FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
First and foremost, my territory is several of the NW CHICAGO, IL, SUBURBS, specifically Arlington Heights 60004, Des Plaines 60016/18, Mt. Prospect north of Central, Prospect Heights, and Wheeling. My current rates are for a half-hour pet care visit. Medication is $1.50/dose in addition. The charge may very according to the work involved and/or number of pets to be cared for. I cannot be held responsible if a medicated pet is uncooperative or cannot be found. Diabetic animals must be in a feeding-controlled area so I know they have eaten before insulin injections. Overnights are by the job, with the final visit charged half the daily rate, no matter how long I stay. I have done overnights for up to six pets at a time. Client supplies needed during a stay will be bought and reimbursed by the client with my time to obtain them factored in. I will remain on the job caring for the pet(s) till notification of the client's return home intention. Additional charges will ensue if there are travel delays in return. Major holidays have a one-time $10 charge. I do have two discounts for repeat clients: length-of-stay and senior (62+ ) . And my initial meet-and-greet is free with the caveat that I am hired. However, the client agrees that I will be reimbursed the price of one pet sit or $20 (whichever is greater) for my time and travel, if the contract after signing is canceled. Please do not ask for pet sitting services or answer with a thank-you if you ask a question or do not match my travel preferences. I DO NOT PROVIDE SERVICES TO AREAS OUT-OF-STATE OR TAKE LONGER TO TRAVEL TO THAN THE PET SIT ITSELF--A HALF-HOUR RADIUS AROUND PROSPECT HEIGHTS, IL.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Besides the helpful articles in the monthly "Pet Sitters World" from PSI, I complete ongoing PSI educational seminars to improve my skills as a pet sitter. This includes videos on cockatiel care, dog correction, webinars, and attendance in 2014 at the yearly PSI International Pet Sitters Conference. I also visit Member Chat from PSI where I can glean the advice offered by more experience sitters and ask about problems on the job. The chat room was discontinued in 2015 , and was supplanted by a closed Facebook group where input is available from more PSI members, and support given, if needed. With the pandemic in 2020, I'm taking online courses for certification through PSI. I finished one as a Cat Care Specialist, one for Disaster Planning, one for Business practices. and the latest one was for COVID-19 protocols. Two more are planned for next month.
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
I retired from the postal Service in 2009, in the economy we are just overcoming now. The PO didn't train me for anything, and I accomplished a four-year degree in Communications on my own. Proofreading and copyediting applications never panned out professionally. I took two veterinary assistant courses, online and classroom concurrently, but couldn't get hired that way either. Finally I said to myself that I loved animals (have had cats for 25 years), and I wanted to get hired on my own terms. I found two web sites offering pet sitter/client matchups, found a client willing to give me a chance, discovered I liked the work and was good at it, and three months later I had my own company. It's a great retirement job!