FAQ

Q: Does Forest Park Pet Sitters belong to a professional pet sitting organization?

A: Yes! We are proud members of Pet Sitters International, one of the world’s leading organizations for professional pet sitters. As members of this organization, we have access to the most up-to-date information and resources about pet sitting and pet care.

 

Q: Can my pet stay with you at your home?

A: We do not care for pets (except for our own) at our home. All of our services will be provided in your pet’s domain–where they are likely to be most happy and comfortable.

 

Q: Is Forest Park Pet Sitters insured? What does this mean?

A: Yes, Forest Park Pet Sitters is insured with a liability policy that is designed specifically for professional pet sitters. Our policy provides coverage for injuries, illness, or damage to your pets while they are in our care; as well as property damage caused by your pets while they are in our care. If you have questions about our insurance coverage, we’d be glad to discuss those with you in further detail.

 

Q: All I need is for someone to come by mid-day while I’m at work to walk my dog, but I don’t need you to feed my dog or do much else. Can I hire you just to come over for a walk?

A: We do provide Just-A-Walk services: $16 for 30 minutes, $20 for 45 minutes, and $24 for 60 minutes. We’ll also replenish water and make sure your dogs appear healthy and safe.

 

Q: If my pet needs medication, are you willing to administer it?

A: We are willing to administer medication to your pet, provided that you are able to give us clear, written instructions and a demonstration before leaving your pets in our care. If medications are to be administered, we also require that you leave the contact information for the vet who prescribes this medication. We charge an extra $5 per administration per pet (no charge if medication is easily administered with food). As part of our pet sitting contract with you, we will outline the plan for medication administration, and you will need to initial this directly on the contract.

 

Q: Do I get a bonus if I refer someone else to Forest Park Pet Sitters?

A: Absolutely! If you refer a friend or family member, and they hire us for pet sitting at least once, we will provide you with a $10 Forest Park Pet Sitters gift certificate that you can use anytime towards our services. There’s no limit to the number of gift certificates you can receive, so it pays to refer others as much as you can! Note that only clients for whom we have worked at least once are eligible for the referral incentive.

 

Q: What happens if there is an emergency with my pet while they are in your care?

A: We hope that this will never happen, but unfortunately, sometimes unforeseen things do occur. Before we begin our first pet sitting visit, we will discuss with you what you would like us to do in the event of an emergency involving your pet or your home. Should an emergency arise, we will attempt to contact you right away to make you aware of the situation and get instructions from you. If we are able to connect with you, we will follow your instructions in handling the situation to-the-letter. If we cannot contact you, or you’d prefer that we not contact you, we will do our best to be in touch with your emergency contact who can make decisions/provide instructions on your behalf. If we are unable to connect with you or receive appropriate guidance from your emergency contact, we will use our best judgment: a trip to the vet or animal hospital, call to the police–whatever is necessary to ensure the safety of your pet and your home.

 

Q: Are you also willing to pet sit for animals other than cats and dogs? If so, what animals does this include?

A: Besides cats and dogs, we are also able to care for small cage pets (rabbits, hamsters, Guinea pigs, ferrets, etc.), birds (barnyard and cage), and other domesticated animals. If you have out-of-the-ordinary pets, be sure to contact us anyway and we can talk about whether we are equipped to care for those animals.

 

Q: Besides pet sitting, what other household services are you willing to provide?

A: Our Friendly Visits include, free of extra charges, minor plant watering (house plants and small outdoor plants) and mail/newspaper retrieval. If you need major plant watering, such as gardens, large flower beds, or large trees/shrubs, we can discuss a reasonable price for these additional services. We are also willing to discuss reasonable rates for running errands, yard work, light house cleaning, pet transportation, etc.

 

Q: What areas do you serve, and is there an extra charge if I live far away?

A: Depending on where you live in relation to our home (near Forest Park’s main entrance), an additional travel fee may apply. We will discuss this with you before you hire us for pet sitting or dog walking.

 

Q: Are there any circumstances under which Forest Park Pet Sitters would be unwilling to sit for my pets?

A: One of the purposes of our initial phone conversation and Meet-and-Greet visits with you is to determine, from your end and ours, whether Forest Park Pet Sitters is the best fit for your pet sitting needs. The following circumstances MAY lead us to determine that it is best to refer you to more suitable pet care options: (a) pets are or have a history of aggressive, violent behavior towards humans or other domestic animals; (b) pets have needs beyond those we are comfortable handling, (c) the distance of your home from ours is too great to make pet sitting visits feasible, and (d) other circumstances that lead either you or us to feel that another pet care option might be best. We will consider each situation on a case-by-case basis, so please contact us–even if you think we may decide against pet sitting for you.