Each of us has different experiences, policies, and approaches to major holidays like Thanksgiving. A few members share their practices, as well as some odder holiday moments.

Nancy Shaw, Chairperson of NAPPS’ Pet Parent Committee (nancy@mydogwalkerpetsitting.com) is a solo business owner. As such, she makes sure she limits her holiday work to two clients, doing visits on Thanksgiving Day through Sunday of that weekend. Casey Brown, owner of Casey’s Pet Sitting (caseyspetsitting2012@gmail.com) may have three clients for the holiday.

As far as booking jobs, Nancy says “I will usually book for Thanksgiving no later than October. My absolute BIGGEST “pet” peeve is a client or prospective client waiting until the holiday week to request visits – or an existing client requesting to schedule after a couple of months of receiving reminders that I’m booked.” Mary Vallavanti (mary@atyourdoorpetsitter.com) books for the holiday any time and uses Easy Busy Pets. “Their website has a whole back office for all my needs.” Casey, also a solo provider, may book as far out as a year, but no less than two weeks from the date of service.

It’s especially important on a major holiday to make sure our clients have provided us with a local backup who has a key – and who will be available! Per Nancy, “At client onboarding, there is always a secondary access for me, with a local backup.” Additionally, she requests emergency contacts for plumbing, electrical, and other house issues at a meet and greet. Mary makes sure she has contact information for one or two neighbors in case something happens, while Casey, whose business is in the country, has clients who leave their doors unlocked.  She adds “I do require two ways to gain entry for clients that lock their homes. Also, for house problems, I can  find local tradesmen when needed.”

Clients’ delayed returns can happen – and they can be a headache for both scheduling and payment. Says Nancy, “If it’s beyond their control, I continue to do visits for them. I charge existing clients for the additional visits as they were for the entire vacation booking, and they may pay when they return. New, or newer clients, must send me payment electronically to have me continue visits until their return.” Mary says “Clients pay me beforehand, and if they are delayed, we take care of the extra visits when they get back.    I charge the same as for a normal visit, and I’ve had no issues being paid.”      In Casey’s experience, most of her clients ask if she can cover. “I usually can cover or at least help. In the rare event that I can’t, I let them know they need to find someone else.” She charges late returns the same rate as for any drop-in visit.

Road hazards are sometimes a problem for all of us, especially in colder weather. Nancy has an unusual story: “My family kids me about this now, but about five years ago my daughter hosted Thanksgiving dinner mid-afternoon. I had two scheduled visits for that time. On the way to the first visit, miles from the client’s home, a deer couldn’t be avoided. Needless to say, I was a bit late to the visit! What an understanding client. The really odd thing is that two or three days later, while driving home from that client in my rental car, another deer couldn’t be avoided! My family still teases me about driving in “deer alley” during the holiday season.

Do you have any holiday season pet parent stories to tell? If so, please share them with NAPPS headquarters or the NAPPS private FB group! We can all benefit from each other’s experiences.

Holly Holmes

Pets at Home - Where They’re Happiest

Warren, Rhode Island