FAQ | The Pet Sitter of Boise

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We Serve Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Garden City, Kuna, Star and Nampa

How do I get started?

1. You may call us or contact us by filling out the Contact Us form (right side bar of this webpage). We’ll get back to you promptly, usually within the hour.

2. If you choose to proceed with us, we’ll send you a Welcome email and link to our pet sitting software. This will allow you to read and agree to our service agreement and add your pet and home care instructions. Once completed, you may schedule your pet sitting on-line any time.

3. After you complete step 2, we’ll review your needs and then we will contact you to set up a new client consultation. You will meet your primary sitter and he or she will get to know you and your pets, set up the lockbox, and learn your home/pet care routine.

*Note that all new clients are charged a one-time $25 registration fee to cover the cost of the lockbox, Meet and Greet, and software registration.

Why should I hire The Pet Sitter of Boise, LLC for my pet sitting and/or dog walking needs?

We are trustworthy, experienced, and reliable. First and foremost, we are passionate about pets. We are there on time and we carry out the responsibilities assigned to us in a caring, responsible manner. The Pet Sitter, LLC has been in business for over 17 years and we are insured (see policy coverage/limits below). We are members of Pet Sitters International. Our pet sitters and dog walkers are employees, not independent contractors. Each employee is hand selected based on their experience and proven track record working with animals. All employees are background checked, insured and bonded. If an emergency should occur, we will send a back-up pet sitter or dog walker from our team. We cover Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Garden City and Kuna.

How do I know my pets are being cared for while I’m away?

We use the best pet sitting software in the industry (Time to Pet). Our employees have the Time to Pet app installed on their phone. They check in when they arrive at your home and check out when they leave. Their location is GPS marked when they arrive and leave your home. Near the end of the visit, your sitter will send you an update message and photos of your pets taken at the visit. We include detail on your pet’s health, happiness level, and eating patterns, etc. You may reply to the messages. The conversation is kept forever, for future reference, if needed. If you are unable to receive messages, you may log into your account anytime and see the messages. We also comment on the status of your home. We encourage you to call or email us anytime.

What if I don’t make it back from my trip on time?

Please notify us immediately if your return home is delayed. We continue our services until you return. Your pets ALWAYS come first.

Can you provide references?

We come with many references from satisfied clients. Check out our testimonial page, Angie’s List, and Google, Facebook and Yelp reviews, or feel free to ask us for the contact information of clients that you can call directly.

Will I have the same sitter each time I use your services?

While we assign a primary sitter, we do not guarantee the same sitter each time you use us. We work in teams and communicate often with each other, so all information is passed onto each sitter caring for your pets. We update your information in our pet sitting software as well. Many times sitters are off due to illness, personal obligations, vacations, or schedule conflicts. Our promise is that we will always have a trained, qualified sitter to cover your pet care needs. Our sitters are qualified employees (not independent contractors) who are team members. They are insured, bonded, and background checked. We have found that our clients quickly get used to our team and are happy with the service we provide.

I do not feel comfortable having different team members in my home without meeting them first. Would it be OK to set up a meet and greet with each sitter before we leave home?

Absolutely! We offer Meet & Greet visits for $15 for up to a 30 minute introduction. If you need more time, we’re happy to schedule an extended 1 hour visit for $30. You may schedule a Meet & Greet in the scheduling software or call the office to schedule. Note that this may become costly as time goes on and various sitters are caring for your pets. If this is a critical need for you, we may not be a good fit for you. You may want to look for solo sitter with back-up sitters in case of an emergency. We encourage you to inspect insurance, bonding and background check those you are interviewing.

What forms of payment do you take?

We accept cash, check and credit card payments. Cash and/or check payments should be left on the kitchen counter prior to leaving for your vacation. Credit cards should be added to the software and will be charged at the end of service.

Do you have black-out dates?

No. We work 365 days per year. In fact, holidays and weekends are the busiest time of year for us.

Do you bring your children, guests or your own pets to pet sitting assignments in my home?

