Procedures and Policies
Getting Started on Time To Pet:
If you’re a new client and would like to request services, please visit the Time to Pet website to create an account. Your account is where you will provide details about you and your pet, request services, communicate with your sitter, and make payments. Additionally, at the end of each pet care visit you’ll receive a visit report card including our check-in and check-out times, GPS tracking for dog walks, photos, and details about the visit. There is a wonderful mobile app you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
You may request services after digitally signing our pet care policies and service agreement on Time To Pet, filling out your client and pet profiles, and completing a meet and greet.
The Meet and Greet:
A meet and greet is required for all new clients before visit requests can be approved. It is the way to ensure compatibility between client, sitter, and pet(s), answer questions, and show the sitter your pet(s) routine. The initial meet and greet is free, any additional meet and greets requested by the client will be charged $25.
Scheduling and Visits:
For vacation and one-time walks or pet sitting, Please use www.TimetoPet.comto schedule your services. If you need assistance, please email Marjorie and she will gladly walk you through the system. Regular walks or pet sitting are done monthly and are scheduled internally. Please allow 12 hours for confirmations to be sent to the email address on file. Office hours are Monday-Friday 9-6, Saturday-Sunday 9-1. Time to Pet is checked periodically after that.
Please plan ahead! We are proud of the excellent, truly affordable service we provide, which leads to us booking up fast! Especially for holidays, book early!
Vacation clients are asked to please message us via TimetoPet.com or the Time to Pet app to let us know you have arrived home safely. If we do not hear from you, we will continue the visits, and you will be charged accordingly.
Minimum Visit Requirements:
GMPC requires a minimum of three visits a day for dogs and at least one visit a day for cats/exotics when your pet will be alone for a 24-hour period.
Multiple Household Visits:
Sometimes multiple families go on vacation together or a wedding and want their pets to be kept in one home. If the pets are familiar with each other, this is acceptable. However, it is not free. The family whose home the visits will take place (Referred to as “Home client”) will be charged full price. The pet(s) who will be staying with the Home Client (Referred to as “Guest client”) will be charged 50% of services. Both Clients must have separate accounts and will be invoiced accordingly. A meet and greet with both clients must happen at the same time and at the home where the visits will be happening.
For Example:
The Clark Family and the Burke Family are going on vacation together and their animals are bonded. The families believe the animals will do better in the same home. The visits will take place at the Clark Families Home (now known as “Home Client”). The Burke family is now known as the (“Guest Family”). Home Client is invoiced 100% of services rendered to their Time to Pet account. Guest Client is invoiced 50% of services rendered to their Time to Pet Account.
Cancellation Policy:
Our cancellation policy is as follows:
(A) For Monthly and One-Time Walks, Monthly and One-Time Pet Sitting:
a. 24 hours or more cancellation will NOT be charged
b. Less than 24 hours notice will be charged full price
(B) For Sleepover Party!, Vacation Dog Walking, and Vacation Pet Sitting:
a. Seven (7) Days+ notice will NOT be charged
b. Less than Seven (7) Days notice will be charged full price
Visit Time Blocks:
Dog walks and pet sitting are scheduled in the following time blocks to ensure we optimize our routes.
Morning - 7am - 11am
Afternoon - 11am - 2pm
Late Afternoon - 2pm - 5pm
Evening - 5pm - 10pm
Sleepover Party! - 10pm - 8am
Please note: requests for specific times will be taken into consideration, but cannot be guaranteed. Animals dependent on medication will be given priority. Occasionally, your pet’s visit may occur slightly outside of the scheduled time block. Stormy weather, traffic, or an emergency with another client are a few reasons this may occur. We will contact you if the visit is significantly early or delayed. We thank you in advance for understanding!
Holiday visits:
Any scheduled services that land on the holidays listed below will be charged an additional $5 per service:
New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve
Split Visits:
Split visits are a liability issue and therefore not allowed. Split visits are defined as splitting services between Greater Milwaukee Pet Care and another party not employed or associated with GMPC (family member, co-worker, neighbor, another pet service, etc.)
Before your visit:
Please review your pet(s) profile on Time to Pet and update if necessary.
· Medication addition or changes
· Feeding amounts or additions
· Door or garage code changes
Inclement Weather:
As the safety of your pet(s) and staff are of the utmost importance, we reserve the right to shorten walks if applicable. If the weather is dangerous (i.e. extreme hot or cold, thunder/lightning), we may just take the dog(s) out in the yard to relieve themselves. Certain animals won’t even go out in storms. It is to the discretion of the walker. Don’t worry though! We will stay with your animal the entire time and work on basic commands and/or puzzles and games. This is equally stimulating to the animal! If an adjustment in walking time has been made, staff will include this in your visit report via Time to Pet. We also request your porch and sidewalk are clear of snow.
Payment for Services:
Payment is online and you pay through our website or app. Payment is secure through Stripe, and you can pay via ACH from your bank or with a credit/debit card. We do not charge you a service fee. Time To Pet is fully PCI compliant (for validation, please visit https://www.timetopet.com/pci). Time To Pet never stores credit card information on its servers. Instead, all credit card information is stored on the integrated payment processor’s secure storage solution.
Payment is due one week after your invoice is sent. You can find your invoice in your account, we also will email you a copy. We charge a $25 late payment fee after one week over the due date on the invoice. Habitual late payments may result in pre-payment booking services.
Rates Increase:
Due to the rising costs of operating a small business, GMPC reserves the right to change our service rates. You can find our current rates listed on our website and while requesting services on Time To Pet.
