Two happy dogs

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A professional pet sitter operates as a legitimate, insured business with policies in place to ensure safety, consistency, and reliability. They treat pet care as a career, not a side gig, which means your pets and home receive dependable, high-quality care every time.

    At Sunny Paws Pet Care, we are:

    • Fully insured and bonded through Pet Care Insurance for your peace of mind

    • Pet First Aid Certified

    • Fear Free Certified

    • Structured with policies

    • Committed to clear communication, timely updates, and your pet’s unique needs

    • Equipped for emergencies and always have a plan in place

    A hobby sitter may love animals, but they may not have backup plans, insurance, or the consistency that comes with a professional service. Your pets deserve more than “just someone who’s available”. They deserve someone who is qualified, prepared, and passionate about what they do.

  • At this time, I do not offer boarding in my home. I specialize in in-home care, where pets stay in the comfort of their own environment while I provide visits or overnight care. This helps keep your pets relaxed, stress-free, and on their regular routine while you’re away.

  • Yes! Sunny Paws Pet care is fully insured and bonded for your peace of mind through Pet Care Insurance.

  • All kinds! We happily provide services for cats, puppies, senior pets, and small animals like birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and even chickens. If your pet has fur, feathers, paws, or whiskers, we’re probably a great fit! Not sure if we can accommodate your pet? Just reach out! We’re always happy to discuss their needs and see how we can help.

  • Yes! A $10 holiday fee applies to visits scheduled on major holidays, including:

    • New Year’s Eve

    • New Year’s Day

    • Easter

    • Memorial Day

    • Independence Day

    • Labor Day

    • Thanksgiving

    • Black Friday

    • Christmas Eve

    • Christmas Day

    Is there a fee for additional pets?

    We charge based on the time spent at each visit, so it’s important to book enough time to accommodate all the pets in our care. In some cases where additional pets require significant extra time or specialized care, an additional pet fee may apply.

    Do you charge for last-minute bookings?

    We will only ever charge a $5-$10 fee (based on distance) if a request truly requires adjusting our schedule to accommodate your pet. If there is availability, you will not be charged an additional fee.

    What if I need a visit before 8 AM or after 8 PM?

    Visits outside our standard hours (8 AM - 8 PM) incur a $5 early/late visit fee per appointment.

    Is there a wait fee for pet taxi services?

    Yes. If we need to wait during a pet taxi service (e.g. vet drop-off or pick up), a $10 fee per 30 minutes will apply.

    What if I live outside of your service area?

    For locations over 10 miles from our Monmouth County service area, a travel fee applies based on distance and availability. Please contact us for a custom quote.

  • Our standard hours are from 8am-8pm. Any walks or drop-ins before or after standard hours may incur an additional fee of $5-$10 depending on time, distance, and effort to adjust schedule (if needed).

  • Yes.

    Due to the limited number of overnight bookings we can accept, a 20% deposit is required to reserve your dates. Once your booking is confirmed, we decline other requests for the same time frame in order to give your pets our full attention.

    This deposit will be applied toward your final payment. If you cancel at least 7 days before your scheduled start date, your deposit will be refunded in full.

  • We understand that plans change and we always aim to be flexible where we can. However, late cancellations impact our ability to care for other clients and pets. The following cancellation windows ensure fairness for all and help us keep operations running smoothly:

    Dog Walks & Drop In Visits: Cancel by 9 AM the day of to avoid being charged.

    Overnight Care: A 10% deposit is required to hold your booking.

    • Cancel at least 7 days before the first night to receive your deposit back.

    • Cancellations made within 72 hours of the scheduled start will result in full charges.

    If a client returns early or cancels remaining overnight services mid-stay, charges will still apply for the full booking.

    Note: Emergency situations are always handled with understanding, and we will do our best to work with you. Please just keep us in the loop as soon as you can!

  • To ensure a smooth and consistent experience for all clients, Sunny Paws Pet Care schedules visits within the following time blocks rather than assigning exact appointment times:

    • Morning: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

    • Midday: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

    • Afternoon: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

    • Evening: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM

    • Overnight Stay Window: 8:00 PM – 8:00 AM next day

    This time-block approach allows flexibility for travel time, pet needs, and any unforeseen changes throughout the day.

    If your pet has time-sensitive needs like medication or meals, I’ll absolutely take that into account when planning my schedule.

Ready to book your pet’s new favorite sitter?