We offer weekday midday private dog walking and 1-2 times a day cat visits exclusively. CTH does not offer dog vacation care of any kind, this includes overnight care, dog vacation care or boarding animals with our team. If you have a situation that is a little different and have questions for us please contact us. We are happy to discuss options with you or refer you to a company in the area that may be able to help you. We believe finding the right fit is the most important goal for CTH and our customers.
Logistics
We are limited with the medication we can administer. Please contact our office to discuss the medication your pet requires. Please note: We do not administer insulin, timed medication and we do not administer medication on holidays. We may provide care for pets that take meds in their food or something similar.
CTH feels animals that are in need of life saving medication should be under the care of a licensed Veterinary professional, Vet Tech, a certified Medical Care Companies, veterinary boarding company or a company specializing in administering medication. We implemented this policy to ensure the animals are safe and have the level of care needed for their safety.
Please reach out for more clarification. We are happy to talk with you and walk through the specific needs. We are here to help even if that means finding you another company that can provide it.
Yes, we require criminal background checks on all team members and run them throughout the year.
Yes, Close to Home Pet Services is insured and bonded.
We are insured by the Insurers of the Carolinas and members of the Pet Sitter International program.
We advise you to always make sure your pet sitters are insured and bonded!
We cannot guarantee the same person on each of your visits. Our Company policy is to create a team to work together to care for your pets and home. By sharing the responsibility we are able to provide excellent care from happy employees. Also everyone on our team is equally amazing and committed to the health and happiness of your pet.
Cat Sitting Team: Who will care for your feline family members while you are away? We have a Cat Sitting Team at Close To Home. Some members may also walk dogs but being a member of the cat sitting team is a special achievement within the company. Our team shares the responsibility of caring for your family on the requested dates am/pm 365 days a year. We have ‘cat people’ working on this team and we are very proud of the care we offer.
Dog Walking Team: They meet and become pack members for your family dog(s). Similar to the Cat Sitting Team, our DWT shares the responsibility and care for your dogs. We honor your dog’s request of how to introduce and join their pack.
Please ask us for further clarification if needed. Contact us anytime. 206 650-2380
Yes! We work 365 days a year for cat sitting.
We work Monday - Friday for midday dog walking.
We have special rates, services and hours over the holidays.
We only offer weekday midday dog walks and time frame visits for cat care (8am-8pm, 7-11am or 3-8pm)
We do not, but we are happy to recommend some great places that do.
No, but we can refer you to some of our favorite businesses and individuals who do.
Please ALWAYS ask for background checks and proof of insurance.
We do not offer training, but we work with trainers and are happy to refer you.
- Northwest school of canine studies
- Ahimsa
- Puppy Perfectors
We are not currently taking on new dog clients with a history of human aggression. If your dog has dog aggression we consider each case knowing each dog is different. Give us a call at (206) 650-2380 or email info@closetohomepetservices.com, and we can talk about your unique situation.
You are required to disclose aggression toward humans or a bite history.
Cats, dogs, chickens, ducks, goats, reptiles, fish, and birds. Got something we missed?
Contact us. Let’s talk
EXTREME WEATHER:
Extreme heat may result in shorter walks for dogs. The CTH Team will use their best judgment to keep everyone safe. You will be notified of any irregularities.
Extreme cold may result in altered services if safety is an issue. You will be notified of any irregularities.
SNOW PROTOCOL:
Cat and Small Animal Pet Sitting
During Winter months please have a backup plan in place to support your pet’s care in case of snow or ice making roads impassable. Sometimes that means leaving extra food and water out in case we are unable to physically make it to your home every day. We can help assist you with your backup plan. We will be in close contact with you in the case of any issue regarding your animal's care and scheduled visits. There is a section in your portal for extreme weather planning.
SNOW PROTOCOL URGENCY SERVICES
Dog walks
Dog walks are most likely canceled on snow days or Icy conditions. Safety for your dog and our team is a priority.
Special Snow Services. We will offer special snow services if you require or request services with snow or ice present. (This would be in the case where the ‘city is shut down’ and/or roads have become dangerous.
Quickstop feeding and care service $45
Why have the Snow Protocol service and why does it cost so much? Winter of 2021, Including Christmas day, we bussed to jobs, walked in snowshoes 5-6 miles, hiked in YakTracks up and down icy hills and drove in 4x4 trucks risking our safety to get to, care for and feed the animals in our care. These 20 minute visits took hours to complete for the same cost originally booked. Our team was paid and we lost a significant amount of money. The folks that work in these conditions will be paid hazard pay with this new rate.
A cancellation fee of 50% will be charged for a canceled visit if it is given by Client to Close to Home after 8:00pm Pacific Standard Time the day prior to scheduled service. (To be clear the charge is for all services the next day not the entire trip). CTH will continue to pay our team if the job was canceled after 8pm the night prior.
