Frequently Asked Questions

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We want to say goodbye to the anxiety of traditional boarding facilities and welcome in the modern age of in-home pet sitting services. Traditional boarding facilities have your dog kenneled with little interaction with other dogs and humans. This leads to anxiety and fear for many dogs. Which is why we created Home Away From Home Pet Service, LLC. 

We offer pet parents an alternative for their dog, in-home pet boarding. Where you can find a dog sitter you trust and a comfortable home for your fur baby to stay at while you are away. Your pup can enjoy all the comforts of home such as sleeping in bed, ample one-on-one time, making new friends, playing in the yard, and snuggling on the couch. Less kennel time and more snuggle time is our motto! Many boarding facilities have you pay extra for add-ons such as walking, one-on-one play time, and a bedtime snack. We include all of these activities and more at no extra cost to you.

We offer more flexible booking options as well. You decide what times work best for you to drop off and pick up your pup. You can also utilize our pet transportation service if you don't want to worry about picking up and dropping off your dog. 

We also offer pet drop-in visits, dog walking, homestays, and pet taxi services, while most traditional boarding facilities do not. This gives you more flexibility and freedom to choose what is best for your fur baby. 

 Your pet's safety is our number one priority. Our sitters follow thorough guidelines to keep your pet safe and comfortable. We adhere to the following standards during your booking:

• Our sitters are certified in Pet First Aid and CPR.
• We carefully review your care instructions before every booking.
• We ensure pets do not get out when entering or leaving the house.
• We only use walking equipment that fits well and is in good condition.
• We check the temperature of the pavement before walking your dog. 
• We prevent dogs from interacting with other dogs during neighborhood walks for their safety.
• We ensure fresh water is always available, especially after walks and outdoor play.
• We feed dogs separately from one another for their safety.
• We oversee feeding and treat time to prevent choking hazards.
• We follow all dietary requirements and food restrictions.
• We ensure dogs rest after meals in order to avoid bloat. 
• We do not leave toys in crates in order to prevent choking hazards when pets are left alone.
• We supervise outdoor playtime.
• We are cautious of outdoor playtime during hot and cold temperatures. 
• We believe in positive reinforcement training techniques and will NEVER hit or yell at your fur baby.

Once your booking is confirmed, you will be required to fill out a veterinary notification form to provide to Home Away From Pet Service and your preferred vet clinic. In case of emergencies, we will transport your pet to a veterinarian. We will try to use your preferred vet, but we may need to visit the nearest 24-hour emergency vet depending on availability or the nature of the emergency.

We understand that not every pet loves to be smothered with affection. We will observe your pet's body language to better understand what your fur baby wants from us. If your pet is scared or doesn't love human interaction, we are more than happy to just sit with them. We will never force your pet to do anything they are not comfortable with. 

We will contact you if we have any concerns regarding your pet. If we cannot reach you then we will contact your emergency contact. 

We are a fully insured and bonded professional pet sitting business. Check out our affiliations and certifications on our home page. 

With over 8 years of experience in the pet service industry, we have gained a wealth of knowledge and expertise in caring for pets of all shapes and sizes. We understand the unique needs of each pet and their owners, and we work hard to exceed your expectations. 

Our pet sitters pass Acutraq background checks to ensure we only hire the most responsible and loving pet care professionals. All of our pet sitters are insured, bonded, pet care certified, first aid certified, and CPR certified in order for your pet to receive the best care possible. Our pet sitters utilize positive reinforcement training techniques. Check out Our Sitters page under the About tab to learn more about our professional pet sitters. Pet sitting is not just our career, it is our passion. 

We provide complimentary meet n greets, so you can spend time getting to know your pet sitter before completing your booking. Your sitter will send you as many photos and updates as you want during your pet's booking. Our priority is that you feel safe and comfortable when leaving your fur baby. You can trust us to care for your pets like family.

A meet n greet is a 10–30-minute meeting between you and your sitter. Before we confirm your first booking you will have a meet n greet with your sitter to ensure we are a good fit for you and your pet. 

For dog boarding and doggy daycare services you will bring your dog to your dog sitter's home to meet. For dog walking, drop-in visit, homestay, and pet taxi services your pet sitter will come to your home to meet. Dog walking, drop-in visit, and pet taxi meet n greets are not required, but are encouraged. 

Meet n greets give you the opportunity to get to know your pet sitter and see the environment your pup will be in staying in. They also give your sitter an opportunity to meet your pet and build a foundation of trust. 

To schedule a meet n greet follow the steps on the BOOK NOW  page. 

For existing clients who have previously completed a meet and greet with their pet sitter, we can typically accommodate short-notice requests, depending on our availability. The more notice you give us, the greater possibility we will have availability and be able to confirm your booking request. 

