Our personalized drop-in pet sitting visits ensure your pets receive compassionate care and attention in the comfort and familiarity of their own home. Each visit is tailored to your pet's needs.

Please Note on Visit Durations (New Minimum):

Our minimum visit duration is 30 minutes, ensuring ample time to cover all essential tasks. 30-minute visits prioritize potty breaks, feeding, fresh water, and engaging companionship. For multiple pets, medication administration, or more extensive home care, we strongly recommend booking a longer visit (45 or 60 minutes) to guarantee all needs are met.

Comprehensive Pet Care:

• Feeding & Fresh Water: We'll ensure your pet's meals are served according to your instructions and that they always have a fresh, clean supply of water.

• Tailored Playtime & Exercise: Dedicated time for interactive play, cuddles, belly rubs, or gentle exercise to keep your pet happy, stimulated, and well-cared for. This includes lots of TLC!

• Litter Box Cleaning/Scooping: For our feline friends, we'll scoop the litter box(es) to maintain a clean and hygienic environment.

• Medication Administration: We can administer oral or topical medications as required, following your precise instructions.

• Waste Management: For dogs, we'll ensure outdoor potty breaks are provided. Any indoor accidents will be cleaned up promptly.

• Affection & Companionship: Beyond the basics, every visit includes genuine affection, cuddles, and companionship for your beloved pet.

Basic Home Security & Maintenance:

• Mail & Newspaper Retrieval: We'll bring in your mail, newspapers, and any packages from the doorstep.

• Rotate Lights & Blinds: We can alternate lights and blinds to give your home a lived-in appearance, enhancing security.

• Trash Management: We can bring trash bins to the curb on collection day and bring them back in afterwards, as requested.

Communication & Peace of Mind:

• Detailed Visit Report: You'll receive a comprehensive update after every visit, detailing all activities, your pet's mood, and any notable observations, complete with GPS check-in and check-out verification.

• Photos & Videos: We include adorable photos and/or short videos of your happy pets enjoying their time at home, time permitting, and will be delivered with your detailed visit report.

• Safety Verification: We use digital logs (via Time To Pet) to verify the exact time of arrival and departure from your home.

Rates for Best Friends Pet Services' primary service area within La Mesa & surrounding communities. See our Currently Serving section for details.

Our service rates for the La Mesa area begin at the prices listed below. Final pricing will be confirmed during your complimentary Meet & Greet, based on your specific pet care needs and any applicable additional services or surcharges.

🐾 Unified Pet Visit Rates

• Standard Care (30 minutes): $35 per visit

  • Ideal for quick feeding, fresh water, and a thorough check-in.

• Extended Care (45 minutes): $50 per visit

  • Ideal for multiple pets, medication administration, or extra playtime.

• Comprehensive Visit (60 minutes): $65 per visit

  • Ideal for homes with several pets, or for extended enrichment and companionship.

🎁 Pet Care Packages

We focus our package discounts on the 45 minute tier because it provides the optimal balance of quality time for your pet—ensuring sufficient time for feeding, necessary tasks, and engaging enrichment—without feeling rushed.

Packages are priced based on the combined block of time purchased for the first pet, offering significant savings. Essential Pet Fees apply to each individual visit within the package.

• Daily Extended Care Pass (2 x 45 min visits): $90 per day (Save $10!)

  • Price covers one pet. The ideal alternative for pets alone for 24+ hours. Includes two dedicated visits (Morning & Evening).

• Extended Weekender Pass (5 x 45 min visits): $220 (Save $30!)

  • Price covers one pet. The ideal solution for owners needing five comprehensive check-ins over a typical week.

🐾 Essential Pet Fees (Per Visit/Day)

• Additional Pet Fee: +$5 per pet/visit (Applies to Pets 2, 3, 4, & 5)

• 🐶 Puppy Care: +$15 per puppy, per visit (Mandatory for all services under 1 year)

• Pet 6 and Beyond: Custom Quote Required

  🛡️ Pet Limit: Our service is designed and insured for a maximum of 5 domestic animals at one time. Clients with 6 or more pets must contact us for a personalized quote to ensure proper liability coverage and resource allocation.

➕ Other Service Surcharges

• Holiday Visits: +$15 per visit (As defined in Availability section below).

• Same-Day Booking: +$10 per booking (Less than 24-hour notice).

• Extended Service Zone (5+ Miles): A travel surcharge is applied to locations outside our primary 5-mile service zone to compensate for significant travel time and costs:

  • 5.1 – 8 Miles: +$10 per service

  • 8.1 – 12 Miles: +$15 per service

  • 12.1 – 15 Miles: +$20 per service

  • Requests beyond 15 miles are Custom Quoted and subject to higher fees. The final surcharge will be calculated based on your specific request details and confirmed on your official invoice.

To ensure the safety, well-being, and positive experience of all pets in our care, and our care providers, we require the following:

1. Up-to-Date Rabies Vaccination & Proof: All dogs must be current on their Rabies vaccination as required by state law. This is mandatory for service and is crucial for health and safety. A copy of your pet's current Rabies vaccination record from your veterinarian is required. This documentation must be uploaded to your secure client profile and verified by Best Friends Pet Services LLC before your first service can be confirmed and scheduled.

