Following is a list of things that you can do to help us serve you better, and to be sure that your pet’s time with us is a pl

PREPARATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Following is a list of things that you can do to help us better serve you, and to ensure that your pet’s time with us is a pleasant and safe experience. Many of these items are covered in our official Service Agreement. This checklist is provided for your convenience and to help you with your vacation preparation. Please make a careful note of those items marked “URGENT.”

PRIOR TO INITIAL MEETING—New Clients:

Schedule your “get-acquainted” visit at least 2 week in advance of your departure. That gives us time to schedule and arrange services properly.

Make sure all pets are up to date on required vaccinations; have your rabies photocopied & available. We will need these if your pet has to be taken to the emergency room.

Take a moment to prepare a detailed itinerary before you leave, including all contact information at each destination, flight numbers and times. You should provide us with a copy of this list in advance, as well as leaving a copy in plain sight in the house.

We will need your veterinarian’s name & number - plus written permission and payment authorization for your pets to receive emergency medical attention if necessary. To save time, please print out the Veterinarian Authorization form from our website and have it ready for our get-acquainted visit. You may also request to have it faxed to you.

We need three emergency contacts (neighbors, friends, family) plus list of vehicles which will remain in the driveway.

In preparation for our meeting, make a list for our meeting of any special needs or unusual habits your pet might have ... allergies, hiding places, habits, and health problems. Be sure all care instructions are in writing and easily accessible.

We will need 2 tested/working copies of your key (one backup) and you may wish to request that we keep keys securely on file for future visits. It is critical these keys are available for us to test at the initial meeting. We have a unique coding system so they cannot be identified as belonging to your name or address.

URGENT--Please have all above requested items available at the initial meeting Backfilling “missing” elements is time-consuming for both of us and leads to incremental entry of your information into our system – thereby increasing the margin for error.

PLACING FUTURE TELEPHONE RESERVATIONS—Established Clients Only:

Schedule your pet sitting reservations at least a week in advance of your departure. That gives us time to schedule and arrange services properly. Since our schedule fills up on major holidays, 30-60 day notice should be given for holiday reservations.

Please let us know of anything that might have changed since your last trip: cell phone numbers, emergency contacts, gate codes, alarm passwords, locks changed, pet feeding routine, new medications, different vet, date changes for household help who may have access to the home, medical conditions to be aware of, etc.

Let us know of any friends, relatives or neighbors that have permission to enter your home while you are away. You may wish to also provide them with our name and number in case of emergencies. It is important we know who has access to your home. Should we arrive and find things out of place or a stranger in your home, we will call the police first and ask questions later.

PRIOR TO LEAVING FOR YOUR TRIP:

Be sure all pets have properly fitting collars with ID tags & license securely fastened.

Make sure to stock up on all supplies, foods, etc, to last for the entire time you are away (+ a little extra, in case you are delayed in returning or don’t want to run to the store the day you get back.) Be sure that all equipment for caring for your pet is easily accessible to the pet care provider—leaving it out in one visible area (such as the kitchen counter) is preferable. If we will be opening cans, be sure the can opener is visible, along with supplies for cleaning up accidents.

We will be cleaning your pet(s) bowls frequently and, of course, litter boxes each visit. However, we would appreciate it very much if you don’t leave them in gross condition for our first visit. Please set out an extra bowl/plate or two for wet food. We will assume any sponges, dish cloths, & towels left at the kitchen sink can be used for pet bowls, but we prefer paper towels. Hand lotion at the sink is not required, but is very much appreciated. We wash our hands at each visit.

We don’t flush cat litter, not even the flushable type, so please leave us plenty of plastic bags for disposal. If your scoop is flimsy, please provide a backup.

Inform neighbors who may be looking out for your property that the pet sitter will be making visits to your home. You may leave our name and phone number with these neighbors as well, in case they feel the need to alert us of any unusual happenings that may concern your pets. Our sitter’s vehicles are all registered with the local Sheriff’s department, as a safety measure.

If you have a security system, please write out all necessary instructions and notify the registry company that you have a pet sitter coming by and provide them with our name and phone number.

It isn’t necessary to discontinue mail and newspaper delivery; we will be happy to bring them inside.

URGENT—we will call you 48-72 hours ahead to confirm your date and time of departure. However, if for some reason you didn’t get our message, be sure to call before you leave, or simply call us first. It’s very important that we are all “on the same page” for your departure and return.

AS YOU LEAVE:

Set your thermostat at a temperature comfortable for your pets

Count heads before you leave! Make sure all pets are accounted for and safe ... you wouldn’t want to accidentally lock someone in a closet while packing, for instance. Close off all areas that are off-limits to the pets and remove any articles that you don’t want them to touch. Leaving a TV or radio on while you are away can be an excellent crime deterrent and good companionship for your pet.

Be sure to let us know if your departure is delayed and take our number with you so you can call if your return is delayed.

Many pet visits consist of early morning and evening visits. We would appreciate it if you would leave one or two lights on or set up timer lights so we won’t have to walk into a dark house. This is particularly helpful for the outside entry area, since we are not as familiar with your lock as you are.

Assure the secure and safe operation of all care items (ie: gates secure, fences in good repair, etc,) on your property. Be sure all are in good working order before you leave, and the property and home are safety-checked.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Remember that you can call us at 949/388-7387 to check on your pets while you are away. An answering machine will be on at all times if no one is there to pick up. Alternatively, if you plan to check voice or e-mail during your absence, you can make a request for us to leave you updates. Be sure to leave the best e-mail address or voice mail number to use.

URGENT--Be sure to call as soon as you arrive home to let us know you are back, so we know to discontinue visits.

Have a great trip—with the knowledge that all the details are being handled by your professional pet sitting service.