Pet Sitting Procedures and Policies

Right to Refuse
I retain the right to refuse to accept your offer to care for your pets or any other services specified at your request. Possible reasons for refusal include: unsafe animals, unsafe environment, availability, and rude behavior.

Returning Home Late or Early
Some clients are delayed in leaving the first day or they arrive home early and forget to notify me. WHEN YOU ARRIVE HOME CALL ME FIRST THING. You may call my messaging service at any hour. If you are delayed in returning home I have a rollover policy. Unless I hear otherwise from the client, one visit is skipped to give the client the opportunity to get home. If I still have not received a check-in call from the client I will automatically continue making visits until we get a check-in call. These unscheduled visits will be charged at "Late Notice" rates.

Job Sharing
Due to liability concerns, my safety, and the safety of your home and pets we cannot job share with your family and friends.

Contacting Your Pet Sitter
If there are changes in your schedule or services, please email danalk@hotmail.com or call 505-217-5992 and leave a message as soon as possible. Messages are checked several times daily with the exception of blackout days.

Guest Staying in Your House
I politely decline to provide pet sitting services if you have family or quests staying in your home while you are out of town.

Emergency Contacts
How can I reach you while you are gone? Please do not leave this information in your house. Be certain that I have a primary copy in-hand before you leave town. Leaving this information in your house for the sitter's first visit is not a good idea. If for some reason the pet sitter is unable to get into the house the information will be useless. I may then have to order the services of a locksmith to enter the home and the client will be responsible for the full bill that will include the locksmith's fee and a fee of $75.00. For your convenience please email me this information when scheduling sitting service.

Leaving Non-Contracted Animals
Please do not leave someone else's pet at your house for pet sitting without notifying me first. I am only contracted to care for your animals. In the event that you need to leave additional animals in your home, contact me ahead of time so that I can mail a contract for the owner's signature.

No Doggie Door
If you have an elderly dog or puppy they cannot wait 8 to 12 hours for a potty break. If you do not have a doggie door installed in your home we strongly recommend three visits per day. If the client declines the three visits per day and the pet sitter finds that your pet is having difficulty with two visits per day, I will automatically add the third visit at "Late Notice" rates to be billed to the client upon their arrival home. If a cat has access to outdoors via doggie door or other means, I automatically waive responsibility.

Pet Boarding
I am not a pet boarding facility, and we do not take pets into our homes for boarding.

Holiday Pet Sitting
A surcharge is applied for working on the following holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day if they are not blackout days.

Weather Restrictions
If your pet is housed outside 24 hours a day you must still make preparations for your pet sitter to bring them inside. I will not leave your pet outside in extreme temperatures or severe weather. In light of the bosque fires, I STRONGLY ADVISE clients to give a house key to a nearby neighbor. In the event that your pet sitter cannot get to your home due to closed roads (e.g. fire, flooding, or snow) your neighbor will have an emergency back-up key.

Special Requests
Please do not surprise your pet sitter with a special request on the first day. Please give notice in advance for special requests - Thank you!

Unlocked Households
On occasion a homeowner tells me that they routinely keep their doors unlocked, or a door or window left open so that their pet can have access to the yard. This is extremely unsafe for me. If you have your home set up insecurely please make alternate arrangements. I will not leave any exterior door or window open or unlocked.

New Locks or Codes
If your locks or codes have changed please call me at 505-217-5992 to update your information. If I have to order the services of a locksmith to enter the home the client will be responsible for the full bill that will include the locksmith's fee and my fee of $75.00.

Key
I will NOT pick up or leave keys "under the mat" or the like, and will not lock the keys in the house on the last day - NO EXCEPTIONS. I strongly recommend that you let me retain your key for future services. I will cut a copy for emergency purposes. At the client's request both sets will be returned. If you have not scheduled within 2 years, your keys will be destroyed.

Plant Care
I am delighted to help you with light houseplant and yard watering, but cannot be responsible for the survival of your plants and yard. My specialty is pet care. If you have extensive plant and yard care, it is better that you hire a separate service.

Household & Pet Supplies
I will bring my own household supplies. Please inform me if you prefer that I use your household supplies solely. I prefer that clients leave enough pet supplies (e.g. food, litter, treats, medication); but I do not mind shopping for your supplies if the need arises.

Pet Stains
I am not responsible for pet stains on any surface (e.g. carpet, tile, wooden floors or furniture). We will remove solids and soak up fluids, but removal of any stain present is the client's responsibility.

City of Albuquerque Animal Ordinance Citations
I will not be held responsible for any fines or citations associated with the city's animal ordinance while caring for your pet (i.e. while walking your dog, or loose/escaped pet). If your pet is not spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, and does not have proof of current city registration, and proof of current rabies vaccination, you are not in compliance with the city's new animal ordinance.

Pet Loss
In the event that an animal dies and I am unable to reach the client, I will transport the animal to the client's veterinarian to be held there until the client arrives home.