2. Current Flea & Tick Prevention: For the health and safety of your pets and others, all dogs and cats must be on a regular, veterinarian-recommended flea and tick prevention program.

3. ID Tags & Microchip (for Dogs/Cats): All dogs and cats should wear a collar with current ID tags (including owner contact information). We highly recommend all dogs and cats be microchipped.

4. Disclosure of Health & Behavior Issues: Owners must fully disclose any known medical conditions, allergies, injuries, fears (e.g., thunderstorms, strangers), behavioral challenges (e.g., aggression towards dogs/people, anxiety, resource guarding), or past incidents for all pets in the home. This information is crucial for providing the safest and most effective care.

5. Temperament & Safety: We cannot provide services for pets with a history of unprovoked aggression towards people or other animals. The safety of your pet, our care providers, and the public are our top priorities.

6. Accessible Home Entry: Owners must provide reliable access to their home (e.g., two sets of keys, lockbox code, or secure garage/door code) at the time of the Meet & Greet.

7. Emergency Contact Information: Owners must provide up-to-date emergency contact information for themselves and an alternate local contact who can make decisions in their absence.

8. Adequate Supplies: Owners must ensure there is a sufficient supply of food, medication, litter, and any other necessary pet care items for the duration of the scheduled visits.

We strive to offer consistent and reliable service while ensuring a healthy work-life balance, allowing us to be energized and present for your pups and pets!

Standard Scheduling

• Standard Visit Days: We generally offer Drop-In Pet Sitting Visits Tuesday through Saturday.

• Rest & Recharge: Sundays and Mondays are typically reserved for our personal time to recharge and manage administrative tasks. While these are our primary days off, we understand that unique situations can arise.

• Flexibility for Established Clients: For established clients with specific, recurring needs that may occasionally fall on a Sunday or Monday, please reach out directly via Time To Pet. We are sometimes able to accommodate these requests depending on our schedule, though availability will be limited.

Service Details

• Hours of Operation: Our Drop-In Pet Sitting Visit windows are generally available between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM.

• Holiday Availability: We understand the need for pet care during holidays! We are happy to provide visits on most major holidays to accommodate your needs.

  • Please note that all visits scheduled on major holidays will include a +$15 holiday surcharge per visit. (We will communicate any specific holidays we are completely closed for well in advance.)

Booking Lead Time

• Booking Lead Time: To ensure optimal scheduling and availability, we encourage you to book your visits at least 24 hours in advance.

• Same-Day Booking: For visits requested with less than 24 hours' notice, a +$10.00 same-day booking surcharge will apply once per booking. This fee helps us accommodate last-minute scheduling adjustments.

Booking a drop-in visit with us is easy and designed for your convenience! We follow a simple, personalized process for all new clients to ensure a safe and successful match between your pet(s) and their dedicated care provider:

For New Clients:

• To begin your journey with Best Friends Pet Services, please visit our Get Started section on our website.

• This section will guide you through providing initial information about your pet(s) and your needs, setting the stage for personalized care.

For Existing Clients:

Effortless Booking via Time To Pet:

• For all future bookings, please log in directly to your dedicated client portal on Time To Pet.

• Here you can easily:

  • View your past and upcoming schedule.

  • Request new walks or modify existing ones.

  • Update your pet's information and instructions.

  • Communicate directly with your walker.

• Please note our "+$10 Same-Day Booking" fee for requests made with less than 24-hour notice.

Payment Policy

Our payment policy ensures seamless booking and reliable care for your beloved pet. All payments are processed securely through our online system, powered by Stripe and managed via your Time To Pet client portal.

1. Payment Schedule:

   • Individual Dog Walks & Drop-In Pet Sitting Visits: Full payment is due at the time of booking to instantly confirm your reservation.

   • Weekly/Monthly Packages: Payment for all packages is due in full at the time of booking. This secures your scheduled service dates (e.g., the full week/month of walks) and confirms your reservation on our calendar.

2. Accepted Payment Methods:

   • Major Credit Cards (Recommended): We accept all major credit cards processed securely online. For instant booking confirmation and to secure your reservation, digital payment via credit card is required at the time of booking.

   • Cash Payments: We also accept cash. Please be aware that bookings paid with cash will only be confirmed after we have physically received and processed the payment. To arrange a cash payment, please contact us directly in advance.

3. Invoicing:

   • You will always receive a detailed invoice for your services through your Time To Pet client portal.

We understand that plans can change! Our cancellation policy is designed to balance flexibility for our clients with ensuring fair compensation for our care providers' time and scheduled commitments.

• Standard Cancellation: For all Drop-In Visits and Dog Walks, we require at least 24 hours' notice for cancellation. If you cancel with 24 hours or more notice, your account will not be charged.

• Late Cancellation (Less than 24 hours' notice): Will be charged at 100% of the scheduled visit’s rate.

• No-Show / Lockout: If your pet is not available or if the sitter cannot access the home, the service will be charged at 100% of the scheduled rate.

• How to Cancel: All cancellations should be made through your Time To Pet client portal.