General FAQ
1: Are you insured and bonded? 

Yes, Able Dog, LLC. is insured and bonded for your safety and peace of mind, as well as our own. Our insurance is specifically designed for the pet care service industry. The purpose of a bond is to protect the owner and the client from losses due to acts of employee dishonesty. Although not completely necessary for businesses that do not have any employees, the bond provides peace of mind to both the client and the owner.

2: What areas of Raleigh do you service? 

We service Wake Forest, Heritage, Wakefield and parts of Youngsville. Please call to verify that Able Dog covers your area.

3: Do you charge extra for holidays? 

There is an additional flat rate of $10.00 in addition to the regular per visit charge on the following holidays: Easter Sunday, July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Our Policies page defines the days of each of the above holidays.

Pet Sitting FAQ

1: Why hire a professional pet sitter? 

There are several advantages of using a pet sitter:


2: What happens at the free consultation visit? 

We will come to your home for a free consultation visit that will take approximately 45 minutes. This gives you a chance to meet us and for us to meet you and your pets. If you decide after meeting us that you would like us to care for your pet(s), you can leave us the key at that time and we will need to fill out some necessary paperwork. Your key will not be marked with any information about you or your address. The paperwork will include information sheets on your pet, service contract, contact information and a vet release form. I will also familiarize myself with your home so I will know where to find the items needed for the visits such as food, leashes or litter boxes. We would also require payment upfront at that time. Consultation visits usually take place the week before service is to begin.

3: How far in advance do I need to book? 

Obviously the more notice we have the better. Holiday periods (March break, long weekends, summer, Christmas) sometimes book up months in advance. Two weeks in advance for other times of the year is usually sufficient. We do understand that emergencies do arise, so please give us a call and we will do our best to accommodate you.

4: What happens if I need to cancel or reschedule? 

Cancellations may be made up to 3 days in advance of the scheduled first visit. After that period, a cancellation fee of 25% of the total bill will be charged. Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to change or cancel a service.

5: What happens if I will be delayed in returning home? 

It is extremely important that you let us know immediately if you will be arriving home late from your vacation in order for care to be continued. Please note that you will be charged for extra visits.

6: Will you charge me for visits if I come home early? 

You will not be charged for unfulfilled visits if you return home early, but it is extremely important that you let us know immediately if you will be arriving home early from your vacation in order for care to be discontinued. If you do not call us and we show up for our scheduled appointment, you will be charged for the visit.

7: Why do I have to call Playful Paws Inc. when I return home? 

We need to know as we will continue to visit your pet until we get that phone call from you. We don't want to assume that you arrived home at your scheduled time. What if you get delayed? For safety reasons, we will continue to visit your pet until we have confirmation that you have arrived home. This way, you do not need to worry if your flight is delayed or your trip is extended for some other reason.

8: What types of animals do you pet sit? 

We currently provide services for dogs and cats. Please inquire about other types of animals.

9: My cat lives outside. Will you come and make sure he/she is okay? 

We will not look after outdoor cats. If your cat is an outdoor cat, we request that you keep your cat indoors for the time while you are away. Anything can happen and we feel it is just too risky.

10: Will you visit my pet every other day? 

We visit all pets on a daily basis.

11: What happens if my pet gets sick while I am away? 

All clients are required to complete a veterinary release form during the initial consultation. We will not knowingly accept sitting assignments with very sick pets. We firmly believe that sick pets should have someone there with them at all times and be under the care of a veterinarian. If your pet does get sick while you are away, we will do everything possible to seek medical attention. If your pet needs medical attention, we will take your pet to your veterinarian immediately. If your veterinarian is not available, we will transport your pet to the nearest veterinarian or Animal Emergency Clinic. We will make every effort to contact pet owners and receive instructions before we take an animal in for medical care. However, in emergency situations or when the owner cannot be reached, we will not hesitate to take a pet to the veterinarian. Able Dog, LLC is not responsible for costs incurred from veterinary visits. Additional time spent transporting the pet and providing extra care is billed at a rate of $25.00 per hour.

12: What if there is an emergency in my home, unrelated to my pet? 

We will do everything possible to resolve the situation without disrupting your trip. We will contact your emergency contact for instruction and if necessary, we will contact you.

13: Will you provide updates on how my pet is doing while I am away? 

We will maintain a daily checklist/report of the happenings in your home while you are away. We will document the time we were there and everything that we did. We will also let you know if there was any strange behavior with your pet or their eating habits.

14: Do you offer boarding? 

No, we do not offer boarding services at this time.

15: What happens if the pet food runs out while I am away? 

We will not let your pet go without food. However, it is recommended that you purchase extra food for your pet before you leave. If you miscalculate and run out of food, an extra fee (in addition to the cost of food) will be added to your bill. See our rates section.

16: I have a family member that lives close by and will also visit. Is that okay?  

Many people like to include neighbors, relatives, and friends in pet sitting duties. These well-intentioned actions cause much confusion during a shared responsibility sitting assignment. Most common among problems is over-feeding, unlocked doors, lost keys, or missed feedings. We absolutely cannot be responsible for any sitting assignment where others are going to share the workload. We advise that anyone considering this split of duties to make only one person responsible for the entire assignment.

17: Do you keep client information/key/alarm codes confidential? 

Yes, we do not share client contact information for marketing or any other purpose.

18: How are keys returned? 

We can keep your keys on file for the future or we can drop them off to you within 5 days of the end of the contract period.

19: How does payment work for pet sitting? 

Payment is due upfront at the time of the consultation. You may postdate your cheque for the day of the scheduled first visit. Cheques are made payable to Able Dog, LLC.