You can call us: 312 404 4698/ 312 731 8882 or fill out a short online form here We will contact you as soon as possible to set up a time to meet with you and your pet for an interview.
The meet and greet is a visit that allows you to get to know our company. This is a good time to discuss your pet's habits or requirements with his new caretaker. We’ll answer any questions you may have and go over any special instructions. Also, we will need to get 2 sets of keys to your house/ apartment; one for our walker and one for us, just in case an emergency happened.
The second key is kept in a secure location. Keeping a key on file also allows us to provide last-minute visits when needed. All locks and doorknobs must be in working condition. Keys must be provided for all locks.
We provide loving care for your pets in most areas in Chicago. We're expanding so contact us to find out if we service your area.
Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. We provide dog walking after regular business hours for a small surcharge.
Yes, for the safety of your dog and your home we are fully bonded and insured.
Check out our Policies section for more details on reservations and cancellations.
Holiday visits (these include pet/ house sitting or regularly scheduled dog walks that fall on holidays), are assessed a $20 fee. For a full list of holidays, visit our Policies.
Our walkers do not walk dogs in packs. We feel that this style of dog walking is unsafe. We will sometimes, however, walk two dogs together if they're a suitable match. Most dogs benefit immensely from this social aspect to their daily walks. Also, puppies develop street smarts much faster when they're paired with an older dog they can learn from.
If we encounter obedience issues that we think should be addressed, we will discuss them with you and find out how you'd like us to handle them.
Dogs who are signed up for regular walks are seen by the same dog walker, unless your walker is away or sick, in which case a substitute fills in. As for sporadic clients, we'll try our best to provide the same pet sitter, but we can't guarantee it.
This really depends on your dog. If your dog walker gets along well with your pet and can control him during walks, then we see no reason why we can't continue to work with you. However, if there's danger of physical harm to the walker or another person or animal, then, unfortunately, we're unable to care for your dog. We reserve the right to refuse any services for dogs who, in its sole determination, are unhealthy, act aggressively, are undisciplined, evidence inappropriate behavior or who may otherwise be a danger to themselves or other animals or users.
During our initial consultation, our clients complete a veterinary and emergency contact form (Dog Information Sheet) for each pet under our care. If an illness or an emergency occurs, we will first contact your veterinarian, and transport your pet if necessary to your usual clinic, or to the emergency veterinary hospital, if needed. You will be notified about the situation as soon as possible. Fancy Paws INC is not responsible for costs incurred from veterinary visits. Additional time spent transporting the pet and providing extra care is $25 per hour.
Accidents are very rare and when they do happen they are usually a result of an interaction between us and an irresponsible third party, not between dogs/pets under our care.
We understand how important it is to relax and have peace of mind and that your pets are doing well. Upon request, we may provide our clients with emails or text messages. Just let us know your preference. You are also welcome to call us for updates.
It is very important that you contact us immediately if you will be arriving home late from your trip. We will be happy to accommodate you.
We do not allow this type of agreement. This can cause confusion about who is responsible for feeding, medication and other important matters.
Fancy Paws requires that your pet be vaccinated against rabies, DHLPP and Bordatella.
As well as being illegal here, we also think it's just a bad idea. No matter how well you know your dog there is no telling how they might react to sudden noises or situations and the last thing you want is for them to charge into the road. Additionally, unleashed dogs can be seen as a threat by leashed dogs, and you should also think about people who have dog phobias and for whom the sight of an unleashed dog approaching them is terrifying. Fancy Paws will always have your pet leashed. Although the retractable leashes are very popular, we do not recommend them for use on Chicago streets.
Our pet sitters can attempt simple medication procedures. More invasive procedures involving fluids administration and injections cannot be performed by our sitters.
Two copies of all keys required to access your home should be given to our office (during our initial visit). If you are giving newly copied keys, we ask that you make certain to test all keys to see that they work before giving them to us. Additional keys pick ups or drop offs are charged at the 25min weekday rate.
We accept cash, checks, credit cards or Zelle (submit payments to (312) 404-4698). For your convenience, you may pay at the end of the week.
