Mirrani's Pet Sitting

Frequently Asked Questions

Are you a professional?

If you are asking if I have had official training by a professional pet sitter, veterinarian, or pet trainer, the answer is that I have had some. Throughout the years our vet has taught me much about home animal care, including wound and seizure care. I have also had lessons in dog training. This is training I have had on my own pets, not in a classroom.

If you are asking if I have had pet care courses, the answer is yes. In the past I have taken NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters) training classes online, as well as Ofqual-regulated courses from Animal Coursed Direct in the UK. Ofqual-regulated wualifications are official educational awards in England that have been checked, approved, and monitored by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, which is a department of the UK government. I have also taken certification courses through other sites on animal behavior and care. All of my certificates can be found here.

I also complete an online course in pet CPR and First Aid regularly, which requires a test on each section of training. Students must make the passing grade in order to obtain their certificates and the badges that are displayed on their websites.

Are you a member of NAPPS or any other organization?

I do not personally believe in paying dues to an organization simply to have the word "professional" written somewhere on my website. I believe that my professionalism toward my customers and the quality of care I give to their pets speaks for itself much more than a stamp on my page that says I purchased the right to have the title.

Are you insured?

I am currently not insured, simply because the time that I work is not equal to the cost of the insurance. Many pet care providers are not insured. There are many reasons for having insurance, but most pet care providers who are not using this as their primary income prefer to have waivers or other forms for the pet owner to sign. Many sitters also keep forms for the vet stating that the owner is willing to authorize a certain amount of pet care cost to their account while they are away. I have versions of these forms available for all clients here.

Are you bonded?

A bond is meant to protect employers that have hired dishonest pet care workers who might steal or commit other dishonest acts while working for them. Since I am the only care provider, using no employees, I am not bonded and do not intend to be.

What form of payment do you take?

Most clients prefer to send money to my Paypal account, but I also accept cash and check payments. If you are writing a check, please be sure to make it out to Mirrani Houpe. For payment policies, including cancellation payments, please see my Additional Rates page.

How do you keep track of your time?

I have a timekeeping app that I use which tracks my time, mileage, and all aspects of care required for your pet. When I arrive at your home I simply tap the "clock in" button and let the application run. When I am ready to leave I will clock out and update any information that might need to be changed. This is the application that also creates the digital invoices that I will email after the last visit with your pet has been completed. In the case of overnight care, I record the time that I arrive and then create charges based on my 24 hour charge for overnight care. This means you will see the first day's care as costing $0 while the second day's care costs $50. That is because the charge applies at the end of the 24 hour period. The app still records mileage and type of care provided, regardless of what length of time is spent in your home.

Can I have 24 hour care?

My main job as a teacher prevents me from giving 24 hour supervision on weekdays, however on weekends, during summer vacation, and on some holidays it is possible to arrange 24 hour care. This must be requested in advance, so that I can properly book your pet for the 24 hour time slot. I can not guarantee 24 hour care will be available every weekend or holiday, but I will do my best to make the time for you based on your needs and my schedule. The earlier you book 24 hour care, the easier it is to reserve that time.

Are you the only sitter providing care?

My spouse has experience with many types of animals, is certified each year in pet first aid and CPR, and has volunteered with dog trainers in the UK. She is also undergoing training for Tellington TTouch massage. This is the person I trust most in an emergency and should something happen to me, this will most likely be the person who takes over the care of your pet until other arrangements can be made with your emergency contact. On occasions where I have no availability to fit your needs, you may request my spouse as your pet's caregiver, but these requests are subject to a her personal schedule. Please keep in mind that we are both teachers and our availability follows that of a typical CHCCS school day.

What happens in an emergency?

My emergency policy page is located here. It includes multiple plans covering various situations. If you feel I have left something out, please feel free to email me.

Your schedule says you have appointments, but you don't always post to social media. Why is that?

Many of the appointments that I have in the week are regularly scheduled and those families get updated personally rather than on social media. Also, there are some families who prefer not to have their pets posted on social media sites. In fact, in recent years most families have preferred text updates to social media. Furthermore, as I no longer have a need to “advertise” my services on social media, I tend not to use it as often.

Your schedule says you are free for the time I need, but you have said you are not available. Why is that?

Occasionally I have personal appointments that cut in to my availability as a pet sitter. I try to mark these times as "Unavailable" on the calendar, but on rare occasions I forget or a client will beat me to it. Also, travel time between houses is a factor. The time reserved on my calendar is for appointments and a 15 minute travel window between homes, which is typical if I am traveling in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area. However, I also serve Chatham, Durham, Wake, and other parts of Orange counties. When an owner requests a specific time between two visits, their request must fit in with the time taken to travel. This must include time to eat and sleep. Often, if my day is full I will be waking up much earlier than my schedule suggests and arriving home much later than is implied on the calendar. I am grateful for your understanding on not booking pets during that personal rest time.

Do you expect or accept tips?

I base my rates on what I believe to be affordable prices because I believe that everyone deserves quality pet care, regardless of income. If you believe that the quality of my work has exceeded your expectations and you would like to pay more than what is on your invoice, the extra income is certainly welcome, but it is not required.

Any other questions?

I add to these questions as I get them. If I have forgotten something that should be here, please feel free to email me.