Please log into your portal to cancel services. Calling, text or sending an email delays the cancellation process and may cause us to miss your message and show up to your home. If you cancel in the portal the job is removed from the schedule immediately.
Holiday cancellations
Cancellation policy for Holiday trips is 100% charge for the specific 'holiday' dates once booked.
If a client cancels frequently CTH may decide to discontinue future services or requests.
DUE TO COVID-19 WE ARE LIMITING OUR IN PERSON MEET N GREETS. PLEASE WEAR A MASK WITH NO SYMPTOMS WITHIN 24 HOURS.
We do charge a $20 fee for an initial Meet and Greet.
If additional meetings with the client are required a $15 charge is applied to each meeting.
Our initial meet n greet may be with one of our team leads. They may not be the person who will be caring for your pet during your trip or dog walks. We may have an initial meeting person who assesses your animal and needs then reports back to the team on who will be the best fit. Once we have established we are a good fit for your family and you agree to hire us we then plan the introduction to your animals. We have this model setup in order to cover your requests in the most efficient and healthy way. Our team is vetted, trained and background checked. We are kind, honest folks and have high standards for the people we allow to join our team. We choose our clients and team in order to have the most healthy and successful relationships. We want to know the expectations our clients have so that we know if we can achieve success. If we are not a good fit for each other we are happy to refer to other businesses in the area that may be the right fit. That is important to have a healthy business relationship.
If you would like clarification on any of our values, policies or procedures please give us a call or email any time.
Keys can be picked up at your home with a no-contact exchange. We will need at least 72 hours to coordinate a key pick-up. The cost is $20. We require two sets of keys for services, to ensure an emergency backup key is available at all times. Following services, keys can be kept in our secure office for future visits. If you are unable to leave your keys with CTH then please request a key pick up and drop off at your home. The charge is $20 per exchange.
Lockbox: If you would prefer a lockbox option at your home, we can provide the lockbox on loan from CTH for a $25 charge. Lockbox can be delivered during our meet n greet or a no-contact delivery. You can return a working lockbox for any reason and your $25 will be returned to you. The key can be left in the lockbox each trip and returned at the end of the trip. No charge for these key exchanges.
When booking the holidays please be aware we have a limited amount of spaces.
On the actual holiday date, we only offer two types of services. (Holiday 20 min visit $40 or (Holiday 30 min visit $60)
If your home requires a longer visit due to an unexpected addition of work, an urgent issue to address, or an emergency situation an additional charge will be added to your invoice. CTH will contact you to let you know about the situation prior to charging you.
Services: We offer cat sitting and dog walking. We do not offer overnight care in your home, boarding dogs or pets in our homes, or taking care of dogs while owners are out of town.
Holidays include: Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Friday the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year’s Day.
Holiday Visit – $40 visit is 20 min or $60 visit is 30 min. No medication can be administered
Cancellation policy for holiday trips. 100% charge for the specific holiday dates once booked.
If a client cancels frequently CTH may decide to discontinue future services or requests.
Space is limited for holiday dates. To secure your spot you must be sure all information online is up to date and complete, we have 2 keys and/or electric / lockbox access.
We love to provide care in order for you to enjoy your holidays. Thank you for understanding why there is an increase in price and the cancellation policy. For the folks who work these holidays, the cancellation policy is in place to ensure they are compensated for the time they dedicated to work over the holidays instead of spending that time with their family.
Non holiday dates: Client must cancel the scheduled dog walks or pet visits by 8pm the previous day in order to avoid being charged a cancellation fee of 50% for the visit. This charge is for any and all services the next day not the entire trip. CTH will continue to pay our team if the job was cancelled after 8pm the night prior.
Please contact us to clarify or explain any policy or procedure.
We do not administer medications during the holiday dates unless agreed upon ahead of time and you have a Holiday MEDICATION service selected.
Cat Sitting – In order to ensure safety and wellbeing (including the risk of illness, becoming trapped, fresh food/water, and any feeding/watering devices are functioning correctly), we require daily visits for any cat sitting family.
If an emergency arises we will contact you if a visit is missed or if we are unable to reach your home. This would only occur in extreme weather or a state of emergency. We would have an emergency plan in place to ensure your pets are fed and have adequate water and shelter.
Please contact us with any questions or feedback.
Thank you for understanding.
Operations
You can pay your bill by logging into the customer portal at CTH Payments
Payment Details — CTH requires payment for services on or before the first day of care via our online customer portal with credit card payment. All clients will be on an auto-charge schedule. This means your card or bank account on file will be charged for the entire invoice on the first day of services if you have not paid it prior yourself in the portal. If you need to make other arrangements, please contact us.