If you are a new client requesting boarding, daycare, or homestay services, we require a meet and greet before confirming your booking. Drop-in visit, dog walking, and pet taxi meet n greets are not always required, but are always appreciated. We recommend contacting us to set up a meet n greet at least four days before your bookings start date so we can do our best to find the best sitter for you and your fur baby.

Of course! We understand that some pets are more comfortable in their own home. We provide 30- or 60- minute pet drop-in visits and dog walks in the client's home. We also offer homestay services where your pet sitter will stay overnight in your home to provide care for your pet. So, you and your pet don't have to move a muscle to be provided with the best care. 

We provide pet transportation services for boarding and daycare clients. We can pick your dog up and drop them back off, so you can go about your daily schedule with ease.  

We also provide safe and reliable pet taxis for the Sioux Falls area. Whether you need help taking your dog to the groomers, your cat to the vet, or more we have you covered. So, save your precious vacation time, let our professional pet sitters transport your pet for you! 

Our homestay service includes overnight care from 9pm-6am plus two daytime 30-minute drop-in visits, during midday and supper time. Although, this is just the minimum amount of time our homestays provide and our pet sitters are known to stay longer if it works for their schedule. If you want your pet sitter to provide more care during the day, you can add additional drop-in visits or dog walking to your booking. We want you and your fur baby to feel as comfortable as possible while you are away, so no request is too much for us. 

What you can expect during homestays:

• One flat 24 hour period rate, even for multi pet households
• Overnight care from 9pm-6am at minimum
• One mIdday 30-minute drop-in visit between 11am-1pm
• One supper time 30-minute drop-in visit between 4-7pm
• Optional additional daytime drop-in visits or dog walking (additional fee)
• Follow your feeding care instructions
• Administer medications according to your care instructions, such as pills, injections, subcutaneous fluids, and inhalation treatments
• Follow all dietary requirements and food restrictions
• Always have fresh water available, especially after walks and outdoor play
• Clean up any accidents
• Follow your litter box care instructions
• Provide potty breaks
• Provide playtime
• Personalized care
• Utilize positive reinforcement training techniques
• Daily photos and written updates
• Home and Property Surveillance
• Bring your mail and packages inside
• Water your plants
• Manage your trash
• Follow all of your care instructions

If you have additional care instructions, please don't hesitate to tell us!

We provide personalized care to all of our clients no matter the service. 

You can expect us to: 

• Fill food and water bowls
• Administer medications according to your care instructions, such as pills, injections, subcutaneous fluids, and inhalation treatments
• Provide supervised potty breaks
• Clean up any accidents
• Follow your litterbox care instructions
• Provide playtime
• Walk your dog 
• Send photos and written updates after each visit
• Bring your mail and packages inside
• Follow all of your care instructions

If you have additional care instructions, please don't hesitate to tell us!  

You can select your preferred service time when creating your booking request, but because we offer such flexible booking options and most of our pet sitters provide services for multiple clients a day, our sitters are allowed service time windows of up to one hour early or one hour later than your selected service time if necessary. This allows our pet sitters to create a more efficient daily schedule.  

Dog Walks: The majority of our time is spent walking your dog outside. 

Drop-In Visits: The majority of our time is spent on feeding, medication, socialization, and potty breaks. We offer drop-in visits for many different types of pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, etc.

• Food
• Leash
• Collar with tags
• Harness (if applicable)

Ask your pet sitter if you need to bring bowls, toys, treats, crates, beds, etc. They may already have these items for your pet to use. 

Many boarding facilities have you pay extra for add-ons such as walking, one on one play time, and a bedtime snack. We include all of these activities and more at no extra cost to you. 

A few of the activities we include are playtime with other dogs, going for walks, playing fetch outside, getting pup cups, and snuggling on the couch. Many of our dog sitters even have kiddie pools for the dogs to play in on hot summer days. 

We know how important enrichment is for dogs. We utilize enrichment toys like snuffle mats, toppls, puzzle toys, and kongs. Your fur baby will be pampered with fun activities, treats, toys, attention, and of course many, many kisses. 

At Home Away From Home we want your dog to be as comfortable as possible, so we try to keep the same routine they have at home. So, if your dog normally sleeps in bed with you then you can expect them to sleep in bed with your dog sitter. If your dog is used to sleeping in a crate at home, then your sitter will have them sleep in a crate. Just one of the many perks of personalized pet care.

Our pet care professionals have experience administering medication and will work with your pet's medication schedule. If your pet requires a special diet just provide the food to your pet sitter and they will follow your care instructions. 

Please email or text us a picture of your pet's vaccination records. If up to date vaccinations are not provided by your bookings start date, then your booking will be cancelled. Our cancellation policy will apply. All new vaccinations should be given a minimum of one week prior to your bookings start date.

