Frequently Asked Questions

These are some of the questions we are often asked. If you have any questions that you don't see answered here, please contact us and we will be happy to answer them for you!


Q: Why do I have to have 1 visit per day for my cat?  He’s shy/not friendly and he’s fine to go a few days on his own.

A: Our pet sitter insurance demands that, because we're looking after the health and well-fare of your cat, we must do one visit every 24 hours.  We have cats too and we understand that they are often shy or like to keep to themselves and can usually go for longer periods of time without attention. However, since it’s your cat, not ours, we have to err on the side of caution and adhere to the guidelines set by our insurance policy. Besides, even the most shy or unfriendly kitty appreciates a clean litter box.


Q: Why do I have to have 3 visits a day for my dog? He has a and can go on that… or He has a good bladder and can hold it for a long time.

A: Just as our insurance demands one visit every 24 hours for kitties, it also demands three visits in a 24 hour period for dogs. Once again, we’re caring for their well-being and don’t believe it’s healthy for dogs to be forced to mess in their living space, or even worse, be forced to hold their bladder for 12 hours or more. Our only exception to this rule is when your dog has access to the outdoors during the day where he/she can relieve themselves when they need to go (ie: a dog door).


Q: Are you bonded and insured?

A: You bet! All of the Team Members of West Coast Tails have been bonded and insured through a Horizon Insurance policy created specifically for pet sitters! Every new client gets a copy of our insurance policy in their new client handbook. In addition, all of our team members have had a criminal record check performed prior to working for us.


Q: What if my West Coast Tails team member is ill or in an accident?  Who will care for my pet?

A: At the time of your initial consultation, there are always two West Coast Tails representatives present. Each will have a copy of your profile and all your pets’ information, and each will have a copy of your key in case of any emergencies or illnesses.


Q: What do we do about our house key?

A: At the time of our initial consultation, you should provide one or two keys to your home.  If you only provide one, a copy will be made for emergency back-up (unless it is a specialized or electronic key device, in which case we will need the name and phone number to someone else who can get in to your home in the case of an emergency). After your sit, your keys can be returned to you at no charge. However, should you require our services again in the future, you will have to make arrangements to get your keys to us, or be subject to a $10 key pick up and drop off fee. To avoid this fee, we can keep your key on file in our safe when not in use, that way we’ll always have it on hand for future sits. By being a key client, we will also have your key available for any short-notice or emergency visits you might need.


Q: Do you do group dog walks?

A: No. At this time, all of our dog walks are private. Most of our clients appreciate this as their dog gets 100% of our attention. It also decreases the likelihood of fights or the spread of contagious disease. For our clients who like their dogs to be socialized, we can offer park walks, where we take your dog to the nearest off-leash park and allow for socialization in that way. We’ve seen group walks and group park excursions in action and we’re not really sure how one person is able to carefully and safely manage 4-5 (or more!) dogs at a time!

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