Policies and Procedures

RATES & FEES
All of our rates and fees can be accessed through our website, www.ircdpetsitting.com

PAYMENT
It’s Raining Cats & Dogs accepts payment by debit or credit card only before services begin. Your card on file will automatically be billed 5 days prior to the beginning of services.

BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS
Our business office hours are Monday-Friday from 9am to 4pm.  Our business phone is 561-727-8530.   The office is closed on weekends and all Federal holidays.  Calls are monitored for emergencies for current bookings when the office is closed.  All other calls are returned during regular business hours.  Our private cell phones will only be used in case of emergencies.

VISIT HOURS

• Morning: 7:00 am - 9:00 am
• Mid-Day: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
• Evening: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
• Late night: 7:00 pm -  9:00 pm 
• CAT visits are no less than every 24 hours and DOGS are visited a minimum of every 12 hours. 
• If you would like to reserve a specific time, $5 will be added to the cost of your visit.

CANCELLATION
We adhere to a strict policy of NO OVERBOOKING. Therefore, once you have contracted services, we will turn away business in order to accommodate your schedule. You will be charged for all visits and overnights without proper notice of cancellation. 

• Monday-Friday Mid-Day Dog Walking: 24-hour notice of cancellation. 
• Pet Sitting/Dog Walking (all NON-mid-day Mon-Fri dog walking): 48-hour notice of cancellation. 
• Overnights: 7 days notice of cancellation (50% of total with less than 7-day notice & 100% of total with less than 48-hour notice).

REFUNDS
We do not provide refunds but use the remaining amount as a credit balance on your account for future pet care needs. Your credits expire after 6 months. 

LAST MINUTE SERVICE / LATE BOOKING FEE
Sometimes emergencies happen – our goal is to help you when you need it most, even at the last minute. However, please do not assume we have availability for last minute request as we are usually booked weeks in advance.  If we are able to accommodate your request, an additional $10 late booking fee will apply to reservations made with less than a 24-hour notice.  Last minute booking submitted during non-business hours will be charged the late booking fee.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY ACCESS
We understand that your friends and families may want to check in on your pets while you are gone but we must know the names of those friends and family and the dates and times that they are expected. If we arrive at your home and there is an unexpected person in your home, we will leave the premises immediately and contact the client and/or the local authorities. Additionally, IRCD is not responsible for any damages incurred to or in your home or to your pet during any time period that anyone other than It’s Raining Cats & Dogs has access to your home.

KEYS
IRCD will obtain one key during the Registration Meeting.  You can also schedule our key pick-up and drop-off service, $12 each way, leave a key hidden in a pre-determined place, or allow entry with a garage code.  IRCD will obtain a key for the duration of the service and will keep your key, in a lock box, for future visits with consent from the client.  Keys can be left in a pre-determined place on the last visit.

UNSECURED PETS
IRCD will NOT care for unsecured pets. This means outdoor cats or dogs.

SECURED AREAS
It is the pet owner's sole responsibility to pet-proof any areas of the home and/or property to which the pet has access. This includes thoroughly inspecting fences, gates, latches, doors and other devices meant to keep the pet inside or away from any ‘forbidden’ areas. The pet sitter does not assume and has no liability for any injuries the pet may sustain while in its own home.

VIDEO / AUDIO MONITORING
Client agrees to disclose if the home is monitored by video or audio devices.  In order to protect the privacy of the pet sitter staying in the home, the client agrees to specify areas that are monitored. NOTE:  There is a box at the bottom for you to indicate these areas.

SOCIAL MEDIA
During our visits, we take pictures or videos of your pets, mainly because we think they are so cute!  We will send you one or both during your time away.  However, we do post pictures or videos of your pets on our Facebook page or website.  We do not mention your name, address or anything else that would indicate your identity or your address in our posts.  For example, if we take a photo of your pet outside, we are very careful not to have your house number, license plate, etc. included in the photo. 

