General Information About What We Do!
Our Services, Policies and Procedures
to Answer Your FAQs
Affectionate Pet Sitters (APS) provides loving, at home pet care while owners are away. Whether you go on vacation, a business trip, need a midday visit to walk, feed, cuddle, or medicate your pet, Affectionate Pet Sitters will be there when you can’t.
Before you consider booking service with Affectionate Pet Sitters, please read this information so that we will be "on the same page" in regards to caring for your pets.This information should answer most of your questions, tell you about our rates, and indicate if we are the right care-giver for your non-human family members.
Reservations: It is best to plan as far in advance as possible in order to obtain services on the dates you desire.
Additionally, you will want to meet us, call our references, and get all the information you need before making an informed decision about hiring us as your pet sitter.
While we can tentatively pencil in your dates for service, we must meet you and your pet(s) to assess your needs before we make a commitment to providing your pet’s care.
During this initial Welcome/Get Acquainted Meeting we will briefly review our policies and forms, then leave them for you to read completely, fill out and sign. We will also ask questions regarding your needs for your pet(s) and get the basic “lay of the land.” We will return for a second shorter Follow-Up Meeting, to pick up the paperwork, two sets of keys, a deposit and visit with your pet(s) once again, which aids in our bonding.You must have all of the forms completed for this return visit.
Ideally we would like to meet for the first time a minimum of a couple of weeks before you plan on leaving town, with the follow up meeting approximately a week before you leave. This time frame gives us both plenty of time to prepare for your pets ultimate care.
Setting up an Get Acquainted Meeting is required before we can sit for your pet. We need to meet you and your pet to see how you take care of him or her, to see how s/he reacts to others in his/her environment, to learn the basic schedule, to check the safety of your home, yard and the gates, to see how your security system and other elements work in your home, etc. and ultimately, if we are a good fit. There is a $10– cash payment for this initial meeting. If you book service with us within 3 months, we will credit this payment toward your first set of visits. This first meeting usually lasts at least 45 minutes to an hour.
Even In the event that this is last minute scheduling all the forms and information still must be filled out for us to provide service for you.
If you are a new client with a last minute need, please allow adequate time to fill out all forms completely (about an hour) and for us to spend at least an hour with you and your pets. A $10- Last Minute Fee applies for all last-minute services (within 24- to 48-hours of our first visit).
If you move or add a pet to your household, we will need to have a Get RE-Acquainted Meeting which may or may not require a $10- fee. You will want us to meet your new pet and we will want to see how your new pet fits into your family, reacts to us, and just get to know them! We will also need to see your new digs and how your pets have acclimated to their new home; see new hiding spots, new routines, check out the area, get new sets of keys, etc. And of course we will need paperwork filled out on this new family member (or new address, security system, etc.; a new mileage rate will possibly need to be calculated, as well).
Confirmation of servicesis secured with a down payment (half the total fee — plus a holiday fee if applicable) with the remainder of the fee due on the first day of service.
Scheduling & Visit Times: Scheduling is on a “first come, first service” basis and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. APS will visit your pet at the requested times as closely as possible, but “morning” for example, is a time frame, such as between 8:00a to 10:00a or 9:00a to 11:00a. If we are caring for multiple schedules or if an unforeseen situation arises, the times may be shifted a little to accommodate all our clients.
Note: All pets on timed and life-sustaining medications (such as heart or seizure medicine, or insulin) will have first priority to meet their required medical timed specifications/needs.
Emergencies/Last Minute Scheduling:Everyone has them! Please call if an unexpected need arises! While we will make every attempt to accommodate your
needs, availability on short notice is dependent on our
current schedule. We will do our best to get you on your way without worrying about your pets! A $10- last-minute fee may apply to fetch your keys.
Choose the Visit(s) that Best Fits Your Pet’s Needs:
Note: We adhere to a specific code of ethics and visit guidelines to ensure the health and safety of your pet(s). We will not, for any reason, schedule a dog for any less than 2-a-Day visits for vacationers (mid-day potty break visits or a single visit because you are leaving or coming home on the other end of that day don't fall under that category*). Cats require a visit once a day.
Additionally, we reserve the right to add extra visits as necessary if we find that a limited number of visits is not enough for your pet (for instance, instead of once a day, coming twice a day for your cat OR three times a day for your dog, instead of twice, during the heat or cold of the year or for excessive indoor urination, or other health reasons).
