Service Area: Geist, Oaklandon, McCordsville, Fortville, NE Indianapolis, Castleton, Fishers, Lawrence and Fort Harrison (Zip codes: 46236, 46037, 46216, 46055, 46040, 46256, 46235.) Extended service area is sometimes available with additional fees of at least $1 per mile over five miles from the intersection of 79th Street and Oaklandon Road, per Mapquest.com.
Services: I am happy to provide care for your pet (dog, cat, rabbit, ferret, hamster, guinea pig, gerbil, mouse, other small mammals, reptile, bird, fish) if I feel comfortable with your pet during our get acquainted meeting. I do NOT provide care for obviously aggressive/dangerous pets. All visits include (if requested) bringing in mail and newspapers, opening and closing blinds or curtains, turning lights on or off, watering plants, and setting out trash cans. I write a visit log for you to read, or if you prefer, I can text or email you about the visits. Hours for visits are typically from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. However, no dog will be expected to wait for a potty break longer than 12 hours (overnight wait is usually 10-11 hours). If you are looking for someone to care for exotic animals, horses or other farm animals, I would be happy to discuss your needs.
Fees: You choose the amount of time and the type of service you want (feeding, play time, dog walk, scooping litter boxes, brushing, TLC, etc.). I do NOT charge a fee for each pet -- I simply charge for the time that I spend caring for your pets.
15 minute visit is $12
30 minute visit is $15 (the most popular)
45 minute visit is $20
60 minute visit is $25
Dogs: If you are traveling, I recommend three visits per day for dogs who are kept inside without access to a doggie door or potty pads. Expecting them to "hold it" repeatedly for 12-hour blocks of time is unkind in my opinion. Morning dog visits are usually 7:00-9:30 a.m. Afternoon visits are usually 1:00-5:00. I try to make the afternoon visit at the halfway point between the morning and evening visit unless you request something different. Evening/Bedtime visits are 8:00-10:00 p.m.
Cats: I offer flexibility for cat visits. Most clients ask me to come once a day. Some require two visits per day.
Daily Mid-Day Service: While you are at work, I can visit, walk and/or play with your dog! This is wonderful for new puppies, elderly dogs, dogs who have a lot of energy to burn, dogs kept in crates, or for pet owners who work long hours. Your dog will greatly appreciate these visits!
Limited Dog Boarding -- $26/night for one dog; second dog $15.
This is a new service I started in 2011. I have a couple of clients who are wonderful boarders and fit in well with my family, and I have had a few that did not go so well. Therefore, I am extremely cautious when offering this service. Your dog would stay in my kitchen the majority of the time, unless your dog gets along well with my dogs, and vice versa. The better they get along, the more time they can spend together in the family room and yard. Your dog would have several potty breaks in fenced back yard throughout the day and evening and some living room play and snuggle time too. You will need to bring the following: proof of current vaccinations, food, medicine, collar with I.D. tags, leash. Optional items you may wish to bring include: bed or bedding, toys, bowls, treats, clothing with your smell on it, and anything else to make your dog’s stay more comfortable and enjoyable. A "test night" ($26) is required before you go out of town. I also require a backup plan in the event that your dog does not do well in my home. This could be returning the dog to your home and making visits to care for it there or boarding it at another facility until you return.
Dogs suitable for boarding in my home have these traits:
Friendly and calm
Potty trained
Healthy and free of internal & external parasites (i.e.fleas) and free of contagious conditions
Does not normally chew on inappropriate items
Does not normally do destructive behaviors in the home
Is calm, quiet and content when left in kitchen alone
Unlikely to jump kitchen gate or back yard fence
Dogs NOT suitable for boarding in my home have these traits:
Acts aggressive
Is not very well potty trained
Is sick and/or has parasites (i.e. fleas) or anything contagious
Chews on inappropriate items and/or is destructive in other ways
Barks, cries, or howls for long periods if left alone in kitchen
Jumps gates & fences, pushes them down, or chews on them
Pet Taxi: $25 per hour (to my house for boarding, to vet, to groomer).
Poop Scooping: $15 minimum or $25 per hour. My husband, Mark, handles this on weekends, so it depends on his availability and the weather.
New Clients / Initial Consultation / Meet & Greet: This is when you will decide if you are comfortable leaving your home and pets in my care, and I will decide if I am comfortable caring for your pets and home. Please schedule this meeting as far in advance as possible. Forms will be completed and signed during the meeting (it usually takes 45-60 minutes). This meeting is only required for the first booking, and future bookings can be handled over the phone or through email. There is no charge for this meeting if the total of your first booking is $100 or more. If your first booking is for less than $100, then I charge $20 for a 45-60 minute meeting. If you decide not to hire me for any reason, then there is no charge for the meeting. Please have a key ready to give me at our meeting. I have had garage doors malfunction, and they do not work when electricity goes out, so I require a key. Please make sure doors and locks are functioning properly.
