FAQs
We gladly offer our pet care services in the following Boston neighborhoods:
* A Travel Fee applies to pet sitting services outside our main service area. Click here for breakdown.
Our normal hours of operation are Monday thru Friday 10AM-4PM for the following service blocks:
Morning (10AM-12PM)
Afternoon (12-3PM)
Evenings (4-8PM) *
* Services outside our normal business hours incur a surcharge
To get started as a prospective client, please visit our NEW CLIENT page.
We onboard clients within 3 easy steps:
1.) NEW CLIENT REGISTRATION: Kindly complete in-take form. This initial step helps us understand your needs and the needs of your pet.
2.) SCHEDULE MEET & GREET: After your submission has been processed a follow up will be sent. Be mindful that you'll receive two correspondence:
A follow up from us (info@barkbythepark.com) with instructions including how to schedule your MEET & GREET
An activation invite from PetPocketBook
3.) MEET & GREET TIME: We'll connect to build your pet's profile, discuss policies / the platform, review our service as a whole, and answer any questions you might have.
Afterwards, with your new account, you can manage your pet's profile, message the BBTP team or request a service. All requests are subject to approval.
Prior to starting any service, we conduct a Meet & Greet.
We offer three options for connecting:
Virtual Meeting (via Google Meets) which is complimentary
In-person Meeting, $25 fee*
Short In-person Meeting, $15 fee* (this option is for prospective cat clients only who opted to combine their in-take and meet & greet using this form)
This is a consultation where we build your pet's profile by asking a series of questions that will help us provide the best care possible. We will also review the service, our policies, and our software -- PetPocketBook.
Generally this is a 30 min one-on-one for the first pet and 1 hr for two pets. If you have a special needs / anxious dog, a follow up service (i.e. shadow walk) is highly recommended.
* Applicable fees cover travel and time
Since relocating to Boston, we're operating as a solo provider while we build the route
Your walker / sitter will be Nicky (the owner of Bark by the Park)
When the time comes to build a team again, rest assure — we are very particular on who we hire. Personnel are background checked, will have previous experience, and will be trained extensively before they're able to conduct services without a supervisor.
During your Meet & Greet or beforehand, you’ll have the option to let us know how your dog walker or pet sitter will gain access to your residence:
Your key will be available for pick-up at the front desk / with doorman
You or someone else will be home to allow the walker access to your home
You will provide us lockbox details (ie. code and placement)
You will provide a custom access code (ie. home has a smart lock )
I'd like a BBTP representative to pick-up / drop off keys ($10 fee applicable)
We ask all active and prospective clients to utilize a lockbox.
We highly recommend units with a weather protector cover like these:
Weather protectors are especially helpful to void frozen units in the colder months.
Yes, of course ;)
We offer a referral program with the opportunity to earn service credits
We use the pet care software called PetPocketBook. Clients will be able to request services using their account.
If you're looking for coverage for a specific timeframe, click here for the availability and submission reminder.
As a small business owner and solo service provider, our capacity to accept appointments is inherently limited. Occasionally, we must turn away requests to honor existing reservations. Therefore, when a short-notice cancellation occurs, enforcing our cancellation policy becomes essential to mitigate the financial impact of lost income.
If you're looking for coverage for a specific timeframe, click here.
