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Service Areas

We provide pet care services to addresses within a 10 mile drive from the entrance to the Bastrop State Park at Park Road 1A, Bastrop, Texas. We use google maps to enter the directions from that location to a clients home to determine the miles and wether they are based inside our service are. Must be 10 or less miles.

Frequently asked questions

Why use a pet sitter?

Many veterinarians and pet experts believe keeping pets in their familiar surroundings helps alleviate the stress that comes when their owners leave the house. By staying in their homes, pets can maintain their diet and exercise routines, while enjoying the personal attention provided by a pet-sitter. This also eliminates the trauma of being transported or housed elsewhere, and minimizes exposure to illness from other animals.

What is your service area?

We provide pet care and dog walking services to addresses within a 10 mile drive from the entrance to the Bastrop State Park at: Park Road 1A, Bastrop, Tx, 78602

What types of animals do you service?

We care for all kinds of pets, large and small! While most of our clients are dogs and cats, we also provide care for horses, rabbits, birds, frogs, guinea pigs, lizards and other small pets. If you’re curious whether we can care for your unique pet, please contact us

Can you stay in my home? Do you offer overnights?

We do not offer overnight pet-sitting services in your home. We may be available for extended visits at an hourly rate during business hours. Please contact us for more information and to check availability.

Do you board animals in your home or a facility?

At this time, we do not offer boarding in our home or a facility, as Piney Paws Pet Services is built on keeping pets happy in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes.

What time do the sitters make their rounds and how long do they stay?

Our sitters can visit your home up to four times a day. Morning visits are between 7am-11am; mid-day visits are between 11am-3pm; afternoon visits are between 3pm-5pm and evening visits are between 5pm-9pm. Cats are always visited a minimum of every 24 hours and dogs are visited a minimum of every 12 hours. Each visit is time stamped with GPS coordinates starting from the moment we arrive to the moment we lock the door and write up our report.

Can you administer medication to my pet?

It depends on the type of medication/injection and the willingness of the pet. While our team members are happy to help, some pets do not come near strangers and cannot be coaxed or caught to administer medications or injections. If it is as simple as tossing a pill in wet food and watching a dog gulp it down, it shouldn’t be a problem.

How many animals can you care for? If I have more than one animal, does it cost more?

We do not charge for individual pets. Our visits are based on the time we spend at your home (30, 45 or 60 minutes).

Will the same person always service my home, or are your employees on rotation?

Your location, dates of service, other scheduled clients and the level of care required for your pets are all taken into consideration when choosing which sitter is best for you. Most of the time, two or three sitters will be assigned based on the length of your trip. If a sitter did not attend the initial meet-and-greet, we will schedule a staff training visit so they can get to know your home and pets.

Can I mix-and-match visit lengths as my needs change?

We offer 30-minute, 45-minute and 60-minute visits, and you can mix-and-match as you see fit.

Do you take last-minute requests?

Last minute requests are any requests with less than 5 days notice. We take pride in offering our staff a predictable schedule for a healthier work-life balance. With a dedicated team of employees—many of whom are balancing families, pets, school, and appointments—this helps ensure we offer just that. However, we are happy to take last minute requests as our schedule allows for established clients with fully updated profiles and documentation on file for all pets requiring services. We cannot guarantee that staff will be available last minute and we only schedule last minute requests during office hours (M-Th 10am-3pm). An additional fee of $5 per visit will apply for any last minute request that is approved. For new clients, it varies on how quickly we can get you in and depends on your ability to fill out the required information ahead of time as well as our availability for an in person meet and greet. It can take up to two weeks for this process so please give yourself some time to get registered so you won’t need to wait to schedule services.

What is your cancellation policy?

Piney Paws does not overbook. Once services are reserved, we may turn away other requests in order to hold that time for your pets.

Standard Season
January 6-May 31 and September 1-November 14

Cancellations made at least 48 hours before a scheduled visit may be cancelled without penalty. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled visit will be charged in full.