You can cancel services or request services online through the portal link or in your email if you are a current client.
If you are a client of Close to Home, please log into the customer portal at login. You can cancel or schedule visits, pay your bill, and update your payment information.
Payment Details — CTH requires payment for services on or before the first day of care via our online customer portal with credit card payment. All clients will be on an auto-charge schedule. This means your card or bank account on file will be charged for the entire invoice on the first day of services if you have not paid it prior yourself in the portal. If you book many dates at once be aware the entire invoice will be charged on the first day of services.
If another arrangement needs to be made, please email or call us. For holiday visits, we ask that you pay 14 days prior to the first day of service. To pay please go to your portal by clicking this link Client Login.
This is important: Please leave us a message in your customer chat feed in your portal. This can also be accesses by clicking the link in your email (not by replying to email).
Go to the customer portal and add the information into your details.
You may also contact us at (206) 650-2380 or info@closetohomepetservices.com if you have any further questions or need more assistance.
That number can be used for texting, but please only in emergency or urgent situations.
Here’s what to expect next:
- You will receive an email from us using Time To Pet software with a quote and your customer portal link. (If not, call 206 650-2380)
- Log on to your Portal and input your information. (no obligation to set up an account)
- Add in your request or ask additional questions
- Schedule a meet n Greet with our team. (reply to email or contact us at info@closetohomeseattle.com)
- Meet the team (Have 2 keys ready)
- Confirm dates and be prepared for your card to be charged on the first day of care.
- Receive excellent care for your animals
- Receive feedback reports after each visit
- Log in and sign up for future trips or services
- Leave a happiness report (bottom of email on daily reports) or if we were exceptional leave a review for us on Yelp or Google.
If you have not received your quote or have any questions please call (206) 650-2380.
COVID 19 – Has altered our meet n greet availability. Please contact us directly for up to date procedures.
Please have keys ready at the time of our meeting. We ask for 2 sets of keys for the home in case of emergencies. We keep one set in the secured office. If you only have one set we can make one copy for you for $10 (we can have the locksmith stamped “do not duplicate” on both copies if you’d like.) If you are not able to provide two sets of keys please have an emergency backup plan in place in case we need assistance accessing the home. In addition, If you would like us to return your key after your trip there is a $10 return key fee. There is no fee to keep the keys in our secure office.
Payment: Please pay for services on or before the first day of care via our online customer portal. We are a prepay auto-charge company, your entire invoice will be charged on the first day of service. Links and instructions are below. If you are requesting a regular dog walking service we accept payments on a monthly prepay schedule. If you need to make other arrangements please contact our Admin team at info@closetohomepetservices.com
Same-day requests and cancellations: Same-day requests are subject to a $5 charge. A cancellation fee of $15 will be charged for each canceled visit if it is given by the Client to Close to Home after 8:00 pm Pacific Standard Time the day prior to scheduled service.
Extreme Weather: Pet sitting in the winter months and extreme weather situations we request an emergency backup plan or person (neighbor or someone close by ) you have prepared to assist us with the visit or animal care. If there is a threat of snow we may need to leave an extra supply of food out in case we are delayed in our visit. (This is an extreme case). Please be aware of the weather and freezing pipes or anything we should know about your house and weather issues. Extreme heat may result in shorter walks or limited running. The pet sitter and walker will use their best judgment to keep everyone safe. You will be notified of any irregularities. Have your emergency contact information updated in your profile.
Dog walking with extreme weather- If your dog’s safety or the safety of the walker is at risk we may limit the walks. We will inform you of any situations that may occur. Dog running will not occur in extreme weather.
Please note this is just a review version of our terms and conditions. A signable version will be provided should you become a client. Download a PDF here.
Here is all that you agree to by contracting with our team:
CLOSE TO HOME PET SERVICES, LLC.
THIS AGREEMENT is entered into this day of _________ by and between Close to Home Pet Services, a Washington Limited Liability Company. Here in after “CTH” and hereinafter “Client”.
- Terms & Conditions/Revocation — This contract summarizes the agreements for services to be provided by CTH for Client for Client’s pet (s). It shall remain in full effect until revoked by either CTH or Client.
- Scope of Services provided — CTH provides dog walking, dog visits, in your home cat and pet visits, animal taxi services.
- Charges and fees — CTH Holiday visits are 20 min or less and $40 a visit. Holiday dates are defined below. Non holiday: CTH charges are for one pet, $21 for 15 minute dog walks or pet (cat, dog, fish, etc.) visits, $24 for 20 minute dog walks or pet visits, $27 for half hour walks or visits, $35 for 45 minute walks or visit, $35 for half hour dog running. If client wishes to have more than one pet walked, there will be an additional charge of $5 per pet per walk. There is no additional charge for two or more pets for a pet visit (no leashed walks). Holidays with special rate are defined as Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Veterans day, Thanksgiving, the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and New Year’s Eve. Any services rendered on holidays as defined above and have a special rate. The services provided on holidays are 20 min or less quick-stops at $40 a visit. Prices are subject to change in January 2022 with written notice.
