​1.  MEET AND GREET (On-going, midday, dog walking clients, with 4 or more walks per week, are exempt from any meet and greet fees):

• All new clients are required to have a meet and greet prior to services being rendered.

• We do not offer same-day meet and greet appointments.

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2.  Reservations: 

*To make a reservation for care, text me at 801-580-5320 or email at apal@amythecrittersitter.com.   The office will confirm all service requests the same day via return text or email. Your reservations are not considered confirmed, and on our calendar, until you receive this confirmation email, saying "I've got those dates down..." or some such.

*Hours of operation:  Variable/Always Open. Hours I am out doing sits depends on the combo of houses and their locations and needs but you can text me anytime.

*When submitting a reservation request, clients are required to supply the approximate time they will be leaving and returning home on the first and last day of their trip.

*We require all cats in our care to be visited at least once every 24 hours.

*We require all dogs in our care to be visited a minimum of twice per day.

*We require all crated dogs in our care to be visited a minimum of three times per day.

 

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3. Pet Sits:

• All of our services can be found on our website at www.amythecrittersitter.com 

• All of our services are done in our clients’ homes. We do not offer boarding services.

• We do not offer same day or next day service for new clients.

• Quick Visits are for extreme-introvert cats, birds, and other small critters only. They last up to a maximum of 15 minutes and include feeding, refreshing water, scooping litter boxes, minor clean-up of pet messes, security check of the home, mail/package retrieval. They do not include playtime, medication administration, extensive cleaning of litter boxes, extensive cleaning of pet enclosures, watering plants, taking trash cans to/from the curb.

• 15-minute potty breaks are for dogs with fenced in backyards only. They include potty and playtime in the backyard, refreshing water bowls and client provided treats. They do not include feeding, walks, medication, and any other service provided as part of our all-inclusive pet sits.

• Watering of plants is limited to indoor, and outdoor porch potted plants, with the use of a watering can. 

• Our pet taxi service is offered to existing clients only.

• Cats: A cat visit includes food, water, litter box maintenance, and playtime, as well as other assorted needs. Cats need to be visited at least once per day, and unless they have a catio or other safe outdoor area, I encourage them to be kept indoors unless we have discussed safe alternative arrangements.

• Dogs:  A dog visit includes food/water, a walk or outdoor playtime, as well as other assorted needs. I require that dogs be visited AT LEAST two times a day but would prefer three or a pattern of two visits one day, three the next, or such.

• Medications: All new medications prescribed need to be run by me before you leave on a trip so as to ensure I can safely and effectively give them in your absence. I prefer to even have enough time before you leave to come over and see how you give the meds and—if time permits—even come by and give them myself. There is no charge for coming over to see how you give them or for me coming over to practice giving them. I just need to make sure they can be reasonably given by me considering the existing relationship I’ve got with your pet and their feelings about the meds and me giving them so that we can formulate a realistic plan before you leave.    .

• Scheduling and Visit times:  I strive to make sure that the visits are completed in accordance with a reasonable/humane time interval (about 5-7 hours between visits if seen three times a day, about 12 hours between visits if seen twice a day, no more than 24 if seen once, etc.).  

• Please let me know of any changes in care since I last saw your pet(s). ​

• House Cleanliness:  Every effort will be made to keep your home at approximately the same cleanliness level as when you left so long as all the supplies (plastic bags, towels, cleaning products, paper towels, and trash bags) are left out so that I don't have to take away valuable time I could be spending with your pet looking for them.

• "We're Back" Texts/Emails:   To ensure that your pets are not left without care, please make sure to let me know when you're back safe and sound.  If I do not receive a call about your arrival back home, there is a possibility that I will keep coming which I’m sure will be awful and memorable for both of us.

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4.  Overnight visits

• An overnight visit runs from approximately 10PM – 7AM and includes the morning visit on the following day.

• Overnight service does not include any other visits throughout the day, like a midday dog walk and a dinner visit. Client will need to request these additional visits when submitting a service request.

