One of the most common things we hear from potential clients is, “I’m booking a month in advance, I figured that would be plenty of notice.” Unfortunately, during our busiest season, it often isn’t. From spring through October, our calendar fills up incredibly fast. Holiday weekends, summer vacations, fall weddings, and weekend getaways mean those prime dates are often reserved months in advance. In fact, it’s not unusual for clients to book their pet sitting four months ahead of time to make sure they have the coverage they need.
As much as we’d love to say “yes” to everyone, we’re a small-scale pet care business by design. We believe every pet deserves individualized attention, and that means we intentionally limit the number of families we care for at any given time. We never overbook, and we never stretch ourselves so thin that the quality of care suffers.
No pet sitter enjoys telling someone they’re already booked. We know how stressful it can be when you’re planning a vacation or have an unexpected trip come up. But because we only have so many openings, our calendar simply reaches capacity, especially during the busiest months of the year.
Why Current Clients Receive Priority
Building a relationship with your pet sitter has real benefits. Current clients receive scheduling priority because we’ve already taken the time to get to know their pets, routines, personalities, medications, and homes. That familiarity allows us to provide better, safer, and less stressful care for everyone involved.
If you know you’ll need pet care regularly, it’s worth establishing that relationship before you need it most. Waiting until the week before your vacation may mean your favorite sitter simply isn’t available.
Quality Pet Sitters Are Worth Planning Ahead For
Responsible, reliable pet sitters are in high demand. Families are looking for someone they can trust with their beloved pets and their homes, not just someone who’s available.
When choosing a pet sitter, look for someone who is:
- Fully insured
- Certified in Pet CPR and First Aid
- Experienced with a variety of animals and situations
- Dependable, professional, and committed to personalized care
Those are exactly the kinds of pet sitters whose calendars fill first.
We Always Try to Help
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Emergencies happen, family situations arise, and sometimes trips come up unexpectedly. Whenever possible, we do everything we can to accommodate last-minute requests. If it’s a true emergency, we’ll move heaven and earth to help if we possibly can. That said, because we’re a small business with limited availability, we simply can’t guarantee last-minute openings once our schedule is full.
Our Best Advice? Book As Soon As You Know Your Dates.
Even if your trip is several months away, reserving your pet sitter early gives you peace of mind and ensures your pets will be cared for by someone they already know and trust. Your vacation should be spent making memories, not worrying about who’s going to care for your furry family members.
If you already have your travel dates, we’d love to hear from you. The earlier you reach out, the better your chances of securing the dates you want, especially during our busy season from spring through October.
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