BASIC STARTING RATE 1 dog or 1 - 2 cats (or small pets)	$16 PER VISIT (see map)
Each additional dog	$2
Each additional cat or small pet	up to $1
Key drop off or pick up	$10

Consultation Visit There is no charge for the initial consult visit required of all new pet sitting clients. At this meeting I will meet you and your pets and we will fill out all paperwork. I will also need 2 copies of your keys at this time. Plan on at least a half hour for the visit.

Any other visit made to your home for any reason will be charged. This includes meeting a new pet or getting reacquainted with or receiving special care instructions for an old pet. If it's a quick drop off/pick up visit the charge will be $10. Otherwise it will be the minimum charge for a visit to your area.

These are general rates. Actual rates may vary depending upon where you live (please check out service area map ), how many pets you have, the exact services you require and how much clean up is involved.

Basic watering of a few plants, picking up mail & newspaper, adjusting temperature or windows/blinds, filling bird feeders, and taking trash to curb are all included in each visit at no extra charge. If you have a large number of plants, watering can be arranged for an additional fee depending upon the time needed.

A normal visit is approximately 30 minutes. Longer visits can be arranged for an additional fee.

I must be notified of all pets in your household and all will be considered to be under my care unless other acceptable care has been provided. I usually don't charge any extra for a hamster, gerbil, or fish etc. unless they require food preparation, cage cleaning or other special care. I just want to know they are there and make sure they are ok.

If you have numerous pets, please call me for a price. Rate will depend on the situation and time needed to care for all pets and will depend upon where you live.

HOLIDAYS:

I charge time and a half for the following holidays:New Year's Eve (after 3:00 p.m.), New Year's Day, Easter, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve (after 3:00 p.m.) and Christmas Day. Christmas Eve I am only available until 6:00 p.m. I'm sorry but I am not available for the 4th of July weekend.

Each summer I take a week off at the end of July or beginning of August. As soon as I know which week I will post it. I usually know by March. Until then I only take tentative reservations for that time period.This year it's the week of July 26th or the week of August 2nd, 2008.

I also usually take another week off some time during the year plus a few weekends. As soon as I know about these dates I put them on my phone message and publish them here. I don't arrange anyone to fill in for me but I can give you the names of other area pet sitters that may be able to help you out if you need pet sitting services during those times.

It is recommended that you make holiday bookings EARLY. This also goes for school vacation weeks. It is first come, first serve and I can only take a certain number of clients.

No refunds for early returns.

Full payment is due for any cancellations made with less than 72 hours notice.

Current Clients - My preferred method for you to book pet sitting dates is for you to use my online form. This way I have the complete information I need and in written form. Please do not send me a regular e-mail as I get a large volume of e-mail in my inbox and lots of spam and your request could easily get lost or deleted. Thank you!

New Clients - Please call or use this online form to book an initial consult at least a few weeks before your intended trip. No pet sitting or dog walking can be done until we have met and all paper work has been filled out. Initial consults are scheduled around my pet sitting appointments and can't usually be set up last minute. Both parties must be happy with all arrangements and it is best to leave time to set up alternate care in case things don't work out.

Pet Sitters Need Time Off Too

Unlike most other jobs, pet sitting involves working most weekends and holidays along with regular Monday - Friday work. As much as I love spending time with the pets, I no longer want to do that. Life is too short and my kids are grown now and I want to go away on weekends with my husband sometimes or go on my book club's trips or visit my sisters or go to some family functions, so I will be taking more time off. Unfortunately I no longer know of any other sitters covering Ashburnham. For boarding options I would suggest The Red Pony Farm in Westminster or The Bark and Call Inn in Ashby. Both offer home environments. I know Martha and Ike from The Red Pony Farm and they are wonderful and I have heard good things about The Bark and Call Inn.

DISCOUNTS:

As much as I'd like to, I just cannot offer discounts on pet sitting visits. I love your pets and I love spending time with them but I also have to balance that with what my time is worth to me in regards to my family and my need to make a living. Some people ask for a discounted rate if they need me to come 3 or 4 times a day. I agree that it does get expensive but I am still spending the same amount of time at each visit. It still costs me gas money and wear and tear on my vehicle but most importantly I am saving that time for you. I am committing to you that I will be there taking care of your pet. That ties me down and limits what else I can do with my day. Four times a day means spending a good part of my day at your house or driving back and forth to it. Also, while some visits may be on a nice, sunny, summer day others may be in the middle of a thunderstorm, during a heatwave, early on a freezing winter's morning or during a snowstorm. Pet sitting is a luxury service and is not for everyone. While it is often cheaper than a kennel if you have multiple pets, it is most likely more expensive if you just have one pet and want multiple visits a day. But remember, these visits are personalized one on one visits with your pet and offer much more than most kennels. I don't rush through just taking care of your pet's physical needs. I also focus on their emotional needs and well being. It's kind of like comparing a cold shower with a nice warm bubble bath. I promise to give your pet the best care I possibly can and will give it with plenty of hugs and love. I know how hard it is for them when you aren't there and I will treat them as if they were my own and shower them with lots of attention. I often stay longer if I have the time to do so.

Special Note To Friends: I have a very difficult time with pricing when friends call asking me to pet sit for them. As a friend, I'd like to give you some kind of deal but we live in a small town and you end up knowing a lot of people. While I chose to start this business because I love pets so much, I also started it to earn a living. This is my job. I have bills to pay and children to put through college. I also have overhead expenses to cover such as phone, web space, office supplies, advertising, printing, insurance and travel expenses. So while I would love to help you out, I just can't give discounts. I hope you'll understand.

*rates are subject to change without notice.