FAQS

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Here are some of our frequently asked questions.

Why should I use a IB Pet Sitter?

When your pet can remain in the home, surrounded by their familiar environment, stay on their diet and exercise routine, receive medications when necessary is optimal.

Pop-ins and Overnight pet sitting, lets you stay travel for work or pleasure, with peace of mind, knowing that your pets and home are being well looked after. You’ll come home to happy and healthy pets and want to book our services again!

IB Pet Sitters will give your pets the best care, love and attention while you are away. We are almost always available, and we always have backup pet-sitters in cases of emergency, illness, or to cover for when our IB Pet Sitters’ take their vacation.

Are your sitters bonded and insured?

Yes, IB Pet-sitters are employees of IB Pet Sitting, thus Bonded and Insurance as well as Workers Compensation Insurance.

Have your sitters passed a background check?

To be considered for employment, our sitters must pass a criminal background check.

Why do I care that your sitters have Workers Compensation Insurance?

If a sitter happens to injure his or herself on the driveway, backyard, inside the house or is bitten by your dog, then (Worker Compensation) will cover them vs them going after your homeowners’ insurance to pay for their injuries. Therefore, you the client want to have a service like IB Pet Sitter with employees!

How long are your visits?

We offer 15-minute pop-in visits for small pets, like birds and reptiles, 30-minutes for cats and dog-walking. We also offer a longer dog-walk of 45-minutes to an hour. Have multiple pets? The we suggest you book 45-minute visit so there’s enough time to care for all your pets needs.

What do you do on a visit?

Visits include feeding per instructions given by the client, freshwater, approved treats, dog-walks or back yard play, plenty of love and playtime, brushing, litter box scooping, cage cleaning, medication given, mail, newspaper and packages brought into the house, plants watered, window treatment and lights rotated.

Do I need to provide any information at the meet n’ greet?

At the time of your meet and greet, and you decide to book our services, then we will leave you with our contract. You will need to fill it out completely before services start. Please keep in mind that your pets must be up to date with their vaccinations.

What happens in an emergency?

We always have a backup plan. However, the client is required to supply the name of someone as their emergency backup. This person must be someone within the same town, or close enough to arrive within an hour or less.

Is there a form to fill out to authorize emergency care?

We ask for who we may contact if you’re unavailable. This person may be a neighbor or family member, but they need to be within your city so that they can respond quickly. We also require information regarding your choice of veterinarian.

May I book my visits through my pet sitter directly?

No. All bookings must be booked through our online booking system or send a message through your client portal within the Time To Pet app or desktop version. IB Pet Sitting kindly asks that you never book directly with your IB Pet Sitter as your visit will NOT be covered under our liability insurance. Contact our office for all your bookings or cancellations. If you need to cancel, and as a courtesy, you wish to let your assigned IB Pet Sitter know as soon as possible, that’s fine, but please realize we do have a cancellation policy and it is not up to your assigned IB Pet Sitter to give you a credit.

Can I be assured of the same IBpetsitter each time?

We prefer to have the continuity of the same IBpetsitter each time you book. However, if the sitter is not available then another IBpetsitter will be assigned. This assigned IBpetsitter will certainly be informed of what the booking requires and you, the client, will be notified.

May I give my pet sitter / dog walker a gratuity?

Absolutely. Your IBpetsitter would certainly appreciate it. Thanks for thinking of them!

Do you always visit at the time we ask for?

After we receive a booking request, it’s scheduled within a block of time and location within Santa Cruz County. The actual time may change if a request for a pet requires medication given within a timely manner. IB Pet Sitters’ will post after each visit a photo and message about the visit to the clients portal/message board. With that said > We book your visits within a time frame and will be there during that time. If you are booking a cat or small animal visit for the early morning and it is during peak times such as a holiday, we may switch the visit to a later morning visit. IBpetsitter must get to those pets that may require medication in a timely manner. And dogs that need to get outside for a potty break first. If your pet requires medication, please let us know as soon as possible.

What forms of payments do you accept?

We accept cash or check.

When must payments be made?

Advanced bookings, payment can be mailed. Existing clients may leave check in an envelope and the IB Pet Sitter will drop off at the IB Pet Sitting office and posted to clients’ account.

Holiday-Zones Bookings?

When you have requested IB Pet Sitting services during Holiday-Zone months, payments are required to secure booking.

If my pet has an “accident”, do you clean it up?

Of course, we will clean up after your pets to the best of our ability. We ask that you leave out in plain sight what you prefer the IB Pet Sitting to use. However, if your pet has frequent accidents, we will ask you to book an additional visit in the day.

Is the meet n’ greet free?

NO. Since 2022 we have started to charge for Meet n’ Greets.

If you choose not to become a client and book our pet care services, then a full refund will be submitted.

Why do you ask for 2 keys in the lock box?

Things happen! A key could break, a sitter could accidentally lock one inside. We just always try to be prepared.

Do you pick up my dog’s waste when you are walking?

Absolutely! We do ask that you provide the poop bags…thank you!

Do you charge a holiday fee?

Yes. We have Holiday-Zone, all of November, December and the first two weeks of January.

There is an extra fee of $15.00 added to all services booked on the following holidays.

New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Memorial Day

Easter Day