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Pet Sitting Service Policies

THE MEET AND GREET

If you are considering Happy Trails for your pet or our in-home services, we require a “Free of charge” meet and greet to ensure we are the “purrfect” match for you and your pet/s! Happy Trail’s owner or head manager will meet with you to discuss what arrangements should be made concerning your home and pets. You will help us determine schedules for pet walking and feeding, and plant watering. We will also spend some time getting to know your pets. This visit usually takes about 30 minutes and is required of all new pet sitting customers. We want you to feel comfortable with our process and our professional pet and house sitters.

Please be prepared with the following:

  • 3 copies of your keys
  • Access codes including alarm codes if applicable
  • list of local emergency contacts your contact information while you are away
  • preferred veterinarian
  • information your pet’s routine

Never any charge for the initial meet and greet!

KEY SECURITY

Key service is free to all of our clients. Most of our clients prefer that we keep copies of their key in our office’s key safe which is located in Happy Trails main office which allows us to provide short-notice service in the future. We do NOT put personally identifying information on your keys. Our insurance policy covers lost keys – if we lose your keys, we will pay to re-key your house. If you have electronic access to your home via garage doors, remote controls, etc. we ask for a hidden key to be accessible in case of power outage or system malfunction. Please be prepared to provide 3 copies of your keys if you decide to use Happy Trail’s services for your home and pet/s. If you prefer to use lockbox or hidden key system please update your access instructions prior to your travel. We will be happy to make copies for $10 per each key if you do not have 3 copies available at time of Meet and Greet.
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WHILE YOU ARE AWAY - Pet Visit Report

Your pet sitter will provide your pets fresh water and food and walk/exercise them – not to mention shower them with tons of love! If there are any emergencies your pet sitter will contact you immediately to make arrangements for veterinary care. Typically the same pet sitter will visit your house everyday so we can develop a friendship with your pet. We also have backup pet sitters available in the event your pet sitter is unable to make the visit. We understand that when you leave, your pets may be more anxious than usual, so your pet sitter will provide plenty of love, affection and playtime so that your pets will be better adjusted. Your pet sitter will provide various security checks including: checking for water leaks, checking your fridge and freezer, ensuring your AC and heating system is operating properly, look for unauthorized access to your home, and look for broken windows. In addition, your pet sitter will bring in the mail, take the trash to the curb on trash day, bring in any packages you receive, water your plants, and rotate the lights, tv and radio to give your home a lived-in look for better security. Our pet sitters are required to check in with our office at the completion of each visit to your home. If a pet sitter is late or forgets to check in, they automatically receive telephone calls, text messages and email by our dispatch system to ensure each pet and home receives the proper care. Please know that we have never missed a pet visit. That is because we have a network of back-up pet sitters available in the event something happens to your primary sitter.

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In conclusion - AT THE END OF THE DAY

We know how much you love your pets, and even though your pets are in good hands, we want you to have the peace of mind knowing that your pets were cared for according to your instructions. So after each visit you will receive a report card via email and text so you can rest easy knowing that your pets were provided the love and attention they deserve. Visit notes and status are also available for viewing in our online customer portal or in our app.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a professional pet sitter and a hobby pet sitter?

If you’re like most pet lovers, you hate leaving your pet in unfamiliar surroundings when you travel. You can arrange for friends and neighbors to take care of your pet at home, but often, they’re too busy, and you don’t like to impose. Also, just anyone you find who is a hobby sitter will not come with proper insurance, training or the time to fully commit to your pet while you are away from home.  This can make for some awkward and uncomfortable scenarios if something goes wrong!

Our service provides your dog, cat, and/or other pets the care they need while you’re away – right in your own home

The Happy Trails Team truly LOVES ALL animals.

 With us, you are assured reliable and responsible service. Your pets will:

  • stay in a secure, familiar environment.
  • follow their customary routine and diet.
  • avoid exposure to illness from other animals.
  • receive loving individual attention. You can leave home with peace of mind knowing that you’ve left your home and pet in our good hands. With you and your pet/s can enjoy:
  • No Travel Trauma. Your pet won’t be upset and you won’t be inconvenienced by the need for transportation to a kennel or boarding facility.
  • No Interruptions. Your pet will stay right at home and enjoy its familiar surroundings, exercise
Will I get to meet my walker/pet sitter before I need services?
Owner Stephanie Brown or lead management will meet with all potential clients prior to accepting any visit requests, at which time a backup walker/pet sitter may accompany to learn the ropes first hand from the owners If you would like to meet any of the team a client can schedule at meet up at any time that works within the schedule

A meet and greet is required with either Stephanie (Happy Trail’s owner) or a lead sitter if scheduling is tight, before any pet sit or dog walking is guaranteed within our scheduling software.

We encourage all potential clients to reach out within plenty of time of their needing services. Meet and greets typically take a week or two to schedule in high vacation times.

What is your cancellation policy?

We understand that life happens and sometimes you need to cancel services. Of course, nobody likes to have to pay for a service they did not use. However, we are trying to employ a great staff who love and care for your animals, and sometimes this means you have to pay for a short-notice cancellation. In order to provide the absolute best care to our clients, keep our team members happy & productive, and ensure our office is operating as efficiently as possible, we have implemented a Cancellation Policy on all visits

Here we explain the what and why behind our policies.

IN ORDER TO BEST SERVE YOUR NEEDS, WE ENFORCE THE FOLLOWING CANCELLATION POLICY:

Daily dog walks Cancellation Policy (Our VIP”S) (visits which recur on the schedule weekly)
• Visits must be cancelled by 9pm the night prior to scheduled start time in order to avoid being charged in full. There is no charge if you cancel by 9pm the night prior

Pet Sitting Cancellation Policy (defined as multiple daily visits for more than one consecutive day), Cat Sitting, Farm Care etc:
• Visits are subject to a 24-hour cancellation policy. If cancelled within 24 hours of the start date, Client will be invoiced and responsible for 100% of the total invoice for booked/confirmed services. This also applies to services that are cut short, for instance, if the Client returns early and cancels remaining services. Any cancellations made to a service the day of a booked service will be invoiced in full for remainder of booked services

Will I always have the same sitter or walker visit my home?
We work as a team so your pet/s will get to know a few of the best pet experts Happy Trails has to offer!! We do our best to always have the same mini team of sitter/walker’s care for you fur kids but do have backup if something should come up.
How will I know when my pets have been visited?

Happy Trails uses an amazing software program that GPS tracks all visits and sends detailed report cards after each visit.  Clients receive report card updates, message their walker/sitter, schedule future events and pay their invoice, all with the ease of their client app.

How many sets of keys must I provide to Happy Trails?
We ask for 3 copies that has been tested at your meet and greet to ensure that they all work. Happy Trails will then store 1 copy securely in the office while the other two will be out in the field securely with your primary pet sitter/Walker.

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Dog Walking. Pet Sitting. House Sitting