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.
Our Meet & Greet is a required first step before booking services with Outward Bound Hounds. This in-home visit allows us to:
– Meet you and your pet(s) in person.
– Go over your pet’s routine, needs, and any special instructions.
– Ensure a good fit between your pet and our team.
– Answer any questions you may have about our services and policies.
Meet & Greet Fee: $40 (Non-Refundable)
This fee covers the time and care we dedicate to learning about your pet and ensuring we provide the best service possible and a lockbox for your house key, if applicable.
📌 Important: For the safety of our team, we are unable to accommodate human-reactive dogs or pets with a history of aggression. If your pet has ever bitten or shown reactivity toward people, we encourage you to seek a trainer or behaviorist before booking pet care services.
Our Team Based Model
Outward Bound Hounds operates under a Team-Based Servicing Model to ensure reliability, consistency, and the highest standard of care for your pet(s).
By using our services, you acknowledge and agree to this model, which includes but is not limited to:
- Multiple team members may be assigned to care for your pet(s).
- New team members may shadow shift leaders or managers during their initial visit.
- Detailed pet care instructions are documented and shared among team members to maintain consistency in care.
Service Expectations
At Outward Bound Hounds, we are committed to providing exceptional care for your pet(s). Our team is thoroughly trained and follows standardized guidelines to ensure a seamless experience.
As part of our Team-Based Servicing Model:
- Services will be provided by different team members based on availability, route optimization, and operational needs to ensure uninterrupted care.
- Our structured approach minimizes disruptions and ensures that pet care remains consistent, even if a specific team member is unavailable.
- Clients acknowledge that no single team member will be designated for their pet’s care, as all staff members follow standardized procedures tailored to meet each pet’s unique needs.
This approach allows us to provide dependable, high-quality service, giving you peace of mind that your pet is always in good hands.
Pet Visit Cancellation Policy
Midday dog walking cancellations must be received by 24 hours before the scheduled walk; otherwise full fees apply. Pet Sitting visit cancellations requires 2 weeks notice to guarantee you are not charged for the sitting assignment.
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 2 weeks of your first pet sitting appointment, you will receive a full refund minus the 20% deposit. Cancellations made within fewer than 2 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.
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
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:
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.
– 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.
– 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.