• Required for Dogs (including puppies four months and older): Rabies, DHPP, and Bordetella. 
  • We also strongly encourage CIV (canine influenza vaccination) and the Lepto vaccination.

• Required for Cats: Rabies 
  • We also strongly encourage FELV and FVRCP.

 Although, we do not require your dog to be neutered or spayed, it is strongly encouraged. We do not provide boarding or daycare for female dogs in heat. 

Hours for each service are listed on our NEED TO KNOW page under the About tab.

The drop off and pick up times you reserve must be as accurate as possible. They are used to determine the price of the stay. Our pet sitters are flexible so if something changes, please tell your sitter as soon as possible so you can work out new times together and possibly modify your reservation.

We charge a $35 per hour no show/no call fee to clients who are more than fifteen (15) minutes late or early for their dog’s scheduled pick up and drop off times without communicating with their pet sitter first. Your pet sitter uses these scheduled times to determine their own personal and work schedule. Many of our pet sitters offer drop-in visits and dog walks outside of their home, so it is important to communicate if your scheduled drop off and pick up times change. You will not be charged this fee if you communicate with your pet sitter about being late or early.

We charge this fee because we want to look out for our pet sitter's mental health and well-being. Our pet sitters love what they do, but providing in-home care does not mean they are not allowed privacy in their own home. Please be respectful of your pet sitter's schedule, time, and home. If you think you will be late or early to pick up or drop off your dog then please confirm with your pet sitter that they are available for your new drop off and pick up times.  

Our rates vary depending on the type of service and time frame. Rates are listed on each service page. For example, if you are looking for daycare rates navigate to the Doggy Daycare page under the SERVICES & RATES tab. 

After you meet with your pet sitter, we will confirm your booking request. Once the booking is confirmed you will receive a confirmation email with a payment link. The booking must be paid in full at least 7 days before your bookings start date. If you fail to complete payment, we will charge the card you have on file. If you make your booking request less than 7 days from your bookings start date then we will charge the card you have on file when we confirm your booking. The cancellation policy will apply once payment is completed. Our cancellation policy is listed on our website. If you need to modify dates or times, please promptly let your sitter know. 

Navigate to the Book Now page to find our booking instructions. 

You will receive a full refund if you cancel at least 72 hours before your pet's scheduled start time. After that, you will receive a 50% refund on the first 7 canceled days and 100% refund on any days after that. Canceling on short notice does not allow enough adequate time to fill the open spot. By canceling three days in advance, it gives us time to fill the space.

What about weather cancellations?

Winter storms are typically predicted several days in advance. If you are worried about winter weather and your ability to get to your sitter, be cautious and cancel in advance. This will allow you to avoid cancelation fees.

If it is too hot/cold for your sitter to walk your dog, then your sitter will contact you and offer to perform a drop-in visit instead. You will be refunded the difference in service cost. 

If your sitter cannot get to your home due to extreme weather, then your sitter will contact you and you will receive a full refund for any services not completed.

What about personal or sickness cancellations?

Although we empathize, we do require a 72-hour notice. With adequate notice, we can work to fill the open spot. With less than a 72-hour notice, filling the reservation is difficult. 

If your sitter becomes too ill to care for your pet, we will contact you immediately and connect you with a different Home Away From Home pet sitter. If a suitable replacement cannot be found, you will receive a full refund for any services not completed. 

Holiday rates will apply during these holidays:

(These rates apply to the holiday and their corresponding weekend)

• Easter
• Memorial Day
• July 4th
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas 
• New Years

Discounts for multi-pet households are included in the rates sections of the service pages. We also offer a few additional discount codes listed below. Enter the code you wish to use during checkout. 

All Services:  

• New clients booking their first service will receive a 10% discount. 
  • CODE: FIRSTTIMEBOOKING

• When the person you referred completes their first booking you will receive 10% off your next booking.
  • CODE: REFERAFRIEND 

Boarding Services: 

• When you book boarding bookings over one week long you will receive a 10% discount.
  • CODE: BOARDING10

Daycare Services:

• When you book 10 daycares in one month you will receive a 10% discount.
  • CODE: DAYCARE10

Homestay Services: 

• When you book homestay bookings over five days long you will receive a 10% discount.
  • CODE: HOMESTAY10

Drop-In Visit Services:

• When you book 10 drop-in visits in one month you will receive a 10% discount.
  • CODE: DROPINS10 

Walk Services:

• When you book 10 walks in one month you will receive a 10% discount.
  • CODE: WALKS10 

Pet Taxi Services:

• When you book 10 pet taxis in one month you will receive a 10% discount.
  • CODE: PETTAXI10