Here we cover some of the many common questions you may have. If your question is not answered here, please feel free to call us at (865) 691-4465 or email contact@blueskypetservices.com.
Can I trust having a stranger in my home?
We would never expect you to feel comfortable with a stranger in your home. That is why we would like to build a trusting relationship with you. At Blue Sky Pet Services, we strive to be honest, reliable, trustworthy and careful. To put your mind at ease, we welcome you to ask us lots of questions at the initial consultation. Most clients feel completely at ease after the first or second service, and recommend us to others with enthusiasm.
Normally, all services will be provided by the sitter/walker you meet at the initial consultation. If an emergency should occur with that sitter, all fill-in sitters or independent contractors that we contract with are thoroughly introduced to your information, are insured, have a great reputation, and are personally known by the owner of Blue Sky Pet Services. We trust them to come into our home for our own pet care needs.
What if other people need to be in my home during my absence?
If other visitors are allowed in your home, they should leave a note of their visit, and what interaction occurred with the pets, such as feeding, walking, potty breaks, etc. All other visitors should schedule visits in advance, or leave a note on the front door or mailbox when they arrive. We will contact you if there are unexpected visitors.
What will you do with my keys?
Keys are normally picked up during the initial consultation. We prefer to receive 2 fully tested keys that we will code with an identity code instead of your name or address.
After your sit, your keys will be stored in our secure area until your next service request and in case you need emergency service or returned to you, after the visits, upon your request. We will work this out with you before the first sit.
How do I communicate with Blue Sky Pet Services?
You can call or text to (865) 691-4465 or email to contact@blueskypetservices.com.
Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
We are licensed. We are also insured against any issues that might arise while your pet is in our care. To further protect you, all of our caretakers are bonded. We want you to feel safe with us.
Can you give medications to my pets?
Our pet sitters are skilled in giving medications as needed. We can give oral, liquid, and topical medications.
When is payment due, and what forms of payment do you accept and do you give refunds if I have to cancel?
At this time we accept cash, PayPal, Venmo, and personal checks. You may also leave a tip for your pet sitter if you wish. (Tips are very much appreciated–please make a note that it is a tip and not just an error in payment amount. Thank you.)
Total payment for your first pet sit is to be picked up at the first visit by the sitter.
We need at least a 24 hour notice to give you a refund for a cancelled scheduled visit. We do understand that things come up and try our best to work with you on schedule changes.
Do you offer service on national holidays?
We do usually offer pet sitting on national holidays. These services usually need to be scheduled 72 hours in advance so we can make special arrangements. An additional service charge will apply. Otherwise we cannot guarantee it. We appreciate your recognition that our caretakers need time with their families as well. At Blue Sky Pet Services, we try to maintain a healthy work/personal time balance to better provide the best care to you and your pets.
Will you schedule services same day?
For existing customers, we will make every effort to accommodate last minute requests.
What happens if my trip lasts longer than expected?
We will continue to care for your animals until we have confirmed that you are home, and we will bill you for the extra visits when you have returned. If you are able, please call us to let us know of delays or changes of plans as soon as possible.
What do I do upon my return home after a trip?
We do ask for a confirmation that you have returned home and that your pet and home are back in your care. We know that the homecoming after a trip can be a busy time, if we do not hear from you shortly after your anticipated arrival time we will contact you to be sure that you are home and pets are back in your care. The homecoming call is not necessary for day to day visits, dog walks, etc.
What areas do you serve?
Our main service areas include Karns, Ball Camp, West Hills, Rocky Hill, Cedar Bluff, Hardin Valley, Clinton Hwy/Western Avenue and parts of Powell. Even if you don’t live in one of these areas, please do not hesitate to give us a call. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Based on travel distance, a mileage fee may apply.
When do you provide services?
Most of our mid-day walks and potty breaks are performed between the hours of 10am and 2pm, Monday through Friday—unless you’ve arranged for other time slots. Pet Sitting and Poop Scoop services are scheduled anytime they are needed. Keep in mind that any service can be scheduled during evenings and weekends if that works best for you.
