Policy and Procedures
Reservations & visit times: Scheduling is on a first come first service basis and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We usually do our visits between 7:00am and 8:00pm in the evening. Capitol Pet Sitters will visit as close to the requested times as possible. However, if an unforeseen situation arises, the time may be adjusted. It is best to plan a couple of months in advance in order to obtain services on the dates you desire. An in-home interview is required, prior to reservations, for all new clients. While we can tentatively pencil in your dates we must meet you and your pets and access your needs before we make a commitment to providing your pets’ care. During this initial meeting we will also review and complete forms and sign agreements.
Unknown Pets: We do not take care of any pet that we have not met with, interviewed the owner and filled out paperwork for. We will not take care of or interact with any unexpected or unknown pets at a clients home.
Holiday charges: The following holidays have an additional $10.00 charge per visit. Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New year’s Eve, New years day.
***Cancellations: Customers with recurring weekly visits require a 24 hour cancellation notice. There will be a $15 cancellation fee for any cancellation without a 24 hour notice. If a pet sitter shows up at your home the full price of the scheduled visit will be due. Severe weather conditions and emergencies will be taken into consideration.
***Holiday/Vacation/Weekend Cancellations: Please understand that pet sitting services receive more requests for reservations than they can handle during holiday or busy time periods and we may have turned away other clients because we have reserved time for you. If you cancel five days or less before any holiday, vacation or weekend, you will be charged for half of the visits. Exceptions may be made for emergency situations.
Keys: Please provide us with 2 keys, one for the visit and another to be kept at the office in case of emergency or key malfunction. You may consider letting Capitol Pet Sitters retain your house key, in the event of an unexpected trip. There will be a $10.00 charge to deliver/return the key.
Medications: Capitol Pet Sitters will attempt to administer medications as directed but cannot be held responsible for complications that arise as a result. Excessively shy cats with medical problems can be a serious risk. If you have such an animal, this must be thoroughly discussed.
Aggressive Pets: We do not accept any pet with past or present aggressive behavior.
Vaccinations/Immunizations: For the safety of other customers Capitol Pet Sitters requires that all pets have the necessary vaccinations and immunizations before service begins. If a Capitol Pet Sitters sitter is bitten or exposed to any disease or ailment received from the client’s pet(s) which has not been properly or currently vaccinated, the client will be responsible for all costs and damages that may incur.
Access to your Home by Others: We all want our pets to have all the love and attention they deserve, but please be advised that if there are other persons entering and leaving your home, Capitol Pet Sitters can not be held liable for any damages to property or pets as a result. Please inform us at the time of the consultation of anyone who may have access to your home while you are away. This includes cleaning services, repairpersons, friends, family and neighbors. Please also notify the person(s) in your home that we are coming so that your visitor, as well, is not surprised by our entrance.
Household Emergencies: Please leave the name and number of a trusted maintenance company or a person you can rely on to attend to any household emergencies that may arise during your absence. This includes but is not limited to; leaking pipes, malfunctioning water heaters and heating and air units.
Fences: Fenced in yards are wonderful play spaces for pets, however, no fence system is totally secure. Capitol Pet Sitters does not accept responsibility or liability for any customer’s pets that escape, are injured or become lost, fatal or otherwise, when pets are left out or given access to a fenced in area. This includes electronic, wood, metal or any other fence types.
Leashes: All dogs will be required to be on leash during outdoor walks.
Pet and house clean-up: Capitol Pet Sitters will properly dispose of pet waste and do our best to clean up any accidents your pet may have. We are not responsible for carpet/flooring stains created by your pet(s). We do request that you provide plastic bags, towels, cleaning products, paper towels, and trash bags and indicate where you would like the waste disposed of.
Animal Behavior: Animals behavior can be unpredictable. Capitol Pet Sitters does not accept responsibility or liability for animal behavior, normal or otherwise, which results in injury to the client’s animals.
Inclement Weather: Primarily severe storms, hurricanes etc. You entrust Capitol Pet Sitters to use our best judgment in caring for your pets(s) and home if we are servicing you at the time of inclement weather. We will try to carry out your instructions to the best of our ability. The care we provide to our customer’s pets and their safety is our first concern. We have requested the name and phone number of a person living nearby (with access to your home). This should be a person close enough to walk to your home if roads are impassable (for example, a neighbor). If we are physically unable to drive to your home this information is needed so that we can contact this person to request their assistance to check on your pet(s). Please remember that garage door openers are not operational in the event of power outages. In the event that the customer does not provide a nearby emergency contact with access to your home the customer realizes that Capitol Pet Sitters will provide service but not until conditions allow us to reach your home safely. The inclement weather plan will be as follows: 1) Every effort will be made to drive to your home; 2) The service schedule may be changed, interrupted, or altered due to circumstances; 3) If it is not possible to drive safely to your home, your emergency contact will be notified, 4) You will be notified that the above-mentioned contingency plan has been activated.
Early Returns :We do not refund payment or credit accounts for early returns. Please remember to e-mail, text or call when you have returned home safely. Please call, text or e-mail at ANY hour and leave a voice message that you have returned. We want to make sure that you made it home safe and that your pets are going to be safe also.
Unforeseen purchases: Any additional necessary costs such as food, litter, cleaning supplies or other necessary items that contribute to the health and well being of your pet will be purchased by Capitol Pet Sitters. We will retain a receipt and the customer will be responsible for reimbursement of these items.
Privacy Policy: All of your information will be kept private and confidential. Capitol Pet Sitters highly respects our clients’ entrusting us with the care of their home and their loving pets.
Payment:
Capitol Pet Sitters accepts cash and checks. Please make all checks payable to Capitol Pet Sitters, LLC.
• Customers who have scheduled long term weekly visits will be extended the courtesy of weekly billing for our services. In return, we require prompt payment upon receipt of the invoice.
• With all other services the full amount is due on or before the 1st day of service; customer has the option to post-date their checks to the last date of service. Customer will be quoted the rate of the total payment prior to the scheduled visits.
Return Check Charges: There is a $35.00 fee for any returned checks.
Late Payments: A late charge of 10% of the total invoice compounded daily will be assessed if payment is not received within 7 days of completion of service.