• A 50% deposit is required for any service request that includes an overnight visit.

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5. Payment:  Full payment is made via check/cash, Venmo or Zelle at the first visit of a trip or at the start of the week for dog walking families.  

 

6.  Holidays:  There is an additional $5 per visit charge for services provided on Christmas Day.  7/2023: I’ve never actually followed through on adding this to invoices but will be doing so this year.

7.  Cancellations or Changes in Service Dates:  

Pet Sitting Clients                                                        

• There are no cancellation fees for cancellations received more than 7 days prior to the first scheduled visit.

• Any cancellation received within 7 days of the first scheduled visit will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the total invoiced amount.

• Overnight reservations require a 14-day notice of cancellation. Failure to supply sufficient notice will result in a loss of the client’s 50% deposit.

• Thanksgiving and Christmas reservations require a 21-day notice of cancellation. Failure to supply sufficient notice will result in a loss of the client’s 50% deposit.

Daily Mid-Day Dog Walking Clients

• Please alert the office by 9:00AM if you must cancel your mid-day dog walk for that day.

• Should a sitter arrive for a scheduled dog walk to find the client home and/or the dog(s) not home, without any notice of cancellation, client shall be charged in full for that visit.

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8) Refunds ​

• Clients who have paid for services not yet rendered and then cancel those services in accordance with our cancellation policy will receive a credit to their account to use for future reservations. Credits expire in one year from date of issue.

• No credits shall be issued due to a late departure or an early return by the client.

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9.  Inclement Weather/Emergencies/Unforeseen Events: 

• In the event of inclement weather or natural disaster, client agree to allow Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting to use their best judgment in caring for your pet(s).  Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting will not be held liable for any damages or liabilities related to any such decisions. If we are unable to travel to your home due to unsafe road conditions or road closures, we will inform you ASAP.

• Client agrees to have a backup plan, if necessary, should inclement weather temporarily prevent Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting from caring for your pet(s)

• We always recommend leaving a key with a neighbor for these instances.

• ​Every effort will be made to offer uninterrupted service with no reduction in quality or time.

• All efforts to ensure such events are resolved with the utmost compassion and conscientiousness will occur.  In the event of an emergency with your pet, I will also be in contact with you via phone call so that we can meet such a challenge and resolve it together.

• My specific emergency procedure for pet-related events (vs. home issues) is:  I will be calling you as I head out the door with your pet to the nearest emergency vet (which we establish at the initial meeting).  If you receive a phone call from me during a trip, try to pick up or return the call as soon as possible.

• Emergencies in the home are case-by-case; e.g., I’ve sat with pets in fire evacuation zones, knowing I wouldn’t be able to get back into the area once I left. Another emergency was an appliance that flooded a basement; in that case, I turned off the water and contacted the family who contacted their insurance.

10. Vaccinations/Immunizations:  ​

• Client attests to the fact that all licenses and vaccinations required by the State of Texas, as well as the city and/or county in which they reside, are current according to law.

• Client understands that, in case of a medical emergency, proof of rabies vaccination is required by all veterinarians before treatment will be rendered.

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11.  Keys

• Client authorizes Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting to keep at least one set of house keys on file for purposes of entry to the home during scheduled service.

• Client acknowledges that Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting will keep all keys on file in a secured lock box for future use.

• If a client prefers not to keep keys on file with us, it will be the client’s responsibility to deliver the keys to us prior to the first day of future service.

• If a client moves, or would like their keys back for any reason, they may pick up their keys or request that we dispose of them. For security purposes we do not send keys through the mail. 

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12. Unforeseen purchases:  Should the purchasing of supplies such as pet food, etc. be necessary, I’ll retain a receipt/send a pic copy, and add the amount to the invoice.   

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13.  Home access:

• It is the client’s duty to inform Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting if anyone else will have access to your home during our service period, i.e., house cleaners, realtors, maintenance/repair service providers, friends/family, etc. Please inform them that we will be there as well.

