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Q. How does your service work?
A. The Pet Staff provides in-home pet sitting and dog walking services throughout the metro L.A. and Long Beach areas. This means that our pet sitters come to your home to provide pet and home services - ranging from our standard 30-minute visit to 45-, 60-, & 90-minute visits. In addition we offer in-home Overnights, where a Pet Staffer will sleep in your home with your pet and attend to mail, lights, trash and plants if you so desire. Cuddling and baby-talk also come standard!
Q. What will it cost me?
A. That depends on your schedule. Many of our kitty clients ask us to come 1 or 2 times per day when they're away; our puppy clients often 4 times per day and our adult dog clients frequently schedule 2 or 3 times per day. Others choose to schedule an Overnight, and then have us come back midday for a walk or visit. For a complete breakdown of services and charges, please see our rates page.
Q. Who are the people coming to my home?
A. The Pet Staff's foremost priority is the safety and security of our clients, their pets and their property. Our Pet Staffers undergo an extensive screening process before they work with us, including reference checks and formal background checks. At the very minimum, all Pet Staffers love animals and are passionate about delivering the best care available. Unlike other pet sitters, they are not consumed with or distracted by administrative tasks such as billing, reservations, scheduling, insurance, marketing, etc... all of this is handled through our central business office. Just doing what they love best - caring for and playing with pets - and giving it 100% each and every visit.
Q. Will I have the same person each time?
A. We definitely prefer to offer your visits to the same Pet Staffer each time,
however if that sitter is not available for some reason, a fully informed substitute from our staff will always be available for back up. Illness, schedule conflicts, family emergencies, car troubles, etc. are never your concern when you work with The Pet Staff. With over 140 reliable Pet Staffers to work with, a pet sitter's personal crisis will never become your issue to solve - all of this is handled by our office personnel.
Q. Are you licensed? bonded? insured?
A. We are licensed by the City of Los Angeles and we carry the maximum limits of Liability Insurance and Bonding in our industry, $2 million and $50K per incident respectively. Don't be fooled by others that claim to be insured and bonded, but carry the minimum limits or worse, expired policies.
Q. Where are you located?
A. We have a business office/call center in Los Angeles but our Pet Staffers live and work in the neighborhoods that they serve including the Westside, Valley, South Bay, Long Beach and Pasadena areas.
Q. Do you offer boarding services?
A. We do not offer boarding services. According to the American Humane Society, pets are happiest when they're left at home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds and smells, and protected from the stress and potential exposure to illness often encountered at many boarding facilities (a.k.a "pet hotels"). Our personalized service allows you to leave your pet in his/her environment and stick to their familiar routine without the risk of bordadella, parasites, kennel cough, canine influenza or other unfortunate hazards.
Q. What type of animals do you care for?
A. We care for most animals, as long as they do not pose a danger to our Pet Staffers. We do not care for any animals with a history of biting, fighting or attacking other animals or people.
Q. How do I know that my keys are safe?
A. Our innovative Key Safe program includes the ongoing use of a company lock box when you sign up with The Pet Staff. Before you depart home, simply place a door key in the Lock Box key compartment provided (or you may keep one there permanently) and attach the portable lock box device to a mutually agreed upon location. The majority of Realtors, and professional home-cleaning services all use a similar device. This prevents you from losing control of your keys as they will never leave your immediate premises. Sitters and services losing keys is one of the biggest plagues in the pet sitting industry!
Q. Do you group walk my dogs with others?
A. No! While it is more economical for companies to walk 4 or 5 dogs at a time, this is not necessarily the safest, least stressful approach for your pooch. As a matter of policy the only time we walk multiple dogs is when they are from the same household. Call it what they may (socializing, group 'outings', etc.), the only reason dog walkers walk multiple dogs at the same time is to make more money in a shorter period of time. We take a safer, more personalized approach to caring for your dog.
Q. How do I get started with The Pet Staff?
A. To sign up with The Pet Staff, please click the "sign up now!" bone on the menu above. Fill out all necessary information about you, your pet(s) and your home, and we will call you within 24-36 hours to schedule an initial in-home "interview". When you sign up with The Pet Staff we will schedule a pet sitter to come to your home for an initial "interview" - to meet your pet, become familiar with your home/routine, and discuss all pertinent information about your pet's needs. We charge a Registration Fee at sign up (see Pricing), which includes the initial interview as well as on-going use of the company-provided Lock Box as part of our unique Key Safe Program.
Q. Once I'm a client, how far in advance do I need to make reservations?
A. We ask for 24 - 48 hours notice for all scheduling. We receive many call-in requests for same-day visits and while we can't immediately confirm same day visits, we are most often able to fill the request due to the depth of our staff. For holidays we ask for a week's notice, as holidays are a time that a large percentage of our client base is travelling and due to capacity constraints we require more notice in order to guarantee coverage.
Q. Do you administer medication to pets?
A. We will administer medication - pills, drops, injections and subcutaneous fluids based on our ability to refer a sitter to you that is experienced in administering your pet's particular type of medication. We will not administer medication to any animal that poses a danger to our Pet Staffer.
Q. What if my property or pet is damaged while I am gone?
A. The Pet Staff commits to providing the services stated in our service agreement in a reliable, caring and trustworthy manner. The Pet Staff is only liable for claims arising from negligence or willful misconduct. Due to the extreme unpredictability of animals, we cannot accept responsibility for unusual mishaps (i.e., bitings, furniture damage, etc.). Also, if your pets have access to the outside, we are not responsible for injury, disappearance, or fines.
Q. How am I billed, and when is it due?
A. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Card and full payment is required in advance - generally 3-5 business days ahead.
Q. May I give my Pet Staffer a gratuity?
A. Absolutely! Gratuites are never expected, but greatly appreciated! You may give gratuities directly to your Pet Staffer, or if you prefer you may pay it through the company. 100% of gratuities go directly to your designated Pet Staffer.
Q. Do you have references?
A. Yes. References are available upon request.
Q. Do you have any recommendations for local dog parks?
A. Please see our Dog Park page for a listing of local off-leash parks in your area.
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