Policy and Guidelines
Santa Barbara Pet Sitters Policies and Guidelines
1. Visit Times: Santa Barbara Pet Sitters will visit during the times requested as closely as possible. However, if we are caring for multiple pets at multiple households, the times might need to be shifted to accommodate all of our clients. We will do are very best to visit at the appointed times.
2. Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, The SBPS have requested on contract a phone number and contact of a friend or relative that lives close by. If we cannot physically reach a household due to impassible roads, please provide us with a back up alternative. Your pet's health and well being is our utmost concern and we will contact you as soon as possible to keep you informed of any of these events.
3. Additional Pet care assistance and other scheduled services: We all want our pets receiving the best love and attention they deserve but please be advised that if there are any other persons entering or leaving the home, Santa Barbara Pet Sitters cannot beheld responsible or liable for any damages or accidents that arise as a result. Please inform of us of any consult times arranged of anyone who has access to your home while your away. This includes, Home cleaners, Gardeners, repair persons, friends, neighbors or family. The SBPS will not be held responsible for any other persons who will be entering the home during pet care and health services.
4. Vaccinations and Immunizations: The Santa Barbara Pet Sitters require all pets to have updated vaccines and immunizations before service begins. We may ask to see expiration dates for rabies vaccines.
5. Unforeseen Purchases: Santa Barbara Pet Sitters will purchase pet food, litter, cleaning suppliesor any other necessities that contribute to the health and well being of your pets needs while your absent. We will retain a receipt and the pet owner will be responsible for reimbursements of these items. In addition to a $25.00 trip fee will be charged to the pet owner.
6. Pet Waste: Santa Barbara Pet Sitters will properly dispose of all pet waste. We do ask that you provide proper disposal items and indicate where you would like the pet waste disposed.
7. Pet Leash: All dogs will be required to wear a pet leash while outdoors, unless otherwise noted.____
8. Animal Behavior: Animals behavior can be unpredictable. Santa Barbara Pet Sitters will not beheld responsible or liable for any behavior normal or otherwise, which results in injury to client's animals. Further, if the pet sitter is injured or harmed by the clients animals, the client/ owner accepts full responsibility for the cost of any medical attention required by either Santa Barbara Pet Sitter care provider or by the animals.
9. Fences: Fenced in yards make great playgrounds for dogs and allow them additional space to run and play. However, no fence system is completely secure. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for any clients animals that escape or become lost or injured, fatal or otherwise, when instructed to leave the clients pets in the fenced area. This includes, metal, wood, electronic or any other type of fence.
10. Other Dogs: We will not allow your pets to interact with any other strange dogs. If there is a stray dog, off leash approaches, we will do our best to avoid any interaction.
11. House Cleanliness: SBPS will clean up after your pets to the best of our ability. Please inform us of the designated of cleaning supplies. If the expected mess is above and beyond the normal amount anticipated, Santa Barbara Pet Sitters will charge a reasonable clean up fee.
12. Privacy Policy: All of your information will be kept private and confidential. We highly respect our clients privacy and value you entrusting us with your home and pets. We do encourage you to notify a trusted neighbor of your absence and notify them that Santa Barbara Pet Sitters will be caring for your pets in your home.
13. Household Emergency: Please leave the name and number of a trusted maintenance professional in case any household emergency occurs during your absence. This includes but is not limited to; leaky pipes, malfunctioning water heaters and heating and air conditioning systems.
14. Thermostats: Please leave your thermostat settings at a comfortable range (between 68-78)If the house temperature is outside of this range, we will adjust the thermostat. This is to ensure the health and safety of the pets and the sitters.
15. Early Returns/ Last minute changes: Its not unusual for trip plans to change at the last minute. However, please understand that Santa Barbara Pet Sitters carefully schedules out time to service you and other clients. Therefore there is no early returns or last minute refunds to changes in the scheduled pet care. Once pet care is started, payment is required for the entire duration of scheduled services.
16. Cancellations: Santa Barbara Pet Sitters requires a full four- day notice prior to the first day of service. Failure to provide such notice will result in 150.00 or two day deposit cancellation fee payable by pet owner.
17. Holiday Cancellations: With the expectation of sever weather, life threatening emergencies or a death in the family. Any cancellations prior to the holiday (Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day with less than a seven day notice will result in a 50% invoice total for scheduled pet care paid. We request your understanding that Holiday travel is a peak time for pet sitting travel.
18. Cancellations for Mid-Day Service: A 48 hour cancellation period is required prior to the next scheduled visit. Otherwise payment is due for the regular time agreed upon.
19. Termination of Mid Day Service: Please provide Santa Barbara Pet Sitters with a full seven day notice in the event mid day service is no longer needed. If a seven day notice is not provided, payment is due for the original service agreed upon.
20. Payment: Santa Barbara Pet Sitters accept check or cash or credit card (service charge will be added) PAYMENT IS DUE PRIOR TO THE FIRST VISIT. Please make all checks payable to Santa Barbara Pet Sitters.21. Returned Checks: All returned checks will be subject to a $ 25.00 fee
21.SBPS requires 3-30 minute visits daily or overnight dog care for any period of 24 hours or more under our care. This allows us to maintain safety for your pet by shorter durations of absence.
22. Cats require 1 daily visit at minimum for 24 hour period under our care


Call Home Policy
The safety of your pets is our primary concern. We do everything in our abilities to ensure their safety. We believe that your pets need to be visited the number of times agreed upon during a day. While we certainly anticipate that you will be arriving home on the date you provide to us, we understand that there will occasionally be circumstances beyond your control that will prevent you from returning on the indicated date. If this happens, please call us and we will absolutely extend past the predetermined visits to care for your pets. We ask that you call us when you arrive home. We will also leave a small note card reminding you to call. This covers an unforeseen event in which you do not arrive home and cannot notify us of this situation.

IF SANTA BARBARA PET SITTERS, DOES NOT HEAR FROM YOU PRIOR TO YOUR ARRIVAL DATE, WE WILL AUTOMATICALLY EXTEND YOUR VISITS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF YOUR PETS. IF WE ARRIVE AT YOUR HOME, AND YOU ARE EITHER AT HOME OR HAVE ARRANGED FOR OTHER CARE FOR YOUR PETS; WE WILL CHARGE YOU FOR AN EXTRA VISIT, AND ANY OTHER CHARGES THAT MIGHT APPLY.

VET RELEASE
VETERINARIAN AUTHORIZATION

During my various absences, SANTA BARBARA PET SITTERS will be caring for my animal(s). They have my permission to transport them to and from your office or, in the case of large animals, request "on site" treatment from your office as is deemed necessary. I authorize you to treat my animal(s) and I will be fully responsible for all fees and charges and will pay for all charges incurred on my behalf upon my return. I further authorize you to give out any information about my animal(s) to SUNNY ADAMS OR TRACY MONGOLD of SANTA BARBARA PET SITTERS.