Policies and Procedures (updated July 2023)

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1.  Hours of operation:  Variable/Always Open. Hours I am out doing sits depends on the combo of houses and their locations and needs but you can text me anytime.
2.  Reservations:  To make a reservation for care, text me at 801-580-5320 or email at apal@amythecrittersitter.com.   
3. Pet Sits: Each visit is 30 minutes. If a visit takes longer than 30 minutes, an additional charge for the extra time needed may apply.
i. Cats: A cat visit includes food, water, litter box maintenance, and playtime, as well as other assorted needs. Cats need to be visited at least once per day, and unless they have a catio or other safe outdoor area, I encourage them to be kept indoors unless we have discussed safe alternative arrangements.
ii. Dogs:  A dog visit includes food/water, a walk or outdoor playtime, as well as other assorted needs. I require that dogs be visited AT LEAST two times a day but would prefer three or a pattern of two visits one day, three the next, or such.  
iii. Medications: All new medications prescribed need to be discussed in advance so as to ensure I can safely and effectively give them in your absence. I prefer to even have enough time before you leave to come over and see how you give the meds and—if time permits—even come by and give them myself. There is no charge for coming over to see how you give them or for me coming over to practice giving them. I just need to make sure they can be reasonably given by me considering the existing relationship I’ve got with your pet and their feelings about the meds and me giving them. See Section 8i for more details.

iv. Miscellaneous: The following are done regularly and/or as time permits:  bring in mail, packages, newspapers, water indoor/outdoor plants, rotate lighting/window coverings, adjust television/radio, take out/bring in trash bins, general monitoring of residence.  

vi. Scheduling and Visit times:  I strive to make sure that the visits are completed in accordance with a reasonable/humane time interval (about 6-7 hours between visits if seen three times a day, about 12 hours between visits if seen twice a day, no more than 24 if seen once, etc.) but these are goals often affected by unforeseen events such as travel times as well as issues as sit houses.    
v. Please let me know of any changes in care since I last saw your pet(s).

vi. House Cleanliness:  Every effort will be made to keep your home at approximately the same cleanliness level as when you left so long as all the supplies (plastic bags, towels, cleaning products, paper towels, and trash bags) are left out so that I don't have to take away valuable time I could be spending with your pet looking for them.   
4. Payment:  Full payment is usually made at the end of the visit unless I otherwise request or by tradition we've done it another way.
5.  Holidays:  There is an additional $5 per visit charge for services provided on Christmas Day.  7/2023: I’ve never actually followed through on adding this to invoices but will be doing so this year.
6.  Cancellations or Changes in Service Dates:  Notify me as soon as possible about any cancellations or changes in your requested service.  If there are repeated cancellations with short notice, it is possible I may ask for a deposit on any future requested dates simply because when you reserve dates, I sometimes have to turn other people away. Additionally, if I show up at your house for a visit you requested and I scheduled yet you don’t need me after all and I was not informed before making the trip to your home, you will be charged for the visit.
7.  Inclement Weather/Emergencies/Unforeseen Events: 
i. Inclement Weather Plan: 1) Every effort will be made to drive to your home even before the plows have hit--I have a 4WD--but adjustments to the timing of the visits may have to be made. 2) My schedule may be changed, interrupted, or altered due to circumstances.  3) Visit duration might be reduced in order to accommodate for longer driving times, inability to park, etc. 
ii.  Emergencies/Unforeseen Events:  1)  Every effort will be made to offer uninterrupted service with no reduction in quality or time.  2) All efforts to ensure such events are resolved with the utmost compassion and conscientiousness will occur.  In the event of an emergency with your pet, I will also be in contact with you via phone call so that we can meet such a challenge and resolve it together.  3). My specific emergency procedure for pet-related events (vs. home issues) is:  I will be calling you as I head out the door with your pet to the nearest emergency vet (which we establish at the initial meeting).  If you receive a phone call from me during a trip, try to pick up or return the call as soon as possible.   4). Emergencies in the home are case-by-case; e.g., I’ve sat with pets in fire evacuation zones, knowing I wouldn’t be able to get back into the area once I left. Another emergency was an appliance that flooded a basement; in that case, I turned off the water and contacted the family who contacted their insurance.
8. Medication/Vaccinations/Immunizations:  i). I will attempt to administer medications as directed and unless the administration of the meds is extremely easy (wrap it in a pill pocket and they gobble it up, ear cream, meds routine requires minimal effort), I ask you to run it by me before you leave to make sure I can reasonably accomplish the task in the time given and with no retrofitting of the space (closing off bedrooms, etc.) or practice attempts on my part before you leave.  There is no charge for me coming over to see you give the meds or to practice giving them myself. I was attacked by an animal in 2021 that I had sat for for years (he first started attacking his feeble brother when I was giving his brother meds then when I stepped in, redirected the attack towards me) who I KNOW adored me and we had a strong relationship, and since then I’ve come to respect even more how it is that cats are only semi-domesticated as well as fully and painfully see that we don’t always know the trauma an animal has endured in the past, what their specific triggers will be and under what circumstances those triggers will manifest in severe aggression. So I’m just trying to be respectful of what I know to be true in hopes that by viewing it in thoughtfulness and respect—rather than assumption—I’ll be able to maintain trust and safety for all.

ii). Pets should also have the necessary vaccinations and immunizations before service begins.

9. Unforeseen purchases:  Should the purchasing of supplies such as pet food, etc. be necessary, I’ll retain a receipt/send a pic copy, and add the amount to the invoice.     
10. Pet waste:  Every effort will be made to ensure yard waste made during your trip is cleaned up.  I ask that you leave out bags, etc. for this purpose and let me know where it's appropriate to leave it. 
11. Collars/Leashes/Walks: Please provide secure collars with appropriate tags for all visits.  I do not allow off-leash time (unless it's a secure area we discuss in advance) and go to great lengths to avoid being approached by dogs, to include those roaming or off-leash. 
12. Household Emergencies:  Please be prepared to let me know where the water shut off is to your home.  In the event of an emergency, I will contact you and/or the appropriate emergency services immediately.
13.  Additional Pet Care Assistance and Other Scheduled Services:  I don't/can't accept liability for other persons who will be in your home prior to, during, or immediately after services have been rendered. Sharing sits with house sitters or family members is possible but a clear manifest of who is responsible for what will need to be determined in advance by the family. Please let me know at before any future service dates of anyone who may have access to your home while you are away. This includes cleaning services, construction crews, maintenance personnel, friends, family and neighbors.     
i.  All dogs and cats with access to outside should have a collar with visible identification attached to it.
ii.  Please make sure that gates, fences, latches, and materials used to secure your pet are in good working order.  All possible escape routes should be secured.

iii. Cats are usually required to be kept indoors for the duration of the service period unless we discuss it in advance.  
14.   "We're Back" Texts/Emails:   To ensure that your pets are not left without care, please make sure to let me know when you're back safe and sound.  If I do not receive a call about your arrival back home, there is a possibility that I will keep coming which I’m sure will be awful and memorable for both of us.