Using our Pet Feeding Services

Your VIPs pet sitter will visit your home once or twice a day and feed, exercise, groom and play with your pets, and change litter if needed. Our standard visiting service is 20 minutes, this can be extended if required.

If you’re pet needs special care or medication, that’s no problem. Many of our veterinary trained pet carers are familiar with most conditions and are trained to give medication.

We charge a small key collection fee of £5 for any of our pet feeding services. This fee covers your pet sitter’s travel costs and time and should be paid to your pet carer when they come to collect the keys.

If you’d like your pet sitter to return your house keys on a separate occasion then a £5 key drop off charge will need to be paid directly to them as well.

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Using our Pet Boarding Services

We’ll find the most suitable pet sitter based on your pet’s needs and arrange a time for you to meet them.

You can talk to them about your pet’s normal daily routine such as feeding, medication and playtime, and whether you’re happy or not for your pet to board with other pets, Children etc.

After you’ve talked to our pet sitter you can decide whether you want to go ahead with the booking. If you do you can rest assured your pet will receive the very best care and attention possible whilst living with your pet sitter.

Vaccinations

Kennel cough or infectious bronchitis is a very contagious disease of the respiratory system that can affect dogs of all ages. We recommend that dogs be vaccinated at least seven days before using our pet boarding services, as we cannot accept any dogs that have contracted kennel cough. Please take your dog’s vaccination certificate along when you meet your dog’s sitter to show that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.

Dropping your pet off

On the first and last day of your pet boarding booking, we ask you to drop your pet off and pick them up. If you require a pick-up or drop-off service this can be arranged at an additional cost.
Fleas and worms

Fleas and worms

Please remember to deflea and worm your dog or cat before each pet boarding booking.

Medication, food and bedding

Please provide all medications and enough pet food to last for the length of your pet’s stay. Your pet will also need his feeding bowl, some bedding, a special toy, a lead and collar, any special treats, and written notes on his routine. For small mammals or birds and parrots you’ll need to supply your pet’s cage, food and any toys, treats or special cleaning products.

Our rate

At Very Important Pets we charge a daily rate rather than a nightly rate and we have a minimum booking period of two days. So if your pet stays for one night you’ll be charged for two days.

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Using the Live-In Pet Sitter Service

Before your planned trip, a live-in pet sitter from Very Important Pets will meet you at your home to go through your pet’s routine and discuss any domestic duties that are needed.

Your pet sitter will love and care for your pet just like you do and your pet will receive the very best professional care and attention. Many of our experienced pet carers are also trained to give medication and are familiar with most medical conditions.

Our live-in pet sitters are happy to perform light domestic duties while living in your home such as mail collection, feeding the fish and watering the plants. And whilst your sitter will ensure your home is kept clean and tidy, please note our live-in pet sitters are not professional cleaners.

Your home

Your house must be clean, comfortable and of a reasonable standard. If, at your first meeting, your pet sitter doesn’t feel that your house is of a suitable standard, we have the right to turn down the booking.

Food and medication

Please ensure you leave enough food and medication to last the length of your pet sitter’s stay.

Rates

At Very Important Pets we charge a daily rate rather than a nightly rate and we have a minimum two day booking period. So if your pet sitter stays for one night you’ll be charged for two days. With our dog sitting service your live-in pet sitter needs to be able to leave your house for a maximum of four hours a day to continue with other pet sitting jobs or private chores. If your dog cannot be left for this long please let us know when you first call us, as an additional charge can be added for a full-time pet sitting service if needed.

Travel expenses

We ask that you pay your live-in pet sitters’ travelling expenses calculated at 45p per mile plus all parking, train fares and congestion charges. This applies to the first meeting, and the first and last day of the booking. Travel expenses should be paid directly to your live-in pet sitter. We’ll always try and find a pet sitter that’s closest to you. But it’s worth finding out your pet sitter’s estimated travel costs before your first meeting. If your live-in pet sitter is required to use their car during the booking to transport your pet on a daily basis, then a nominal fee of £3 per day should be added to your pet sitter’s total amount to cover petrol and wear and tear on their car.

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Using our Dog Walking Services

Our dog walkers will collect your dog from home and give him a full hour’s walk before dropping him back off again. We don’t have set dog walking times, so we can work round your schedule. And you can choose from a regular or occasional dog walking service.

All our dog walkers are professional and experienced and only ever walk a maximum of four dogs at any one time.

Vaccinations

Kennel cough or infectious bronchitis is a very contagious disease of the respiratory system that can affect dogs of all ages. We recommend that dogs be vaccinated at least seven days before using our dog walking services, as we cannot accept any dogs that have contracted kennel cough. So please take along your dog’s vaccination certificate when you meet your dog walker to show that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.

Fleas and worms

For public health reasons, you must deflea and worm your dog before using our dog walking services.

Cancellation

If you have a regular dog walking service you must give at least 48 hours notice to cancel or you will be charged in full. Occasional dog walking services will be subject to the normal cancellation charges.

Aggressive dogs

We cannot accept dogs that are badly behaved or aggressive towards other dogs or people. If your dog walker feels your dog is aggressive we have the right to terminate your contract immediately.

Key collection

There is a key collection charge of £5 for all our dog walking services. This should be paid directly to your dog walker when they come to meet you and collect your house keys. There are no daily travel costs in addition to this £5 fee.

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Using our Doggie Daycare Service

Vaccinations

Kennel cough or infectious bronchitis is a very contagious disease of the respiratory system that can affect dogs of all ages. We recommend that dogs be vaccinated at least seven days before using our Day-care services, as we cannot accept any dogs that have contracted kennel cough. So please take your dog’s vaccination certificate along when you meet your dog’s sitter to show that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.

Dropping your pet off

If you are having day care in your home your pet sitter will arrive on time as planned. If you are having day-care in the pet sitters home you are responsible for drop off and pick-up unless this has been previously arranged with your pet sitter. If you require a pick-up or drop-off service this can sometimes be arranged at an additional cost.

Fleas and worms

Please remember to deflea and worm your dog regularly, as required when using our services.

Medication, food and bedding

Please provide all medications and enough pet food to last for the length of your pet’s stay. Your pet will also need his feeding bowl, some bedding, a special toy, a lead and collar, any special treats, and written notes on his routine.

Cancellation

If you have a regular Day Care service you must give at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or you will be charged in full. Occasional Day Care services will be subject to the normal cancellation charges.

Travel expenses

We ask that you pay your Day Care pet sitters’ travelling expenses calculated at 45p per mile plus all parking, train fares and congestion charges, if the day care service is taking place in your home. This applies to the first meeting, and the day of the booking. Travel expenses should be paid directly to your pet sitter. We’ll always try and find a pet sitter that’s closest to you, but it’s worth finding out your pet sitter’s estimated travel costs before your first meeting. If your pet sitter is required to use their car during the booking to transport your pet to the park, vet or elsewhere, then a nominal fee of £3 per day should be added to your pet sitter’s total amount to cover petrol and wear and tear on their car.

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Using our Horse Care Services

One of the horse carers from Very Important Pets will meet you and your horse and discuss his full routine and your exact requirements. Our horse care service is flexible, so can be adapted to suit your horse’s exact routine and needs.

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