• Client agrees to have a plan in place to keep pets secure on days that another individual or service provider will be entering your home.

• Client agrees that should any pet escape the home when home has been accessed by anyone other than Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting, Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting will not be held liable for any consequences that result from said escape. This includes, but is not limited to, loss, injury, and death.

• Client agrees that Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting shall not be held liable for any damages or loss incurred to your home on days when someone other than Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting has access to your home.

• The liability waivers above do not apply to client’s emergency contact(s), as named in the client’s profile as having a key or code to enter the client’s home, with the understanding that said contact(s) will not be entering the client’s home during the entire term of Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting’s visit schedule, unless called to the client’s home, by the client or a Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting representative, in the event of an emergency.

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14.  Pet Emergencies 

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• At the Meet and Greet, an In Case of Emergency form will be completed.  In the event of an emergency, Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting will drive to the Pet ER listed on this form while calling the client directly; if client is unavailable, Amy the Critter Sitter will contact the emergency contact listed on the In Case of Emergency form.  

• Client agrees to work with the veterinary practice directly concerning payment for any services rendered.

• Client acknowledges there will be a fee of $30.00 charged by Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting, which covers round trip emergency transportation to/from the veterinarian, as well as staying with your pet(s) during any examinations and waiting for tests, as needed.

• Client releases Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting from all liabilities related to transportation, treatment, and expense resulting from a medical emergency with your pet(s).

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15. Miscellaneous

• At the Meet and Greet, an In Case of Emergency form will be completed.  In the event of an emergency, Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting will drive to the Pet ER listed on this form while calling the client directly; if client is unavailable, Amy the Critter Sitter will contact the emergency contact listed on the In Case of Emergency form.  

• Client agrees to work with the veterinary practice directly concerning payment for any services rendered.

• Client acknowledges there will be a fee of $30.00 charged by Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting, which covers round trip emergency transportation to/from the veterinarian, as well as staying with your pet(s) during any examinations and waiting for tests, as needed.

• Pet waste:  Every effort will be made to ensure yard waste made during your trip is cleaned up.  I ask that you leave out bags, etc. for this purpose and let me know where it's appropriate to leave it.

• Collars/Leashes/Walks: Please provide secure collars with appropriate tags for all visits.  I do not allow off-leash time (unless it's a secure area we discuss in advance) and go to great lengths to avoid being approached by dogs, to include those roaming or off-leash. 

• Household Emergencies:  Please be prepared to let me know where the water shut off is to your home.  In the event of an emergency, I will contact you and/or the appropriate emergency services immediately.

• Additional Pet Care Assistance and Other Scheduled Services:  I don't/can't accept liability for other persons who will be in your home prior to, during, or immediately after services have been rendered. Sharing sits with house sitters or family members is possible but a clear manifest of who is responsible for what will need to be determined in advance by the family. Please let me know at before any future service dates of anyone who may have access to your home while you are away. This includes cleaning services, construction crews, maintenance personnel, friends, family and neighbors. 

• All dogs and cats with access to outside should have a collar with visible identification attached to it.

• Please make sure that gates, fences, latches, and materials used to secure your pet are in good working order.  All possible escape routes should be secured.

• Cats are usually required to be kept indoors for the duration of the service period unless we discuss it in advance.  

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16.  Insurance & Bonding:  

• Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting is fully insured through Pet Sitters Associates LLC., Administered by: RPS Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI, and underwritten by: Evanston Insurance Company.

• Amy the Critter Sitter does not have employees so is not required to be bonded.

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17) Limitation of Liability:  

• Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting agrees to provide all services in a reliable and trustworthy manner. In consideration of these services, client expressly waives all claims against Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting and its contractors, except for those arising from willful misconduct and negligence on the part of any Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting representative.

 

 

We thank you for choosing Amy the Critter Sitter Pet Sitting for your professional pet care needs. We look forward to providing excellent service and establishing a long relationship with you and your pet(s).

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