Pet Parent Information
What should I bring for my pet’s stay?
Please bring the following, but also anything you feel would make your pet comfortable and happy.
- Food with feeding instructions
- Required medication
- Leash
- Food bowls
- Treats your pet likes
- Poop bags or kitty litter pan, litter and scoop
- Sweater or jacket for your dog in cold weather
- Any familiar toys
- Bed or crate if your dog prefers them
Where will my pet be in your house?
I don’t restrict pets while they stay in my home. They are welcome wherever they are comfortable, but I will always be aware of where they are and what they’re doing. If your pet feels safe in their crate, I will put them in it if I go out.
Sometimes I will close the bedroom door at night so they are with me all night. In that case, I will bring a bowl of water into the room in case they get thirsty in the night.
Is my pet allowed on your furniture and/or bed?
Your pet is welcome to get up on the couch or recliner with or without me. Many dogs have made my big leather couch their spot. I will occasionally give them a blanket or pillow to cuddle with. Little dogs sometimes curl up with me on the recliner. I love to cuddle with them all in either place!
I love sleeping with pets. I actually sleep better. I have a ramp for small dogs to use to get up, if they know how to use one.
Will you send photos and updates during my pet's stay?
You will absolutely receive photos and updates of your pet via text, unless you tell me otherwise!
How and when do I pay?
Pritchard Pets accepts payments by Venmo, cash, or check, Venmo preferred.
My Venmo name is LauraPritchard40.
Payment is due when you drop off your pet, or before.
Should I tip?
Tipping is, of course, at your discretion.
Why is an initial meet necessary?
An initial meet before boarding makes sure that your pet and I are compatible. I ask that you bring him/her/them to my home so when they come to stay, they will be familiar with the surroundings and won’t be afraid or confused about being somewhere new.
What happens during an initial meet?
When you come to my home for the first time, I will greet you and your pet and welcome you inside. You can let them loose in the house so they can explore and sniff to get to know the surroundings. I will interact with your pet accordingly, based on their interest and behavior. I sit on the floor to be at their level to increase trust.
If they seem nervous, I will gently reach out to them and pet them, based on their reaction. Some dogs and cats take a little while to warm up to someone new. It may even take a few days during the boarding, when they ease into trusting me. One sweet dog, Penny, who stayed here had never been apart from her mom. Penny was very nervous about Mom being gone. I put her mat on the floor and laid on it, encouraging her to lay with me. She eventually did and we napped together on the floor. She was great with me from that point on!
If your pet wants to play on the first visit, we play! I am totally fine with face kisses!
Will you ever leave my pet alone in your house?
There will be times when I have to leave the house. They will never be alone more than 5 hours. I often take pets with me in the car on errands. We can discuss your pet’s specific needs or your concerns at the initial meeting.
How do I schedule, change, or cancel service?
You can schedule a boarding on this web site at any time by clicking on Submit a Boarding Request. It will immediately go onto the calendar to block out your dates so others know they are not available. I will contact you when I receive your request to finalize the booking. Please contact me by text or phone as soon as you are aware of the need to change or cancel a booking.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please contact me by text or phone as soon as you are aware of the need to change or cancel a booking.
Cancellation for boarding should be within five (5) days of the agreed upon start date.
If it’s necessary to shorten the time of a boarding once it has begun, payment will not be refunded as this time was reserved for your pet.
I aim to be as accommodating as possible. Time is blocked off for your boarding so those dates are no longer available for other requests. Of course, there are situations like canceled flights, weather events, and personal emergencies. I will be as flexible as my schedule allows in specific circumstances.
Do you have questions that aren’t covered here?
