Policies & Procedures for All Services

The following is a list of my policies and procedures for In-Home Pet Sitting, Dog Boarding & Doggie Day Care. I know it’s a bit overwhelming and I don’t publish these to come off as a stickler, but to avoid any misunderstandings or surprises. I want my clients to be as fully informed as possible. Please read through in it’s entirety before using my service(s). If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Note: For All Payments & Fee Structures, including Cancellation Policies please See “Payments & Specials” for all Services Requested

 

IN-HOME PET SITTING or DAILY DOG WALKING Policies/Procedures:

First Step (1):

Please fill out my on-line contact form in its entirety and I will contact you to confirm your reservation. If you leave a reservation request by voice mail or e-mail and have not yet spoken to me directly over the phone or in person, you will then need direct confirmation by me that I have received it. This is to prevent pets being left alone because of a mixed or missed message.

After making an advanced reservation for a pet sit (does not apply to dog walk/play times or regularly weekly visits) with myself over the phone or by email, I will contact you to confirm the dates 24-48 hours ahead of time. If you do not hear from me, you must contact me and confirm the upcoming service. This is very important. We are all human and there could have been a miscommunication on either side and I do not want any pets to suffer because of it.

Current Clients – My preferred method for you to book pet sitting dates is for you to use my on-line contact form. This way I have the complete information I need and in written form. Please do not send me a regular e-mail as I get a large volume of e-mail in my in-box and lots of spam and your request could easily get lost or deleted. Thank you!

New Clients – Please use my on-line contact form to book an initial consult preferably whenever possible at least a few weeks before your intended trip. I will then call you to schedule the service requested. Please note: none of my services can be provided until we have met and all paper work has been filled out & signed. Initial consults are scheduled around my pet care schedule, therefore these appointments normally cannot be set up at the last minute.

Second (2) Step:

Getting Acquainted Initial Consult:

Our initial meeting consists of my visiting your home to get acquainted with you, your pet(s) and your pets routine. I encourage you to write down any questions you may have for me about the service I am providing so that we can go over them at this time. I will also be providing you (in advance through email) with my New Client forms for you to fill out and sign to keep for my records. As well, I will be asking for a copy of your key to keep through the duration of the pet sit. * It is preferred that you make an extra copy of your key for me to keep if you are expecting to use my service in the future. If you decide to have me return it each visit, there will be a charge of $20.00 for pick-up and drop off of key each time you use my service in the future; unless you prefer to either hide it in a safe place or drop it off at my home. For first time clients I will be collecting payment at the time of our initial meeting at your home & thereafter I will accept payment upon my first scheduled service/visit (please see Payments & Specials tab for more details on this).

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In-Home Visits: Visits are provided between 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM. I can only guarantee specific visit times for those of you who have pets that require medicine at a specific time, such as diabetic clients who require insulin. Or, for those doggie clients who do not have access to outside. For all other pet clients, I ask that you give me a preferred two hour window of time, in either the morning, afternoon, or evening and I will do my best to stay within the perimeters of that time-frame. Pet sit visits average about thirty minutes long. However, visits may run shorter in specific cases such as a shy or nervous cat that is waiting for me to leave. On the occasion where I’ve gotten behind schedule or have time constraints and have to cut a visit short, I try my best to make up that time in the next visit. In some cases I’ve been known to stay longer than thirty minutes, if I feel the pet seems extra lonely or needy that day. In the case of bad weather conditions I will be unable to provide walks for your dog; in this case I will spend our time in other ways, such as cuddling together on the couch while reading or playing safely inside. If you are going away during the monsoon season or winter season, please know that I do not approve of pets being left outside in the cold and rain; unless he or she has some kind of shelter like a garage or shed to keep warm. This does not apply to outdoor cats. All cats and other small pets must be seen at least once a day. All dogs must be seen at least twice a day.

Crated dogs: I do not approve of crating a pet the entire time you are gone on a trip. I believe it is a form of cruelty. If you are crating your dog during work hours and either have myself coming by during the day to let them out or by yourself that is fine. Or, if I am sitting for you and you would like your pet to be crated at night only, this is also acceptable.

