Frequently Asked Questions

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I started this business as a side gig in 2017. We went full-time in the summer of 2022! 

I am a licensed & insured business in the state of Illinois. I am pet CPR certified, Fear Free certified, and I even have a dog trainer certification (Dog Trainer Foundations) from the Karen Pryor Academy!

I do not have set hours for either. However, the earliest I will take a drop off and/or pick up is 7:00am, and the latest is 8:00pm. Between those hours I can be flexible to fit your needs, however they are by appointment only. 

Earlier and/ or later drop off or pick up times may be requested, but may incur an additional fee.

We accept cash, check, PayPal, or credit card.

Short answer- no! However I do require Meet and Greets to meet the pet(s) before beginning services to see if we are a good fit. 

As soon as you know you will be needing my services, please let me know! I try hard to accommodate the needs of all clients, but I do function on a first come, first served basis. 

Of course! If your pup is staying with us, you'll get at least one update per day. If your pet(s) are staying at home, you'll get an update after every visit I make to them. 

Yes I do! A holiday rate will apply ($5 added to each walk & drop in, and $10 added to any boarding & daycare services). 

Peak Season/ Holiday rates will be charged on the following dates:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Day 
• President's Day
• Easter Weekend (Fri- Sun)
• Washington schools' Spring Break
• Memorial Day (Fri- Mon)
• 4th of July 
• Labor Day Weekend (Fri- Mon)
• Columbus Day
• Thanksgiving (Wed- Sun)
• Christmas (Dec 24- 25)
• New Years (Dec 31- Jan 1)

I know life happens, and the need for cancelations does occur. Because I do reserve spaces for clients who book in advance and turn away other potential clients, I kindly ask that if you need to cancel for any reason please let me know as soon as possible. 

If a cancelation occurs within 3 days of the scheduled date for services, a cancelation fee of 50% of the booked service will apply. Payment will be required before booking any further services. 

I require a Meet and Greet for all services. It is a short meeting to get to know both you and your pet(s). During a Meet and Greet for dog walks or drop in visits, I will visit your home to meet you, and make sure the pet(s) are okay with me entering the home. 

For walks, you'll just show me where the leash and any other walking equipment is kept. You'll let me know any quirks your dog may have, and what to do once the walk is complete (put dog in crate, leave roaming, etc.)

For drop in visits, you'll tell me all that needs to be done while I'm visiting. This may include feed, potty, play, clean litter box, bring in mail, etc. I'll also ask to see where everything I'll need is located (i.e. any litter boxes to clean, food, food & water bowls, etc.)

During a Meet and Greet for daycare and/ or boarding, you'll visit my home with your dog(s). There I will evaluate if your dog is a good fit for our environment. I will answer any questions you have up front, then I'll ask you to step out and leave your dog. This is to see how your dog reacts when you are not there. Nervousness is anticipated, but any growling or aggression will not be tolerated, and the Meet and Greet will end.  If your dog shows no signs of aggression to me, I will then allow my dogs to sniff yours through a baby gate. This is to test body language and see if I think they will get along. Again, any aggression will not be tolerated, and we will immediately end the Meet and Greet. If your dog(s) show signs of being comfortable here, we will move forward with the booking and you'll be added to my client list! From there you can book any service. 

No other Meet and Greet is required after the initial meet. 

For dogs- Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella

For cats- Rabies, FVRCP, and Feline Leukemia

*Any dog coming for boarding or daycare must also be flea, tick, and parasite free.

No, I ask that you please make an appointment for any pick up or drop offs for boarding and/ or daycare. I do this to ensure a stress-free environment for arrivals and departures. By setting appointments, I can make sure any additional dogs are safely in their crates before the doorbell rings. You can imagine how a houseful of dogs would react to a doorbell or knock at the door! For both my sanity and yours, please make an appointment :)

I understand things happen, and you may run a few minutes early or late to your appointment. However, I ask that you send a text if this is happening. As stated in the above question, I make appointments to try to keep everyone safe and calm during transition times. If you come early, I may not have the other dogs put safely in their crates yet. 

