Phone: 312.715.PETS
We would love to hear from you!  Please contact us at annie@janeofalltradeschicago.com 

Or fill out this form for more information.
© 2010 Jane of All Trades Chicago
Pet Sitting Service Areas

We provide our pet sitting services to anywhere in the Chicagoland area if you are willing to drop them off and pick them up. We are located on the northwest side, just off Harlem & Devon. If you would like pick up service, please contact us as rates differ based on mileage.

Frequently Asked Questions About our Pet Services

Dog Walking:
Are you bonded and insured?
Yes.  All walkers and pet sitters are fully bonded and insured through Jane of All Trades Chicago.   What this means to our clients is peace of mind. We take responsibility for your pets and possessions when you put them in our care- your property and your pets are fully covered, should anything occur on our watch. 

Will I have the same walker every day or a number of different people walking my dog?
You will have one designated walker working with your dog on a regular basis so that they can develop a friendly and loving relationship.  As with any job, on occasion walkers do have a day off due to vacation, illness, etc., in which case one of our other walkers will fill in so that the dogs and your schedule is not disrupted.

Do you do walks longer than 25 minutes?
Sure we can.  We are happy to work with you and your specific needs. We charge $2 for every 5 minutes that you would like to add on to our basic 25 minute package.

Do you have experience administering medication?
All of our walkers have experience giving pills to dogs and will be happy to work with your dog’s specific care needs.  Currently only Annie, the owner, has experience with giving animals injections. 

What if I don’t feel comfortable giving out my keys?
We strongly recommend making a copy of key for us on your initial consultation, but if you do not feel comfortable giving us the keys to your door there are two ways to work around this.  1.) If we have access to the hallway or back yard you can hide a key in an easily accessible location of your choice.  2.) You can put a lockbox on your door with the key inside and give us a code to access it. While we are agreeable to any of the above arrangements, it then becomes your responsibility to make sure that they key is there.  If you forget to put the keys out, that prohibits us from walking your dog but you will still be charged for the visit. To avoid these problems we strongly recommend leaving the keys with us.

Do I need to provide bags?
No.  We come prepared to pick up after your dog and are green while doing it.  The poop bags we use are 100% biodegradable and are made right here in the U.S.  Go to www.poopbags.com for more information on the products we use.

What time of day will my dog get walked?
We ask for a minimum of a two hour time window for us to be able to visit your dog.  At our consultation, we will discuss with you the hours that you are gone to determine a mutually agreeable time window.

Will my dog be walked at the same time every day?
Your dog will always be walked within the agreed upon time window.  While we do try to be consistent in the timing of our visits as often as possible, scheduling does not always allow us to be there at the same time every day.

Will my dog be walked with a group of other dogs?
No.  We go from house to house to walk dogs on an individual basis.  If there is a friendly, neighboring dog within a one block radius we may walk them together only if both you and the other dog owner give us your written permission.

Can I meet my walker?
Absolutely.  After you meet with “Jane” for your initial consultation, if you still would like to meet your designated walker we are happy to arrange that.

Do you provide service on holidays?
We do not provide dog walking on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving day and Christmas day.  However, if you need someone to care for the dog for the day or if you will be out of town we still offer pet sitting 365 days a year and will gladly work with your schedule.  We do recommend you book holidays weeks in advance as they are the fill up quickly.

How am I billed for service? 
We send an invoice for all of your specific pet services on the 1st and 15th of every month.  We will be happy to combine both dog walking and pet sitting services in to one invoice.  You can pay by check, credit card or Chase QuickPay.

What is your cancellation policy?
For dog walking services, cancellations must be made prior to 8:30 a.m. on the scheduled walk day in order to avoid being charged.

What is your inclement weather policy?
Your dog walker will make every effort to visit your pet as soon as it is safe to do so. Visits may be shortened and schedules adjusted to accommodate for extra travel time. Please try to think of a neighbor or local back up to call if conditions are extreme and unsafe for travel. 

What are your hours of operation?
Our pet care visit hours are 8am-8pm, seven days a week.  Our office hours are 8:00am-6:00pm, Monday-Friday. We spend most of our day with our hands full of leashes and litter boxes so we may be unable to always take your call but we will get back to you as soon as we can. Any email or phone messages received after office hours will be answered the next day. This does not apply to clients coordinating a pick up for pet sitting.  You can also email or text us at anytime.  

