1. What are our hours?
Working from home is a great benefit to me. Working from my home also benefits our clients. We live here so we are not locking the door and leaving at 5PM.
That said...everyone needs a little downtime so we do try to stick to the basic guidelines below.
AM- Luckily I'm a morning person so those early drop-offs are ok! Generally 7AM or later but earlier drop-offs can be arranged if necessary.
However, that means I'm not a night owl, so....
PM- Pick-ups and drop-offs before 6:30PM are preferred but we understand that that isn't always possible and later arrangements may be made if needed.
Late drop-offs are discouraged. It's just easier for the dogs to adjust and relax if they arrive at an earlier time.
First time visitors should plan to arrive no later than 3:00
A $20 fee will added for first time visitors arriving after 5PM.
2. Are you open for Sunday or holiday drop-offs or pick-ups?
We try to be flexible since you can't always pick your travel days and times. That being said, it is our home and we do try to reserve a few uninterrupted days to spend with with our gang as well as our visitors. With the exception of emergencies we try to stick to the following.
Sundays- It's a big travel day for returning home and we understand you don't want to return home without your pet!
We would like Sunday off but it's just not going to happen :)
Holidays- We are closed for pick up and drop off on all holidays.
**We do ask that you keep in mind that it is our home and your schedule, and schedule changes, affect ours. Please be courteous.
3. What # of hours are covered by our boarding charges?
We realized a short time after opening that we had to come up with some sort of limits. We decided that the hotel type "check-in/check-out" set-up works best for most people, most of the time. Unlike a hotel we do not have a set check-in time. You are able to drop-your pet off at any time on the first day with no extra charges.
"Check-out" time is by 11am on the last day. If pick up is after 11am you will be charged the discounted Day Care rate of $20 for that day.
4. How many hours does the Day Care charge cover?
As with boarding, we are very flexible with drop-off and pick-up times. The day care charge is for a period of time up to 12 hours.
Again, we understand emergencies and our unpredictable monsoon season. You will not be charged extra for situations like these. If left overnight you will be billed the $35 boarding rate. However if left over due to closed roads you will not be billed extra.
5. What do I need to bring?
We ask that you provide enough of your dogs food to last through their stay. It's always best that they stay on what they have been eating at home.
Toys and beds are not necessary as we have plenty. Your toys will be loved and quite possibly destroyed by other visitors. If that's ok with you, that's ok with us :)
In some cases, usually small or elderly dogs, a favorite bed or blanket may be a good idea. Usually this stuff makes you feel better and your dog really couldn't care less:)
6. Do I need any paperwork?
We will provide forms to fill out with your pets info, your info, vet info, emergency contact info. etc.
We also request a copy of vaccination records from your veterinarian.
7. Is a deposit required? *See General & Holiday below.
General: No. At this time we have not found it necessary to require a deposit. We understand that sometimes plans change.
However........... we do reserve the right to require a deposit of 25% due at time of booking. (Non-refundable within 10 days of service)
Holidays: Yes. A 50% deposit (non-refundable within 15 days) is due for Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years reservations.
8. When is payment due & what type of payment is accepted?
Payment is due at the time your pet is picked up. We accept cash, checks and major credit cards. Credit cards will be billed through email by Pay Pal. It's a very simple process and you do not need to have a Pay Pal account to use it.
9. How many dogs do we board at one time?
We don't necessarily have a set limit.
We have a lot of "regulars" that know each other, us, the house etc. and we know them very well. This makes it safe and easy to have a slightly larger group on some days, or to introduce a new dog or two. We do not like to take more than one or two "new" dogs in a day since it's a getting to know you period for them as well as us. We occasionally have a dog with physical problems that may restrict having to many large or rambunctious dogs around. Puppies, elderly dogs, different sizes, 2 or 3 from the same household etc. all factor in to what determines our limit.
Generally we have anywhere from 1 to possibly 9 or 10.
We keep it easily manageable as this is our home and we want it to be safe and enjoyable for everyone, including us!
10. Where are we located?
We are located in on the north/east side of Sahuarita, Just to the west of the Corona de Tucson/Vail area. We are approx. 15 minutes from I10 & Houghton and approx. 15 minutes from I19 & Sahuarita Rd.
I'll be happy to email our address and directions if you would like to set up a time to come by to meet. Because it is our home, we do require that you make an appt. and we do not list the address publicly.
11. Will my small or elderly dog be overwhelmed?
No.
First of all, I am here to make sure that no one is overwhelmed or uncomfortable. We work hard to create and maintain an environment that everyone can be happy in.
Second, and maybe suprisingly to some of you, everyone is quite naturally very respectful of each other while here. They have plenty of space, inside and out,which makes all the difference. Lots of things to look at, lay on, or chew on. Generally, everyone understands who is a good playmate and who wants to be left alone. Think of it like this..... say you're at a party with a wide variety of people. Something like a big family reunion. You naturally end up hanging out with a group most suited to you. The kids go off and play, 90 year old Aunt Betty finds somewhere to take a nap, the guys find a tv with a game and the cooler full of beer, you get the idea.
12. Will my dog have access to the inside of the house and the yard?
Yes. All of our visitors can come and go as the wish. They are always just a dog door away from either the house or the outdoors. When indoors, central air keeps everyone cool in the So. Arizona heat and when outdoors there is always plenty of shade and fresh water available.
If your pet has special circumstances that do require limiting this freedom let us know. We are capable of managing any situation.
13. Is the outdoor area fenced and safe? (and clean?)
Yes. We have all sizes of visitors as well as some very "athletic" (Look! He can jump the 4ft. wall from a standstill!) visitors. We have kept all of that in mind when fencing the property.
Clean! I just felt that I needed to mention it:) Sometimes I think my "real" job title is poop picker upper and vacuum specialist. It's a fairly steady job. Not only do the dogs prefer a clean house and yard ( Yes! They do. Surprise!) We also very much prefer a clean house and yard.
14. What if something happens and our pet needs medical attention?
Everything we do is with your pets safety and happiness in mind, however...... they are animals (Yes! They really are:) and you never know what strange things may happen. I believe the same goes for kids! When you become a client we ask for your pets vet info; all of your contact numbers and an emergency contact in case you are not able to be reached. In addition, you will be asked to sign a form giving us permission to have your pet treated in the event that none of the above can be reached.
The issue may be solved with a simple phone conversation or it may require a trip to the office.
Your vet will be the first vet we try to contact. If we are unable to reach them we will then contact a vet of our choice. We treat everyone as our own and we will not delay in getting them the attention they need. As a pet first aid instructor I have told many people to be sure that they have an emergency plan in place before something occurs. It allows you to move quicker and remain calmer. It can make a huge difference in the final outcome. We do our best to make sure we don't have to put our plan into action but we are prepared to do so if needed.