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Whiskers and Snoots is officially registered in all counties in North Carolina. North Carolina Secretary of State - Assumed Business Name Search Link
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With unforeseeable traffic issues along with the unexpected actions of pets, all visits fall into a two-hour time frame. Visits are never an exact time guarantee unless medication administration is necessary at a specific time.
For clients that only need one pet visit a day for a mostly self-sustaining animal, your appointment will be moved around to flow better with my schedule. You’re free to specify “Morning/Afternoon/Night” and I will do my best to stick to it, but it is not a guarantee. These specific visits are scheduled no more than 24 hours apart.
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I use the Time To Pet system to record everything I do during your visit. The service officially starts when I enter your home and it ends after your home has been secured. I’ll work on the visit report after I am out of your home unless it's bitterly cold outside. My first few visits might be a bit long since I am learning a new routine and where everything is. If I am walking your dog, I’ll do it as swiftly as I can without jogging, unless necessary to go slow with them. The visit report will contain everything related to your scheduled service. Time stamps, my GPS location while at your home & on a dog walk, a list of accomplished tasks, a collage of pictures showing your pet, and any notes worth mentioning. If your pet prefers to hide and I can’t locate them, you might not get those specific pictures.
I also try putting my smartwatch in one of the photos to verify the exact time I did something when I have to make several visits to the same home in one day. I understand some people are skeptical of the general visit timestamps, so the watch adds an extra layer of reassurance, I feel.
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I only provide the services stated on this website which are regular pet-sitting duties at the home of the pet and dog walking around the neighborhood or in a nearby safe one.
For example, I do not do…❌ Training
❌ Grooming
❌ Boarding
❌ Jogging with your dog(s)
❌ Hiking treks with your dog(s)
❌ Pet Taxi Services
❌ Off-leash free roaming time while outside of the owner’s fenced-in property
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No information about your home, pet, person or anything else regarding you will ever be disclosed in any form without your direct written permission. There will not be any identifying information on my person or vehicle whenever I am performing a job that might hint at you being away from home. If anyone asks who I am, I’ll deflect.
You will also never have to worry about me posting pictures of your pets, home, or any identifying details regarding you; this includes on places like the Whiskers and Snoots website, under a business search page of Google, on any social media, and so on. After having worked for many people requiring strict privacy guidelines, I fully understand the importance of confidentiality.
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Under the Whiskers and Snoots name, I am the only person that will be taking care of your pet(s). There are no other employees or partners and I will not have anyone else doing the job unless I have a personal emergency. You will be notified if this happens. There are more details in the Pet Sitting Agreement.
CREDIT: CAITLIN-MARIE MINER ONG / JODY TRAMONTINA
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Brief bathroom breaks outside are the only service I am willing to regularly offer for a pet in heat. Neighborhood walks are not a guarantee.
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Retractable leashes will never be used as they are a big safety risk; this is not negotiable. I have my own that I will use because I know they are extremely durable, reliable, and comfortable. The leash has an extra handle by the collar clip and the handle is kept securely attached to a locking climbing carabiner on my utility belt. If I’m walking two of your dogs at once, then I’ll use a heavy-duty double leash. I do my best to ensure pets that need to go outside on a leash will not get away from me. My gear: Leash, utility belt, and carabiner.
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I highly prefer front clip harnesses to be used as it discourages strong pullers and it’s not something that can be slipped out of. Collars will be used if it’s the only option, but I have had dogs slip out of them before.
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Only treats that you provide will ever be given. I do not provide any.
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Pills are the only thing I have ever had to administer to cats and dogs, but I’m willing to do other forms as long as you’re willing to show me how to do it with your specific pet.
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Leash reactivity is common. Some dogs simply have other dog aggression while on a leash even if they are perfectly fine with that dog while off; I am used to it. As long as I feel safe enough in controlling your dog(s) then I have no problem dealing with it. If you have two dogs that are bigger than small breeds and they’re both very reactive then I will split the visit time between them and walk them individually.
If your dog has bitten or shown significant and serious aggression toward other people and/or animals then there is a stipulation for me to accept your pet. Your dog MUST be trained and be comfortable in wearing a cage muzzle where it can still open its mouth to accept treats and pant. Be sure to read the “Personal Injury, Damage From Pet, and/or Health & Safety Concern” of the Pet Sitting Agreement as legalities are a factor in this instance.
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Bad things can happen. In those times, you will be contacted as soon as your pet is safe and stable. If you are unreachable then I will follow my basic training and contact or go to your veterinary doctor if necessary. There are a lot of details to this plainly written in the Pet Sitting Agreement along with the Veterinary Release Form that you’re required to read and sign. I have taken the time to go through basic training for pet CPR and first aid with for certificates given for verification: Certificates Link I do plan to attend an in-person training class in the future.
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I will do my best in getting to your home, but if I feel there is a significant risk to my person and/or vehicle then I will notify you that I can not make it. I’ll call your emergency contact or assigned neighbor from your client profile to see if they can check on your pet. Please, ensure you have a worst-case scenario plan. Example: Hiding a key and having a neighbor or a friend with a back road-friendly vehicle to check in on your pet.
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I use the chart below in deciding how long your pet will spend outside.
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Consistently recording cameras are something I am very used to and that I am perfectly fine with while at your home. As long as cameras aren’t in your bathroom, which I may need to use at some point, you do not need to tell me their location.
You will often hear me talk to your pet(s) along with me voicing my actions. My goal is for you and your pet(s) to feel comfortable with me while you are gone. I also simply enjoy talking to pets.
