Currently we have clients all over the greater Victoria area, including Oak Bay, West Victoria, Esquimalt, Colwood, and Saanich.
2. Can dogs stay with you?
Yes...we offer in-home boarding. We don't use kennels. We like to give give all of our furry guests lots of love and attention and they become part of the family, often sleeping on the floor beside our bed or even on the bed. We've never seen any signs of separation anxiety from our house guests and they're always happy to return.
3. What type of animals do you care for? Most of the requests we get are by dog and cat owners, but we also take care of birds, and reptiles.
4. Do you do pack walks?
Most of our walks are in groups of 5-7 at a time. We go to safe off-leash areas where they can romp and play.
5. How do you determine if a dog is suitable for group outings?
Most people have a fair idea of how well socialized their dog is, however it is important to get an objective assessment. During our initial visit, we will ask a lot of questions about your dog's behavior and history. We are looking for behaviors that will tell us how able and willing your dog is to learn and adjust to new situations. No dog is perfect; and most dogs will benefit immensely from our socializing and outings.
6. What are the pick up and return arrangements?
Pick ups and returns are done depending on the schedule that we have agreed to in our initial visit. Because we are fully bonded and insured, we are able to pick up and return each dog whether or not the owner is home. At the end of each outing, your dog is returned home safe and sound and clean. Each dog is left secure and with adequate water supply and food as per your instructions. When possible, periodic e-mails with photo attachments are sent.
7. What emergency plans do you have in place?
In the event of an emergency, we will contact you right away. If the dog needs to be taken to the vet, we will transport the animal to the closest veterinarian office that you are affiliated with.
Each dog's information record is included on the outing and contains the owner's phone numbers, the veterinarian of record and the dog's medical history. We also keep prepared consent forms and a current list of available veterinarian offices and clinics in our service area. 8. What do you do in bad weather?
While we don't get really cold weather in Victoria and seldom see snow, it has been known to rain occasionally. Your dog will be walked rain or shine. On really wet days we will try to keep them as clean as possible so please keep a towel handy so we can dry him off if necessary. Also, you have the option of having your dog kept on-leash on those days.
9. Is there a minimum number of outings we need to enroll our dog in?
No, but we recommend participation at least once a week. This does not need to be the same day or the same time, however, the more consistent the schedule is, the better it is for the dog. This promotes familiarity and stability in the dog groups. Ideally, a dog that participates once per week should also be enjoying several extended walks each week with it's owner. Daily adventure outings for a dog are great when combined with fun week-end activities with the dog's owner.
10. Will I have the same person each time?
All of our walking is done by us...we don't use employees. Bob generally takes the larger dogs and Julie takes the smaller ones, so almost all of the time it will be the same person walking your dog. On rare occasions one of us might walk the other's dogs.
11. Are you insured (and what does that mean for me as a client)?
We are fully insured and proud members of the All Canadian Pet Sitters Network and as such are required to abide by the highest of standards. 12. Do you charge more for holidays?
We charge 50% more than our regular rate for walking dogs on the following holidays: New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Canada Day, Labour Day, and Christmas Day. We don't charge extra for pet sitting, house sitting, or pet boarding on these holidays. On weekends we charge 30% more for dog walking.
13. Can I contact some of your former clients to get a glimpse what its like working with your company?
Absolutely. We would be very happy to provide you with a list of clients who would be willing to speak to you about their experience.
14. Are there any other hidden charges that I should be aware of?
While some pet sitting services charge extra for such things as last minute cancellations, administering medicines, key return, pet pickup, etc....we don't. When you use our service you won't be nickel and dimed. 15. How do we pay you? Do you require payment after each walk or visit?
No, we will invoice you on a monthly basis. We accept cash or checks or we can arrange to take your credit card payment online.
What it means to you, and all of our clients, is peace of mind. We take responsibility for your pets and possessions when you put them in our care. That means that your property and your pets are fully covered, should anything occur while in our care. Having these policies in place shows a level of professionalism and commitment that you can trust. (Please click Here to see a copy of our insurance policy.)
"A tired dog is a happy dog."