Our Overnight Pet Sitting service provides dedicated, loving care for your beloved pets right in the familiar comfort of your home. Beyond essential pet care, we also offer basic home-sitting services.

Comprehensive Pet Care (Evening, Overnight, & Morning):

• Dedicated Companionship: Your pets will enjoy dedicated companionship, comfort, and supervision during the time your sitter is present (evening, overnight, and morning routines).

• Feeding & Fresh Water: Meals served according to your pets' regular schedule and dietary needs, with fresh, clean water always available.

• Tailored Exercise & Playtime: Dedicated time for walks, indoor/outdoor play, and engaging activities customized to your pets' energy levels and preferences. This includes lots of TLC and cuddles!

• Litter Box Cleaning/Scooping: Daily scooping and maintenance of litter boxes to ensure a clean and hygienic environment for your feline friends.

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

• Potty Breaks & Waste Management: Frequent potty breaks for dogs and prompt clean-up of any pet-related accidents indoors.

• Routine Reinforcement: Maintaining your pets' established routines as closely as possible to minimize stress.

Home Security & Basic Maintenance:

• Overnight Home Presence: Your home will appear occupied, deterring potential intruders and enhancing security while you're away.

• Mail & Newspaper Retrieval: We'll bring in your mail, newspapers, and any packages from the doorstep. (All packages must be less than 50 lbs.)

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

• 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:

• Daily Updates: You'll receive regular, detailed updates on your pets' well-being and activities throughout the overnight stay.

• 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.

• GPS Tracking: Any outdoor walks will be GPS tracked, with a map included in your updates.

• Emergency Contact & Protocol: We'll ensure quick access to all necessary emergency contacts and your established emergency protocols.

Our Overnight Pet Care is designed to give your pet the comfort and security of their own home while you're away. We want you to feel confident knowing your pets are well cared for as they follow their familiar routine.

Our service includes staying in your home overnight, ensuring your pets follow their routine, and providing companionship. It's important to understand that this service does not mean we are physically present 24/7. As is standard practice in the pet care industry, our care providers may be away from the home for short periods, typically up to 3 continuous hours per 24-hour cycle, to manage business demands, run essential errands, and prevent burnout or compassion fatigue, ensuring your sitter provides the highest quality care.

Rest assured, we always ensure your pet receives a recent potty break and is secured in a safe, comfortable environment immediately prior to the sitter’s temporary absence. We will use the Meet & Greet to discuss our brief periods away from the home and align those with your pet's natural resting periods and your home's routine, ensuring we are on the same page.

For pets requiring zero sitter breaks and constant, uninterrupted presence (due to critical medical needs or severe separation anxiety, etc.), the Exclusive 24-Hour Constant Care tier is mandatory.

Rates for Best Friends Pet Services' primary service area within La Mesa & surrounding communities. Final pricing will be confirmed based on your specific pet care needs and any applicable surcharges.

🐶 Dog Overnight Care (In Your Home)

Our Overnight Pet Care services are structured to provide a full 24-hour cycle of care, ensuring a safe, stress-free routine for your dog.

• Standard Overnight Care: $120 per night

  • Covers one 24-hour service cycle (e.g., Mon 7 PM – Tue 7 PM). Includes evening, overnight, and morning routine. Sitter may step out for scheduled essential breaks, with a maximum absence of 3 continuous hours during the 24-hour cycle.

• Exclusive 24-Hour Constant Care: $300 per 24 hours

  • Zero Breaks / Uninterrupted Presence. Sitter remains physically present for the entire 24-hour period, providing constant, non-stop supervision. Reserved for pets requiring zero sitter breaks and constant, uninterrupted presence (due to critical medical needs, severe separation anxiety, etc.).

🐈 Feline Overnight Care Policy

We recommend our scheduled drop-in visits for most cat-only households (Please see our Drop-In Pet Sitting page for full details). If a dedicated Overnight Stay is necessary due to specific medical or behavioral needs, the Standard Overnight Care rate ($120) and Essential Pet Fees will apply.

🐾 Essential Pet Fees (Per Night)

• Pet 1: Included in the base rate ($120 for Standard, or the $300 for Exclusive Care).

• Standard Additional Pet Fee: +$15 per pet (Applies to Pets 2, 3, 4, & 5 under Standard Overnight Care).

• Exclusive Care Additional Pet Fee: +$40 per pet (Applies to Pets 2, 3, 4, & 5 under Exclusive 24-Hour Constant Care).

• 🐶 Puppy Care Surcharge: +$20 per puppy (Under 1 year).

• Pocket Pet Fee: +$10 per enclosure/tank.

• 🛡️ 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.

⏱️ Time Management & Checkout Policy

• 24-Hour Period Defined: A single night's charge covers the initial 24-hour period of our services from the time of arrival.

• Extended Stay / Late Checkout Policy: If care is required beyond the initial 24-hour mark, the following rates apply:

  • 0 - 2 Hours: FREE Grace Period. (The end time is within 2 hours of the start time).

  • 2 - 8 Additional Hours: $60 (50% of the $120 Standard Rate)

  • 8+ Additional Hours: $120 (100% of the $120 Standard Rate)

➕ Other Service Surcharges

• Holiday Visits: +$50 per night (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 pets and home!

Standard Scheduling

• Standard Stay Days: We generally offer overnight pet care stays 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 overnight stays cover a 24-hour service cycle from arrival (e.g., Mon 7 PM – Tue 7 PM). As noted in our pricing, the sitter provides approximately 21 continuous hours of presence with a maximum absence of 3 continuous hours.

• Holiday Availability: We understand the need for pet care during holidays! We are happy to provide overnight stays on most major holidays to accommodate your needs. Please note that all stays scheduled on major holidays will include a +$50 holiday surcharge per night. (We will communicate any specific holidays we are completely closed for well in advance.)

Booking Lead Time

• Optimal Booking Lead Time: To honor your pet's needs and the Pet Sitter's necessary preparation, we kindly request a minimum of 72 hours (3 days) advance notice for all Overnight Pet Care requests.

• Same-Day Booking: For stays requested with less than 24 hours' notice, a +$50.00 same-day booking surcharge will apply once per booking. This fee helps us accommodate the significant disruption and immediate scheduling adjustments required for last-minute overnight care.

Booking an overnight stay 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 for Overnight Pet Care

Our payment policy ensures your reservation is confirmed and your pet receives reserved care. All payments are processed securely through our online system, powered by Stripe and managed via your Time To Pet client portal.

1. Booking & Payment Confirmation:

   • Full payment is required at the time of booking to instantly secure your reservation.

   • Note on Bank Authorizations: You may see a temporary authorization from your bank before the payment fully clears; this is a standard banking process and usually resolves within a few days.

2. Accepted Payment Methods:

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

   • Cash Payments: We also accept cash. Please note 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.

Applies to ALL Overnights, including holidays. This policy is necessary because your sitter blocks off several days exclusively for your service:

• 8 Days or More Notice: 100% Refund of the service total.

• 7 Days to 4 Days Notice: 50% Refund of the service total.

• 3 Days or Less Notice: 0% Refund. No refund will be issued.

• No-Show / Lockout: If your pet is not available for their scheduled stay, or access to the home is prevented, 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.