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Whether it is me or your pet that damages something in the process of my visit, you will be notified. I am insured and bonded through Pet Sitters Associates. Please locate the red superscript “1” within the Pet Sitting Agreement and read the Property section of the document for more details.
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Once I am aware of it, all manner of mess will be cleaned up with the supplies and equipment in your home; I do not provide any supplies, but I am willing to go purchase needed items for the well-being of the home and pet(s). It will, of course, be charged to your client account and everything is detailed in the Pet Sitting Agreement. Please, be sure to detail specifics in the appropriate area in the Time To Pet system under the client info. category once you have access to your account.
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Two keys for your main entrance door, one key for a secondary entrance door, and any necessary key fob/gate code/gate card are needed before your scheduled visit; please, test all keys to ensure they are working. Why do I need that many keys? I must be able to care for your pet while you are gone. Keys can break in locks, a garage door can malfunction, large objects can fall in front of a door inside or outside of a home, doors can swell shut or be impossible for me to open, and electronic door code panels can have multiple problems. Locksmiths are expensive and that whole process takes time and will cost you money if you give me key copies that weren’t tested, don’t work, and I have no other way to get inside.
If you opt to use a key lock box that is kept hidden on your property then your keys will only be used when I am there during a scheduled visit. However, their security is questionable and I do not recommend them. For keys that are provided to me, I keep one key on my person and one at my residence. I GPS tag all of my keyrings and attach my contact information so if it is lost or stolen then I will be the point of contact. There are pros and cons to each key method, though.
If I end up losing your keys then I am willing to pay for a key and/or lock replacement for whichever key was lost. I am also willing to go get the required copies of your keys, for a fee. All fees are stated in this FAQ section and in the Pet Sitting Agreement that you will have to read and sign before services start.
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If you want, I will happily allow your pet to freely run around in a fully fenced-in backyard. I’ll run around and play with them in there as long as you say it’s secure, safe, and not littered with feces. However, I will not be held responsible if your pet escapes due to not being attached to a leash. Please, be sure to tell me if your pet is an escape risk.
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New clients are required to pay in full, before visits start, for either their first service or their first week of services. An invoice is sent on the first day of your service. For established clients, the payment due date is set to four days after your last service day. Reoccurring weekly services are due that Sunday by midnight. I highly prefer that payment is made through the Time To Pet system so there is an automatic receipt generated. An example of one looks like this: Sample Invoice Link
The Time To Pet system uses Stripe which is the same company that Amazon, Lyft, and Apple rely on for payment processing. Stripe accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, JCB, Diners Club, and debit cards.
Cash and checks are also accepted and you can use “Whiskers and Snoots” in the “Pay to the order of” section of a check. When you pay with cash or checks, I will be manually adding them in the Time To Pet system.
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These fees are in place to ensure the clients that truly need my services will get me. I respect my clients by reserving the time for their visit on my schedule, not overbooking, and providing their pets with quality care. In return, they respect me enough to pay for their services, the due sales tax, and a cancellation fee if it happens.
⚠️ This is not an exhaustive list! Please see the Pet Sitting Agreement for all details! ⚠️
• Sales Tax •
7% - Buncombe County
6.75% - Henderson County• Cancellation Fees •
No refunds or credits for early returns of services constituting three (3) or more service days in a row when visits are underway.
100% if less than 24 hours notice.
50% if less than 48 hours notice.• Overnight 8 Hour Cancellation Fees •
No refunds or credits for early returns of services constituting three (3) or more service days in a row when visits are underway.
100% if less than 1 weeks notice is given.• Late Booking Fee •
+$10.00 if less than 8 hours of notice is given before visit start.• Medication Fee •
(Waived if it’s quick & simple)
+$10 per pet.• Nonsufficient Funds/Returned Check Fee •
(Services will be terminated if this happens twice.)
+$25.00 and the fee from your financial institution.• Locksmith •
(Fees do not apply if it’s my fault.)
+$75.00 + Locksmith fees if the keys you give me do not work.• Outside of 10 miles from the Whiskers and Snoots address - One way•
$1.00 per mile to your location.• Holiday Cancellation Fees •
(New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, post-Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day)
No refunds or credits for early returns during the holidays.
100% if less than 1 weeks notice is given.
75% if less than 2 weeks notice is given.
50% if less than 3 weeks notice is given.For holidays, people book well in advance due to travel plans and spending a longer length of time away. This means there is usually limited or no availability in these time frames. If I hold onto your reservation and you cancel, it’s unlikely that I will be able to fill the spot.
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To make up for the fees that I have, these specific circumstances carry no additional charge:
• Holidays
• Weekends
• Extra Pets (Already defined per service)
• Medication Administration (Depending on difficulty)
• Late Booking (If above 8 hours)There is also no additional cost for these as long as you’re within 10 miles of the W&S address:
• One key pick up and/or drop off per week
• One meet-and-greet
• Mileage fees for visits -
Ascot Point residents do not receive the 30-minute and 60-minute discounts since they already get $5.00 off each visit at first booking.
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For 30-minute visits, I’ll take off $2.00 per visit when booking 10 or more services a week.
For 60-minute visits, I’ll take off $4.00 per visit when booking 10 or more services a week.
The discounts above apply from 6 AM Monday to Sunday at midnight and reset.
There is also a one-time $10.00 credit to your account if you leave me a review 24 hours after I complete services once we have worked out any issues that may have arisen. Check the Pet Sitting Agreement for details.
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In the state of North Carolina, a business license is not required/does not specifically exist for a dog walker & pet sitter. North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services Reference Link
I’m not an LLC, but I have registered as the sole proprietor with the Buncombe County Register of Deeds for DBA (Doing Business As).
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that all Clients must COMPLETE!
