Pet & House Sitting
At Your House,
By the Hour
When you won’t be home, and your pet needs more than a quick drop-in but not overnight care. Pet sitting in your own home avoids the stress of kenneling, and allows your pet to feel safe in their own home.
What's Included
- Care for any type of animal: cats, dogs, fish, hamsters, horses, cows … the only animal we don’t sit for is a human
- For dogs, a short walk
- Cat litter box check
- Feeding, as instructed, and fresh water
- Administering medications and supplements
- Calm companionship and reassurance
- Playtime, depending on your pet’s personality
- Gentle pet massage, belly rubs, cuddles, smoochies
- Pet-related cleanup during the sit
- Updates and photos
Benefits
- Your pet can remain calm in the comfort and security of their own home
- Your pet avoids exposure to illnesses and injuries from other animals
- Relieve guilt about leaving your pet alone all day
- Deter crime during long, dark evenings
Great for ...
- people who have long workdays or events
- travelers who need a sitter
- pets who get separation anxiety
- dogs who get into mischief when left alone
- pets who need monitoring while recovering from surgery or illness
- senior pets who get confused
- small, neurotic dogs who get scared
Rates
By the hour, not by the pet
$30 per hour billed in twenty-min intervals ($10 per interval)
$30 minimum per pet sitting appointment
Optional Add-Ons
- Longer walks
- Pet chauffeuring
- Outdoor garden watering
- Litter box full cleaning
Deposit and Cancellation Policy
- $30 deposit required at time of booking for pet sitting
- If pet sitting is on holiday*, deposit is non-refundable unless cancelled within four weeks’ notice
- If not a holiday, deposit is refundable if cancelled within two weeks’ notice, or
- 50% refundable if cancelled within 72 hours’ notice
- Balance is due the day of pet sitting, after the appointment
*Holidays are New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July
Overnight Care,
At Your House
House sitting and pet sitting while you’re away
What's Included
- Care for any type of animal: cats, dogs, fish, hamsters, horses, cows … the only animal we don’t sit for is a human
- Dog walks – two per day
- Cat litter box cleaning each day
- Feeding, as instructed, and fresh water
- Administering medications and supplements
- Calm companionship and reassurance
- Playtime depending on your pet’s personality and condition
- Gentle pet massage, belly rubs, cuddles, smoochies
- Pet-related cleanup during the stay
- Updates and photos
Included in Stays of Three Days or More
- Bringing in the mail
- Watering indoor plants
- Turning on and off lights or other security protocols, as instructed
Benefits
- Your pet can remain calm in the comfort and security of their own home
- Your pet avoids exposure to illnesses and injuries from other animals
- Relieves guilt about your pet being alone and scared for extended periods
- Deters crime during long, dark evenings
Great for ...
- people who have long workdays or events
- travelers who need a sitter while they do people stuff
- pets who get separation anxiety
- dogs who get into mischief when left alone
- pets who need monitoring while recovering from surgery or illness
- senior pets who get confused
- small, neurotic dogs who get scared
Rates
$100 per day/night, paid at time of booking
Optional Add-Ons
- Pet chauffeuring
- Adventure Expedition or Outing
- Outdoor garden watering
Deposit and Cancellation Policy
If contract does not include a holiday*
- 100% refundable if cancelled within four weeks’ notice
- 50% refundable if cancelled within five days’ notice
- 25% refundable if cancelled within 48 hrs’ notice
If contract includes a holiday
- 100% refundable if cancelled within three months’ notice
- 50% refundable if cancelled within one month’s notice
- 25% refundable if cancelled within two weeks’ notice
*Holidays are New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July.
Overnight Care
At My House
Great for ...
