ASTRO Pet Sitters
Safe & sound when you're not around!
813-481-5PET (813-481-5738)
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Frequently Asked Questions
| Q. What is a Pet Sitter? |
| A. A "Pet Sitter" is a person that is hired to come to a persons home to take care of their pets. Most pets are much less stressed when allowed to stay in their safe, familiar environment. Besides allowing your pets an alternative to caged boarding you will enjoy the peace of mind knowing that someone is visiting your home while you are away. |
| Q. How much does a visit cost? |
| A. ASTRO Pet Sitters standard Dog and Cat Sitting visits start at just $17.00 per visit for up to 2 pets. We add $3 each additional pet after that for up to 4 pets. Call for pricing details over 4 pets. Afternoon only visits or Daily Dog Walking is available weekdays during the hours of 11 & 3 starting at just $14 per day depending on the term of your contract. Please see our PRICING page for more information. |
| Q. How do I get started with ASTRO Pet Sitters? |
| A. The first thing you need to do is CONTACT US via telephone or email. (See CONTACT US BUTTON.) We will get back to you to set up a Free Initial Interview to meet you and your pets. |
| Q. How many visits a day do you provide for pets? |
| A. The choice is up to you. For inside dogs, we do a minimum of two (2) visits per day and as many as six (6). Most people request 2, 3 or 4. It really depends on your dog's particular needs. Outside dogs also require a minimum of two (2) visits a day unless you feel your dog requires more visits for medication or other needs. Although you may think they can "get by" with just one (1), it's important to check in to be sure they are ok and not in any kind of distress. For cats, we do a minimum of one (1) visit per day. We will not do "every-other-days" under any circumstances. All animals, including cats, can fall ill or become injured so we must adhere to the above policy as not to unduly jeopardize the pets well being. |
| Q. What areas of TAMPA BAY do you service? |
| A. We service Brandon, Valrico, Seffner, Lithia, Riverview, Fishhawk, Bloomingdale and some areas of Tampa. Extra mileage charges may apply. Depending on fuel costs a surcharge may, at times, be added. |
| Q. What goes on at the initial “interview”? |
| A. We review the Service Agreement, obtain keys, alarm codes etc., and discuss pet and house care details. Most importantly, we have the opportunity to meet your pet(s). There is a $25 charge which assures the availability of your sitter for your requested dates at the time the interview appointment is made. Once your reservation is confirmed the $25 fee will be credited to your total fee due. |
| Q. Who comes to meet me at the Initial Interview? |
| A. Either Heidi or Carl Capozza will visit with you and your pets. There will be some instances that another pet sitter will come with us. We want you to meet us (the owners), your assigned pet sitters. It is important that you be comfortable with pet sitting in every way. |
| Q. Is my personal information on the Service Agreement kept private? |
| A. Yes, of course! We do not disclose any client information to any third parties. All Service Agreements are kept at the ASTRO Pet Sitters Home Office. Only the owners and/or the designated pet sitter will have access to your personal information. |
| Q. Will I have the same pet sitter each time? |
| A. Since we anticipate caring for your pets ourselves, the easy answer is, yes. If there is a change, we will give you a call and inform you of this. We will send the new sitter over to your home to meet with you and your pets. We want to make sure they completely understand the care required for your pets and home services. |
| Q. How long is each visit? |
| A. The Basic Visit is 20-40 minutes. During this time, we take your pets outside (dogs) for a potty break, refresh their food and water. Clean their litter box (cats) and of course, give them hugs and and play time! We also fill out a "Ruff Report", a daily log that lists time in/time out, what your pet is up to and what services we have performed (getting mail, taking out trash bin, etc...) and any other comments that you might be interested in about your pets. |
| Q. What is the cancellation and refund policy? |
