Paskapoo Pet Services

“Paskapoo” (the Cree word for “blindman”) is the name of the geological formation of rock and sediment that lies under much of Southern Alberta, including Nose Hill Park in the NW of Calgary. We wanted a name that could uniquely describe the beautiful region we service. Paskapoo Pet Services acknowledges the traditional territories of the peoples of the Treaty 7 region and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3, and all people who make their homes in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta. The beautiful logo was designed by artist Véronique Thibault from Montréal while some of the other graphics used on Social Media were designed by April Petchsri.

Towards the end of the summer of 2022, we have decided to discountinue our dog walking services. Scheduling challenges and staff shortages have contributed to this decision. We will mostly offer cat and small animal care from now on.

Yes we are, as long as they do not invade our privacy. We kindly ask clients not to talk to us through security systems. We want to be fully committed to the care of your pets and home without the uncomfortable sensation of being constantly watched or monitored. We do not allow any recordings of our staff to be shared online or on social media under any circumstances, even footage that would otherwise be considered funny. Invasion of our privacy (e.g. a camera in the washroom) or distribution of video/audio footage will result in immediate termination of service and potential legal actions.

We have a Referral Program for existing clients!

We currently accept e-transfers. First time clients can pay with an e-transfer or cash at their initial consultation. Subsequent invoices will need to be paid by e-transfers.

We charge a one-time, non-refundable fee of $25.00 (during business hours) or $35.00 (outside of business hours) for new pet sitting clients to schedule an Initial Consultation. We believe in compensation for our time (30 minutes, plus driving time and preparation) and gas while meeting new clients. Please note that we require traveling dates for pet sitting to schedule a consultation. We make sure to have the availability to help with your needs, and we are not wasting anyone's time and money Due to time limitations, we will not proceed with consultations for "just in case" or "job sharing" situations. Clients are not obligated to book our services at the Initial Consultation and can request to have their newly created account closed. We also reserve the right to decline a service to a new client after the consultation. We charge $35.00 for additional meetings and key pick ups.

Our cancellation policies are different depending on the service requested. Please, contact us directly for our most up to date cancellation policies.

We are usually able to accommodate pets requiring: 1. medication mixed in food 2. pills 3. ear gel and topical creams 4. inhalers. We will only medicate willing, and non-aggressive pets - no exception. If your pet is not comfortable being handled or medicated by a stranger, consult with your veterinarian before planning your absence. A trial pet sitting visit may be required to ensure your pets can be medicated during your absence. Clients with pets with complex medical needs *must* have an established relationship with us in order to be able to book services over the Holidays or Spring Break.

Our business model and service rates are not based on competition with other pet care businesses. We believe our rates reflect the extensive experience, reliability and reputation that our clients have come to appreciate from Paskapoo Pet Services.

Please contact us with your concerns and we can discuss different options, including scheduling a trial visit (charge applies). Note that we do not offer service to pets with a history of aggression, lunging at people or bites - no exception.

Due to the nature of the work we do, the risks involved, the need for a vehicle and the high level of liability involved, we do not hire pet sitters under the age of 18.

If you are a new client, two to three weeks before your departure date is ideal. If you need service over the Holidays, Spring Break or the summer, the earlier the better. We start booking up to six months ahead of busy holiday periods.

We water garden and indoor/outdoor plants as part of our pet and house sitting service. However, your rate may be adjusted if watering requires an unusual amount of time and exceeds the time allotted for your visit and the care of your pets.

Unfortunately, our vehicle and business insurance does not cover transporting clients – just their pets.

We can certainly help you out if we have your key on file! A charge will apply.

At Paskapoo Pet Services, we promote an healthy balance between work, play and family. We can’t possibly be available 24 hours a day, all the time. We usually take 3 to 4 weeks of vacation every year. Our clients are notified well in advance.

Most likely. However, the client agrees that Paskapoo Pet Services cannot be help liable in the event that their cats and rabbits develop an illness or die due to a transmissible disease for which a vaccine is available.

Absolutely! Clients are not expected to tip but it is always highly appreciated. There should be a special icon on Time To Pet to add a tip to your account.

As professionals, we like to be prepared for everything. We perform thousands of visits every year and although extremely rare, there is always a chance that a pet will fall ill at some point, despite the best of care. We always try to consult with the client first before bringing a pet to a vet clinic. However, we will always do everything we can to minimize unnecessary suffering. As such, we do not offer service to clients who refuse to complete and sign our Vet Emergency Release.

Unfortunately, we are not a rescue organization nor can provide adoption assistance. We also have our own pets and cannot have more! If you are unsure what to do, please contact us and we'll direct you to people who might be able to help.

We offer one-on-one consultations and mentoring for people who would like to start their own pet sitting, pet care and/or dog walking company. Our rate is $75/hour. It is a challenging line of work. Anyone who is considering a career in the pet care industry should be well prepared.

Unless noted otherwise, pet sitting visits are scheduled in "blocks" of up to 30, 45 or 60 minutes with no guaranteed minimum time. The actual visit length will vary depending on the scope of work, the number of pets, the services to be performed, driving time and outside circumstances such as extreme weather or vet emergencies. We always make sure that all the pets under our care get the appropriate amount of time during our visits.

We operate 7 days a week, including Holidays, between 6:00 am and 4:00 pm. We are much easier to reach via email as we work on the road and will not pick up the phone while driving, or spending time with pets.

Yes, as long as it is reasonably within our scope of work. A cat who throws up once in a while is perfectly fine. However, large amounts of blood, urine, feces or diarrhea may incur additional charges or require professional cleaning services. If we are unsure to be able to clean an accident without causing more damage (e.g. vomit on an expensive carpet, or urine on a bed duvet), we will leave it for you to take care of it. As per our policies, we are not liable or responsible for accidents and messes caused by pets. We are also not responsible for accidents that happened prior to the client's departure.

We require two (2) keys, or two seperate, independant ways of entry for all our clients. This can be one physical key, and one entry code (garage or door). Having two ways of entry ensures that we always have a back up option if key #1 is damaged, lost or in the hands of a pet sitter who is unable to perform the visits. As we experienced multiple failures in the past, we also cannot rely solely on digital or wifi connected locks. We understand that for condos or rentals, providing two keys can be difficult. Please, inquire with us so we can discuss other options.

For clients who wish to have their keys returned after an assignment, or for any other reasons, we offer a pick up option at our office at no charge. Otherwise, key drop off and pick up appointments are charged $35.00 per occurence. Once keys are returned, we can no longer accept new bookings until keys are provided again.

For the safety of your pets and home, we have a strict policy of a minimum of a daily pet sitting visits for kitties and other small pets. Please, visit our blog for a detailed article about the reasons behind this policy.

For safety and liability reasons, we will decline most "job sharing" situations. Clients MUST disclose if they intend to have a third-party visit their house and/or care for their pets during their absence. Failure to do so may result in immediate termination of service. When hired, Paskapoo Pet Services should be the exclusive and sole pet care provider. It is also in our policies to call the police if strangers or unannounced guests are present in a client's house.