If I have to work overtime or have a change of plans, can I call at the last minute?
We do like to have as much advance notice as possible but do understand situations arise that need last minute appointments. We will do everything that we can to accommodate last minute requests and such clients are typically happy with our services.  However, if you know you will frequently need service with less than 24 hours notice, you may be better suited to contact a larger pet care company better equipped to handle such requests.

Pet Sitting:

For pet sitting, what areas do you serve?
You can live absolutely anywhere to take advantage of our private boarding service. We do have clients drive in from some not-so-near suburbs because they know their beloved pets will be getting great care at Jane of All Trades Chicago! We are located in the Norwood Park area of Chicago, just off of Harlem & Devon. 

What are your hours for pick up and drop off?
Our hours for drop off/pick-up are typically 8:00 a.m. at the earliest and 9:00 p.m. at the latest. We do try to accommodate all of our clients.  We do not offer service before 7am or after 9pm - pet sitters need rest too!

What do I need to bring for my pets overnight stay?
Please bring their leash and enough dog food for the duration of their stay. We also encourage you to bring anything that will help make your dog’s stay more enjoyable, including a special bed, a crate (if they use one), or special treats and toys. We do discourage rawhide bones since dogs tend to be territorial and we want everyone to play nice.  Also, please make sure your dog is wearing a collar with all the appropriate tags.

Are the other dogs staying with my sitter friendly?
Yes.  If your dog displays any sort of aggression to people or dogs they will not be a good fit at our dog friendly private boarding.  They need to be able to get along well with all dogs and be well socialized.

Does my dog need to be vaccinated?
Yes.  Dogs need to be current on all their vaccinations and have all of their tags.  Please provide proof of vaccination before the dog’s first stay with us.

Where will my dog sleep when at private boarding?
Your dog is part our family and can sleep wherever he or she feels comfortable. Some of our clients prefer to bring their own crates/doggie beds.

Will my dog be exercised during his or her private boarding stay?
Absolutely . Your dog will not only have exercise, but will be walked daily, and have the opportunity to visit dog parks (if they have their DFA (dog friendly area) tag), and have fun play time.

Can I call you to check on my pet?
Of course.  We’re happy to give you updates on your pet whenever you want to call.  We do not contact you via email or phone unless we are in need of information or responding to your check-ins.

What is your cancellation policy?
Pet-Sitting Services: Cancellations must be made at least 3 days prior to service in order to avoid being charged. 

Holidays: Due to the high demand of our services during holidays, cancellations for service during holiday periods must be made at least two weeks in advance in order to avoid being charged. 

If I decide to stay longer on my vacation can I call at the last minute?
We do like to have as much advance notice as possible but do understand situations arise that need last minute changes. You can depend on us to continue to look after your pets until you are able to come home.  If there is a conflict with your pet sitters schedule where they will be going out of town shortly after your return and would not be able to accommodate a longer stay, we will let you know that in advance.

How am I billed for service?
If you are a dog walking client as well and pay for your services regularly, we will add your pet sitting services to your invoice as well.  If you are solely a pet sitting client, we ask that you pay for the total bill upon drop off or (or if we are picking up) your pet.  If you need to add on additional nights for any reason, the remainder can be paid for upon picking up (or if we are dropping off) your pet.

General Questions:

Can you provide references? 
Yes. We will gladly provide you with glowing references from our satisfied clients. Visit our testimonials page to see reviews from some of our happy clients or for further information please contact us.

How do you screen your walkers and sitters? 
We put our sitters through many tests to assure they will provide professional, reliable, loving care to your pets. Each sitter is carefully screened, interviewed, and criminal background checked. 

Do you take care of pets with special needs?
Absolutely!! Pets with special needs are as important to us as to you. We give all pets TLC!

What happens if my pet gets ill while I'm away?
We discuss that on your initial visit. We will have you sign a veterinarian release form authorizing us to take your pet for treatment at a veterinarian of your choice.

How do I become a client? What is your registration process?
If you haven't already done so, visit our contact us page and submit your information. We will then contact you to answer any of your questions and to schedule your consultation. During the consultation visit, we will go over your pet's routine, answer any questions you have, collect two sets of keys and a parking pass, if needed, and have you fill out a form.  This visit should take no more than 30 minutes.