask for at least 48-72 hours notice for all scheduling. For holidays, we ask for as much notice as possible. We try to accommodate unforeseen emergencies and may be able to schedule you at the last minute, if necessary, but our other pre-scheduled clients will come first.

There is a “last minute” reservation surcharge of $20 for less than 48 hours notice.

How many visits per day are right for my pet(s)?

In order to monitor the health of pets and provide proper food, water, and litter care, we require a minimum of one visit per day for cats and other small pets. The most common schedule for cats and small pets is one or two visits per day, whichever is best for your pets and their routine. Dogs, however, are social animals and require two, three, or four visits per day, depending on the dogs and their circumstances. If they have a functioning doggie door that leads to a completely secure area and there are no medical or behavior issues, two visits a day may be adequate. However, most dogs require three or four visits per day. It’s against our professional ethics to leave dogs inside for extended periods without relief or to leave them outside when the temperatures are dangerously high or unbearably cold. Think about their daily routine and talk with your sitter to determine what is best for your pets.

What time will you visit my pet(s)?

We will decide with you the best visit schedule for your pet(s). In general, specific visit times cannot be guaranteed. Visit times are approximate and are based on the pet sitter’s route and pet needs. We provide a time frame for visits (such as 2-3 hours), which you will see on the emailed confirmation of pet sitting or dog walking visits. The visit(s) will occur within that general window of time. If we are scheduled for one visit per day for cats or small animals without any medical or behavior concerns, that time frame may be flexible, but visits will occur approximately 24 hours apart. We prioritize our visit schedule based on the needs of pets, time-sensitive medications, and the sitter’s route.

What is the cost?

Pet sitting and dog walking visits begin at $20 per visit for up to 30-minute visits/walks. There may be additional fees for visits requiring additional time and during holidays. We will provide a detailed fee schedule during our initial visit.

When is payment due?

Payment must be made in full on or before the first scheduled visit. Please pay by cash or check. Checks should be made payable to Joyful Pets Services.

What do I need to do when I come home?

After enjoying an excited greeting from your pets, please call or text us within a few hours of arriving home so that we know you arrived safely, and that your pets are back in your care.

What if the weather is inclement during a scheduled walk (extremely hot or cold)?

For his protection, we will provide a brief trip (or two) outside for your dog to relieve himself and then spend our remaining time indoors for some playtime and attention.

What if I need to cancel?

Please notify us of a cancellation as soon as possible.

For holiday reservations: Cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the first scheduled visit will be billed 25% of scheduled reservation. Cancellations received less than 24 hours prior to first scheduled visit will be charged 50% of total scheduled reservation.

Any other times, not during a holiday: For all other cancellations received less than 24 hours before first scheduled visit, there will be a $20 cancellation fee.

Do you offer boarding service?

No. We only care for pets within their own homes, where they tend to be more comfortable in familiar surroundings.

What if I don’t have pets or my pets are traveling with me? Can you check on my house?

Yes. We can check on your home while you are away, bring in mail or packages, rotate lights or curtains, and make sure all doors are secure. See our House Sitting page for details.