FAQ

How does your pet sitting service work?

• Your Pet's Nanny has been in business since 1996.
• Locally owned and operated by Julie Garcia.
• Serving Ventura, CA  with zip codes 93001, 93003, 93004.
• Daily pet sitting visits are available 7 days a week* by appointment only.
• Currently best suited for cats and other small animals.
• Daily dog walking is not provided.
• We do not board animals in our home. We pet sit in your home.
• Vacation care services, like watering plants, are also available even if you don't have pets.
• I cannot accept dogs anymore and dog walking is no longer offered.
• House sitting is available. I can come and stay in your home and care for your pet's overnight so they get to keep their usual routines.
• Dog walking is included when house sitting.*

* Restrictions may apply. Ask for more detail.

How much does it cost?

Visit the RATES page for more information. Rates are subject to change at anytime.

How can I meet the pet sitter before we leave?

• Give me a call at 805-479-7487. Let's chat first and get acquainted to make sure it's the right fit before we schedule an in-person meeting.
• If it's a good fit and you'd like to hire me (thank you!) we'll schedule a meet and greet to go over your pet's care and feeding instructions and the dates you'll be away etc.
• Free meet and greets are usually available between Monday - Friday 10 AM to 3 PM.
• Friday - Sunday I'm not available during breakfast and dinner times when I'm feeding pets.

How do you get into my house?

• A hidden lock box or PIN pad entry system is best way to protect the security of your home. A special combination should be provided to keep yours private.
• If you don't have that option and can only provide keys please do this...
• Provide 2 keys or two sets of keys. This way there is a backup plan. 
• Please don't just give me a handful of unidentifiable keys.
• Put both sets of keys on two separate key rings and ID them.
• An odd keychain or your pet's name works.
• Once the pet sitting agreement is completed I need to return your keys a.s.a.p. 
• For your security and to limit liability I will not retain keys when not under contract of service. I can leave keys in a place of your choosing or we'll arrange to return them when you get back. Additional charges may apply.

What are your business hours?

• Pet sitting visits are provided 7 days a week, usually around breakfast and dinner times.
• Midday pet sitting visits are also available.
• Spring and Summer pet sitting hours of operation 8 AM TO 7 PM.
• Fall and Winter pet sitting hours of operation 8 AM TO 5 PM.

Payment Policies:

• I accept cash, checks, US currency only.
• A nonrefundable deposit equal to one visit is requested to hold your spot on the calendar.
• This deposit (if paid) will be deducted from the total amount due.

What Additional Charges May Apply?

• +15 on holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day).
• +$7.50 for each additional consecutive 15 minutes per visit.
• +$15 minimum per visit when services are requested outside of the usual service area.
• +$20 minimum per visit when services are requested outside of usual business hours.
• $35 minimum for any returned check and/or failed electronic payment method + the original amount due that was rejected for payment.

Do You Accept Credit Cards or electronic payments like Zelle or Venmo?

• No. Sorry. The fees are too high for me to absorb. <3% and a 1099. I prefer cash but checks are OK too. Please make checks payable to Julie Garcia and leave payment for me to find upon arrival. Thank you.
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How Do I Know How Much to Pay?

• Once we have established that pet sitting services are available you will receive an email or text with the dates of service, the amount due, and where you can send the deposit.
• Please reply to that email or text to confirm the information is correct or if there are any changes or corrections to be made.

Cancellation Policy:

• You can cancel at anytime before pet sitting begins.
• A 24 hour notice of cancellation is requested.
• No refunds once service has begun, even if you return early.*

*Unused pet sitting visits or deposit paid can be credited toward future services up to 3 months (90 days) from the date of cancellation.

Pet Emergencies:
Your pet's health and well-being are paramount. But what if your pet needs to see a veterinarian while you're away? Here are a few helpful tips to make sure your pets have access to medical care.

1. ​Contact your primary veterinary office before you leave and ask what their policies are if your pet sitter needs to bring your pet in for medical care while you're away.
2. Fill out any of their in-house forms before you leave.
3. Make an alternative veterinary option available if your primary veterinary office cannot accept your pet in an emergency.
4. Provide a method of payment. You choose what works for you.

• Credit card #, expiration date, and security code, or
• Write a check. Leave "Pay to the Order of" blank in case the check is used at an alternate vet hospital, date and sign and write "Do not exceed $XXX.xx amount" in the memo section. (The amount to spend is up to the pet owner.
• Or make payment arrangements directly with your vet's office.

NOTICE: Veterinary services are a separate contract between you and the veterinarian's office. We cannot be financially responsible for your pet's medical expenses.

Veterinary Authorization:

**** Contact your vet's office personally.​ There is no guarantee a veterinarian's office will accept an authorization form from us.****

Pet Medication and Supplements, Existing Illness/Injury/Disease:
If your pet requires medication to control a medical condition, acute or chronic, it is the pet Owner's responsibility to make sure the pet's medication is properly dosed and laid out.

• Write clear instructions on how to medicate your animal(s) and leave the contact info of the veterinarian that prescribed them.
• Make sure the pill bottles are clearly labeled.
• Precut any pills
• Put them 7-day-a-week pill divider, or another organized method that is easy to follow
• If it's a liquid medication mark the correct dosage level with a black sharpie.
• If it's a powder leave a measuring spoon or cup, or pre-measure the dosage like you would a liquid or pill.

NOTICE: YPN and/or Julie Garcia is not responsible for preexisting health conditions of your pet, incorrect dosages, and we cannot be held liable for a decline in your pet's health if we cannot medicate your pet(s) if it is aggressive or combative, scratches, bites, or if runs away and hides, making it impossible to reach it in order to give it its medications. If your pet is skittish and apprehensive please consider quarantining the pet so it can't get away and can be medicated easier.

Home Alarm Systems:

• If you have an alarm system, inform your security provider that someone will be entering the home while you're away, and give clear instructions on how to disarm and rearm the system. Create a separate security code, something easy to remember. For security reasons, this special code can discussed when we meet or talk over the phone. This way, you can turn it off when not in use and can keep your personal alarm code private. YPN and/or Julie Garcia is not responsible for false alarms sent to your security provider.

Your Home's Security:

• YPN and/or Julie Garcia is not a security provider and cannot be responsible for what may happen when I am not in your home, or when you allow others to enter your home while you are away. The security of your home is important. You are encouraged to have different service providers enter your home at separate times. This way, you can better monitor the people who are in your home while you are away. Make sure that the house is locked and secure as you leave. Check that the windows and doors are shut and locked. If you choose to leave windows open YPN and/or Julie Garcia cannot be responsible for damages that may be caused by inclement weather, theft, or burglary. It is in your best interest to place important papers or items of value in a locked room, a fireproof safe, or a locked box, off premises or in any other safe place that suits your needs.  Use any security measures you deem necessary. Your privacy is important. Your personal information is never sold or shared with a third party. It is for in-house use only in order to better serve you.

Household Emergencies:

• What happens if the water heater springs a leak, or the refrigerator breaks down and floods the kitchen, or the windstorm knocks down your fence? These are things that have happened while we were pet sitting. Whom do you want to take care of any household emergencies? Consider leaving the contact info of a trusted handyman or management company to contact in case something happens to your home while you're away.