In-Home Pet Sitting
Bonded & Insured Pet Sitters
- ATTENTION
Prohibited Breeds for Pet Sitting
Below is a current list of dog breeds that we cannot pet sit for. There are absolutely no exceptions. Our liability insurance does not cover the following (mixed or pure bred):
- Pitbull
- Rottweiler
- Chow Chow
- German Shepherd
- Akita
- Cane Corso
- Presa Canario
- Belgian Shepherd/Malinois
Sitter Monitoring
Our online system allows you to view your pet's visit completion in real time and is viewable by client and management.
Vet Recommended
You trust your vet with your pet's life, and they trust us! We've established great relationships with local veterinarians.
Bonded + Insured
We have you covered! Specialized coverage ensures that your pet and home are protected from loss, pet injury, or property damage.
No Pet Forgotten
Allow pets to feel safe in the comfort of a familiar environment - their own home.
Pets are surrounded by familiar sights, smells and sounds.
Your pet’s stress is minimized by remaining in familiar and comfortable surroundings.
Pets won’t be exposed to other animals and won’t be at risk for related injuries or sicknesses.
Plus more security for your home as a pet sitter can also serve as a house sitter while you’re away.
Pets are able to maintain regular diet and exercise routines and enjoy anticipated play time in a familiar setting.
Your pet won’t be confined to a kennel for long hours of the days.
Customer Testimonial
''Very impressed...''
We make it easy to work with us:
Step 1
New Client Request
Fill out our New Client form. We receive multiple requests every week. This is the only way to ensure the fastest and most efficient service!
Step 2
Phone Call or Text
We’ll confirm your details by phone call or text message. After that, we’ll set up your online account so you can add details of your pets to review at the Meet and Greet. All paperwork is done online for the convenience of our customers!
Step 3
Meet & Greet
We’ll collect a house key. We’ll also send automated reminder emails a week prior to your departure. Once you’re gone, you’ll enjoy “Pawgress Reports” and photos after each visit!
Leaving Your Pets With a Stranger?
Leaving your pet at home can be stressful but sometimes it’s an absolute necessity. During those times, we would like to be the professionals who come to mind when you need a pet sitter. We believe that you should never have to question your decision when it comes to choosing someone to trust with your pet.
Figuring out how to care for your pet while you’re away can be worrisome. Who can you trust with your pet? Are they easily distracted or will they be 100% attentive to your pet for the duration of the visit? What are their protocols in an emergency situation?
Customer Testimonial
''Receiving the best care...''
Hobby Pet Sitters or Pet Care Pros?
As well-qualified and properly licensed professionals, we strive to differentiate ourselves by employing strict protocols and cutting-edge systems that distinguish us from hobbyists. We are a pet care business operated by seasoned professionals, and we are well-versed in basic and special pet care needs.
In addition, we offer an extra layer of coverage for your pet and home by carrying proper licensing in the form of bond and insurance. Ensuring the safety and security of our client’s pets and homes is our number one priority.
Our attitude is that we believe that we need to be the best in the business to earn your confidence. Our promise to every pet parent is that we will do our best to ensure that you have no doubts or second thoughts about trusting us with your pet and home.
Customer Testimonial
''My vet recommended...''
What about Pet Boarding facilities in Prescott?
Whisker Watchers’ has an excellent relationship with the most successful boarding facility in Prescott. We simply offer an alternative service that complements pet boarding, and it is the best option if boarding isn’t a good fit for your pet.
Even if you have options such as pet boarding, it may not be the best solution for your pet. Most pet parents come to us when they do not feel comfortable with boarding facilities, or it’s just not a good fit for their pets. We have pet parents who express concerns that there may be inherent risks for their pets in unfamiliar environments, and stressors such as conflict with other animals.
Typically boarding facilities don’t allow for puppies to be boarded, which can be hard as their natural tendencies are to “go” in the home when left unsupervised. In-home pet sitting by someone who is committed to positive reinforcement is essential while pet parents are absent.
Customer Testimonial
''All the little things were taken care of.''
What about hiring a sitter from Rover, WAG!, or Care.com?
Many of our clients leave these app-based sitter-for-hire companies and come to us when they learn that they are not regulated, and there is virtually no accountability when it comes to loss, injury, or damage. Whisker Watchers is properly licensed, bonded, and insured to ensure that your pet and property are protected.