- Socialized dogs who have no fleas and enjoy sleepovers at doggy friends’ houses
- People who want their dog cared for in a home rather than a kennel
Optional Add-Ons
Your dog is treated like a member of our family. Our home is their home, not a kennel. We believe in cuddles not crates. Dogs can come in and out of the doggie door, as they please, to explore the ¾ acre fully-fenced yard. There’s grass and lots of trees where they can explore and hang out with our two well-socialized dogs. Inside, there are rooms for quiet time, if they prefer, and comfy dog beds.
What's Included
- A secure home environment with professional supervision
- ¾ acre fenced yard with grass and trees
- Doggie door to go in and out
- Feeding, as instructed, and fresh water
- Administering medications and supplements
- Calm companionship and reassurance
- Playtime depending on your pet’s personality/condition
- Gentle pet massage, belly rubs, cuddles, smoochies
- Updates and photos
- Gentle pet massage, belly rubs, cuddles, smoochies
NO FLEAS, please!
- Inspect your dog regularly for fleas
- If your dog is scratching, check for fleas
- If you drop a dog off at our house and it has fleas, you will be charged a $250 Flea Fee
- We are very serious about fleas – we do not want them
House Sitting
See Overnight Care
More Services:
Walkies!
“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”
— Herodotus the Greek
re. the Persian postal system
circa 500 B.C.
All Dogs Need Exercise
They need exercise to maintain physical and mental health.
Physical Health Benefits
- Regular movement prevents obesity
- Reduces risk of serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and pancreatitis
- Keeps joints lubricated and flexible, reducing the risk of arthritis and stiffness, especially as dogs age
- Aids in moving food through the digestive tract which improves nutrient absorption
- Regular outings flush out the bladder, reducing urinary tract infections
- Increased longevity
- Active dogs have stronger immune systems and better cardiovascular health
Mental Health Benefits
- Reduced anxiety and stress
- Physical activity triggers the release of endorphins and other “happy hormones” like dopamine and serotonin which calm restless or anxious dogs
- Curbs unwanted behaviors that stem from boredom, pent-up energy, and anxiety
- Provides mental stimulation through sights and smells which engage a dog’s mind, helping to delay age-related cognitive decline
We're Here to Help!
20 Minute Walk
A quick outing to sniff a little, get some fresh air, and “do their business.”
$25
30 Minute Walk
Enough time for some energy release and checking the neighborhood pee-mail.
$35
1 Hour Walk
Ideal for most dogs. Releases pent-up energy and provides ample time to sniff and check the pee-mail.
$45
All Walks Include:
- Leashed stroll tailored to your dog’s energy level
- Sniff-focused pace
- Behavior-aware support
- Positive reinforcement of loose-leash walking
Optional Add-Ons
- Feeding
- Administering medications
- Towel-off
Bigger Adventures!
Expedition Treks
Functional Field Trips
For fun and/or purpose. My dogs love going to Home Depot. And PetSmart. Oh, the smells!
If your dog has a suitable temperament, consider sending him/her with me to sniff around one of these businesses that allow dogs. We can even do a little shopping for you while we’re there.
Dogs must have gone on leashed walks with me first, and passed my Field Trip aptitude test.
Fees include pet chauffeuring and dog-walking per the listed rates, as well as any agreed-upon expenditures. (For example, the cost of the birdseed you want me to buy for you.)
Off-Leash Adventures
Leashed walks are great when you can’t take your pet out yourself. But dogs love to run untethered and they get great joy and much better exercise when trusted to walk freely (with supervision, of course.)
If this is an option you’re comfortable with, after I’ve taken your dog on a sufficient number of leashed walks, and after I’ve determined that they can be controlled by my voice, I’m happy to discuss off-leash options with you. We are blessed here in Ferndale to have wonderful off-leash parks like Hovander and Vanderyacht. And for bigger adventures, perhaps a trek up the forested mountain trails above Lake Padden (designated off-leash!) The world is our oyster!
Runs!
If your dog is well-trained enough to run next to me, we can discuss the option of runs. Time slots for this are limited, and eligibility is at my discretion.
