Here are the answers to some of our most popular questions:
General FAQ
I’m ready to book. How do I get started?
The first step is to contact us to confirm availability and discuss your pet care needs. Then, we’ll create an account for you in our online scheduling system and book your free Meet & Greet with your dog walker or pet sitter.
What areas do you serve?
We serve all of Takoma Park, MD and parts of Silver Spring, MD and Washington, DC. Our primary service area includes zip codes 20012, 20901, 20903, 20910, and 20912. Outside of these zip codes, an additional travel fee may apply to services.
What types of animals do you care for?
We have training and experience caring for all types of pets including dogs (all breeds), cats, ferrets, rabbits, and other small mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and even backyard livestock and poultry.
What are your rates?
Rates vary based upon the service you select. You can view our rates lists on our Pet Sitting and Dog Walking pages.
I have more than one pet. Is there an extra charge?
No, we charge based on the length of the visit or walk you select, not by the number of pets you have. There are no extra charges for additional pets. We just ask that you select a long enough visit that we have adequate time to care for all of your pets.
How do I pay for services?
We accept credit/debit cards and ACH (e-check) through our online scheduling system. Our online scheduling system securely stores your credit card or bank account information, and you are charged only if your booking is approved. For our dog walking plans, payments are charged 3 days before the first walk of each month. We also accept Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
What is your cancellation policy?
We understand that unexpected things happen and plans can change. We adhere to a strict no overbooking policy, which means we have to turn away clients once our schedule is full. To ensure that our appointment slots are available to those who need them most, a fee may apply for cancellations with less than 24 hours notice.
Do I have to give you a key to my house?
We just need a reliable way to access your home and care for your pets while you’re away. Some clients prefer to give us keys to keep on file, some prefer to keep their keys in a lockbox at their home and provide us with the code, and some have a keyless entry system. If you do choose to keep your keys on file, we keep them safe by not labeling them with any identifying information and keep them locked in a secure storage cabinet on days when we’re not visiting your pets.
Dog Walking FAQ
Will my dog be walked alone or in a group of other dogs?
Our walks are private, meaning we don’t walk your dog with dogs from other households. If you only have one dog, we will walk him or her alone. If you have more than one dog, we can walk them separately or together, depending on what works best for them.
How long are your dog walks?
We offer different lengths of walks for you to choose from to suit your dog’s needs: 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 45 minutes, or 60 minutes. We’re also happy to do a custom length walk for your dog — just contact us to discuss your needs.
I only need an occasional walk for my dog, not a weekly schedule. Can you accommodate that?
Yes, our scheduling options are flexible. You can book individual walks when you need them. You don’t have to sign up for a recurring schedule.
What happens to my dog’s walk if it rains or snows?
When the weather is bad, we have a few options for making sure your dog gets their exercise and potty break:
- We can adjust the visit time and come a little earlier or later to avoid the bad weather.
- If the weather’s not too severe and your dog doesn’t mind, we can go for our usual walk and towel your dog off when we get back.
- We can shorten the walk to a quick potty break and spend time playing with your dog indoors.
Occasionally, the weather is severe enough that it’s not safe for our dog walkers to drive to your house, and we may have to cancel your walk for that day, in which case you will receive a credit for the missed walk.
Pet Sitting FAQ
How long are your pet sitting visits?
We offer multiple length of pet sitting visits for you to select from, starting with 30 minutes, so you can choose the length of time that best suits your pets’ need and the tasks you want your pet sitter to complete.
How many pet sitting visits should I schedule each day?
To keep your pet’s stress level at a minimum while you’re away, we recommend trying to adhere to your pet’s normal routine of eating, exercise, and potty when deciding when and how often to schedule pet sitting visits. For cats, we recommend two visits a day or an overnight, and for dogs, we recommend at least three visits a day or an overnight with a midday visit to ensure they get enough potty breaks and don’t have accidents in the house.
Can you give my pet medication or injections?
Yes, our trained staff can administer all types of medication, including pills, liquids, topical medications, insulin, and sub-Q fluids.
I have a friend/neighbor/relative who will be caring for my pets while I’m away. Can I hire you for just the times they aren’t available?
Yes, we’re happy to share pet care responsibilities with someone you know and trust. We just ask that you provide us with their contact information (and give our contact information to them), so we can get in touch with each other if needed.