| A. Please be advised when a reservation is made all visits are reserved especially for your pets care. Cancellations made up to 5 days in advance of your scheduled service will incur a penalty of the cost of one visit. Any remaining deposit will be credited to your account. If canceling less than 5 days prior to the first day of your scheduled service period, a fee of 25% of the total service fee is applied. During high demand weeks and all holidays schedules we require a non-refundable 50% deposit. Cancellations made during high demand periods will be subject to full payment of entire reservation. At any time should you return early and no longer require our service the remaining per visit charge of your reservation will still apply. Under no circumstances will cash refunds be made. Thank you for your understanding. |
| Q. Will you accomodate "last-minute" reservations? |
| A. YES, once we have had a meet and greet with your pets, we obtain a key, and have a completed and signed Service Agreement. There may be a small charge of $10.00 if less than two day notice (48 hours). We do understand that emergencies arise, so if we have the time available, we will make every effort to accommodate you in those special situations at no additional cost. We may also be able to accomodate last minute NEW clients around the Holidays so give us a call. During high demand periods we will request a non-refundable 50% deposit. Please understand that once a reservation has been confirmed that time is reserved for your pets. As a result of your secure reservation we may have to turn away additional requests for service as we will not over book. |
| Q. What kind of animals do you care for? |
| A. We care for dogs, cats, hamsters and we will gladly feed your fish. Please call for any pets not listed. We will also provide food and water for non- aggressive birds. |
| Q. Are you insured? |
| A. Yes, as a professionally owned and operated business we are insured for peace of mind. At this time we do not utilize the services of employees and therefore are not bonded. Many explain the fact that they are bonded as a positive when in fact it should have no significance if an honest owner is also the pet sitter. Here is a brief explanation of bonding: |
| Q. How do you choose the Pet Sitters that you hire? |
| A. ASTRO Pet Sitters first priority is safety and security of our client's pets and home. This is a main reason why we intend to provide and/or oversee all the pet sitting services ourselves. In the unlikely event we need to refer a substitute pet sitter, we will only work with those that we are familiar with and are also Bonded and Insured. |
| Q. Do you administer medication to pets? |
| A. Heidi is a registered nurse and Carl has been administering insulin injections for our own diabetic dog for years, so yes, we will administer medication, pills, drops and/or injections. Pets, for the most part, are easier than most humans when it comes to medicating. However, we will not administer medication to any animal that poses a danger to the sitter. (i.e....a cat/dog that is aggressive and may bite) We are also Pet First Aid Certified. |
| Q. Can I hire my Pet Sitter directly? |
| A. Please call us and we will do our very best to accomodate your situation. |
| Q. What if my property is damaged or my pet is injured while I am gone? |
| A. ASTRO Pet Sitters agrees to provide the services stated in our service agreement in a reliable, caring and trustworthy manner. However, ASTRO Pet Sitters is only liable for claims arising from negligence or willful misconduct. Due to the extreme unpredictability of animals, we cannot accept responsibility for unusual mishaps (i.e., biting, furniture damage, spills, pet stains, water stains due or not due to pets actions, etc.). Also, if your pets have access to the outside, we are NOT responsible for injury, disappearance, or fines. Please be certain to have a name tag and collar attached to each pet complete with address and phone number. |
| Q. How am I billed, and when is it due? |
| A. Payment is expected PRIOR TO beginning of the pet sitting reservation. We currently only accept cash and personal checks. |
| Q. What do you do in case of an emergency? |
| A. It depends on the type of emergency. If something was to happen to us, we have a backup sitter that can take over. If an emergency occurs with your pets, we will first contact your vet or emergency veterinarian services and transport them if necessary. Every effort will be made to contact and advise you about the situation. If there is an emergency with your home, we will call you, your emergency contact, the appropriate authorities, and a preferred repair service if needed. |
| Q. May I give my Pet Sitter a tip? |
| A. We feel our fees are more than reasonable for the quality and level of professional services our company provides. Anything over and above our agreed to fee is much appreciated but never assumed or expected. |
Astro Pet Sitters
Telephone: (813) 481-5738
867 W Bloomingdale Ave
Brandon, FL 33508
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