Eligible credits must be used within 6 months.

Peak Season
June 1-August 31 and November 15-January 5

Peak-season cancellation credits are based on the total reservation amount:

14 or more days before service: 75% credit
8-13 days before service: 50% credit
3-7 days before service: 25% credit
0-2 days before service: No credit

Eligible credits must be used within 6 months of the cancellation date.

Recurring Weekly Dog Walking

Established recurring dog-walking clients may cancel up to 3 scheduled walks per calendar month without penalty, provided Piney Paws is notified before 8:00am on the day of service.

Eligible cancellation credits will be applied to the client’s next invoice.

After 3 cancellations within the same calendar month, additional cancelled visits will be charged in full. Cancellations received after 8:00am on the day of service will also be charged in full.

REFUNDS & CREDITS

Piney Paws does not provide cash refunds for cancelled services. When a cancellation qualifies for credit under our cancellation policy, the eligible amount will remain on the client’s account for future services.

Unless otherwise stated, credits expire 6 months from the cancellation date.

Do your prices/hours change for the holidays?

Piney Paws observes all federal holidays. In addition, the day prior to Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day is also included in our holiday schedule and is subject to the $25 daily holiday fee.

Separately, June 1–August 31 is our Summer Peak Season, and November 15–January 5 is our Holiday Peak Season for cancellation-policy purposes. The holiday fee does not apply to every day during those peak-season periods.

ADMINISTRATIVE HOURS

Our regular administrative hours are Monday-Thursday from 10am to 3pm. The office is closed on weekends and all Federal holidays. Calls and messages are monitored for emergencies when the office is closed. All other calls and messages are returned during regular administrative hours.

While on vacation, I will have a cleaning service come by. Can the visits overlap?

We prefer not sharing the home with another service provider, as it can cause services for both parties to take longer than anticipated. We would appreciate it if you can let us know the exact dates and times of any service provider visits in your home. If you have given permission to someone other than a Piney Paws staff member to enter your home, we are not liable for any issues that arise from that encounter regarding your animals or home (i.e., the other service provider leaves a door unlocked or open and a pet gets out).

How do I tip fairly if I have more than one sitter?

Our client portal makes tipping easy! It will evenly disperse tips to multiple sitters according to their visits with your pets. If you plan to leave individual cash tips, make sure to label the sitters’ names accordingly.

How are my keys handled?

Piney Paws requires two forms of access to the home for emergency purposes. Whenever possible, both forms of entry should remain on-site at the client’s property.

Examples may include a key secured in a lockbox along with a backup door or garage code, two separately secured keys, or another combination of reliable entry methods approved by Piney Paws. A garage remote or other access method that depends solely on electricity or batteries cannot be used as the only means of entry.

If an on-site backup method is not available, alternate arrangements may be discussed with Piney Paws.

If Piney Paws has a key on file, we will return it to you in person within 20 days of receiving written notice of your desire to have it returned. You or your designee must be there to receive the key and sign for it. We do not leave keys in hidden locations on your property and will not mail them to your home address unless sent certified with your signature required. Certified mail fees are $8.00. Any key kept on file will be kept locked in a secure location with only coded tags to identify it.

What is Time to Pet?

Time to Pet is our all-in-one pet care portal, where you can update your and your pet’s information, pay your invoices, request/change/cancel services, etc. You will also receive a report card (and a photo or two!) after each visit so you can see how your pet did.

What is an In-Home Consultation?

The In-Home Consultation allows you to get to know our services – and your assigned sitter – before the service begins. During this visit, your pet care provider will introduce themselves, spend some quality time with your pet, confirm relevant information about your home and pet care routine, and answer additional questions.

Please note: We will NOT provide services until this meeting has taken place. The In-Home Consultation is $25, which covers administrative costs and the caregiver’s time.

Do you have a referral program? Would love to learn more!

Yes, we do! We offer a one time $25 credit for any referral that a client sends our way who books and completes services. Thank you for sharing about Piney Paws Pet Services!