Frequently Asked Questions
What to Know Before Getting Started
How do I get started?
Start with a free 30-minute call. We’ll talk through your pet, their routine, and what you need. By the end you’ll know if it’s a good fit. Use the button at the bottom of this page to book.
How long have you been doing this?
I’ve been providing professional in-home pet care in Redwood City and the surrounding area since 2023. The Pet Bestie LLC launched in December 2025.
What happens if you're sick or have an emergency?
I maintain a small network of trusted, vetted colleagues for genuine emergencies. If something comes up, I’ll contact you as soon as I know and either coordinate coverage or help you find an alternative. I’ve built my business around reliability, and this is part of that.
Do you offer meet & greets or consultations?
Yes. Before care begins, I visit your home to meet your pet in person and go over their full routine. It’s $50 and takes about 30 minutes — and it’s where we make sure everything is set up to go smoothly from day one.
Are you available for weekends and holidays?
Yes. Weekend and holiday care is available by appointment and is scheduled in advance, especially for travel and vacation care. A 30% holiday surcharge applies to services on major holidays. You’ll see the full list during booking.
Do you offer boarding?
Due to my own animals and their temperaments, I do not offer boarding. The Pet Bestie specializes in 1:1, individualized dog walks, in-home pet sitting, and limited overnight care.
Do you accept last-minute or emergency requests?
Availability varies, and last-minute requests are not guaranteed. Submitting an inquiry or giving me a call is the best way to check.
How far in advance should I reach out for care?
As soon as you know you need care. Recurring dog walking spots are limited and fill up quickly — especially heading into summer and around major holidays. For one-time or travel care, at least 1-2 weeks notice is ideal.
What does a typical visit look like?
Every visit is built around what your specific pet needs, but the basics are consistent: I arrive within the scheduled window, follow the routine we set up during the consultation, and send a detailed update through the Time to Pet app when I’m done. For dogs that includes feeding, potty breaks, and a walk or playtime. For cats it’s feeding, fresh water, litter, and real interaction. If anything seems off during a visit, you’ll hear about it.
How do you access my home?
Most clients use a lockbox, which I recommend as the simplest and most secure option. You control the code, nothing is floating around with someone else, and there’s no coordination needed for key handoffs. We’ll confirm your setup during the consultation.
Do you walk dogs privately or with other dogs?
All walks are private and one-on-one. Your dog is never grouped with unfamiliar dogs. If you have two dogs in the same household, we’ll talk through how they walk together and go from there. I do walk dogs from the same household together if that is their typical routine.
What do cat visits look like?
Cat visits are built around routine. Every visit includes feeding, fresh water, litter box maintenance, and actual time with your cat. If they want attention, they get it. If they’d rather observe from across the room, I respect that too.
All cat sitting requires a minimum of one visit per day. Every-other-day schedules aren’t something I offer — cats need daily check-ins to stay safe, on routine, and so I can catch anything that seems off early.
Do you work with anxious, reactive, or medically complex pets?
Yes — this is a core part of how I work. I’m a Fear Free Certified Pet Professional, trained specifically in recognizing fear, anxiety, and stress in pets and adjusting handling, pacing, and approach to keep them feeling safe. Many of my clients have pets with behavioral quirks, medical needs, or anxiety. I work at a calm, patient pace and pay close attention to what each animal needs to feel settled. Any medical conditions, behavioral history, or known triggers should be shared during our initial call. The more I know upfront, the better the care.
What is Fear Free Certification?
Fear Free is a credential developed by veterinary behaviorists and animal welfare experts to address something most pet care doesn’t: the actual experience the animal is having during a visit. Fear Free Certified Pet Professionals are trained to read body language, recognize early signs of fear, anxiety, and stress, and adjust handling, pacing, environment, and approach to keep pets feeling safe. For animals that are anxious, reactive, sensitive, geriatric, or medically complex, this isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s the difference between care that supports them and care that quietly wears them down.
Do you administer medication?
I do! Medication administration should be discussed during the consultation in depth so that I can make sure that your pet is comfortable with me, and their medical routine stays on track.
How do updates work during care?
Are you insured and bonded?
Yes. Insured and bonded through Pet Sitters Associates, certified in pet first aid and CPR through the American Red Cross, and a Fear Free Certified Pet Professional.
Do you offer ongoing or recurring care?
Yes. Recurring dog walking and regular cat drop-ins are the core of what I do. We’ll talk through scheduling, frequency, and what works for your routine during the initial call and consultation.
Kim was superb to work with and took amazing care of my kittens.
Peace of mind is hard to find and I was constantly relaxed and enjoy my trip knowing my cats were in safe hands. She also left my home sparkling clean!
– Nicole E.
My Policies
Booking & Payment
- A signed agreement and required forms are needed to confirm care.
- Recurring dog walking clients are billed automatically each Friday — no deposit required. For all other services, a 50% deposit is required to confirm dates. Remaining balances are charged automatically two days before service begins.
- Remaining balances are due before services begin.
- Services may be paused or discontinued if invoices are not paid on time.
Cancellations & Changes
- Cancellations and schedule changes are subject to notice requirements and fees based
on timing of a cancellation notice.
- Deposits are non-refundable except as outlined in the cancellation policy.
- Full details are provided in the cancellation policy during booking.
Consultations & Fit
- A consultation is required before care begins.
- The Pet Bestie may decline or discontinue care if a pet or environment is not a safe or appropriate fit.
Safety & Behavior
- Clients must disclose medical conditions, behavioral concerns, bite history, or escape risks.
- Care may be modified or stopped immediately if safety becomes a concern.
- In cases of extreme heat or heavy rain, scheduled walks may be restructured as in-home enrichment sessions at the same rate. This decision is made at my discretion to protect your pet's wellbeing.
Emergencies
- Emergency veterinary care may be authorized if a pet requires urgent attention.
- Clients are responsible for all associated costs.
Photos & Updates
- Photos are used for care updates.
- Marketing use requires separate consent.