Frequently Asked Questions about our Pro Pet Care Services

To hire Two Dogs Pet Services to provide Pro Pet Care or  Dog walking, how do I get started?

1. Are you located in Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte, or Bradbury? Great…
2.  Simply fill out our New Client Request or Current Client Request on our home page, including scheduling a free call with one of our Pros, at least two weeks prior to your service needs.
3. Once we receive your request and have our scheduled call, we’ll check availability and then set up a meet and greet to get to know your pets and you. We operate in teams of two for safety and to ensure we can cover your pets care in case of sitter/walker emergency.
4. Once the meet n greet is scheduled, you’ll be asked to complete four forms, two are simple check boxes, two are your opportunities to give us all the important info you can…they’re all contracts with us and privacy protected.
5. The meet n greet is the time to show your sitters/walkers exactly what you'd like them to do, give your pets opportunities to sniff & get to know their new best friends, and you’ll have plenty of time to ask any questions you might have about how they’ll spend time with your pets. If our sitters/walkers have any questions, they’ll be sure to ask.
6. The meet n greet is also when you’ll give the sitters a check/cash deposit or pay online, keys or code to access the lock box or doors, alarm info, and other important access instructions.

If you have ANY questions about how to get started, please reach out 626-673-7978

Do you offer discounts? What if I have a lot of animals or multiple dogs/cats?

We do our best to keep our rates extremely competitive and very fair for the services we provide and our experience. Our goal is not to break your bank, but this is how we make our living, so when we choose to offer a lower rate it's because it's the fair and right thing to do for you. We care about our clients and their pets, so if there is a need, we always do our very best to fill that need. We will always give you the best possible rate we can and do our very best to work ethically within your budget.

We actually charge a little more for each additional animal or group of urban farm animals. If we charged less for extra animals, we would have to limit our time with them and we want to spend more time, not less time! For more than one, the average additional cost per additional dog per visit is $5-$10, more than two cats are $5 each additional. All others are dependent on the type of animal.

By not offering across the board discounts, we are able to donate services and offer to care for pets for clients who are hospitalized or in hospice or do the extra special something for a client in need. We want to continue to do those things and we can't if we discount rates.

PLUS, we are sooo worth more than what we charge! Every one of us!

What kind of pets do you care for?

We've come up with a list of 30 different types of pets we've taken care of in the last 30 years.

Here's a start to the list:

Dogs

Cats

Rabbits

Birds (such as: parrots, parakeets, macaws, etc.)

Tortoises

Fish

Snakes

Mice

Turtles

Chickens

Horses

Frogs

Hamsters

Ferrets

Newts

Skinks

Bearded Dragons

Opossums

Goats

Snails

Shrimp

Crabs

Ducks

Sugar Gliders

Sheep

Guinea Pigs

Rats

Hedgehogs

Aligator Lizards

Stick Bugs

This list is only a partial list of the many animals Jen has handled over the years of working at veterinary hospitals. Ranging from hawks to peacocks to skunks to sugar gliders...Kim and Jen have both raised squirrels for release. Steve and his family had a plethora of wild animals for pets back in the day, too...including monkeys!

Do you board pets?

Two Dogs Pet Services does not board dogs. For cats & rabbits (and other exotic pets- small caged pets such as lizards, small birds, hamsters, small fish tanks, etc.) we can connect you with one of our sitters who *might* be able to privately house one or two pets for a short time.

We do, however, love to stay overnight with your pets. Our most pawpular service! We call the 12 hours of overnight spoiling “Slumber Pawrties” because that's what they are...pets of all types will be pampered and have plenty of play time. We provide in-your-home services ranging from potty breaks to overnight stays with additional visits.

Contact us for more information.

What areas do you service?  

We are centrally located in Monrovia. Although we are able to travel up to 10 miles for Slumber Pawrties, we prefer to stay close to "home"...Monrovia, Arcadia, Bradbury, and Duarte. Any assignment outside of a three mile radius from Myrtle & Foothill, Monrovia, will incur an additional mileage charge.

Jen and the whippets are now located in Taos, New Mexico, so if you have a pet care need in Taos, reach out to Jen via text 626-673-7978.

Is my personal information kept confidential?

