Home Visits

Who are your home visitors ?
We have tree full-time employees who work with us all year round. The job of our "pet caretakers" can consist in regularly walking your dog, for example (once, twice or three times a day) or taking care of your cat:  feeding, changing the litter box, not to mention lots of attention and a few purrs.  Our pet caretakers can also handle your cute little rodents, such as guinea pigs or mice, or your fish or birds.  They even have experience with some of the "NPs" - or "New Pets" in fashion, such as snakes.  For the busier summer months in July and August, eight or nine students join our team as additional pet caretakers.  The majority of the summer pet caretakers are also members of our Host Families !

  How much advance notice do you need to take care of my pet ?
We need two days advance notice prior to the first visit.  You can make an appointment to come by our offices to fill out a detailed questionnaire on your cat, sign the membership agreement and provide us with a copy of your keys.  If you call on us again in the future, you can give us a call the day before you would like a visit and provide us with your house keys.  That means we can be operational the very next day!  For a number of our customers, it is even more convenient to leave us a set of their keys on an on-going basis.  When they call the day before for a home visit, they don't have to make arrangements to drop off their keys.

  But if I leave you my keys, how can I be sure nothing will be stolen ?
Well, that's a question of trust !  We've been around for five years now and have carried out over 15,200 home visits and have never once received a complaint for theft. This is naturally one of the reasons we take great care when it comes to selecting our home visitors.  In addition, French veterinarians, the SPA (French Government Animal Protection Agency), the Brigitte Bardot Foundation and the "Trente Millions d'amis" Foundation recommend our organization to their own customers and members because they know just how serious we are when it comes to taking care of your pet.

  How long do your home visits last ?
Visits last from between 20 to 30 minutes.  This gives our pet caretaker time to change your cat's litter box, play with your cat, feed him and cuddle up with him on the couch.  Each time our pet caretaker pays a visit, he or she fills out a Visitor's Report from the very first day which you will find as soon as you get home.  For each visit, our pet caretakers note the time they arrive and the time they leave and add personal comments : "Balthus was so happy to see me he jumped right on top of me!  He ate up all his food and then rolled over to get his belly scratched for ages !"

  Will the same caretaker make all the visits ?
Visits are carried out by the same person five days out of seven.  Twice a week, they do need a break!  But all the information we have about your pet is provided to the person replacing your regular pet caretaker.

  My cat is real sick and has to have a shot every day.  Can your pet caretakers do that ?
Laurent is a real specialist in pet care.  Intravenous or intramuscular shots, getting your pet to swallow pills, cleaning wounds or stitches after surgery, you name it!  Thanks to his kindness and know-how, your cat or dog "won't feel a thing".

  When visiting, could your pet caretakers water my plants ?
As long as your veranda doesn't look like a jungle, sure !  We would be happy to water your plants on the days you indicate, and we can also pick up your mail so that it doesn't pile up in the mailbox.  Our pet caretakers can also write down the messages you've received on your answering machine, reset the machine or erase former messages for you, according to your instructions.

  Is it possible to meet the person who will be visiting my pet ?
Of course this is possible if you would like, but it is not absolutely necessary.  The questionnaire you fill out when you sign the membership agreement really goes into all of the details and is better to have in writing so that none of your instructions are forgotten.

  What if my cat gets sick while I'm away ?
We will immediately inform you by phone if your pet is sick.  If we are unable to reach you, we will take your pet straight to your regular veterinarian.  The Agreement you sign specifies that in case of illness or an accident, you provide us with a power of attorney giving us the capacity to take your pet to your veterinarian for medical treatment.

If we have to stay away from home longer than planned, what do you do ?
Nothing to worry about there!  We will continue with home visits up until the day you tell us you are getting back.  And if you stay away longer than expected and the food or cat litter runs out, we'll go and buy whatever you need to ensure your pet gets constant care.

Can we call you to find out how our dog is getting along without us ?
Of course you can.  Don't hesitate to pick up the phone and give us a call.  We'll give you the latest news from your pet.

Home Stays with a Host Family

How do you recruit your host families ?
Families interested in becoming Animado host families initially contact us by phone.  We meet with them at our offices for an initial selection stage.  If they seem to have the drive and motivation necessary, we make an appointment to meet with them at their home.  Normally, we take along one of our four-legged inspectors to see how they react.  By visiting their home, we are able to see how they deal with animals.  Moreover, our experience has made it easier for us to determine and "sniff out" whether potential host families really do love animals and have the sense of responsibility required.

What's the profile of an average host family ?
We have all types of profiles!  Couples with children, young couples without children, retirees (living on their own or with their spouse) and single people as well.  But they all have one thing in common - their love for animals.  

Do your host families have pets themselves ?
Some of them have a cat or a dog.  Some of them don't have a pet any more or are thinking about getting another one.  In the meantime, they are delighted to have a part-time pet at home.

But how can you tell if my pet will get along with the host family's own pets ?
When we meet with you, we take a close look at your pet's character and habits based on the information you provide us with.  The more details you can give us, the better we can analyze and understand your pet's unique personality.  Then we can determine which environment will be best suited for your pet, where he will feel comfortable, whether he can get along with other animals and which other animals !

What happens if our pet gets sick ?
We will immediately inform you by phone if your pet is sick.  If we are unable to reach you, we will take your pet straight to your regular veterinarian.  The Agreement you sign specifies that in case of illness or an accident, you provide us with a power of attorney giving us the capacity to take your pet to your veterinarian for medical treatment.  Naturally, if an emergency occurs or if the situation is urgent and the host family lives too far away to get to your own veterinarian on time, we will take your pet to the closest available veterinarian first.

Your prices include the pet food.  What will you feed my dog ?
We comply strictly with the instructions you give us when you fill out the questionnaire regarding your pet's usual food regimen.

If our dog stays with one of your host families the first time around, can he stay with them again when we go away the next time ?
Yes ! Based on scheduling, we do our best to have your pet stay with the same host family each time you go away.  For this reason, it is preferable to give us as much advance notice as possible, especially during school vacation periods when demand is high, so that we can be sure your host family will be available when you need them.

If we don't have time to drive our pet over to the host family's house, could you take care of this for us ?
Yes, we would be happy to ensure transport to and from the host family's house at the times you specify (please see our Price List).