- Why use a dog-walking service? If you’re like most of us, you don’t work close to home, and its not really possible to swing by the house to let the dog out at lunch time. But expecting our dogs to “hold it” all those hours we are away isn’t exactly feasible either. That’s where we come in! We’ll take your dog(s) for a walk and provide fresh air, exercise and a chance to use the bathroom. The opportunity to sniff and explore is so beneficial for dogs, and we’ve discovered that while all dogs have different physical needs and capabilities, the chance to get out really keeps them vibrant and happy. If you’ve got a fenced yard, that’s a good alternative for senior pets who may not have the stamina they used to for a “brisk” walk. Its up to you! Many of our clients report that their dogs are just “better” as a result of having their own staff come in and visit them during the day.
- What kind of experience do you have? Sierra Stroll Pet Care has been serving the beloved pets of Woodbridge, Dumfries and surrounding neighborhoods since 2007. We are extremely selective about our caregivers, and only work with the very best, most compassionate and experienced animal care professionals.
- How will you access my home? We require two working copies of your house key to ensure we have uninterrupted access to your home. One copy will stay in a key safe in our office and the other with your assigned pet caregiver. If your community and/or building has a gate or access key or code, we require that as well.
- What if I choose not to leave keys on file? If we don’t have keys on file, each time you request service we will schedule a key pickup and a key return, which incurs a $10 charge for each instance. No exceptions.
- My pet requires medication – how much do you charge for that? We don’t charge any additional fee for medication administration in pill or injection form. Pets requiring more complex medical treatments may incur an additional charge of $10 per treatment.
- How do I sign up for service? Our registration forms are all conveniently web-based, making it quick and easy to register as a new client. Simply click the “Online Registration” tab on the navigation menu, and register yourself (New Client Registration) and each of your pets individually. Then click “Request Service” to let us know what kind of service you need as well as when you’d like to schedule your in-home consultation. The consultations typically take about 30 minutes, and we perform them six days a week for your convenience. There is a one-time fee of $15 to register.
- What forms of payment do you accept? We have links on our website and service invoices that allow convenient electronic credit and debit card payments, and we also accept cash and personal checks you may leave for us at the time of service.
- How do I schedule service once I’m a registered client? Simply click the “Request Service” button and let us know when you’ll need service, and once we confirm your request and provide your invoice via email, you’re all set!
- How do I make changes to my ongoing dog-walking service? If you need to make changes to your ongoing service, you can simply use our Contact Form which allows you to cancel that day’s visit or schedule up to two weeks of modifications.
- Are there any additional fees associated with scheduling service? Please remember that although our pet caregivers are working from 6 a.m. until bedtime most days, our office staff is not. If you submit a request after office hours for service on the next business day, you will be charged a last-minute service fee of $10. Our office hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 1. Our office is closed on Sundays and all major holidays.
- Can I always have the same pet caregiver? We understand the extraordinary bond that forms between your pet and his/her caregiver. Naturally, when dealing with living creatures (both human and otherwise), we also understand that sometimes things happen that make it difficult to always have the same person. We do our very best to ensure you are always covered, and strive to maintain consistency in your service. Please remember that we only have exceptional people on our staff, and we love each animal as if he or she were our own.
- Do you provide information about the visits? We provide automatic visit completion emails that can also include notes from your pet caregiver about the visit. In the unlikely event something occurs during a visit that we feel you should urgently know about, we will contact you using the preferred phone number you provide in your New Client Registration.
- Why should I choose In-Home Pet Sitting instead of boarding at a kennel or vet? Allowing your pet to stay in his or her own environment is less stressful for them, and boarding facilities tend to be noisy places which can add to that stress. Having a pet sitter is also a terrific deterrent for crime. How? We will come at slightly different times each day, leaving on a variety of lights, bringing in your mail, paper and any packages, and giving the appearance of someone being at home.
Have a question not answered here? Email us.