In the rare emergency case that we have problems making it to your home in the time span you select, we will use a backup plan to care for your pets. Part of the backup plan may be to split a visit into 2 evenly spaced visits, to have an emergency backup sitter cover the sit, or to call you or your emergency contact to reschedule. If your pet is inconvenienced in any way we will refund your money or give you a partial credit. And of course we will clean up all accidents for free of charge, and spend extra time with any pet that has been distressed.
If my pet soils inside my home, will I incur an additional clean-up charge?
No, but please schedule us to come frequently so that unnecessary accidents are at a minimum, but we do know that accidents happen.Our caretakers arrive prepared to address any issues that might arise during daily activity. We find that many pets that are “accident prone” actually have fewer accidents once they realize that their pet sitter is coming on a schedule. It takes about 2 days for some dogs to get into a routine. In the meantime, we are happy to cleanup accidents, put out newspaper, or plastic, or do more frequent visits.
Do you come at the same time every day?
Pets love consistency. We try to keep a consistent schedule. It is our intention to service your pets at the same time everyday. Our pet sitting services are designed with the intention to perform our services at the same time everyday as well depending upon your pets needs and flexibility. During our Initial Consult, we’ll discuss optimal visit times and commit to a two-hour window following your scheduled service. This window allows us to address life’s little surprises.
What will you do with our pets?
Feed, walk, cuddle, play with, pet, brush, take out for potty breaks, clean up – whatever you specify.
Will you walk pets without a leash outside of a fenced yard?
No. We will not take a pet out unleashed on a walk or run outside of a fenced area. This is for the safety of your pet and is a requirement of our insurance. A leash and collar or harness must be provided for every dog.
Are your rates per pet?
No, there is no extra charge for multiple pets, all rates are by time only and most tasks are included. However, you will be required to reserve enough time for us to complete all tasks requested as well as unexpected tasks like accident clean-up, general clean-up, necessary contact with you, etc. We will strive to get everything done in the time arranged for your service, but any extra time needed will be charged to you and must be paid within 14 days of bill receipt.
Will you care for Birds? Reptiles? Small Mammals? Goats? Etc?
Yes! We have experience with many types of pets. And we take fastidious notes on all your pets, so even unusual pets that we have not previously cared for will get the best care possible. If you have an exotic pet please give us a call and we will work with you to create the best procedures for caring for your special pet and if at any time we feel we are not a good match we will let you know immediately and help you to find a better option.
My pet has special needs. Can you accommodate them?
We can support most pets. During the Initial Consult, we can determine if we are equipped to handle your pet’s special needs or if there might be a better option for you. For special needs situation, we will need to take extra time with you to make sure that we have detailed notes on anything that might arise in the care of your special pet.
Do you accept pets with extreme or aggressive behavior?
For the most part, yes, so long as we can be certain the caretaker servicing your pet is safe, that your pet is safe and any other pets/ people are safe. For pets with extreme behavior, we may need to create special procedures and pricing to support your pet. We’ll determine the best course of action during our Initial Consult and do our best to accommodate. If at anytime we feel we are not a good match for your pet and situation we will let you know immediately and help you find a better option.
For regularly scheduled services, do I get the same caretaker every time?
We strive to have the same caretaker service your pets every time. Occasionally, circumstances like scheduling issues, illness, vacation time, etc. prevent your regular team member from attending to your pet. In those cases, a designated back-up caretaker will service your pets. Back-up caretakers visit with your pets alongside your primary caretaker to familiarize themselves with your pets in the event they have to step in.
What is your policy on inclement weather?
If we are unable to service your pet due to inclement weather or unsafe conditions, we will notify you via email, text or phone call. As soon as it is safe for our caretakers to get to your pet, they will resume service. During the Initial Consult, we will request the name and phone number of a emergency contact or neighbor whom we can contact to assist us in the event we are unable to get to your home in a reasonable amount of time after your scheduled visit.