***Note: I must be notified of all pets in your household and they will all be considered under my care unless other approved care is arranged for them.

  
 

More Important Facts to Consider:

Job sharing & Third Parties

Please notify me of any other person (relative, neighbor, contractor, cleaning service, child away at college, etc.) having permission to access your home while you are away. This is very important. If anyone else is there, I will need to contact the police for my safety and the safety of your home and pets.

Heidi Historic Home & Pet Care prefers not to job share due to conflicts, problems and liability that can occur. Under special circumstances I may agree but can not be held responsible for the pet(s) being cared for improperly, doors being left unlocked, pets getting loose, items being lost or broken etc. It is much harder to observe the health of a pet with more than one care giver. I ask for written reports on any food given, potty breaks, activities and behaviors to help me give the best care I can.

Heidi Historic Home & Pet Care is not liable and is completely indemnified for any and all liability stemming from the act(s) or failure to act(s) of third parties, whether known or unknown, including but not limited to, friends, neighbors, pool persons, landscapers, housekeepers, utility persons, etc.

Contact Heidi's Historic Home & Pet Care for Phx Pet Sitting, Phx Dog Walking, Phx Dog Boarding, And Phx Doggie Day Care... Heidi was voted the #1 Pet Sitter in All of Arizona!
Pet & Home Safety

Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care will not be held liable for free roaming outdoor cats in the event of injury, illness, loss or death. For their safety it is strongly advised that they remain inside your home during your absence.

All dogs are required to be on a leash when outside except for when in secured owner’s property (fenced in yard) or under special circumstances with owner’s instructions, such as scheduled trips to off-leash doggie park.

It is the client’s sole responsibility to pet proof any areas of the home and property to which the pet has access. This includes thoroughly inspecting fences, gates and latches. As well as keeping the pet confined to a certain room/area, if the pet has displayed any previous signs of behavioral problems such as chewing/destroying items within your home.  Unfortunately, although I do my best to monitor all pets at all times, it is impossible to do so each & every minute of my visit within your home.  And, for this reason, I need to be made aware, prior to a visit, if your pet exhibits any type of behavioral problems, such as: chewing/destruction of items within the home or outside of home, and or any aggression towards other people/animals on walks outside of home.  Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care has no liability for any injuries the pet may sustain while in their own home/property nor any property damaged by the pet or injury to other people/pets on their walks, unless the damaged property, or any unforeseen injuries were caused directly by myself or one of my staff members.

I reserve the right to adjust heat or A/C in your home if I think the health of your pet is being affected. Please never leave a space heater on while you are away. They can be fire hazards and I will need to unplug them for the safety of your pets.

I will do my best to find and clean up any accidents made by your pet(s) during your absence; however I will not be held responsible for any damage done by these accidents or by any accidents that are not discovered during a normal walk through of your home. Additionally, while my best will be done to clean any accidents found, I am not a professional carpet/floor cleaner and as such can not be held liable for the quality of the clean up. Please note that Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care will do it’s best to clean up an appropriate amount of waste in back yard area. However, if you have neglected to clean prior waste left by your pet(s) over time, Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care is not responsible for the clean up of such waste.

Invisible Fencing: If you use invisible fencing you understand the risks involved and that the fence or collars may malfunction, that your pet may get excited or frightened by something and cross anyway and that the fencing does not prevent other animals from entering the yard and possibly harming your pet. Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care will not be held responsible for any injury, illness, loss or death of any pet using invisible fencing. The client understands all risks and will take full responsibility for any incidents that may occur, including but not limited to, the injury to any person, damage to any property or injury or death of any other pet.  
 

Sitters & Service

Pet sitting visits are usually done by myself, Heidi D’Angelo, but in the event of a personal situation, time off, illness or injury to myself, another qualified individual may fulfill the responsibilities set forth in the service agreement. On occasion I will now be taking some days off and may have another qualified pet sitter providing some visits.

Heidi’s Historic Home & Pet Care reserves the right to deny service or terminate service for any reason, but especially in the case of safety concerns, financial concerns, unsanitary conditions, or inappropriate or uncomfortable situations.

Any dog bites must be reported to local authorities as provided by law.