Loving & Licensed Dog Sitter

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. How long have they been in business.
Are they licensed.
Are the home and the people clean.
Are the dogs already there happy and clean.
How is the business organized.
How do the people act toward visiting dogs/pets.
Do the people running the business have dogs/pets of their own.
Are the business-owners own dogs/pets clean and happy.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Clients should know what we are not. We are not a kennel.
What we are is a loving home for doggies who's owners don't want to leave them alone while they work long hours or put them in a kennel while they go on vacation.
We have a safely fenced back yard that is totally private and secure. It would be very difficult to see over our fence into the yard and the 6 ft. wood fence is doubly secured by having a plastic mesh fence covering the inside of it and laying along the ground for about 12 inches preventing doggies from being able to dig under.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Other Dog and Pet Sitters go to their customers homes and care for the pets there.
Aunt Kate's Pampered Pooches cares for small dogs in our own home. Also, unlike some others, Aunt Kate's does not offer dog-walking services.

For a dog, having their people leave them can be stressful, so Aunt Kate's provides a home-like atmosphere in order to reduce stress; we have a home where our dog guests are always attended, given lots of companionship and the opportunity to play with other dogs which is an important part of a dogs socialization.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Watching the doggies play with each other and learn from each other. They throw balls for each other and play tag and Tug of War. It's great fun to watch.
The love each of them shows not only to me but to their doggie friends here is amazing. I really love watching them go to a doggies side that is upset and comfort them. The love they show to me for me is so fulfilling. Kate

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. The most asked question at a first interview is "how do you keep their food separate?" We laugh, partly because it isn't as hard as it might seem. Many dogs watch us put the food dishes down and understand immediately that there is one for each of them and they eat only their own food. If someone is greedy and tries to take another dogs food we just move that dog and his food dish into a kennel or outside until they are finished eating. We have two kennels in the house that have doggie beds in them so there is a place for a dog to den if they want to. Usually the doors hang open but if we need to separate a dog for dinner time that's one of the ways we do it. Sometimes we bring a dog that is shy about eating into the kitchen with us as we cook dinner and let them have the security of being right under our feet while they are eating.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I had been a real estate agent and broker for almost 35 years and wanted to retire. I was already taking care of many of my friends dogs when their owners traveled and it was just natural to continue taking care of the doggies as I retired from the real estate business. I have always loved dogs and horses and have owned and trained both in my life. For many years I raised Great Danes. Now I would rather associate with the smaller doggies that can snuggle with me while I read a good book. Kate

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. Aunt Kate's Pampered Pooches provides three types of dog and pet care:
1) Overnight at our home. This is $40 per night.

2)Daycare at our home. This is $25.

3)At Your House Care. This is $20 per visit, as many visits as you would like per day can be arranged.