- Why should I hire a pet sitter?
You may be wondering why you should hire a pet sitter, rather than board your pet or ask a neighbor. Hiring a professional pet sitter offers many advantages, both for your pet and for you.
ADVANTAGES FOR YOUR PET:
• Reduced stress: Your pet stays where they feel most comfortable and secure—at home. With familiar sights, sounds, smells, and routines, your pet can relax and follow their regular schedule.
• No “travel trauma”
• Minimal exposure to the illnesses of other animals.
• Personal attention: Your pet will be pampered by a reliable professional using the games, play, walks, brushing, and instructions you specify.
ADVANTAGES FOR YOU:
• No more imposing on neighbors or family members who may not have the experience or reliability of a professional pet sitter.
• No worrying about transporting your pet while you are busy with work or travel planning.
• Security: Your pet sitter will use proven crime deterrence techniques to give your home a lived in, protected look at no extra charge.
• Special Services: Your service includes watering plants, retrieving mail, taking out garbage, and more.
• Affordability: All your pets stay together for one low per visit (not per pet) rate. No extra charge for holidays.
• Peace of Mind: While you are away you can feel confident that your pet is in capable, caring hands. We care, and it shows!
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- What types of pets do you pet-sit?
Scratch and Sniff, Inc. cares for dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, and critters (rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, hermit crabs etc.) Outdoor cats will only be cared for if they remain inside the house for the entire time of service.
Pets with aggressive behavior will not be accepted for pet-sitting assignments. If a pet is found to be aggressive during a pet-sitting service, the pet will be transported to a boarding kennel at the expense of the client.
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- Where is your service area?
Scratch and Sniff, Inc. services Plainfield, parts of Naperville, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Joliet and Oswego, Illinois.
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- How does this service work?
Your personal pet sitter arrives at your home for each visit (depending on service purchased). During this time, your pets are played with, cuddled, loved and talked to. Dogs can be walked upon request and all standard pet care is administered: Feeding, watering, litter scooping for cats and clean up of cages or accidental messes in the house. Yards/Runs are also scooped.
We also offer overnight service (limited). A pet sitter stays overnight in your home from approximately 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and provides the same services as during a normal pet sitting visit. If an additional visit is required later in the day, it can be provided at a discount.
Home care is included with all pet sitting fees. This means that your mail and newspapers and any package deliveries left at the door will be brought in. In addition, indoor and outdoor plants can be watered and your trash taken out on pick-up day and cans brought back in. We are happy to set your security alarm.
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- How many visits a day does my pet need?
How many visits a day your pet(s) require will be determined according to the type of pet(s), how they are confined and if there is availability of doggie-doors (pet doors). Some homes require one visit per day, others two, three or four.
These details will be discussed with you during your initial consultation to decide whether one, two, three or more visits are needed on a daily basis.
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- How will I be charged for services & when do I pay?
Services are charged according to the type of service and our fee schedule. All services include pet and home care.
Payment is due at the time of the first visit for the entire pet-sit assignment. You will leave your payment of check or cash with your completed paperwork to be picked up on the first visit.
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- What specific services do you offer?
Scratch and Sniff Pet Sitting specializes in caring for your pets in your own home during weekend getaways, vacations and holiday travel. We also look after your pets during times of owner illness or injury where routine care for your pet might be disrupted or impossible to give until your recovery. We offer:
• Personalized pet sitting in your home
• Overnight stay service in your home
• Midday dog walking and puppy potty breaks
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- Will my pets and I meet the pet sitter before service starts?
Yes! In fact, this is a requirement before pet sitting services can begin. All new clients will be scheduled for a free initial consultation and interview. During this time, the service owner, Elisabeth Foreman, will meet with you and have an opportunity to interact with the pets and be able to go over all contracts, policies and guidelines. Home care and pet care details, including how many visits a day, will be discussed and your pet sits are scheduled accordingly.
If associate pet sitters working for Scratch and Sniff, Inc. will be caring for your pets, a short "meet and greet" will be scheduled. The consultation and initial paperwork will only need to be done once. After that, simply call or use the web site to order pet sit services in the future!
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- What happens when I get back from my trip?
If you have been out of town on a trip, we ask that you call upon your return to let the pet sitter know that you are taking over the care of your pets.
If the pet sitter does not hear from the owner or other designated responsible party, pet sitting services will continue as previously scheduled and will be charged at the applicable current rates.
By the same token, if you are stranded due to airport delays, poor weather or other reason that delays your expected return home, you can rest easy knowing that your pets will not be abandoned and care will not be suspended. Make every attempt to contact the pet sitter by telephone, text or email immediately if a problem arises to update the status of your situation.
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- Will people I don't know come to my home?
Absolutely not! We take the security, safety and privacy of your home very seriously. Currently, there are two owner-operators that personally supervise or perform services for the care of your pets and home.
Any situation where coverage is needed and another party will take over care will never be initiated without your knowledge and prior approval.
Scratch and Sniff, Inc. carries commercial liability insurance and is bonded for your added protection and peace of mind.
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- What if the pet sitter is not available during the time I will be away?
Pet sitters take vacations too! At times, pet sitters will also be out-of-town or unavailable during the time you need service.
If you are an established client of Scratch and Sniff, Inc. you will receive a notification by mail in the form of a newsletter or postcard at least two or more weeks in advance of a planned vacation.
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- What if the pet sitter has a personal emergency during the time I am away?
While this situation is unlikely, it is possible that a pet sitter can experience a personal emergency. Our own pet sitters are prepared to cover each other as needed in case of emergencies. However, if another professional pet sitting service needs to be involved, you will be contacted as soon as possible to be advised of the situation.
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- Are you insured and bonded?
Yes!
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