Absolutely! We don't even put your name or address on key tags! Because we are 99.9% paperless, we receive your information via our online forms, which we keep secure, offline. We do not print or share your personal or security information, unless you request. You may wonder why we do not carry your information on us. Because other local sitters have experienced theft from their vehicles, where client information was stored, we have opted to keep your information off of paper, therefore, out of our vehicles.

How far in advance is it necessary for me to book your service?

It's best to reserve dates as far in advance as possible, especially for holidays and Slumber Pawrties. We book services on a first come, first served basis. We may accept the occasional last minute booking if we have a petsitter/dog walker available. When you "book" our services, please note a deposit is required. Inquiries are not considered bookings and our availability may change from one day to the next, so get those date requests in as soon as you can!

Do I have to schedule another meet n greet and fill out another form every time I leave town?

No on the meet n greet, yes on the request form, unless you’ve already submitted a request for your dates. There is an option to include many dates on one request form and we highly recommend doing that.

If you have ANY changes to your pet's routine, diet, or medications, simply send a detailed email info@twodogspetservices.com or text 626-673-7978 to us and we'll update your pet's info. It is ultimately your responsibility to keep us posted on changes within your pet family. For most new additions to your pet family, we do require a new pet info form.

How do I get my key back when I return from my trip? Or can you just keep it?

Most clients choose to give a key to their petsitter/dog walker at the initial meet n greet, after agreeing to go ahead with the service.  If you are not able to do this or you prefer to wait until you’re on your way out of town, you can drop off at Steve’s house near Ivy x Foothill in Monrovia (address given when necessary). Another option is to request a key pick up, for an additional charge of 50% of your regular visit rate (plus mileage rate of $1 per mile over 3 miles). We can keep your key in our safe if you travel often, or we can leave it in a safe place outside of your home after the assignment is complete, whichever you prefer. We prefer not to leave keys inside a home after our assignment is complete in case you experience an emergency or delay on your scheduled return date. Some clients will even purchase a lock box specifically for their petsitter. During your initial call with one of our Pros, we can discuss which option is best for your household.

What are your hours of operation? And are those different than your office hours?

Although we have some flexibility, our preferred hours of operation (hours we are available to care for your pets) are from 7am-10am, 11am-2pm, and 4pm-7pm Monday thru Friday. Overnight stays (or Slumber Pawrties) begin between 6 & 8pm and last 12 hours or more, depending on the sitter's next day schedule. Saturday and Sunday, we try to spend some extra time with our own pet and human family and, while we will accept occasional midday visits, we prefer to stick to the petsitting (7am-10am and 5pm-7pm and Slumber Pawrties).

For new clients who have a very busy work week and find it most convenient to meet on the weekends, we will always do our best to schedule the most convenient time. Part of the reason we prefer advanced notice for upcoming assignments is to make sure there’s plenty of time to work with multiple schedules and get that meet n greet done as soon as possible. We want you to have peace of mind sooner rather than later!

Our office hours are 1-6pm Tues-Sat. Phone calls, texts, emails, and requests will be returned in the order they are received and as soon as possible. If you contact us on a weekend or a holiday, your calls will be returned in the order received, as soon as possible. If it’s urgent (not a pet care request), we will response as immediately as possible.

May I offer a gratuity to my pet sitter?

Of course! Our sitters love to feel even more appreciated. Some ways to thank them, in addition to re-hiring them by request, is to add a few dollars tip to your payment or a gift card to their favorite coffee or tea house. 100% of all gratuities are given directly to your sitter.

How am I billed and when is it due?

Invoices are generated upon request only, but we are happy to give you your visit fee, total, and deposit amount anytime via text or email.

For pet care: A deposit OR payment in full is required when you book your sitter (once you receive confirmation of availability and let us know you want us to show up). If you paid a deposit, the remaining balance is due the day we arrive for the first visit.

For regular weekly dog walking: Payment in full is due upon the first walk of each week or each two week increment, unless previously agreed upon.

If you are a frequent traveler or want to set up an automatic monthly payment, contact Jen 626-673-7978. We are happy to get that set up for you!

How are pet emergencies handled?

