Pet Sitting Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Creatures Great and Small Pet Services?

Creatures Great & Small Pet Services began February 15, 2003 with a passion for animals. While providing excellent care for our clients’ pets, we’re able to help those pets who are have yet to find their forever homes.

My name is Nickee Mixon and I am the co-owner/operator of Creatures Great and Small. I have always loved animals and have experience with a wide variety of animals including dogs, cats, horses, birds, goats, rabbits, and orphaned wildlife. I have been a volunteer at a local animal shelter and have many pets of my own. I provide the same high quality care for others’ pets that I provide for my own.

Jaki Cooks and Terri Littleton are pet sitters and who also provide excellent care.  For more information on our pet sitting team, please refer to the “About” page.

What services do Creatures Great and Small provide?

We pet sit, dog walk/run, and house sit. We are not a pet boarding service nor an animal shelter.

What areas does Creatures Great and Small serve?

We provide services in Southside, Intracoastal West and San Marco.  We are able to serve some other areas for a higher fee.

Is Creatures Great and Small licensed, insured and bonded?

CGS is licensed as a business in the city of Jacksonville. There is not a licensing procedure for pet sitters in the United States. Like other licensed pet sitters, we are registered with the city to pay taxes. CGS has liability insurance and we have a “Special Property of Others Coverage”, which includes a “Pet Care Bond.”

When is payment due?

Payment is due at the time of the service. When you leave your home, please leave the payment on the counter, or other highly visible place for us. The exception is for holiday visits. Fees for holiday visits are due at the time of scheduling. Holiday reservations aren’t final until the fee is received. There is a $25 fee for all returned checks.

How much do you charge?

Please refer to the page entitled “Service & Rates” for our basic fees. Other fees are as follows:

Re-supply Fee:  Clients are required to have enough food, medicine, supplies, etc., for their pets while in our care. If a shortage occurs and additional services need to be purchased, reimbursement and a $10 fee will be imposed.

Key Pick up/Return Fee: Under no circumstances, should keys or house codes be left outdoors or the doors unlocked. This is to ensure the safety of your pets, home, and us. A $10 fee will be charged for key pick-up or return.

Holiday Fee: A surcharge of $10 per day will be charged on New Year’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. A surcharge of $10 per visit will be charged on Christmas Day. To schedule for Thanksgiving and Christmas, pre-payment& non-refundable fee is required.

Late Night Visit Fees: An additional charge of $5 for requested visits after 9 P.M.

Emergency Fees:  Emergency calls between midnight and 6 A.M. will be doubled the listed rate.

Initial Meeting: There is a $10 fee for the initial meeting.  Payment for the initial meeting and scheduled sits are due at the meeting.

Do I need reservations?

Yes, reservations are required. An initial meeting is required so that we may meet you, your pets, gather needed information, collect two keys and the check. At least a week’s notice is requested for pet sitting- even more around holiday times. We’ll try to accommodate last minute calls from prospective new clients but are nearly always able to schedule for current clients.

How often and what times will you visit my pet(s)?

You decide how often your pets will receive visits. Dogs usually need two to three visits per day. Cats usually require one visit per day. Pets with special needs or those on schedules may require more visits, which can be added. Specific times aren’t guaranteed, however, we’ll ask your preferred time. We allow a two hour interval of time for arriving to each home. This constraint is in place to allow for the care of unavoidable circumstances that may arise at another client’s home and/or difficulty in travel.

What is the “Key Program”?

The “Key Program” allows CGS to securely hold a key to your home. It saves picking up and returning keys returning keys fee and adds convenience. If pet parents are late returning, we will still have the keys to return to care for their pets. That wouldn’t be the case if we had locked the keys inside the home. We are also able to help out those who lock themselves out of their homes- just give us a call and for a $15 fee, we’ll come over and open your door. If we don’t keep your key, there is a $10 fee for each key exchange.

What is the cancellation policy?

All fees are non-refundable, however, a non-transferable credit will be issued by CGS and held on file for one year. Fees will be forfeited by the client under the following conditions:

• Giving less than 24 hour notice for pet sits
• Not canceling by 8 AM  for a daily dog walk
• A cancellation fee equal to two visits will be charged for all holiday cancellations within 48 hours of scheduled start time excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas.   Credit for cancelled Thanksgiving and Christmas visits, is not given.

Wishbone, the Jack Russell Terrier

Does CGS offer any discounts or specials?

We offer a referral discount. Current clients can earn one free $17.50 service by referring a new client to us.

What is needed to get started?

First, call Nickee at 703-8581 or e-mail her at CGSPetServices@aol.com for an initial meeting. This meeting should take about 30 minutes and it’s purpose is to get us acquainted with each other and for the sitter to meet your pets. You’ll be asked a lot of detailed information re: your the care of your pet(s), home, and what to do in the case of an emergency. Please have the following information/items prepared:

• vaccination record(s)
• photo of your pet(s)
• collar, tag, and leash for each appropriate pet
• veterinarian’s name, phone number and address
• the name and phone number of a local contact for pet or other
• emergencies
• 2 copies your home’s key
• home security system information
• payment for the meeting and scheduled sits/walks