Policies

All services must be paid in advance with a credit card in our Time To Pet Portal. Weekly recurring clients will be billed at the end of each week.

Meet and Greet Policy

Prior to booking your initial services, we kindly request an in-home meet and greet. This meeting offers you the opportunity to personally meet your primary sitter, have a thorough discussion about your pet’s unique requirements, key exchange and lockbox set up.

Pet Visit Cancellation Policy

We require 24 hour notice to book, cancel, or reschedule services. If you cancel services less than 24 hours prior, you will be charged for the full amount of the scheduled service. If you wish to reschedule we will save your payment as a credit for future services.

A late booking fee of $15 will be applied to any booking request with less than 24hr notice

Pet Taxi cancellations require 24-hour notice to guarantee you are not charged for the visit.

Overnight Visit Cancellation Policy

All vacation sitting requests require a non-refundable 20% deposit due upon booking.

If you cancel within 3 weeks of your first pet sitting appointment, you will receive a full refund minus the 20% deposit. Cancellations made within fewer than 3 weeks notice will be charged 100% of the total cost of your booking.

Cat Sitting Policy

To provide the best care for our feline companions, we have established the following cat sitting policies:

Minimum Visit Requirement: Clients are required to book a minimum of two cat sitting visits within every 24-hour period. This policy has been designed with the health, safety and well-being of your cats in mind.
Ensuring Adequate Care: The two-visit minimum ensures there is ample time for visual confirmation that your kitty is safe and happy, feeding and thorough litter box cleaning during each 24-hour period. This approach guarantees that your cats receive the attention and care they deserve.

Commitment to Your Pet's Care

At Outward Bound Hounds, our team collaborates seamlessly to provide the best care for your furry companions. While you can certainly choose a preferred sitter, please keep in mind that due to our busy schedule, we may not always be able to guarantee the same sitter or walker for each visit. This flexibility ensures that your beloved pet will consistently receive the care and attention they deserve, even when your primary sitter and backup sitter have other commitments. Your pet’s well-being is our top priority.

Holiday Pet Sitting Surcharge Policy

At Outward Bound Hounds, we are pleased to offer pet sitting services that cater to your needs, including during holidays when many pet owners are away..

Holiday Surcharge: A surcharge of $5 per visit will be applied to all pet sitting visits scheduled on holidays, as well as any immediately preceding or following weekends
Transparent Billing: The surcharge will be clearly indicated on your invoice and is payable along with your regular service fees.
Scheduling Notice: To ensure availability and the best care for your pets during holidays, we recommend booking your pet sitting visits at least 3 months in advance.

We understand the importance of celebrating holidays with your loved ones, and we are committed to ensuring that your pets receive the same care and attention they deserve, even on these special occasions. Thank you for entrusting us with your pet’s care, and we appreciate your understanding of our Holiday Pet Sitting Surcharge Policy.

Applicable Holidays: This surcharge is applicable to visits on nationally recognized holidays.

New Year’s Day (January 1)
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Third Monday in January)
Inauguration Day (January 20, every 4 years following a presidential election)
Washington’s Birthday (Also known as Presidents Day; third Monday in February)
Memorial Day (Last Monday in May)
Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19)
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day (First Monday in September)
Indigenous people’s Day (Second Monday in October)
Veterans Day (November 11)
Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)
Christmas Day (December 25)

Inclement Weather and Natural Disasters

Inclement Weather and Natural Disaster Policies

At Outward Bound Hounds, the safety and welfare of your pets and our pet sitters are of utmost importance. While we strive to provide uninterrupted care in all weather conditions, there are instances, such as extreme heat, heavy snowfall, icy roads, or natural disasters, where we must prioritize safety. Here is our policy for addressing these situations:

Managing Extreme Heat for Your Pet’s Safety

In situations of extreme heat we will make the following adjustments to our walking schedule:

Morning walks will commence 45 minutes earlier than initially scheduled.
Midday walks will be scheduled to conclude by 1 pm – 2 pm at the latest as 3 pm in the summer represents the hottest part of the day.
Evening walks will begin after 6 pm.
Walk durations will be shortened to minimize exposure to the heat.

During these times, we will focus on the essential bathroom breaks for your pet and indoor play to prevent them from encountering hot pavement and the risk of heatstroke. These measures are designed to ensure the safety and comfort of your beloved pets during extreme temperatures.

Snow, Ice and Natural Disasters

Road Conditions: We will make every effort to reach your home. However, if road conditions become impassable or remain uncleared due to extreme weather or natural disasters, our foremost concern is the safety of our pet sitters.
Prioritizing Safety: The safety of our pet sitters comes first. If our pet sitters determine that traveling to your home poses a risk, we will postpone the visit until conditions improve and it is safe to proceed.
Communication: In the event that road conditions prevent us from reaching your home, we will promptly inform you and/or your designated local emergency contact. If you haven’t provided an emergency contact, or if we are unable to reach you, we recommend having a neighbor’s contact information on hand for such situations.
Rescheduling: We will collaborate closely with you to reschedule visits as soon as conditions permit, ensuring your pet continues to receive the care they need.

We value your understanding and cooperation during these circumstances. Our commitment is unwavering when it comes to the safety and well-being of your cherished pets and our dedicated pet sitters. Should you have any questions or require further clarification regarding our inclement weather and natural disaster policy, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

NOTE ABOUT TIPPING

If you were provided with great service, it is appropriate to tip your dog walker or pet sitter. This is a suggested guide only and not required. You may include the additional amount in your check or credit card payment and we will pass the surplus along to your sitter with your compliments.