Frequently Asked Questions
New York City Dog Walking
Will I have the same person each time?
For daily dogwalking clients yes the same person wil arrive each day to walk your dog, if they are out or sick it is our policy to send afill-in who you may not have met before. As for sproadic clients we will try our best but cannot guarantee the same person, in that we would have another of
our qualified staff take care of your pet(s)
What type of animals do you care for?
Most of the requests we get are by dog and cat owners, but we also take care of birds, and reptiles.
Once I am a client ho far in advance do I need to book services?
Depends on what type of service you use. For sporadic petsitting/holiday clients we start booking 1 month before the holida and fill up quickly. As for non-holiday times of the year or daily dog walking clients generally 4-5 days at least but the more you can give the better.
What if my property or pet is damaged?
Petaholics is only liable for damage from negligence or willfull misconduct. Due to the unpredictability of animals, we cannot accept responsibility for unusual mishap
(bite, furniture damage)
May I give a tip to my petsitter?
Absolutely!! Tips are never expected but always appreciated.
Who are the people coming into my home?
We look for passionate animal lovers, they have been thoroughly screened by us and gone through a background check.
Given that time allows a meeting is setup so you can meet our sitter, intorduce your pet(s) to them and show them where everything is located.
What will it cost me?
This depends on what type of service you utilize.
Do you offer boarding?
We work with a woman who boards dogs in her private residence near Central Park but do not personally board any dogs, see our dog boarding page
Do you give meds to pets?
We have been given pills, ointments and shots to our clients pets in the past.
How do I know my keys are safe?
No identifying marks on put on your keys, neither name or address. We keep a lot of our clients keys in a key lockbox
Why are you more expensive than some of your competitors?
Our goal is to be the best not the biggest. The reason our rates may be higher than our competitors is we want to give you the best service. This entails paying our people more than average, keeping an office and regualr hours, have a live 24/7 answering service so we never miss your call, screening heavily with background checks etc and highly staffed managers to fulfill all your needs and schedule. Your pets are not a commodity, you wouldn't want the cheapest option for your child why do so with your pet?
What makes you unique from other pet care providers?
We strive to provide personal. one-on one care according to your wishes,
each pet and owner have different wants and needs so we tailor our care
accordingly, we are not a wal-mart of pet care in which your pet is #10 on
a list of pets to be taken care of
What results and benefits can I expect?
You can expect a happier and
healthier pet as well as relief of stress and guilt over your pet.
Can I contact some of your former clients to get a glimpse what its like
working with your company?
Absolutely go to our testimonials page we have
a list of clients who are willing to speak with you about their experience.
How do we work together and what does your program(s) entail?
As a
client we will need paperwork such as a contract, vet release form and
detailed info on your pet as well as a key or access to your doorman
building.
What area do you service?
We service Most of Manhattan from 96th Street South on the Upper East and West sides down to
Battery Park City and the Financial District.
Are you bonded, insured, and licensed?
Yes we
are, our licensing records can be found on file at City Hall.
Upon request we can provide proof of bonding and
insurance.
Do my dogs need to be licensed?
Yes, New York
City requires this, and we ask that this law be followed for
the good of the community.
How much notice for cancellation do you need?
At least 24 hours and 7 days notice from date of your first visit for Thanksgiving,Christmas and New Years Holidays.
Do I have to sign a contract?
Yes, we need a
signed statement that you agree to let us into your home to
care for your animals as well as that you are aware of and
agree to our policies/procedures.
How am I billed and when is it due?
We bill
upfront per week, so we ask for the week's payment by the time
of the first appt. of the week.
Do you have references?
Yes, we can provide you
with a list of satisfied clients.
Will my dog receive individualized
attention?
Yes, we do not "pack walk". At most 2-3 dogs
will be walked at once and that is usually from the same owner
or a neighbor in the bldg or area who wants his/her dog to
mingle with a friend he/she knows.
How long have you been in business?
Since late
2001
What if I need emergency pet care service?
We will try to accomodate you as best as possible, but cannot
guarantee on very short notice that we can provide
service.
Are there any extra costs on holidays?
Yes
Why a meet and greet?
We want to everyone to get
acquainted and for the pet and owner to feel comfortable with
us and our service.
My pet has been aggressive in the past, can he still be
a client?
This depends on the pet. if the walker and
he/she get along then great. But if there is threat of
physical harm to the walker or a person/animal outside the
home then we cannot.
How do I drop off house keys?
There are two
ways, for those that have a doorman building, you can leave
the keys at the desk, or you can make a copy/give us a set
which we will keep in a secure place.
How will your pet providers discipline my pet, if
necessary?
We will always let you know how the time
went taking care of your pet and discuss with you any problems
and how you would like us to handle
them.
I know which program I am interested in, what is the next step?
Call or
email us stating what part of manhattan you live in, what kind of pet you
have, what program you are interested in, a number we can reach you back
at.
I am unsure if I am ready to get started, how can I sample your work at
a low cost to see if its right for me?
Speak with one of our clients who
are listed on the testimonials page, call the office to setup a trial
visit when you are home.
I am ready to move forward but have some questions, can I call you?
Absolutely call us and let us know what questions we can answer for you.
(866) 910-5430
What are your business hours?
Our office is open M-F from 9am-5 Monday through Friday. Messages can be left at any time. E-mail is an great way to contact us, especially after hours.
What if I have an emergency after business hours?
In most cases we require a minimum of 48 hours to schedule a service for new clients. However we will still try to schedule you if we can on short notice but cannot guarantee.
What happens if you have not yet worked with my type of pet?
Not to worry. Each of our employees spends time learning about animal care and differnt types of bredds/species. We do recognize that information from books limits us when it comes to actaul real world practice. We would ask you to take the time to train us on the specific needs and nuances of caring for your pet.
Who are your clients?
Our clients are busy professionals who live in Manhattan. Mostly our clients work in Finance, Law, Real Estate, Technology, Advertising, Fashion, consultants and small business owners. A majority of our clients commute more than 304-40 minutes for work each day and all travel throughou the year for work or pleasure.
Why do you charge sales tax when others do not?
New York State tax laws require that specifically dog walking services pay sales tax, we choose to follow this law and cannot speak for other companies that do not follow this law. We are a legitimate service and choose to run our business above the table as opposed to under it.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept only credit cards- Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
What steps are taken to protect my home?
Your keys are kept on file on our office on a locked key storage box. Your address is never listed
on the keys and are coded by us so if found no one else would know to what address or apt they go to.
How will I know how my pets are doing when I am gone?
We stay in touch with clients via blackberry, email or can leave messages on voicemails at work or another number.
We ask that our sitters communicate directly with you giving updates of how your pets are doing.
What if the prior pet sitter I used is not available the next time I go away?
Depending on how much advanced notice is given another sitter will be assigned and a meeting will be set up for you to meet the new sitter.
What if the pet sitter has a personal injury or emergency while taking care of ym pet(s)?
We will get in touch with the emergency contact you provided as well as yourself to make sure the pet is taken care of.
If there is no way to get the key from the sitter or no time to do so a locksmith would be called as a last resort to open the door.
We do ask for two sets of keys from new clients but understand this is not always possible due to supers not making more than one set or it costing
a lot to have an additional set made.
Yes if you click on our testimonials page most of the clients have left their email so you can email them with any questions you may have.
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