The fact is that sitters on these apps don’t undergo a rigorous vetting process. These companies make no guarantees or warranties as to the completeness of the service. We strongly encourage pet parents who are considering hiring a pet sitter from these apps to read the fine print.
For example, as of a November 14, 2021 review of Rover.com’s Terms of Service, pet parents must agree that Rover has no liability for damages associated with their pet care services, which may include bodily injury or death of a pet.
They also clearly state that their “Rover Guarantee” is not insurance, but simply a way to “promote user confidence in, and increase use of, the Rover Service.” If something were to happen to your pet or property, you’re out of luck. Typically the sitters on these apps are hobbyists that tend to not carry proper coverage.
It can be stressful not knowing who your pet is with and at any point, these unregulated internet-based services can get shut down and their apps can become inaccessible. With everything on your plate, the last thing you need to be doing is questioning the state of your pet.
Customer Testimonial
''I've already referred them...''
What about hiring a friend/neighbor/family member?
By now you’ve probably learned that having to rely on a neighbor or family member to watch your pet can come with its own set of challenges. It can become inconvenient for both of you, with conflicting schedules and varying degrees of ability.
After consulting with Whisker Watchers, many pet parents choose to go with us even though it may be cheaper (or even free) to go with a friend or family member because pet sitting is our special interest. We have the qualifications, certifications, and experience to reliably care for pets with specific needs.
An added bonus is that we are properly licensed and carry the coverage of bond and insurance, ensuring that pets and their homes are protected. It’s already stressful for pet parents when they have to be away from their pets, so being able to offer this extra layer of coverage is invaluable.
Pet Sitting for Dogs and Cats
Domesticated pets such as dogs are pack animals by nature and they can experience anxiety when left alone for long periods of time. However, they can also have stress-induced episodes from being placed in unfamiliar environments with other canines that they aren’t comfortable with. Cats may not be as “high maintenance” but you’ll still need someone to watch them as well as tend to their specific needs, such as medicinal administration.
As experienced pet care professionals, we understand the challenges that come with finding reliable, quality in-home pet care. We offer you peace of mind when you can’t be there because we are a dedicated service that practices continual education, training, and emergency scenarios. We understand that your pets aren’t just pets…they’re family members. And our promise is that we will do our best to make every visit comforting and positive for your pet.
Depending on your needs, our services can include:
- Playtime and attention
- Administer medication
- Litter box cleaning
- Feed/freshen water bowls
Pet Sitting FAQ
Our most commonly asked questions
What happens at the Meet and Greet?
We go over everything we will be responsible for.
We have a specific checklist that includes items like:
- Food/water dish location
- Extra food location
- Meal prep instructions
- Medical concerns & medication instructions
- Favorite toys
- Where to put scooped litter
- Where to dispose of poop bags (if you request Waste Cleanup)
- Mailbox/package instructions
- Going over your pet’s usual routine
- Any other details concerning your visits
Do you offer pet sitting over the holidays?
Yes, we pet sit 365 days a year including on all major holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, and 4th of July book very quickly. It’s best to schedule your holiday visits in advance.
How far in advance should I book?
What is your cancellation policy or what if I need to reschedule?
All cancellations are REQUIRED to be submitted via login to the Whisker Watchers secure online system here.
After you log in, select the appropriate dates on the home screen, and press “Cancel” on the services needing cancellation.
Services are NOT canceled until you receive notice via email that your services have been canceled as requested.
Our cancellation policies always apply regardless of COVID or any other unpredictable event.
These fees are the minimum amount required for us to reserve your space in our schedule.
CANCELLATION POLICY
For any visit canceled with less than a complete 48 hours notice from the start of the visit time window, payment in full is required. This is in addition to any short notice booking fees.
SNOW AND INCLEMENT WEATHER CANCELLATION POLICY
When Yavapai County schools are closed due to bad weather, cancellation fees will be waived when the cancellation is submitted via login AT LEAST six (6) hours prior to the scheduled time window.
Weekend services cancellation fees will be waived in the event of extreme weather only and at the discretion of Whisker Watchers management. Cancellations must be received via login six (6) hours prior to the start of the visit time window to be eligible for a waiver.
HOLIDAY SERVICE
An additional $10 is added to EACH VISIT on holidays.
*Holidays that incur our additional $10 charge per visit are at the sole discretion of Whisker Watchers.