Inclement Weather
In order to ensure the safety of It’s Raining Cats & Dogs staff,  we initiate our Inclement Weather Plan when potentially dangerous weather conditions make it difficult for us to access clients’ homes.  When initiated, we announce our Inclement Weather Plan for that day and specific weather concern via social media and email.  We ask that all clients provide us with an inclement weather emergency contact during our initial meeting.  Your emergency contact should be able to walk to your home and have working keys for entry so that they may provide care to your pets should we be unable to reach your home due to extremely dangerous driving conditions.  It’s Raining Cats & Dogs staff is empowered to shorten exercise time during heavy rainfall, lightning, and/or thunderstorms.  In such cases, exercise time will be replaced with indoor playtime and extra TLC.

CONFIDENTIALITY
We recognize that your privacy is important to you and your family. We will not, at any time, either directly or indirectly, use any information for our own benefit, disclose, or communicate, in any manner, any information to any third party.

Service Agreement

1. Ground Rules: The term It's Raining Cats & Dogs as used herein refers to the officers, owners, principals, employees, and subcontractors of the company known as It's Raining Cats & Dogs and its authorized representatives.
2. This contract authorizes It's Raining Cats & Dogs to enter the Client’s home to provide the services listed herein and on the invoice, which shall be an addendum to this service contract.
3. Upon Client’s request to provide services in the future via phone, email, or the on-line scheduling system, Client agrees that this contract shall be renewed or extended in its entirety, without further written authorization. The term of said renewal shall coincide with the service dates as listed on the most recent of an email confirmation or an invoice.
4. It's Raining Cats & Dogs agrees to provide the services stated herein in a reliable and trustworthy manner. In consideration of these services, and as an express condition thereof, the Client expressly waives and relinquishes any and all claims against It's Raining Cats & Dogs unless arising from deliberate negligence on the part of It's Raining Cats & Dogs or their representatives.
5. If the pet(s) become ill and medical care is needed while under the care of It's Raining Cats & Dogs, Client authorizes It's Raining Cats & Dogs to transport the pet(s) to Client’s veterinarian (or one who is available). Client authorizes It's Raining Cats & Dogs to approve any emergency treatment recommended by said veterinarian. Client authorizes It's Raining Cats & Dogs to take Client’s pet(s) to an emergency clinic for animals when the Client’s veterinarian is not immediately available. Client further agrees to promptly reimburse It's Raining Cats & Dogs for any expenses incurred for emergency treatment. Client releases It's Raining Cats & Dogs from any and all liabilities related to transportation, treatment, and expense resulting from emergencies.
6. Client agrees to reimburse It's Raining Cats & Dogs for the purchase of materials necessary for the satisfactory performance of duties, and for any emergency expenses incurred resulting there from.
7. If Client is delayed in returning home, Client agrees to notify It's Raining Cats & Dogs of such delay and agrees to pay It's Raining Cats & Dogs for any additional visits required until their return.
8. IfIt's Raining Cats & Dogs is locked out of Client’s home, Client gives authorization for a locksmith service to perform any entry services as deemed necessary for It's Raining Cats & Dogs to access the home. Client further agrees to promptly reimburse It's Raining Cats & Dogs  for any expenses incurred due to It's Raining Cats & Dogs being locked out due to Client error. It's Raining Cats & Dogs will make every attempt to gain access to Client’s home before calling a locksmith.
9. Client agrees to not solicit any of It's Raining Cats & Dogs employees, pet sitters, contractors or representatives for pet care, exclusive of It's Raining Cats & Dogs.
10. Client agrees to inform It's Raining Cats & Dogs in the event that any of It's Raining Cats & Dogs' employees, pet sitters, contractors or representatives solicits business from the client.
11. The Client fully understands the contents of this contract and agrees to pre-pay the total fees for services stated herein, and to pay any additional charges due when the service has been completed. In the event, any part of this contract shall be determined to be invalid it shall have no bearing on any other part of this contract.