Pet Tip #30
Toys for birds: Look for sharp edges or points that could injure the bird. You should determine if there are any places where the bird might catch a toe nail or get tangled in the toy.

Why should I use Critter Sitter of Montgomery County?

Keeping pets in their home helps to avoid the anxiety, trauma, and exposure to illness they may experience at a kennel. Your pets are able to rest and keep to their normal diet and exercise routines. With personal attention provided by us, your absense will go by faster for them. As an extra bonus, we help eliminate the hassel for you of transporting your pet to and from the kennel.

Who is Critter Sitter of Montgomery County?

We are a husband and wife team who understand the importance of knowing that your pets are in excellent care while you are away. We also employ two professional pet sitters whom we are very happy to have as part of our team. Each pet sitter is screened with a background check and is also bonded and insured through us. Each of our pet sitters are also Pet First Aid certified. Your pets will be provided with professional, fun, and loving care while you are away.

What services do you offer?

We come to your home to provide service so that your animals can stay in their familiar environment. Our typical 30 minute visits include feeding, exercising, and nature calls. We spend the remaining time giving your pets the personal attention they need while you're away. Services such as bringing in your mail, taking out the trash, and watering plants are included at no extra charge. Do you have a scheduled vet appointment, but are running short on time? We also offer pet transportation for the days when life gets a little crazy.

What time are the visits and how long do you stay?

Our visits are broken into three primary time blocks (6am-noon, noon-3pm, and 3pm-6pm). We will provide later evening appointments up to 7pm if needed. For extended away periods we require a minimum of two visits per day for dogs, exluding the first and last day depending on your travel arrangements. This ensures that your pet does not have to wait any longer than 12 hours between visits.

Are there extra costs for services performed on holidays?

Yes, there is an extra $5 fee per visit. Our major annual holidays: New Years Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and New Years Eve.

Why is there an initial meet and greet?

The initial meet and greet allows you to get to know us and for us to get to know your pets before the first visit. This also gives us a chance to cover important information about you and your pet (e.g. vet information, emergency contact, special requests, etc.), and answer any additional questions you may have.

Are there any dog breeds that you do not service?

We do not service Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, Doberman Pinschers, Chow, Presa Canario, and mixes thereof. We also reserve the right not to service any dog that exhibits aggressive behavior regardless of breed.

What type of payment do you accept and when am I billed?

For your convenience we accept cash, checks, credit cards, and payments via PAYPAL. We kindly request that payments are to be received before your scheduled service begins.

Can you give my pet his medicine?

We will be happy to attempt to administer medicine orally or topically only.

I have a last minute trip suddenly come up! Can you help me?

We cannot guarantee availability, but we will do our best to accommodate as we understand life's unexpected surprises. We do become fully booked early during major holidays so please call early to make an appointment.

While on travel, my trip home has been delayed. What should I do?

Unfortunately, even well planned trips can deviate unexpectedly. If you find that you will not be home when expected, call us @ 215-390-7243. We will extend your coverage to ensure that your pet continues to receive visits per your normal scheduling preferences until you are able to make it home. If such an event does arrive, we do ask if possible for you to pay for the extra visits online via paypal. The payment option is located on our home page at www.crittersitter.us

Can I trust Critter Sitter with my keys and my home?

Critter Sitter is bonded and insured. Your name and the content of your home always remain confidential. We take extra care not to advertise that you are away. For this reason our vehicles do not contain company logos, which prevents people from knowing you're not home.

What does it mean that you are insured?

We carry a liability insurance policy that protects you from financial loss in the event we are liable for accidents that occur while caring for your pets. Any responsible professional business should carry liability insurance.

What does it mean that you are bonded?

A dishonesty bond gives you peace of mind that you will be reimbursed if anything is stolen from your home.

Do you have boarding facilities?

No. We strongly advocate in-home care as we believe this is best for your pet.

My pet has shown agressive behavior - will you still provide service?

For aggressive pets, we will need to determine if there is a good fit between your pet and our services. If additional visits are needed to socialize with your pet we will request that you are present at all visits and pay the normal service fee until your pet has adapted to us. We do reserve the right to cancel future services if at any time we feel that it is unsafe to perform our services.

How will you discipline my pet when needed?

All discipline is through positive reinforcement. Your pet will never be hit, spanked, slapped, grabbed, or yelled at. You will be informed of any disciplinary issues we may encounter so that we can implement your suggested disciplinary actions in the future.

What will you do if my pet becomes ill while I am away?

If we suspect that your pet is ill or in need of medical attention, we will call you at the emergency phone numbers we have on file for you. If you believe the veterinarian should see your pet, we will transport your pet to the veterinarian's office for examination and treatment. In the event we cannot reach you, we will call your vet to determine the best course of action. If necessary, we will take your pet to the vet for treatment. You will be billed for any extra time we spend for these services. We are also certified in Pet First Aid through the Red Cross Organization.

What should I expect when I return home?

You can expect to find your pets healthy and happy. We will leave a note on how everything went while you were away. We do ask that you call us to let us know you've returned home.

What is your Key Policy?

We require two copies of your house key. All keys are securely stored in a lock box.

What happens if my key is not returned or lost?

In the event if any of the supplied keys to us is lost or missing, we will reimburse you for the replacement costs of that key only. We are not responsible for the cost of purchasing and installing new locks or any charges incurred by a locksmith to repair or install new locks. Due to the nature of this business, we have done everything possible to ensure that our sitters are trustworthy by performing background checks. If you should decide to change the locks, that is your decision to do at your cost.

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Pet of the Month

Name: Prince Wilson

Sex: Male

Prince Wilson is the Pet of the Month for February.

He is a short-hair domestic and almost 2 years old. He loves to play with his toys and rumble tumble on the floor.