Our first priority is the safety and well-being of your pet and we will always do our best to keep them free from harm and illness. Should an emergency arise, we will always call you at the number you provide on the Client Info form in the Veterinary Instructions section. If you cannot be reached, we will contact the first emergency contact and so on. If we cannot reach you or any of your emergency contacts, we will follow your specific instructions as you've written in your Veterinary Information and continue to try to reach you. Please be sure to include specific payment instructions with the Veterinary Information if you will not be reachable at all times...veterinary clinics and emergency animal clinics WILL NOT BILL for services and require payment in full or minimum 50% deposit to BEGIN treatment of any kind, including pain management. Do not leave your pet in this situation, make sure you give us a way to reach you or someone who can pay for treatment over the phone.

Can you give my pet(s) medications or injections?

Most of the time. We have very experienced sitters that are trained and capable of administering oral medications and injections according to your vet's instructions. For pets who are a bit more challenging for you to medicate, you’ll need to assume that they’ll be more challenging for us. There may be an extra fee for medicating challenging pets or we may refer you to the local traveling vet tech (at your cost) to medicate while we are providing all the other care. Make sure to mention your pet's medical needs when you contact us so we can provide the best fit for your pet's needs.

Do you charge extra for pet clean up, walks with petsitting, or medication administration?

Most of the time, no, we don't charge more because it is part of caring for your pet. However, if there is an abundant amount of clean up (ie: extremely dirty litterboxes or regularly missed litterboxes, large amount of dog feces in a yard, difficulty medicating), we will charge an additional $3-$5 fee per incident. If your pet is a puppy or a senior pet that requires more than the average amount of medicating or special attention, we may increase the per visit rate slightly. You won’t be surprised by little fees, we will disclose all costs as soon as we receive the information from you. Please be upfront about any extras that might pop up so we can give you the most accurate quote.

Why should I pay to hire a professional pet care pro, dog trainer, or dog walker when I might be able to get a friend, neighbor or relative to do it for free? What about the online database pet care services? How can they charge $15 compared to your $29?

When you hire a pro, you not only receive the benefits of their knowledge that comes with experience, but professional sitters, walkers, and trainers carry their own insurance specific to their industry and have many many hours of continued education under their belts. A Pet Care Pro will be educated about and have a deep understanding of animal body language. Whatever animal they are providing care for, they need to know how to read communications and communicate clearly with that animal.

A professional will have you complete some kind of contract or formal agreement so that in the event anything happens to your pets while in their care, they have all the information they need to handle any situation the way you instruct. When bartering with friends or swapping pet care needs with relatives or neighbors, it's not always a comfortable situation when handling the details of the assignment. A friend, neighbor, or relative may suddenly cancel plans to care for your pet(s). We are professionals and we have a contract with you to perform services exactly as planned and instructed.

With some of the online database services, anyone can sign up for free and represent themselves any way they choose. There's no regulations or any way to know who they are or if they have community ties or actual pet care experience. Although they do offer insurance, it's about half of what a professional petsitter/dog walker offers, and there are more limitations than a pro's insurance.

None of the databases require any service provider to have a business license, although they do all mention in their guidelines that all providers do need to follow local laws...that means they should ALL have a license to practice business in their city of residence. If they do not, they are illegally working out of their homes and accepting money for that work without regulation. If they house your pet in their homes, they are required by most cities to obtain a kennel license or are limited to a three dog maximum, including their own dogs. A kennel license ensures that proper husbandry is followed and that they are on record with the city so that if anything were to happen, the city has a way to help you. Without those regulations being followed, who knows who and what you will get. That is why these service providers can walk your dog for $15 or "board" them in their homes. They are not upholding industry standards in any way and are not paying to run a business. They are breaking the law when they accept money in exchange for services.

Unfortunately, there are no "petsitter licenses" or "dog walking licenses" only business licenses. That’s literally the only way to be a legit professional petsitter or dog walker. The sitters/walkers you find on these databases have accountability that is limited to the soft reviews on the databases by those who have hired them in the past, but even then, they can remove themselves and not be listed any longer.

Feel free to contact us, at any time, if you have any questions about who works with us or our license and insurance.

626-673-7978 

More ?'s...contact us anytime:

626-673-7978-calls or texts