Peace of Mind Home & Petsitting
HAPPY SITTER FOR HAPPY DOGS
HAPPY SITTER FOR HAPPY DOGS
I'm a Dog Nanny and treat your dog as my own. Their safety and happiness is my top priority as is (human) customer satisfaction.
GENERAL OFFERINGS, PHILOSOPHY, and EXPERIENCE
I offer in-home dog care providing pet parents with peace of mind – ensuring your pet, and your home, are well cared for.
Animals prefer consistency, routine, and familiar settings, especially when separated from their parents. For this reason, I don’t board animals in my own home.
I'm well-educated (boarding school, Boston College), smart, friendly, have 50+ years life experience and a passion for understanding dog behavior/dynamics/training. In 2016, I changed careers to in-home dog care as a full-time profession and have never looked back.
I stay with pets, mostly dogs, but also love cats, birds, fish and bunnies. Given my first priority is taking care of your pet, I spend the majority of my day tending to their needs and ensuring I adhere to the instructions and guidelines provided by the “pet parents”.
In addition to sending owners photos and videos, I walk dogs 2-3 times a day, with lots of playtime, grooming, and administering meds if needed. If/when I need to step out for a bit, I play calming music and leave a puzzle toy to keep pets occupied and relaxed. Owners decide if we go to public parks, are off-leash, eat people food, etc. Basically, you set the rules, and I honor them.
Over the years I have gained experience dealing with different scenarios including separation anxiety, geriatrics (urinary problems, hand feeding), newborn litters, and new mothers. For many years I have worked with a very successful breeder and treasured client. Working with her is like getting a PhD in dogs, so rest-assured, yours will be in great hands with me.
I scoop poop in the yard and on walks, hose down patios after gardener visits if needed, throw balls, operate house alarms, locks, garage and gate codes, smoke alarms and more. I have good judgment and am quick on my feet.
I always ensure I have clients’ emergency contact and vet information. While unlikely, if something does need to be addressed, I assess the situation and ensure the best action is taken. I will always contact owners if anything occurs and in the unlikely event your pet needs medical assistance, it’s preferable to have access to the family vehicle to avoid the added stress of riding in an unfamiliar car (please note, whenever possible, I prefer the option to use clients’ cars during the assignment duration).
YOUR HOME
It's a privilege to be trusted with your possessions and your home and I am very protective of client privacy and confidentiality. I don’t drink alcohol or use recreational drugs. Guests and visitors are only allowed if approved by the client and typically consist of coffee chats or watching a movie (no overnight guests).
If possible, I always appreciate kitchen staples (coffee, yummy leftovers etc.) and access to workout equipment. I always make sure everything is left as I found it. Your home will look like it did when you left, or better.
GETTING STARTED
My schedule fills quickly so please text me at (650) 269-3909 to check availability and schedule a complimentary meet-and-greet (Note- meet-and-greets requiring more than 60-minute travel time require Uber reimbursement).
Given safety for all is a priority I no longer accept dogs weighing more than 85 pounds. Exceptions are made on a case by case basis. All dogs must be up to date on vaccines, non-aggressive and well-behaved on leash.
RATES
My base fee is $135/day+ depending on the number of pets and scope of work (typically, the base is $135 + $10 for each additional dog and/or pet) including overnight and up to (3) 25-30 minute walks per day, per dog). Holiday rates require an additional $30-$35 per day.
Variables that may increase rates include, but are not limited to: administering medications and the relative difficulty managing the health of a pet (for example, pets with mobility challenges, pets in need of hand-feeding, new mothers requiring a high degree of attentiveness, pets needing a great degree of cleaning related to poor bodily function, distance traveled for the actual assignment, etc.).
I leave and arrive at requested times, however, a day begins at ~7am (later upon request). Three hours or more into the day will be charged at the full daily rate (for example, if I leave your home at 10am, you will be charged for that day. If I leave at 7am, there is no charge for that day.
Reservations must be confirmed with me in advance of the assignment dates via text or phone.
PAYMENT
Estimates and invoices are provided prior to the assignment. I require cash payment in full to be paid on the first day of the assignment and tips are always appreciated. Late payments incur 2% daily interest. My estimated invoice is just an estimate. In the event the stay turns out to be significantly more time-consuming or difficult, I would let you know and we would come to a mutually agreed upon revision for the stay.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations are accepted with three weeks advance notice. Cancellations outside the three week window result in clients paying two-thirds of the total engagement fee.
INSURED
I’m insured and bonded by Pet Sitters International in addition to having auto insurance.
COVID
I am fully vaccinated including boosters. I can wear a mask and/or provide COVID test results upon request.
REFERENCES and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
References upon request.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osullivanmaureen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maureen.osullivan
If you are interested in putting together a binder / guide for my stay, my most organized clients use the following template: https://bit.ly/petbinder, feel free to use it.
TO BE COMPLETED PRIOR TO MEET & GREET ( We will review completely in person.)
PET PROFILE:
https://bit.ly/3XhAVEO
CLIENT PROFILE:
https://bit.ly/4eedaTN
REQUIRED SIGNED DOC:
https://bit.ly/3WQDrQE
Thank you kindly,
Maureen O'Sullivan
(650) 269-3909
"Maureen is our go to dog sitter. If she's not available during the dates we need her, we change our dates--she's that good! She first met our Yellow Lab, Charlie, when he was 8. He's now 13, and Maureen has been amazing at every stage. Tiring him out as a youngster, administering meds as he ages, and giving lots of hugs and cuddles regardless of his age! I highly recommend Maureen, and Charlie does too!"
—Rebecca Rossi
"Maureen has been housesitting our beloved King Charles Cavalier, Snickers, for years now and we trust her like a family member. Well, maybe even more than a family member, as our kids are unlikely to provide the same commitment of loving care! Snickers can make poor choices, e.g. with regard to racoons or other dogs, and Maureen's approach to dog and house sitting leaves us with total confidence. In the 5+ years she has been sitting for us, ranging from weekends to multi-week trips, there have been zero issues. We would encourage anyone who needs a trusted sitter for their pets to work with Maureen! Plus she curates the very best pet videos from the internet on her Facebook page..."
—David Shaffer
"We used Maureen's services for the first time while we were out of town for 10 days. I cannot say enough great things about her!!! Our dog was loved, pampered and even sent us photos and videos of daily activies. We could tell he was happy and well take care of. I would highly recommend using her, but she books up quickly."
—Virginia Trowbridge
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