No. We love children, but our focused attention is always on your pets while we are in your home. Children may unintentionally add liability and we would never subject our clients to the variety of risks associated with having children in your home and around your pets (i.e. getting bit, leaving doors open/pets escaping, etc.). Guests and our own pets are also not allowed while we are caring for your pets.

How much advance notice do you need?

We prefer at least 2 days notice, but in an emergency situation, we will aim to meet with you immediately. The New Client Consultation is an absolute requirement before we can do our first pet sitting visit. At the consultation you meet us and we get to know you and your pets. We learn your home/pet care routine and pick up and test two keys.

Can we meet for an interview without scheduling pet sits?

Yes. All new or potential clients are required to register with us. The one time, non-refundable fee is $25, and includes a Meet and Greet, lock box, and software registration. There is no obligation to use us after the Meet and Greet. Alternatively, we are happy to answer your questions during the initial phone call, and we encourage clients to view our testimonials page. Each pet sitter is hand selected and trustworthy. Our pet sitters are background checked, insured and bonded.

Do you service livestock, such as cows and horses?

Yes, we cover most animal care, except in extreme circumstances where pet or pet sitter safety may be an issue. Jobs including horse and livestock care are assigned to sitters with background caring for these pets.

Is there a cancellation fee?

Overnight care does have a $30/night cancellation fee. Regular visits cancelled by 7am the day of the visit are not charged. All other visits are charged at the full visit rate. It is important to inform us if you need to cancel a pet sit as soon as you know you will not be needing us. For more information, read our policies and tips page. Overall, we believe you will find our cancellation policy to be as lenient and fair as possible.

Are my keys returned after each set of visits?

No. The Pet Sitter, LLC requires two (2) working house keys from each client. We retain 1 key in our office as a back up, and one key is placed in the lockbox that we provide to you at the intitial Meet and Greet. Picking up and delivering keys before and after a scheduled set of visits adds a layer of unnecessary complexity for both the clients and us. Furthermore, our employees must be paid for their time and travel to pick up or deliver keys, therefore, we charge for this service for those clients requesting their keys.
Keys are identified by the client’s first name and last initial, plus a pet’s name. Those wishing to obtain their keys have three options:

An employee of The Pet Sitter will personally pick up or return keys – Charge: $20
The Pet Sitter, LLC will return keys via USPS Certified mail – Charge: $20

Client may pick keys up or drop them off from The Pet Sitter, LLC office, by appointment only – No Charge
*We cannot leave keys in client homes at the last visit because we may need to get back into your home if you get delayed.

* Garage or lock codes of any kind are not accepted in lieu of keys. These systems often fail due to dead batteries, electricity issues, or various mechanical issues.

What if my property or pet is damaged (injured)?

We are proud to carry the best coverage offered in the pet sitting industry. We are only liable for damage from negligence or willfull misconduct. For details, please ask us to share our insurance policy details with you. We are covered through Mourer-Foster Insurance. A summary of our coverage is as follows:
Travelers Insurance Company

The Pet Sitters Liability Program provides liability protection specifically for the exposures related to the Pet Sitting business.

General Liability

$ 2,000,000 Per Occurrence
$ 4,000,000 General Aggregate
$ 2,000,000 Personal & Advertising Injury
$ 4,000,000 Products Competed Operations Aggregate
$ 10,000 Medical Expenses – any one person

Coverage Territory: USA, Canada, Puerto Rico, Limited Worldwide

Care, Custody and Control

This provides coverage for both medical and replacement for animals in your care, custody and control

Limits: $ 20,000

Bonding (dishonesty insurance): Per our Mourer-Foster Kennel Pro Policy policy: The special property of others coverage provides $10,000 per occurrence or $25,000 of coverage annually for the loss of the personal property of the pet owner while in your care. This does not include the loss of the pet itself as that is covered elsewhere in the policy. Coverage is included for theft, breakage and mysterious disappearance of the personal property of the pet owner. Please note that if you do not purchase this optional coverage, there is no coverage under the policy for loss or damage to the owner’s personal property.

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