Scheduled Services – Our services are variable. Whether you need a one or two day visit or if you’re going on vacation or a business trip for the weekend, a week or longer, we are ready to take care of your pet and your home. Your visits are scheduled using 1-a-Day, 2-a-Day, 3- or 4-a-Day visits or overnight visits. We must have keys and a contract on file for any type of visit.
All visit rates are for one to three pets.
See Additional Pets, below for those rates.
1-a-Day Visits – The minimum number of daily visits for cats, rabbits, birds, fish, hamsters and other small caged pets. *This is also for an evening visit when you leave the same day or a morning visit if you will be coming home later that day. This visit rate starts at $18-/visit.
2-a-Day Visits – The minimum number of daily visits for dogs and available for all pets. Visits take place approximately 12-hours apart, between 8am–12pm and 6pm–10pm. While we are there we do let them out more than once to do their business. This visit rate starts at $17-/visit ($34/day). If your pet cannot hold it's bladder for 12-hours, you need to schedule 3 visits a day or add a Quick Check.
3-or 4-a-Day Visits – Available for all pets. Visits take place approximately 3-1/2 to 4-1/2-hours apart, between 8am and 10pm. These visits are available for any pets, suggested for dogs that do not have outside access during the day and cannot hold their bladder for 12 hours, and especially for pets with special needs or pets who are sick/just home from surgery, on a medical treatment that requires more attention, etc. These 3-a-day visits are $16-/visit ($48/day); 4-a-day is $15/visit ($60/day).
Quick Checks – A Quick Check is an abbreviated version of a regular visit, lasting approximately 10-15 min. – primarily a "potty visit." These visits are also $18/visit when booked as a single visit. However, combining THIS short check as a mid-day potty break with Two-a-day visits it will be $14 (therefore, $46/day).
Last Minute Visit Fee (less than 24-48-hours notice) – Available anytime we can add you to the schedule with last minute notice. Charged at the basic rates. We must have your keys already on file. If we have to return home to get your key, it is not a problem, however, you may be charged 2 times the initial mileage for the extra trip.
This kind of visit is good for: in the evening, for instance, if you find you are going to be really late getting home from work or dinner or at lunch if you find you cannot make it home for your pet's noontime break that you would normally make yourself.
“Midnight” Visits – (between 10pm and 12am) are available; this visit is the single visit rate with with an additional late night charge starting at $10-.
Overnight Visits – Overnights are generally scheduled as 10-12-hours between 7-9:00pm to 7-9:00am. Longer hours can be arranged for an additional fee. We guarantee that we will be there continuously between midnight and 7am. Ask for more information about this service. These visits range from $65 to $95 per night. We can only sit overnights in non-smoking households. We currently are offering limited overnight visits.
Additional Pet Fees – There is an additional pet fee after the third pet.
$1- for each additional small pet (below 20 lbs),
$2- for each additional medium-size pet (20 lbs to 49 lbs)
$3- for each additional large pet (50 lbs and over).
Duration of visits: All visits are approximately 20-30 minutes for cats and 30–40 minutes for dogs, depending on a pet’s needs, additional services requested and dependent on our schedule. Every attempt will be made to give your pet the care and attention required in the allowed time. However, if the number of your pets and chores required to take care of them exceeds 40-45 minutes, expect to be charged additional fees to complete all the necessary “must dos” and still give them the love, attention and human companionship they deserve. We feel you cannot adequately give individual attention to a multitude of pets in a short amount of time.
Extended Absence and Early Returns: We understand plans can change and are flexible as possible if notified. In the event you have to be away longer than planned or are coming home early, please notify us immediately. If, you do not notify APS of an early return and APS makes a visit and finds you home, the regular visit charges applies. As well, if you need/want to stay longer or are delayed coming home, call us. This is usually do-able.
Early returns with less than 24-hours notice will be charged for that same or next days‘ visits. This is because we already have scheduled a sitter. Other sits can be credited to your account for future sits within 3 months.
Your pet’s well-being depends
on our communication!
Cancellations: Since plans can change, we will try to be as accommodating as possible. We generally do not refund money, as your service could have been filled by another client had it had not already been booked. See our Services, Policies and Procedures form for additional cancellation information.
Holidays: Holiday seasons are hectic for everyone.
Make your reservations early! Understand that pet sitting services and kennels receive more requests for reservations than they can handle during these holiday time periods and we may have turned away other clients because we have reserved time for you during a busy season. If we are full, we will put you on a waiting list or try to help you find other accommodations. Read more about holiday cancellations in our Services, Policies and Procedures literature in our Get Acquainted packet.