Unforeseen Purchases:
It’s the client's responsibility to provide more than adequate amounts of supplies for their pet (food, kitty litter, medications etc.). However, we understand that mistakes happen and we’ll purchase any essential items that contribute to the health and well-being of the pet if possible. We’ll provide a receipt and the client will be responsible for the reimbursement of these items. The reimbursement amount will be added to your invoice. In addition, a $25 service fee will be charged for our time/mileage when travel is necessary to obtain these supplies.
Home Access:
For recurring clients, GMPC will keep your provided key secured for your convenience. If you wish to have your key returned, a $25 fee will be charged for each key pick up and/or drop off. Hidden keys are not allowed as it is a potential safety issue. Garage door codes may not be used in place of keys though they may be given as a secondary means of entry. Lock boxes are not recommended as they can jam or be affected by the weather. Please triple-check your key(s) in the door. If we have difficulty with the keys in the lock GMPC will contact a locksmith and add the cost to the invoice.
Pet Accidents:
Accidents happen and we’ll clean up after your pet to the best of our ability within the scheduled time. Please make sure your home is stocked with cleaning supplies for accidents. We are not responsible for floor or furniture stains or damage created by your pet. If the cleaning is extensive GMPC reserves the right to round up to the next tier of visit. (For example, a 30-minute visit may be changed to 45 minutes)
Yard Conditions:
We will properly dispose of your pet’s waste during our visit. Please indicate where you would like the waste to be disposed. It’s the client’s responsibility to provide a clean, waste-free yard upon our arrival. We aren’t responsible for waste in the yard present prior to our arrival, nor can we walk or play with your pet in a waste-filled area. We reserve the right to refuse yard play if the area poses a threat to your pet or sitter. Examples would be unsanitary conditions, stagnant water, excessive animal waste, unkept lawn, or hazardous materials.
Animal Behavior:
Animals can be unpredictable, especially when their owners are away and someone they’re unfamiliar with enters their home. GMPC does not accept responsibility or liability for animal behavior (normal or abnormal) which results in injury to the client’s animals. Further, if the owner or Independent Contractor(s) are harmed or injured by the client’s pet(s), the client accepts full responsibility for the cost of any necessary medical attention required. Please inform us of any behavioral issues or personality traits including, but not limited to, escape artists, diggers, chewers, pets that bolt, or have aggression. Services may be terminated with no refund or credit if a staff member is unable to safely interact with an aggressive animal.
Injury to Walker/Caretaker:
It’s the client’s responsibility to disclose all previous bites, aggression and health history of their pet(s), as well as all safety hazards in and around their home. If we’re injured by or exposed to any disease or ailment from the client's pet(s) that has not been properly or currently vaccinated, the client will be responsible for all costs and damages that may incur. Services will be terminated immediately with no refund or credit.
One-On-One Dog Walks:
All dog walks are on an individual basis unless we determine multiple dogs in the same household are easily walked together. We believe walking one dog, or a well-matched pair, allows the dogs to get the best workout and sensory experience possible while outside. It also allows us to give our full attention to them and to monitor their behavior, health, and safety more efficiently. This may require a longer visit.
Leashes, Collars and Harnesses:
All dogs are required to be on a leash at all times during walks. Please have a sturdy, well-fitting harness and/or collar available with up-to-date owner contact tags. We will not use prong, choke or shock collars, retractable leashes or any other equipment we consider harmful.
Interactions with Other Dogs:
We will not permit your dog to interact with any other dogs or humans (known or unknown). If any off-leash dog approaches, we’ll do our best to keep interaction to a minimum and move away from them. Safety is our priority. We’ll inform you of any contact your pet makes with unknown dogs.
Walks in the Dark:
If your scheduled walk falls before sunrise or after sunset, the visit may be modified for the safety of our staff and your pet. Walk time in the dark is at our discretion based on the visibility of our route.
Veterinary Treatment Authorization:
In the event of a medical emergency, GMPC will make every attempt to contact you and your emergency contacts based on the information provided in your Time To Pet profile. If no one can be reached, GMPC will seek appropriate medical treatment for your pet. Every effort will be made to take your pet to the preferred or alternative veterinarians listed in your Time To Pet profile. If those veterinarians are unavailable or too far away, we will seek treatment from another appropriate hospital or clinic.
GMPC assumes no responsibility for the loss or injury of any pet and is released from all liability related to transportation, treatment, and expenses.
Medication Administration:
GMPC has experience administering a variety of medications, including injections, pills, liquids, topicals, etc. We’ll attempt to administer medications as directed but cannot be held responsible for any complications that may arise as a result. If we need to stay longer than expected to medicate your pet, we may change the duration of the visit (for example a 45-minute visit may be increased to a 60-minute visit.) Please leave detailed instructions for all medications and the steps we should follow if we’re unsuccessful.
Vaccinations and Preventative Medications:
GMPC requires all pets to have the necessary vaccinations and veterinary-recommended flea and tick preventatives before service begins. For safety reasons, we will not service a pet that has any form of contagious illness.
Privacy Policy:
All of your personal information will be kept private and confidential. We highly respect our clients entrusting us with the care of their homes and pets.
Marketing Material:
By signing up with Greater Milwaukee Pet Care you agree to let us use images of your pet(s) for marketing purposes. This could be a flyer, postcard, or social media site. Check out our Facebook Page as we tend to brag about our wonderful clients! We will never show your address or street signs, nor will we link the location to a post.
Respectful Communication:
GMPC has zero tolerance for disrespectful communication or behavior towards our Staff or Independent Contractors. If we determine the way you are speaking to or acting is inappropriate, rude, disrespectful etc. we reserve the right to decline all future services.
"We were so lucky to find Marjorie and Greater Milwaukee Pet Care! She genuinely cares for our fur babies! Reliable, friendly and so thorough with her care. I don't know what we would do without her!" - Jill, Milwaukee
