NW Pet Sitters - General Policies as of 1/27/2008
Whether you are a frequent business traveler, leaving town for a vacation or in need of everyday pet care we at NW Pet Sitters will provide you with pet care you can always rely on. Our promise is to provide you with dependable, outstanding professional service that you can depend on for all of your pet care needs each and every day of the year.
* Coverage Area: The service areas are in the cities of Puyallup, Spanaway, Parkland, Frederickson, Dupont, Tacoma, Lakewood, Roy, and some areas of Yelm.
* Consultation Visit - You will receive a complimentary consultation from NW Pet Sitters to meet you and your pet. Typically, the interview lasts about an hour. During this visit we will discuss all important issues with you and can help you fill out the necessary documents. This is the time to provide NW Pet Sitters with two keys to your house, a garage door opener and any security alarm codes. Due to power outages and sensitive garage key pads and door openers, the NW Pet Sitters must have a key to a door and be allowed access to your home. Without key access, we can not be responsible for completing assigned pet sitting duties or responsibilities…and we may not be able to help you in case of emergency.
* Visit Times - We will do our best to accommodate your needs and will visit at the requested time as closely as possible. However, if an unforeseen situation arises, the time may be adjusted. We do not visit pets (including cats) less than once per day. There are no exceptions to this policy.
* Signed Contract - We need a signed Service Agreement statement that you agree to let us into your home to care for your animals, as well as that you are aware of, and agreet to, our policies/procedures.
* Rabies Vaccination - We need a copy of the current rabies certification. Please provide this copy on the date of the initial visit. We will keep this record on file. This is very important for your own pet's health as well as for the other pets in our care.
* ID Tags – All pets must wear identification tags.
* Reservations – Are on a first come/first serve basis. While we make every effort to satisfy your sitting requests, there may be times when our schedule is at maximum capacity. Under no circumstances should you assume you are covered without direct confirmation from our office.
* Service Confirmation - We will make a confirmation call or e-mail no less than two days before each departure in order to verify that all information is still correct. Since phone messages or e-mail can get lost, please make sure that we speak either personally or our e-mail is acknowledged. This is to ensure your pet's needs are carried out as intended.
* Security System - Please put a temporary non-master code on your security system for our use.
* Cancellations and Early Returns - We understand that your plans may change. Please understand that we do not overbook and turned away business to ensure we could perform your requested sittings. Therefore and we do not charge for cancellations with adequate notice. Cancellation fees are necessary to ensure our business viability and our independent contractor's livelihood.
- Cancellations made with less than a 24 hours notice will incur a 25% charge.
- Holiday cancellations made with less than 72 hours notice will incur a 50% charge of total reservation.
- Private Dog Walking Cancellations made within 2+ hours receive 100% credit toward future services. If cancel with less than a 2 hours notice 100% of the fee will be charged
- If you do not notify us of a cancellation, and we come to your home as scheduled 100% of the fee will be charged
* Emergency Contact – NW Pet Sitters requests the name and phone number of a person living nearby. This should be a person close enough to walk to your home, if roads are impassable.
* Inclement Weather - You entrust NW Pet Sitters to use our best judgment in caring for your pets and home. If we are servicing you at the time of inclement weather (primarily severe snow or rain storms and flooding), we will carry out your instructions to the best of our ability. The care we provide to your pets and their safety is our first concern. The client's selection of a nearby emergency contact has been requested. The inclement weather plan will be as follows: Every effort will be made to drive to your home; the service schedule may be changed, interrupted or altered due to the circumstances. If it is not possible to drive safely to your home, your emergency contact will be notified. You will be notified about the activation of the inclement weather plan.
* Sitter Backup – In case your assigned Sitter is injured, ill or has an emergency, another Sitter will be assigned. It is our policy that your pets are not left without scheduled visits.
* Pet History – We must know in advance if your pet is aggressive or has a history with biting. We must be aware of any illnesses your pet may have before services are contracted. We do not discriminate against pets with illnesses or challenging history. This information is required to protect all Sitters from harm.
* Access to your Home by Others - If the client allows any other person access to their home during NW Pet Sitters contract period, NW Pet Sitters cannot be held liable for any damages to property or pets as a result. Please notify us if someone will be in your home during your absence along with contact information for this person.