- Payment Details — CTH requires payment for services on or before the first day of care via our online customer portal with credit card payment. All clients will be on an auto charge schedule. Which means your card or bank account on file will be charged for the entire invoice on the first day of services, if you have not paid the invoice prior yourself in the portal. If you need to make other arrangements, please contact info@closetohomepetservices.com.
- Cancellation Policy — Client must cancel the scheduled dog walks or pet sits by 8pm the previous day in order to avoid being charged $15 fee. If Client cancels services for pet sitting for any previously requested holiday service (as defined above) less than two weeks in advance, Client shall be charged 100% for the defined holiday dates. Regular cancellation applies for non holiday dates.
- Weather — CTH requires that clients hiring services in the fall and winter months be prepared with local backup plans. If the weather keeps CTH from accessing the Client’s home or the roads to your home, please keep us advised of conditions and have an emergency back up plan. This may mean CTH is unable to access your home or reach your pets. The regular timed visits may be altered or cancelled altogether. CTH will contact the Client and do everything possible to access Client’s home and to care for Client’s pets.
- Staff emergency illness — In the event of personal emergency or illness of the assigned pet sitter, Client authorizes CTH to arrange for another qualified person to fulfill pet and/or home sitter responsibilities as set forth in this contract without advance notification to Client. The client will be notified of the changes as soon as possible.
- Authorization to obtain Veterinary Services — In the event Client’s animal suffers an injury or illness requiring immediate treatment, CTH is authorized to approve immediate medical and/or emergency treatment (excluding euthanasia) as recommended by a veterinarian. Client agrees to provide CTH with the name and phone number of Client’s veterinarian and to keep CTH advised of any changes. If we can not reach your preferred vet office we will find an alternate care provider.
- Collars/Identification — All dogs are required to wear a collar with an ID tag during care that is provided by CTH. We also recommend that all pet(s) be microchipped and that the information on file is current.
- Authorization to provide Services — Client authorizes CTH or its agents to perform care and services as outlined in this contract. Client further authorizes this contract to be valid approval for future services permitting CTH to accept Client’s reservations for service and to enter Client’s premises without additional signed contracts or written authorizations.
- Amendments to Contract — An amendment must be agreed upon if Client moves, desires services for additional pets, or if Client wishes to update instructions regarding the care of Client’s pet(s) and/or premises. This includes adding medications to the pet care needs without prior consulting CTH. CTH must be informed and services agreed upon when medications are required.
- Authority to Purchase Required Supplies — In the event that adequate supplies are not accessible and CTH has to purchase supplies, I understand that a full reimbursement will be added to my bill.
- Warranty: Client warrants to CTH that the pet for which services are to be provided is in good health and capable of exercising in a manner appropriate to the age and the breed of the pet. Client further warrants that to his/her knowledge, their pet is not aggressive towards other animals, children or adults. If there are any precautions necessary to prevent injury to Client, other animals or third parties, Client has so advised CTH and that appropriate written information has been given to CTH.
- Insured and Bonded — CTH is bonded and insured through the Business Insurers of the Carolinas, PO Box 2536, Chapel Hill, NC 27515
Due to the Global Pandemic we require all clients to update CTH on any exposure, symptoms or positive testing for COVID-19 and/or variants while we are visiting your home or caring for your pets. Please provide supplies if applicable and allow CTH employees to use products and safety equipment while working on or around your home. CTH is not liable for any exposure to Covid-19 in relation to clients or pets. CTH will exceed state and/or CDC policies and procedures for safety.
In the event Client books a walk/visit after 8pm for the next day, there will be an additional $5 charge per walk/visit. In the event Client wishes CTH to make a trip to pick-up or drop-off a key to accommodate Client’s schedule or wishes, Client will be charged $20.00 to pick up or drop off the key. We store client keys in our secure office free of charge. Each key is labeled with a 3 digit code for additional security. If Client wishes to avoid these charges they may provide CTH with a key, which CTH keeps in their secure office and which keys are coded so that the owner of said key is not identified. CTH requires two keys on file for each client. If two keys are not supplied CTH may need to make a copy of the Client’s key and charge $10 for the convenience. Client will be notified that a second key was made. Buildings and/or FOBS may have a different agreement.
You can cancel services or request services online through the portal link. You can find the link on our website www.closetohomepetservices.com or in your email if you are a current client.
If you do not yet have a password or you have forgotten your password, please click ‘register’ or ‘forgotten password’ at the customer portal at Client portal Link
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