Operations and Security
Are you a real business? Are you bonded and insured?
Yes. Dori Tails LLC is a Limited Liability Company registered with the state of Illinois, holds a City of Chicago Business License as well as a USDA Class T Carrier License for pet transportation, and we are bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolinas against theft, accidents, property damage, injury or loss of your pet, etc., and our employees are covered by Workers Compensation Insurance.
What are your business hours?
Our business hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, and we are also available for evening/weekend Free Consultations and Meet & Greet sessions. Please see the individual service pages (Dog Walking, Pet Sitting Visits, and Overnight Care) for service hours.
How will you keep my keys, home, and property safe?
We take security and privacy very seriously. To this end, all Care Team members have been background-checked and are bonded and insured through Business Insurers of the Carolinas.
Owner and Head Tail Wagger Dorian Taylor is a Certified Professional Pet Sitter® and hold certifications in Dog, Cat and Bird First Aid, Dog and Cat CPCR, and the care of several species. She has also been certified in Health and Sanitation, as well as in Disaster Preparedness. Click here to see all of Dori’s certifications.
We have specific policies regarding security and privacy. Please click these links to read our policies re: Keys and Home Access, Security Cameras, and Security and Privacy
We have a separate Privacy Policy that discloses how this website uses and safeguards your information. Click here to read our Privacy Policy.
Can I also have a friend or family member check in on my pet?
We ask that our Care Team members will be the only people entrusted with the responsibility of taking care of your pet(s) while you are away. If other people will be allowed in your home during the times that we will be providing services, whether for pet care or other reasons, you are required to notify us in advance of the visit of everyone who has been granted access to your home during the service period. This is for the safety and security of our Care Team, as well as your pets and your home. Please click here to read the rest of our visit policies.
Visit Policies and Services
How will I know what happened during the walk/visit?
After the walk/visit, you will receive a Visit Report from the Time to Pet app, including:
- Time-tracking data
- GPS route data for Walks and Drop-ins
- GPS begin/end location data for Overnight Care
- Potty breaks, food, and water info
- Medications given
- Pet behavior and energy levels
- Notes about pet tasks completed
- Specialized task notes for Exotic Pets
- Photos of your pet(s) taken during the visit
- Notes about household tasks completed for Overnight Care
Will the same walker/sitter come every time?
We do our best to schedule the same dog walker/pet sitter for each visit because building a relationship between the pet and our staff is important. If your walker/sitter has time off, we will schedule an alternative and let you know in advance. All information about your home and dog is listed in your Time To Pet portal, so a substitute walker/sitter is prepared before they arrive. When you schedule ad hoc or periodic walks/visits, we will try to assign your regular walker/sitter, but they may not always be available.
Will you walk my dog in poor weather?
On hot days, we provide water breaks and keep to shaded areas, and on cold days we will keep moving. However, if your dog shows signs of distress, we will quickly “take care of business” and then come inside for playtime. We do walks in snow and rain as long as conditions are not dangerous (extreme cold, lightning, high winds, blizzard conditions, etc.). Please remember to leave a towel out to dry your dog when wet.
What if I need a visit on short notice?
How short of a notice are we talking about? Please keep in mind that a Free Video Consultation and an In-Person Meet & Greet are required before you can schedule services, and that Services must be scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. For established clients, if you are past the 48-hour deadline, you must contact us using the Chat feature in your Time To Pet Client Portal, and availability is not guaranteed. Please click here to read the rest of our policies about Booking Requests.
What if my pet has an emergency?
We are trained in Pet First Aid for several species as well as CPCR for Dogs and Cats, and we hold a USDA Class T Carrier License for pet transportation, so if something happens, we know how to ensure that your pet(s) will be taken care of. Click here to read our emergency policies.
Will you train or discipline my pet?
No. We will provide positive reinforcement as per your training guidelines, but our main priority is to ensure the safety and happiness of your pet. In the case of any behavioral issues, we will inform you, and work with you to cope with them.
Do you offer 24 hour "Constant Care"?
We do not offer “Constant Care” (24 hours of exclusive care in your home, during which the Care Team member never leaves for any reason).
Instead, we offer Overnight Care, in which a Care Team member will stay in your home overnight for 12 hours, from 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The next day, we will provide a 25-minute Midday Walk/Visit that may be done by a different Care Team member. You can also request additional afternoon or evening Walks or Drop-in Visits at our normal rates.
Do you offer pet boarding?
Dori Tails only offers in-your-home pet sitting services, which means that we come to your home to take care of your pets. This is usually a better option than taking your pets to a kennel because many pets suffer from anxiety when taken to an unfamiliar place. When you choose to hire a pet sitter, your pets get to stay in a comfortable and familiar environment. Additionally, they get to maintain their regular routine and are not exposed to any potential illnesses.
Do you clean house too?
You can request minor household tasks, such as bringing in your mail/packages, watering plants, and taking out trash/recycling during Pet Sitting Visits and Overnight Care. We do not offer any non-pet-related house-sitting (or house-cleaning) services.
Payments and Cancellations
What are your payment policies?
All bookings are paid for in advance, just like you would do if you were reserving a hotel room. If you opt for weekly/recurring Walks or Pet Sitting Visits, you are billed weekly, and your card is charged every Monday at 9:00am for just the upcoming week’s services.
What is your cancellation policy?
We use your booking to plan availability for all of our clients. When you book our services, we reserve exclusive time for you and your pets and have likely turned away other clients during your scheduled time. Therefore, the following cancellation policy applies to the entire balance of the booking:
Daily Walks and Drop-in Visits (weekly/recurring clients only):
- Must be canceled by Noon the day before, in order to receive credit toward your next invoice.
- 2 weeks notice is required to stop service.
Periodic Walks, Periodic Drop-in Visits, and Overnight Care (non-holiday bookings only):
More than 7 days notice: 50% refund. 4-6 days notice: 25% refund. 3 or fewer days notice: no refund.
Periodic Walks, Periodic Drop-in Visits, and Overnight Care (holiday bookings only):
More than 2 weeks notice: 50% refund. 7-14 days notice: 25% refund. 7 or fewer days notice: no refund.
