The Difference Is In The Details
Trusting someone new with your pet in your home can be a scary and intimidating thought, but I’m here to fully combat as much anxiety as I can! I strongly believe pets are family and your home is a safe haven, and I strive to consistently carry out this approach with each client. Trust to me extends beyond my offered services and encompasses a variety of subtle actions I classify as going above and beyond. Here are a few factors each client can depend on when choosing Whiskers and Wags:
Trustworthy • Dependable • Safe • Loving
These are my “Core 4” aspects I strive to incorporate as a pet sitter. Whether I’m watching your pet overnight or dropping in for a visit, my goal is to provide the most amount of love and the least amount of worry.
Your house will be kept clean, free of unwanted guests, and safe in my care.
I was raised with the “clean as you go” mentality as well as naturally being a clean and organized person. If a pet were to have an accident or make a mess, I would take care of it immediately and effectively. If any minor household chores like taking out the trash, retrieving mail, or bringing in packages needs to be done during my stay, let me know exactly what you need, and I will gladly take care of them!
I possess an active pet sitting insurance policy through Pet Sitters Associates, assuring all services and pets are protected.
As far as guests go, I will never allow anybody or another pet inside your space or on your property while in my care. You never know how a pet is going to react towards a new person, and your pet does not deserve any added stressors. I will also never share your address or any personal information with anybody.
I always keep doors and windows locked in my house, and the same will go for your space! When I leave your house, I will leave a light on, signaling the house is “lived in” for safety. You also will never have to worry about any kind of illegal substances or smoking on your premises, as I do not engage in these activities anyway!
You will receive dependable communication regarding how your pet is doing!
At the bare minimum, I will provide daily updates and frequent pictures to all clients. I have noticed every client is different with how much communication they desire, and I’m willing to meet whatever your needs are! I don’t want to bother my clients on their vacations, but I do want them to have the comfort of knowing their pet is well-cared for. If you’d like even more updates, or even FaceTimes, you got it! Please also never hesitate to reach out whenever you want an update or a picture! I totally get how hard it is to be away from your pets, and I will always respond as quickly as I can!
I’m committed to YOUR pets during my stay! Once booked, I will immediately block those dates off and keep my other commitments to a minimum. I will always make sure I’m spending lots of quality time with your pet during the day even when I have other things going on (pets make great study buddies).
In case of any emergencies, I will always contact you immediately and involve authorities when needed. My intention is to never make any kind of decision or choice about your pet without your full permission.
I also want my clients to know I have never been accused of a crime, felony, arrested, or anything of that nature. I feel like stating this is important because you never know these days. I am a registered DoorDash driver which mandates a yearly background check that I passed recently with flying colors!
I will remain alert, focused, and safety-conscious while walking your dog.
I have experience walking up to three dogs at once with various sizes, breeds and temperaments. Big dogs, small dogs, reactive dogs, stubborn dogs, you name it – I’ve probably experienced it! I keep an eye out for other dogs, people, and keep my phone use to an absolute minimum.
Your pet will be kept on a leash during walks at all times under my care, or under my direct supervision if you request off-leash play in a dog park or designated dog play area. You can always find me wearing a black backpack or fanny pack on walks that holds specialized cooling towels, a foldable water bowl, extra water, and a ball!
Walks will always include frequent water breaks and opportunities for safe sniffing. Also, will go to whatever lengths I need to in order to clean up after your pet. The way I see it, getting a fine or citation is a lot stinkier than holding a bag of poop for a few minutes.
Growing up in the valley means being aware of desert dangers for pets. I pay special attention to the ground to avoid stepping on thorns or cacti during walks, and I remain alert in order to avoid or safely handle any unwanted wildlife. According to the Arizona Humane Society*, asphalt temperatures can exceed 160 degrees in summer months. For this reason, I stay on top of daily weather and avoid walks when temperatures rise above 90 degrees.
My solutions for walks this summer have included playtime at shaded dog parks and exercising dogs by running them up and down indoor stairs or hallways. I’m a very resourceful person so I’m always coming up with innovative ways to safely exercise your pooch out of the heat. Obviously these ideas are easier for my clients in apartments, but these are the lengths I’m willing to go to protect your pet.
Additionally, I just love animals, and most of them love me!
I say most because you can’t win everybody over, but I have a pretty high success rate! Not to toot my own horn or anything, but animals know who the good people are, and even the shyest and sassiest of pets tend to eventually warm up to me. I can count six different examples of doggies and kitties who became attached to me in my previous living situations, and their pictures can be found scattered across this website!
Choosing me as your pet sitter means your fur baby is in the arms of a girl with a giant heart. I love when animals snuggle with me, ask for pets, and/or hang with me as I get work done! Another surprise advantage that comes with hiring me as a pet sitter is my acrylic nails, or “premium scratchers” as I like to call them. Animals are always mesmerized with some gentle, long-nail scratching!
My love for animals, especially dogs, has inspired me to conduct research on certain cues and behavioral patterns during my own personal time. I love watching TikToks that explain how to understand dogs more effectively. Yes I am aware that not all information on TikTok is reputable and true, so I always conform and further my findings by conducting more research on other platforms.
My knowledge of cat behavior comes from living with one of my kitty-obsessed friends; we would bond over her daily cat facts she would share in our living room! As a result, I’ve been able to interpret certain pets’ subtle gestures and better understand their needs, feelings, and what they desire.
*Link to Humane Society Article Referenced: https://www.azhumane.org/heat-safety-tips-for-pets/