What is unique about Sits & Wiggles, LLC?

Nov 5, 2023: Episode

1. We are a small crew of three, two of whom are certified dog trainers. You & your pets will get to know one or two people, instead of several different people. 2. We intentionally leave daytime walking, training & sitting spots open for last minute bookings, delayed or cancelled flights, etc. In this sense, we expect the unexpected. 3. The business is veteran owned, fear free certified, licensed, insured & bonded. Our handlers are background checked, certified in pet CPR & first aid, & have excellent driving records. 4. We have an A rating on the BBB. 5. Oral, otic & opthalmic medication administration & management is included free of charge. 6. We follow the pet's routine & personalized needs. We will continue the training regimen & schedule that you've established. 7. Our handlers are mindful of time changes so that we won't disrupt your sleep or family time while you're vacationing or otherwise traveling. 8. We use Time to Pet; an award winning program; for GPS tracking, personalized pet reports, scheduling, invoicing & more. Time to Pet can be accessed via app or browser. 9. Sits & Wiggles is not a side gig. This is our full time passion & has been since opening day. We're more available to care for your pets & to communicate with. 10. Safety is our top priority. We don't highlight our clients' pets until after everyone has safely returned home, & only with advance written permission. We don't share details regarding which jobs are upcoming. We won't share information personal to the pet or parent. 11. We have a blog which discusses safety concerns, such as microchips that dislodge, having a plan in case you predecease your pets, etc. 12. We are trained to read dog & cat body language. We show respect by listening to the unspoken words. This knowledge also helps us to maintain safety, as we're able to identify problems before they begin. 13. We send photos and/or videos on every visit. 14. We have experience running businesses. For 5 years, Keith owned a successful training & pet sitting business, before S&W. A Tender Touch Pet Services was sold in 2005 when we relocated to Bend. He also spent 12 years as General Manager to two Southern California grooming salons. Recently, he spent 4 years as General Manager to our local College Hunks franchise. Monica has her own dog training business, Dog Dialect, LLC. She previously earned a doctorate & worked as a pharmacist. I (Nakala) studied accounting & business, & worked as a bank manager. I also was a leader while serving as a medic in the US Army. I drove an ambulance & taught courses on updated medical procedures. 15. We have extensive experience working with animals. Keith has 22 years of pet sitting & dog walking experience, 14 years of dog training experience, 12 years of experience grooming cats & dogs, & 4 years as a veterinary assistant. He's also worked at our local Humane Society, at a reptile shop, & at a boarding facility. Monica holds two dog trainer certifications as well as the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen instructor. She has 6 years of dog training, pet sitting & walking experience. She also was an area trainer throughout Oregon for 2 years. I have 12 years of pet sitting & dog walking experience, 4 years of dog trainer assistant experience, & have volunteered at our Humane Society. 16. Clients will always meet their handlers. 17. Pet sitting & dog walking consultations will always be free of charge. 18. Keith creates music videos of our Wiggly Community Members, for no additional fee. 19. Sits & Wiggles provides pet taxi service to & from the vet, groomer or daycare. 20. We also offer urgent & emergent transport, when available. 21. Our holiday fees are minimal. Our holiday fees are $15 & $25 (daytime only services versus overnight services). Throughout the industry, some companies charge an additional 50% - 100% of the daily rate for holiday fees. 22. Our additional pet fees are minimal. We charge $3 for additional cats. Additional dogs are $5 per visit or $10 per overnight. This charge starts at the third dog. Some companies charge $30 or more starting at the second dog, & $10 or more per cat. 23. Our clients are part of a community. We have events, monthly newsletters, celebrate birthdays & more. 24. We are available for our clients in case of emergency. Every client is given three phone numbers to have & share with their emergency contacts. 25. Our contract is thorough, comprehensive & ever evolving. It's been complimented by attorneys. 26. Our charges are transparent & include many perks. 16. We're open every holiday, and have been since day one. We're here so that you can enjoy your travels and family time. 17. We're open 7 days per week, and always have been. 18. We've never left an overnight client without coverage. 19. Many clients find us after a sitter canceled on them last minute. If you find yourself in this position, & we're unable to accommodate overnight services, we offer an alternative. We provide early morning, afternoon & bedtime visits. 20. It's clear to everyone we meet that we're motivated by love. The animals know this instinctively. 21. We go above & beyond in many ways, as we care about our clients & their pets. 22. We have zero last minute scheduling fees. 23. Our pet sitting rates include two dogs and one cat. 24. We're experienced caring for reactive, anxious, fearful, blind, deaf, elderly, young & special needs pups & cats. 25. We are not stagnant. Our trio continues to learn new skills, follow scientific findings, attend conferences, etc. 26. Sits & Wiggles handlers maintain great lines of communication. 27. Sits & Wiggles gives back to our community through many venues. Keith is the Central Oregon representative for the Oregon Habitat for Humanity Homeowner Advisory Council. We offer free guidance to new & existing entrepreneurs. We also offer free assistance to pet parents in interviewing pet care providers. Keith & Monica & I have volunteered for several nonprofit organizations. 28. We established our own nonprofit organization at the start of 2023, in order to further assist our community. Details will be forthcoming. 29. We never drink or smoke in clients' homes. We don't play loud music or otherwise disturb neighbors. 30. Sits & Wiggles is known for consistently maintaining happy pets & clean homes. 31. Clients have named us professional, competent, reliable, trustworthy, fun, funny, caring & more. 32. We don't walk many pups at a time. We typically walk 1-2 dogs at a time. At most, a single handler will walk 3 dogs at a time. 33. We offer field trips to the river, butte & parks. We also visit indoor facilities when weather or air quality is a concern. 34. We assess every dog's behavior, personality, etc. This is for several reasons including safety & social opportunities. With parental permission, we connect dogs who we think will be a good match. We have a 100% success rate, & have created strong friendships between the dogs. 35. We bring our own food & personal hygiene items. We won't clear out your fridge or use your body wash. 36. We don't charge extra for taking the trash to the curb, watering plants or bringing in packages. 37. We either bring our own bedding or launder your bedding, so that you will return to a clean home. 38. Sits & Wiggles created a community group to connect pet parents & pet providers. Pet parents are responsible for vetting providers prior to entering into contractual relationships. Sits & Wiggles is not affiliated with the members. Nor do we recommend them. This is simply a platform to facilitate connection. Anyone we do recommend will be shared on our website & social media platforms. 39. We offer Bonus Time, which is additional time that we spend with your pets, devoid of additional fees. 40. Should you book an overnight job well in advance, we offer a second free consultation, closer to your departure date. This is an opportunity to remind your pets of who we are, so that they're comfortable when the job begins. 41. We always check to ensure that the travelers made it home safely. This is for several reasons, all of which stem from love. If our clients haven't arrived home yet, we need to find out if they're safe. If not, how can we assist them? Are you safely in a hotel due to flight delays or cancelations? If so, we can care for your pets until you arrive. Did you arrive at the airport but weren't able to safely get home from there? Do you need a ride? Are you hurt? Can we transport you to the hospital? Do you need us to contact family for you? Do your pets need further care? Are you locked out? Etc. 42. We adhere to transparency. Our rates & services are clearly posted on Google, Facebook, on our website, in our contract & on Time to Pet. We value your time & don't require a phone call to obtain rates.