At times we may charge holiday rates on the days leading up to and after the holiday. This additional charge is used to pay our team and ensure we have the availability to offer our services 365 days per year.
Why is the Cancellation Policy important for Clients and Staff of Whisker Watchers?
At Whisker Watchers it is very important that we take great care of our clients and also our valuable employee/independent contractor sitters. The cancellation policies ensure fairness to all involved.
We absolutely hate to turn away any of our excellent clients because we are fully booked, but from time to time this does occur. The cancellation policies help to keep space available in our schedule for those who really need it because we are only booking services with those that are certain they need us and know that cancellation policies apply should they need to cancel.
We would hate to turn away a client because we are full, only to have someone cancel on short notice whose space we could have given to someone who really needed it. This occurs often around holidays and school vacation weeks – our schedule fills up, then many clients wait until the last moment to cancel, which makes it impossible for us to service the clients we had turned away.
In addition to this, our excellent employee/independent contractor pet sitters set aside time in their busy schedules to service our clients. We believe that our sitters deserve to be paid when their work is canceled on short notice. Imagine a job where the work you depended on could be canceled at any moment with no pay.
The cancellation of one or two visits does not seem like a big deal but please consider that there are times when several clients may cancel a few visits during the same week. We want to keep all of our top-notch pet sitters employed with Whisker Watchers for a very long time so we choose to pay them for services on their schedule that are canceled on short notice.
Our cancellation policies are put in place so that Whisker Watchers can serve our pets and clients in the most efficient and effective manner possible.
If I return home early, will you charge me for the remaining visits that I booked?
If you return earlier than planned, your Whisker Watchers account will be credited towards future services.
What if my trip runs long or my flight is delayed?
How do I pay for your services?
Due to the high demand for our services, we can not make any exceptions to our payment policies.
Whisker Watchers accepts all major credit cards.
FOR NEW CLIENTS: PAYMENT IN FULL is required at the time of booking your first service.
FOR EXISTING CLIENTS: Your preferred payment method will be charged AUTOMATICALLY seven (7) days prior to the start of your services. Please make sure that funds are available.
All clients of Whisker Watchers are REQUIRED to have a credit or debit card set up for automatic payment. You may save a card in your online client account.
Services are NOT booked and availability CAN NOT be guaranteed until we receive payment IN FULL in accordance with our policies.
SHORT NOTICE BOOKINGS: A $10 per-visit short notice fee will be applied to ALL visits requested with less than 48 hours’ notice.
ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS: If you make a cancellation after your payment has been processed, you will receive a credit to your Whisker Watchers account AFTER SUBTRACTING ANY CANCELLATION FEES THAT APPLY. Your credit is good for as long as we are in business and will not expire. ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS OF ANY KIND.
CANCELLATION SURCHARGE: Clients will incur a cancellation surcharge of 25% of their total service cost.
We charge a reasonable cancellation fee of 25% because we spend a significant amount of time and resources scheduling all clients.
Be aware that this cancellation surcharge will be deducted from the amount that you paid on the service that you canceled. This means you will have a BALANCE OWED upon scheduling your next service. See example below.
EXAMPLE:
If you paid $1,000 for a service but had to cancel, our cancellation surcharge is 25%.
In this case, we will subtract $250 from your payment (25%), and apply the balance of $750 to your next service.
This will mean that on your next scheduled service, you will owe an outstanding balance of $250 in addition to the cost of the service.
In this case, if your next scheduled service is $800, you will owe $1,050.
When will I get updates from my sitter?
For every visit, you will receive a “Pawgress Report” which includes photos of your pet, a checklist of completed tasks (including locking and securing home), a record of the sitter’s GPS location, and check in/out time. You have 24-hour messaging access to your sitter via our app.
Will I be able to meet my sitter before I leave?
Do you keep client information, keys, and alarm codes confidential?
Can a pet sitter stay at my home all day or overnight?
We do not currently offer overnight or 24-hour in-home stays. All of our pet sitters have pet sits they need to perform for other clients throughout the day. We may, however, be able to discuss this on a case-by-case basis based on the availability of staff and the needs of your pet.
Can my pets stay at the pet sitter's home instead of mine?
Do I have to meet with Whisker Watchers before service?
Yes. Our initial consultation is free of charge and lasts about 30 minutes. Please have a working house key available for us at the time in preparation for the first visit.