FAQ - The Peaks Pet Nanny

We understand—home is where our pet feels safest and happiest. That's why our in-home pet sitting and dog walking services are designed to keep your furry family members relaxed, loved, and in their routine. Our team of dedicated Peaks Pet Nannies are fellow pet parents too, so they understand just how much your pets mean to you. You can count on us for dependable, compassionate care while you're away. 

Pet Care Options & Pricing

• Dog Walking: Available on a regular schedule or as needed, ensuring your pup gets the exercise and attention they need.
• Pet Sitting: Customized care for dogs, and other furry or feathered friends, in the comfort of their own home.
• Cat Sitting:  Specialized kitty care, keeping your feline happy and relaxed at home.
• Overnight Care: (10-12 hour) sleepover with your pets for those times when they need extra companionship.

We've removed the guesswork when it comes to trusting someone with your furry family members. Our close-knit team of Pet Nannies is covered by our liability insurance and honesty bond, giving you peace of mind. Each Pet Nanny is carefully selected, mature, kind, and dependable, with a genuine love for dogs and cats. We interview, background check, and reference check every team member, ensuring only the best join our ranks. While many apply, only a select few are chosen to be part of our devoted team.

Before pet sitting or dog walking begins, the Office will schedule a "Meet & Greet". This visit helps the Pet Nanny learn the daily routine, personality, and any special needs. We want to ensure everyone feels comfortable, including you, your pet, and our Pet Nanny.
During the meet & greet, please review how we should enter your home and ensure everything is set up for smooth, stress-free visits.

Every visit is customized to make sure your pet feels happy, comfortable, and well cared for. We take care of the essentials—feeding, fresh water, washing bowls, walks, and playtime (indoors or outdoors, depending on what your pet enjoys most). We're also happy to brush, scoop litter, give medications, and follow any special instructions. Need help around the house? We'll bring in the mail, Amazon deliveries, water plants, and keep an eye on things while you're away. Best of all, after each visit, your Pet Nanny will send you an update with pictures or videos so you always feel connected to your beloved pets. 

Our office is run by the owners (and fellow pet parents) Gina & Patric Brugna, who've been helping pet parents for over 20 years. We're here to make your experience smooth as possible —handling the scheduling, meet & greets, invoicing, and answering any questions. The Pet Nannies enjoy spending time with your pets, ensuring they're happy and well cared for, and sending updates after each visit. While they're focused on your pet's happiness, all schedule changes still go through the office. We're here to help! 

• Email the Office with any questions, cancellations, or requests.
• Call 973-601-3035 (please note, this number does not support texting)
• Or use our website's client portal to book services or update your information.

We understand life can be unpredictable. If you need to make adjustments to your schedule, please reach out to the Office. We strive to be fair and accommodating to both our valued clients and our dedicated Pet Nanny Team.

Our team is committed to going above and beyond, adjusting personal and work commitments to provide the best care for your beloved pets. We understand that canceled flights, snowstorms, and emergencies can happen. In these cases, we're here to work with you to reschedule appointments. Please discuss your plans with the Office if you're unsure about your return date or time.

• Dog Walking: requires 24 hours' notice; otherwise, the regular rate applies.
• Pet Sitting & Overnights: require 5 days' notice, or the regular rate applies.
• Once Pet Sitting Begins: any canceled visits are invoiced at the regular rate, as this time is held exclusively for you.

• Zelle Bank Transfer: (preferred) easily send payments to: gina@thepeakspetnanny.com
• Credit Cards: saved in your client portal. (3.5% processing fee)
• Checks: payments are mailed to the office (not the pet nanny)

The Peaks Pet Nanny

949 Hunters Ridge

Lake Hopatcong, NJ 07849

- Pet Sitting & Overnight Care: Payment is due in full (before) each appointment begins.
- Daily Dog Walking: Invoices are emailed at the end of each month.

We appreciate your prompt payments!

Many of our customers love to show their appreciation for the care their Pet Nanny provides. While gratuities are not expected, they are always appreciated as a special thank you for the extra care and attention given to your pets and home. You can be confident that 100% of all gratuities goes straight to the Pet Nanny(s). Here are some easy ways to say thanks:

• Add a gratuity when paying by credit card.
• Send a Zelle payment or check to our office, and we'll make sure your Pet Nanny receives your gift.
• Leave a gratuity in your home, clearly marked for your Pet Nanny.
• Sharing your kind words in a Google Review really makes our day! 

To ensure that our Pet Nannies can easily access your home, we kindly ask our clients to hold onto their own keys. We recommend using an outdoor hide-a-key statue or a fake rock for convenience. Another great option is a weather-proof lockbox, which can securely store two tested keys—these can easily be found on Amazon. Having two keys is best as it provides a backup, ensuring our Pet Nannies can access your home, even at the last minute. Please make sure that the keys are safely stored on your property in a location that is easily accessible.

• Door Codes: Providing a door code is an ideal way to grant us access. It's secure and allows for quick entry!
• Hidden Keys: If you prefer, you can hide a key in a secure and easily accessible location for our use.
• Garage Codes: A quick tip: it's a good idea to hide a backup key in case of a power outage.

Please Note: If we need to pick up or return keys, a $20 fee may apply. 

We are committed to administering medications as directed for your pets. However, please understand that we cannot be held responsible for any complications that may arise from medication administration. If your pet is excessively shy or has specific medical problems, we encourage you to discuss these concerns thoroughly with us before our visits. Your pet's safety and well-being are our top priorities. 

We understand that accidents can happen, and when they do, we will do our best to clean up any mishaps promptly and efficiently. To ensure a smooth process, we kindly ask our clients to provide all necessary cleaning products, paper towels, and trash bags, making them readily available for our Pet Nannies.

Before you head off, please take a moment to ensure everything is secure and ready:

• Please ensure your client portal and pet's info are fully completed so we have all the necessary directions and emergency contacts.
• Notify the Office if you've changed your locks, garage, or alarm codes since our last visit.
• Ensure ID tags, registration, and rabies vaccines are up to date.
• Ensure food, treats, and kitty litter are well-stocked and easy to find.
• Double check collars, gates, and fences to ensure they are secure.
• Remove any sharp objects, plastic bags, or items that could harm your pet.
• Tidy up shoes, children's toys, and other items that could become chew toys.
• Store cleaning products, medicines and other hazardous safely out of reach.
• Close doors to rooms or sheds where your pet may get into trouble.
• Consider leaving on soft music or dim lights to make your pet feel more comfortable—they prefer not to be in complete silence or darkness.

Enjoy your vacation knowing your pets are in loving, capable hands!