GENERAL
Why do I need an initial consult before booking your services?
The initial consultation provides the time to exchange important information about the care of your animals or the undertaking of a project, and provides an important introduction to your animals so that they are familiar with who we are BEFORE you leave.
What's happens during the initial consultation?
Forms will be emailed or mailed to you prior to the consultation which we will review together. The forms ascertain information about your vet, pets, animals, emergency contact information, etc. We then ask that you show us where everything is and how you would like the services performed. A service agreement will be signed and a deposit in the form of cash or check submitted if you wish to book our services.
Who will be performing the services I book?
At present, Lou will provide all services. Under no circumstances will Lou send someone else to the work that she has signed up without express permission from you. This would only happen in an emergency, if Lou were to get sick or incapacitated in some way. If business increases, Lou will either hire employees or network with other reputable service providers to help maintain the needs of clients. Should employees be hired, background checks will be performed and thorough training will be required until Lou is happy that the new employee can provide the high level of quality that Horse and Home offers.
How can I get feedback on my animal's care while I'm away?
There are several methods to obtain feedback as often as you want. We can leave a voicemail on your home or cell #, we can email you, or you can call us. In addition, we will complete a daily log which we will leave at your premises which shows the time we arrived and left, the duties we performed, any abnormalities or things to note, and the overall health and condition of your animals/pets.
Is Horse and Home bonded and insured?
At present, Horse and Home is insured by Pet Sitters Associates, LLC. Bonding is different than insurance and generally applies only if somone steals from your home and is convicted of the crime. Bonding only applies to employees of a business, and not the business owner so, at this time, bonding is not necessary for Horse and Home.
What locations do you cover?
We include mileage charges in our fees so that we are not restricted by location. Our central office is in Hartland, Vermont but mileage charges are applied from the closest point that we last set off from, which could be a prior appointment. As the business and demand grows, we may add employees in other locales to cover the needs of clients.
How long in advance should I book?
There is no penalty for calling at the last minute, however, we encourage you to call us to schedule an appointment or services as soon as you know they are needed to help ensure we can accommodate your requests.
Can I specify the exact time I want you to perform the services?
Horse and Home needs some flexibility in order to deal with unforeseen circumstances that may arise at an apointment, and to also arrange appointments close to each other in order to decrease mileage charges. Therefore, we will give you a two hour timeslot in which services are to be performed. If, however, you have special circumstances such as exact time needed for medications, etc., please let us know and we will make you a priority. We also understand that some animals get used to a routine so we will make every attempt to maintain that routine as much as possible.
Do you provide services for other animals, such as livestock, exotic breeds, birds, etc?
Absolutely! Lou grew up on a farm and is familiar with most livestock (pigs, cows, sheep, goats, turkeys, ducks, chickens, bantums) and draws no limit as to what animal she will care for. If we have no prior experience to the type of animal that you would like us to care for, we will tell you and willingly learn what it takes to do the job.

HORSE
What will you do in the event of a health emergency?
All emergency procedures will be discussed and defined with you during the initial consultation. Our standard procedure (which, again, we will discuss with you and change to suit your comfort level as necessary) for a health emergency is as follows:
1. Immediately and quickly deal with any circumstances that would further endanger your horse(s) WHILE at the same time calling the vet
2. Discuss and implement any first aid procedures recommended by the vet
3. Call you (and or the emergency contact you have designated)
4. Remain with your horse(s) for as long as necessary
What will you do in the event of a non-health emergency?
A "non-health emergency" would be something like your horse getting out, or (heavens forbid) not being there when we arrive or a fire, flood, etc. All non-health emergencies have the potential to turn into health emergencies and will be dealt with with the same degree of concern. Because each circumstance varies in severity the course of action will also vary. Each circumstance, however, requires logic, common sense, and a calm demeanor if its to have a chance of being rectified with the least possible damage to your horse's health and that is what we can assure you of. Please feel free to quiz us further in person or via email or phone to make sure you are comfortable that we would handle such emergencies with the diligence required. Lou has personally dealt with a a horse falling off of an eighty foot cliff, loose and dangerous horses, as well as horses that figure out how to open gates and decide to visit the neighbors horse's after, of course, first stopping off at their veggie garden for a bite to eat!

HOME

PET
What's included in an overnight stay?
An overnight stay includes ALL pet and horse care for free and a significant discount on other home services. Please call or email for a quote.