Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What areas do you cover for pet sitting?
A. We cover Temple Valley, Ahuimanu, Kahaluu and Kaneohe.
Q. Will I get the same pet sitter for each visit?
A. Windward Pet Lovers is a mother and daughter team. We are the only ones who will care for your pets. We make our visits together, so both of us get to know your pets. If for some reason one of us is unable to come in, your pets will not be upset by the appearance of a stranger. They will know us, and we will know them. Both of us will be familiar with their dietary needs, the routine to follow, and their likes and dislikes.
Q. Why don’t you hire additional pet sitters to cover more areas?
A. We value the reputation we’ve made for ourselves and the relationships we’ve established with our furry & feathered friends and their humans. Our customers are comfortable leaving their pets with us because they know us and trust us. We do what we promise to do… we’re reliable, competent, and most importantly, we really love and care about animals. By taking care of all our clients personally, our reputation is never at stake.
Q. Are you bonded and insured?
A. Yes, we are bonded and insured. Your pets, possessions and property are fully covered while your pets are in our care. We are also members of Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world's largest organization for professional pet sitters. As members, we abide by PSI’s Quality Standards for Excellence in Pet Sitting. You can rest easy knowing that professionals are caring for your pets.
Q. What is the best way to contact you?
A. You can contact us by email, telephone, or by completing our online inquiry form. We check email at least twice a day, and your form will reach us shortly after you complete it, so we should get back to you within a few hours. If you are in a hurry, you can always call us at
(808) 223-2241.
Q. How far in advance should we contact you?
A. We advise that you contact us as soon as you begin making plans for a trip or as soon as you think you might need us. Dates can be finalized later. We can usually accommodate requests a couple of weeks in advance once we’ve gotten all your information on file, but sooner is always better than later, especially during spring break, summer, Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays, and long weekends. Allow a month during those periods, just to be on the safe side. Many of our clients book months in advance when they’re planning an important or extended trip. We’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Q. What should we expect during the initial consultation?
A. The initial consultation is a time for us to get to know each other (you and your pets). During this time, we will ask you many questions and get important information about your pet, your vet, and emergency phone numbers. You will probably have a lot of questions for us too. Some clients want us to observe how they prepare their pets food, so we get into the kitchen and watch. Others just give us instructions on how much to feed, when and how often. We’ll ask about specific products you want us to use to clean up messes on carpets and floors and where you keep those products. We’ll find out what your pet likes and does not like, if there are any precautions we need to take when walking your pet – which dogs or houses to stay clear of. Is your pet good with children or should we keep him/her away from children and other animals? Are snacks okay? Where will the leash be? How many times a day and what time is best for us to come in? We will do our best to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible.
If you decide to utilize our service, we will complete a contract that will include all of the important information gathered during our discussion. The contract will be good for the duration of our relationship. After our initial meeting, all you need to do is call or email us when you need our service.
Q. Do I give you a key during the initial consultation?
A. It is best to have a spare key ready when we meet for the initial consultation. This will help us avoid an additional trip to pick up a key later. Many clients leave their keys with us (we keep them locked up in a safe place) so they will not have to worry about getting keys to us when they have to leave on short notice or because they travel frequently. You can make a decision regarding your keys after meeting with us and determining how often you’ll need our service.
Q. How are payments handled?
A. We require 50% of the total bill prior to you leaving for your trip and the remainder upon your return. We will provide a bill and self-addressed stamped envelope for you to mail your final payment to us, or we will stop by to pick up our payment if we are returning keys to you. Daily (Monday-Friday) clients may pay monthly at the beginning of the month (we appreciate that) or at the end of the month if they prefer. If you pay at the end of the month, we will provide a statement with the dates that services have been rendered and the amount due.
Q. Do you charge extra for holidays?
A. We charge an additional $10 a visit for Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s.
Q. Will you provide references?
A. Absolutely! We have many clients who have been very happy to allow us to use them as references. Please ask us during our initial consultation, and we will gladly provide you with a list.