On the contrary, if you run late, the dogs that are already here are stuck in crates longer than they need to be. Please be courteous and let me know if you are running behind and/ or need to reschedule your pick up/ drop off appointment. 

Absolutely! Group play will never go unsupervised. The dogs are safely & securely separated into their personal suites (XL crates) anytime I cannot supervise them. 

It's as secure as your home, with a few extra precautionary measures. The backyard is completely fenced in. It is checked routinely for any holes, gaps, etc. Inside, dogs are secured in their XL crates during any arrivals or departures of guests to prevent any escapees. Any guest dog that is leaving is leashed up prior to the door being opened. 

I take the comfort, health, and safety of the pets in my care very seriously. If your pet needs medical attention and you are unavailable, your emergency contacts can help us make health care decisions for your pet. Additionally, (during boarding) if your dog becomes extremely anxious/ unsettled and is a major disruption to our other guests or family, we will ask that one of your emergency contacts come pick up your dog and care for them the remainder of your absence. Please make sure to communicate with your chosen emergency contacts that they are comfortable performing these tasks for you and your pet should the need arise. 

Yes and no. Since I offer a variety of services, I am not home 24/7. I may run to other clients' homes to care for their pets and/or run errands during the day. All guests are separated into their personal suites (XL crates) when I am not able to monitor them. I do have a camera in the room to check in on them when I am not at home. 

Besides my other services and any random appointments I may have, I am home full-time. Any time I am home, the dogs are out of their crates and supervised. 

Your pet(s) comfort and care are my priority! Whether your pet is staying home or staying with us, I  pride myself in providing professional- level care. I know how nerve-wracking it is to trust your pet's care with someone else. While your pet is in my care, they are treated as my own. You will receive daily updates with photos and videos throughout your absence, and you are welcome to contact me to check-up on them as well! 

Hopefully we don't run into this, but if it does happen, I will contact you first and foremost. If you are not available, I will contact your emergency contacts. From there, I will try to use your primary veterinarian if your pet needs medical care. If your vet is not in close proximity and/ or unavailable I will use my personal vet, Associated Veterinary Clinic in Washington, or one of the emergency vet clinics in the area. I will be in constant contact before, during, and after any treatment is done. 

Food

• This can be packaged in pre-measured small Ziploc baggies or in one big Ziploc bag with the scoop needed for all feedings.
• If your dog's food needs to be refrigerated, please label the food container(s) with your dog's name and mention it at drop  off so it can be put away immediately. 
• Please provide 2-3 extra meals for your dog(s) in the case of an unexpected travel delay.

Collar & ID tags with current up to date contact info

Leash (and harness if used)

• Please bring these items in case of emergency or some other need to leave the house.

Treats

• If your dog has special dietary restrictions or they enjoy treats such as dental sticks, antlers, or chews, you may bring those as well. If no dietary restrictions apply, they will enjoy our assortment of dog treats here when going down for a nap or bed time. 

Bed, Pillow, Blankets, etc.

• These may not apply to all dogs. I know some dogs will chew, destroy, and/or eat the bedding if left unattended with it. If your dog does not chew/ destroy/ eat their  bedding you are welcome to bring it to put in the crate with them to make it more comfortable during their stay. 

Medication, Vitamins, Supplements, etc.

• Prescription medication should stay in the prescription bottle and packaged in a ziploc bag with your dog's name and dosage info on it. 
• Vitamins and supplements need to be bagged with dosage info written the same way.

To prevent food fights, dogs are separated into their personal suites before food is prepared and fed their meals there. The same applies if they have chews/ bones/ dental sticks that aren't immediately consumable. 

I cannot accommodate free feeding here with the risk of arguments over the food. If your dog is a grazer, he/she will have access to the food bowl whenever he/she is in the crate during the day and night. 

Yes! I just ask that you bring the food item that your dog takes the medication with (pill pockets, cheese, hot dogs, etc.), and I will be happy to ensure your dog gets the medication as needed! 

It is very common for dogs that are not yet comfortable to go on a "hunger strike." If they choose to skip two full meals in a row, you will be contacted to discuss the addition of other food items such as shredded cheese, chicken, etc. to entice them to eat their meals.