Why should I use a pet sitter? Many veterinarians and pet experts believe that keeping pets in their familiar surroundings helps to alleviate the stress imposed on them when you have to leave home. Your pets are able to maintain their diet and exercise routine, and enjoy the personal attention provided by a pet sitter. You also eliminate the trauma of being transported and minimize their exposure to illnesses of other animals

What services do you offer? Knowing that each animal and home is unique we offer a choice of services. Our sitters come to the client's home to provide service, so that your animals can stay in their familiar surroundings. Our visits include feeding, exercising, and potty breaks. We also spend what we call "TLC time", just playing with, petting, and loving your pets so they receive the personal attention they crave while you're away. We also provide the "small touches" such as bringing in your mail and newspaper, taking out the bin, watering plants, alternating lights and rotating blinds. Our other choice is regular dog walking. This service is fabulous for those who work long hours or have a very energetic dog. We come to your home at set times during the week as requested and take your dog on a 30 minute walk to suit their level of fitness.

Who are your pet sitters? Absent Minder pet sitters are pet lovers, plain and simple. We have also taken the extra step of ensuring all pet sitters have had extensive experience working with animals – most have worked as vet nurses. We are very selective in who we choose to care for your furry companions. All our sitters have also had background police checks for you piece of mind. You will be provided with responsible, fun-loving, professional individuals to love your pets while you're away. When you sign up to become part of the Absent Minders community, your assigned sitter will come to your home to meet you and your pets and to become familiar with your home. In the future we will attempt to assign the same sitter

Can I trust Absent Minders with my keys and my home? All sitters are screened prior to employment and are fully insured. Upon request, we will be happy to provide references. Your name and the content of your home always remain confidential. None of our vehicles display company insignia when we attend to your home, which prevents people from knowing you're not home. Our sitters are familiar with alarm systems and work with them frequently. All keys are kept in a safe with codes assigned to each client rather than displaying your address or name.

What time do the sitters come and how long do they stay? One of our caregivers will come to your home up to 3 times per day to take care of your precious pets. AM visits take place between the hours of 6am & 9am, MID DAYS between 11 & 2pm, and PM visits between 4 & 7pm. Visits are 30 minutes in duration. Look at our list of services and tailor your own pet care plan.

What type of payment do you accept and when am I charged? For your convenience we accept cheques or credit cards payments via PAYPAL. All payments are to be received and processed before your scheduled service begins.

Do you have boarding facilities? No. We believe in in-home care, which is why we have chosen not to have a boarding facility. However, we do believe there are times that boarding is the more suitable option for certain animals and situations and we can happily recommend if needed.

Are there extra costs for services performed on a holiday? We consider the following to be our major annual holidays: New Years Day, Easter Monday, Good Friday,Christmas, Boxing Day. There is a $10 surcharge plus the standard charge for the service being provided on these dates. All other public holidays incur a $5 surcharge.

Why is there a meet and greet meeting? The meet and greet meeting is a visit that allows you to get to know our service. During this visit, one of our pet care providers will perform the following tasks: introduce themselves to you and your pet, pick up keys, confirm pertinent information about you and your pet (e.g. vet information, emergency contact, special requests, etc.), and answer any additional questions you may have.

My pet has been aggressive in the past - can it still be a client? For aggressive pets, our sitter will interview you and your pet, in person, to determine if there is a good fit between your pet and our services. If additional visits are needed to socialize your pet with our pet care provider, then you will need to be present at all visits and pay the normal service fee until socialized.

Can you give my pet his medicine? Yes, we will administer medication pills, drops and/or injections with a vet’s written approval and directions. However, we will not administer medication to any animal that poses a danger to the sitter.

How will your pet providers discipline my pet, if necessary? Absent Minders believes in positive reinforcement for pets. We will never hit, spank, slap, yank the lead, yell or grab your pet. If there is a disciplinary problem, i.e. toilet training issues, running away, etc., you will be informed of the incident(s) and we will implement your suggested disciplinary actions.

I have a last minute trip suddenly come up! Can you help me? We will always try to help you on short notice, but we cannot guarantee availability if there is very little time before your service begins. A surcharge may be applicable for new customers.

What does it mean that you are insured? We carry a liability insurance policy that protects you from financial loss in the event we are liable for accidents that occur while caring for your pets. Any responsible professional business should carry liability insurance.

What will you do if my pet becomes ill while I am away? If we suspect that something is wrong with your pet, we will call you at the emergency phone numbers we have on file for you. We will describe the situation with your pet. If you believe the veterinarian should see your pet, we will transport your pet to the veterinarian's office for examination and treatment. In the event we cannot reach you, we will decide if your pet should be seen by the veterinarian. If necessary, we will take your pet for treatment. You will be billed for any extra time we spend for these services.

What should I expect when I return home? You can expect to find your pets healthy and happy, as well as an impeccably maintained home. You will find a note from us. The note will give a report on how everything went while you were away. When you arrive home, you need to call us to let us know you've returned. The note we leave for you will remind you of this.

What is your Key Policy? Clients can choose one of the two options listed below to handle their keys. Please let your pet sitter know which option works best for you. 1. The key can be picked up by our pet sitter at the meet and greet session, and dropped back once we receive confirmation that you have returned home. 2. Client can also schedule our key pick-up and drop-off service.