* Fences - Fenced yards are wonderful play spaces for pets, however no fence system is totally secure for your pet's safety. NW Pet Sitters does not accept responsibility or liability for any pet that is injured or becomes lost, when the pets are left out or given access to a fenced area. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that fences, latches, gates and doors are pet-proof both indoors and outdoors. It is also a good idea for pets with access to the outside to wear ID tags with your cell phone number, even if they are microchiped. If pets are free-roaming, unsecured, have dog doors or electric fences, we will not be liable for their well-being when unattended.
* Plants – NW Pet Sitters will not be responsible for plants that may die in your absence. Your plant care instructions will be followed but we cannot guarantee the condition of your plants.
* Pet and House Clean-up – NW Pet Sitters will properly dispose of pet waste and we will do our best to clean up any accidents your pet may have, however, NW Pet Sitters is not responsible for carpet or floor stains created by your pet. We do request that you provide plastic bags, towels, cleaning products, paper towels and trash bags. Please let us know where you would like the waste disposed of.
* Leashes - All dogs are leashed during outdoor walks without exception.
* Pet Medications – If your pet is on medications, please leave us written instructions regarding the current medication routine. We do our best to provide medications as directed. If your pet is not amenable to taking medication, resists, hides, or is unwilling or unable to take their medications, please let us know how you would like us to handle the situation. We can not always be successful giving medications in the home setting. If your pet’s medication is critical and you are unsure whether your pet will accept his/her medication, it may be better to consider medical boarding.
* Unforeseen Purchases - Although we will ask you to have a larger supply of food, litter, and cleaning supplies available, an unforeseen purchase may be needed for your pets well-being. We will retain a receipt and the customer will be responsible for reimbursement of these items.
* Veterinarian Care – If your pet is ill or injured while you are away, we will call you immediately. If you do not respond or cannot be reached, we will contact your veterinarian. We request all our clients to sign the emergency care form, which enables us to seek veterinarian care in case of an emergency. We will first contact your veterinarian but should we not be able to reach them, we will call one of the emergency clinics in the immediate area. NW Pet Sitters also requests that along with the emergency care form that you call you veterinarian and advise them in advance, that NW Pet Sitters will be caring for your pet and that they make a note on your file stating such. NW Pet Sitters will not be responsible for payment of veterinary or AEC fees. To ensure your pet will be served in a timely manner, leave a credit card authorization on file in our office when traveling.
* Confirm that you are Back Home - Please let us know when you have returned home safely. Otherwise NW Pet Sitters will continue visiting to assure the safety and well-being for your pets. Please call at any hour and leave a voice message that you have returned.
* After the Service - After you are back home we will contact you and hope you found your pet and your house as you like it. If you are not already doing so, consider letting NW Pet Sitters retain your house key. In the event of an unexpected trip, you'll be glad you did. Keys are kept in a secured lock system and are coded for client's confidentiality. If you need your key back we will send it either by U.S. mail or will drop it off at your house. Your garage door opener will be put on an agreed upon spot on our last day of booked service.
* Photos - By allowing your pet(s) to particiate in services offered by NW Pet Sitters you agree that any photographs or use images of your pet may be used by NW Pet Sitters in print form or otherwise for publication and/or promotion.
* Payment - We never overbook, therefore a minimum of 50% of your total payment is due at the time of booking to reserve and guarantee your space. The balance is then to be paid in full before we begin our services. We accept cash, personal checks, and credit cards Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. We charge $35 for returned checks to cover bank service charges. Emergency trips to and from the veterinarian or time spent to look for runaway pets will be charged at a rate of $30/hr.
* Holidays – Be sure to make your holiday reservations early! Because holidays are our busiest periods, reservations require a deposit of half the service total when contracted. You do not have a reservation until we have received the deposit of half your service total. The balance is then to be paid in full before we begin our services. Holiday visits are charged at time-and-a-half.
I, ________________________________________, hereby agree that I received
NW Pet Sitters Policies, understand all of the policies, and will adhere to them as they are
described in this document.
_________________________________________
Date: _________________
Date: _________________Independent Contractor Pet Sitter
NW Pet Sitters www.nwpetsitters.com 253-576-3297