Holiday Charges: $5 extra per visit on New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Eve.
Key Fee: If you allow me to keep your key, thus avoiding extra trips to return the key and/or pick up the key for future visits, there will be NO charge. Otherwise, there is a $10 fee for each key trip (after the initial consultation). Even if you have a garage door opener, I will need a key for backup in the event there is a power outage or other garage door problem. Please make sure your locks & door are in good working condition.
Mess Cleanup: There is no charge for cleanup of ordinary messes that can be dealt with in the amount of time you scheduled me to be in your home. Extensive cleanups requiring extra time will be charged an extra fee of $25 per hour (example: extra 15 minutes is $6.25), assuming I have time in my schedule to stay. It is your responsibility to provide cleaning supplies for me to use, and I do not guarantee stain removal.
House Check Only with No Pets: $12 for 15 minute visit (bring in mail, open/close blinds & curtains, turn lights on and off, water plants, set out trash, check for break-ins, water leaks, etc.)
Cancellation Policy: 0-48 hours prior to any service, payment in full is charged; 3-7 days prior to service, 50% payment is charged; 8 days prior to service, no charge (exception for most holidays); the weeks of New Years Day, Spring break, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas require cancellation notice of 2 weeks in advance to avoid a 50% charge for cancellation. There is no refund for early returns from trips. (Please understand that when I reserve a spot for you, I may have to turn away other clients -- especially during holiday times. I will consider all special circumstances and whether or not I actually lost business from other clients due to your booking and cancellation.)
Pet Safety: Please keep I.D. tags on your dogs at all times, and please microchip your dogs and cats. I suggest locks on your fence gates to prevent children or forgetful adults from leaving them open, and to prevent pet theft. Nobody expects their pet(s) to escape and run off (or to be stolen), but it happens.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What if something unexpected happens and you cannot come to my home as planned?
A. I ask all of my clients to provide me with contact information for someone who can provide backup service in the event that I, or my husband, are unable to get to your home. Stuff happens (i.e. car accidents, family illness or death). Additionally, I belong to Indy Area Pet Sitters Network, which is a group of individuals who, like myself, own pet sitting businesses. We try to provide backup services for each other when needed, but there are no guarantees. Every attempt would be made to contact you and make you aware of the situation.
Q. What does insured and bonded mean?
A. Comforts of Home Pet Sitting LLC annually purchases insurance through Pet Sitters Associates, LLC and Essex Insurance Company, which provides insurance on the pets in our care, custody or control and on the client's home for acts of pet sitter negligence. Bond coverage provides protection to the home owner from theft by the pet sitter.
Q. Do you visit at the exact time that I request?
A. I cannot guarantee exact times. However, I will do my best to visit reasonably close to the times you request. I will ask you for a "time window".
Q. Should I contact you to let you know when we are back home from a trip?
A. Yes, please do!!! I would really appreciate that. A simple text, email or phone call would be great!
Q. Regarding dog walks, what if the weather is particularly nasty?
A. Please express your wishes when scheduling service. I will pay attention to whether or not your pet seems bothered by the weather. If I feel that it is too cold, too hot, too rainy or too much snow, then I will entertain your dog inside your home instead of making both of us feel miserable outside. I would not want to endanger your dog with heat stress or frostbite, and they probably would not like a total drenching. Of course, your dog will go outside long enough for a potty break. I have adequate clothing to protect myself even in the nastiest weather.
Q. What if the weather is so bad that you cannot drive to my house?
A. I strongly recommend that you provide me with contact information for someone living nearby who can reach your home in the event that I am unable to get to your home because of impassible roads (deep snow, flood water, icy hills). I am currently driving a Honda Fit, which is front wheel drive, but not a four wheel drive. I will get to your house as soon as I safely can.
Q. When do I pay you and what forms of payment do you accept?
A. I usually request payment in full (by cash or check) ready for pick up at my first visit or to be provided during our consultation meeting. Daily dog visit clients may pay in advance by the day, week or month.
Q. Is it customary for people to tip their pet sitter?
A. Some clients tip and some don't. Tips are much appreciated when offered though!!!
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Providing pet sitting and dog walking in Indianapolis, Geist, McCordsville, Oaklandon, Castleton, Lawrence, Fishers & Fortville.