**There is an additional, non-refundable holiday fee charged on these holidays as a tip for the sitters working their holiday.
New Years Eve and Day; Easter; Memorial Day; Fourth of July; Labor Day; Thanksgiving; and Christmas. All holidays require a deposit (including the “Holiday fee”) of half the total due for the entire service when the reservation is made, with the balance due five days before the first visit. Deposits for these holidays (dates stated below) are non-refundable.
2011 Holidays
** The 2011 holiday fee (an additional $5/visit for regular visits and $10/overnight visit) applies to the following dates:
New Year — December 31st, 2010 through January 2nd, 2011
Easter — April 22nd through 24th
Memorial “Day” — May 28th through 30th
Fourth of July — July 2nd through 4th
Labor “Day” — September 3rd through 5th
Thanksgiving — Wed., November 23rd through Sun., November 27th
Christmas — Thurs., December 22nd through Mon., 26th
2012 Holidays
New Year 2012 — Sat., December 31st 2011 and Sun., January 1st, 2012
Easter — Fri., April 6th through Sun., 8th
Memorial Day weekend — Fri., May 25th through Mon., May 28th
Fourth of July — Tues., July 3rd through Thurs., 5th
Labor Day weekend — Fri., August 31st through Mon., September 3rd
Thanksgiving — Wed., November 21st through Sun., November 25th
Christmas — Fri., December 21st through Wed., December 26th
New Year 2013 — December 31st 2012 and January 1st, 2013
Tips for Sitters: Are very much appreciated! You may leave a tip for your sitter or mail a tip after you you are home. The tip will be given to the sitter making the visits to your home; if two sitters are sharing your visits, it will be divided equally.
Unforeseen Purchases: There will be a shopping charge, as well as reimbursement for travel & mileage, if we have to restock depleted supplies. It is the owner’s responsibility to provide more than adequate amounts of food, litter, treats, medications, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and other items needed, that contribute to the health and well being for the complete care of their pet(s). We will retain a receipt and you will be responsible for reimbursement of these items. We will leave an invoice for the outstanding amount.
Acceptable Methods of Payment: Cash, checks and money orders are accepted. There will be a $30 charge on all returned checks and cash or a money order will be required to settle your bill. (Currently we do not accept credit or debit cards.)
Referral Program: For each referral you send our way that books and completes service with us, we will credit your account with a partial visit “referral fee.” Read more about this in our literature.
Comfort Calls:
You may call or text or e-mail Affectionate Pet Sitters between 9am and 7pm CST/CDT daily to check on your pet during your absence. Since we are often out of the office caring for your pets, please leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. We can also call you, text you or e-mail you with an update daily or several times during your absence. We generally do not take calls when we are on a visit, however, as we are concentrating on your pet’s care. The exceptions: If you call while we are at your house or if we have called you and we are awaiting your call.
“Honey, I’m Home” Calls: Call When Home Policy Please remember to call when you have returned home (not when you touch down at the airport)! Read more about this on our Call Home Policy form.
In addition to the daily pet care:
We include these “extras” at no additional charge: pick up mail (including junk mail and fliers) and newspapers, rotate/alternate lights; TV/radio turned off/on as requested,
set out and retrieve trash/recycling on collection day, and water a few container plants (if requested, with detailed instructions, as we are not horticulturists and are not liable for a plants life or death). If watering plants exceeds 5 minutes there will be an additional $10- charge, as this is time taken away from your pet.
It is our policy to leave you home as we found it. We will vacuum and/or sweep, and all the general things that is necessary to care for a pet. We can also do a few dishes, mop the floor, etc. beyond the care for your pets for additional charges, however, OUR VISIT is to care for your pet, not to clean your house.
Lawn Care Services for Affectionate Pet Sitters clients are available during the appropriate months for mowing (without bagging), edging, weed-eating, etc. for an additional fee. Call Doug for an estimate at 607-2225 ... tell him you are an Affectionate Pet Sitters client. Remember that an overgrown lawn makes a home look inviting to would-be robbers. This service can be offered on a one time or an on-going contractual basis, separate from pet sitting. This is an agreement separate from Affectionate Pet Sitters.
There is additional information regarding
our Services, Policies and Procedures
in our information packet, which you will receive
at our Get Acquainted Meeting.
Affectionate Pet Sitters is a Non-Smoking Organization.
The information on this page was last updated
November 8, 2011 and supersedes any previous
Services, Policies, and Procedures
Information or Rates.
