Question 1: Are you insured and bonded?

Why this matters: This is extremely important, and is one thing that sets the professional pet sitters apart from hobby sitters. Insurance and bonding are not the same thing, and you need both.

​

• Business liability insurance covers accidents that happen in your home or to your pet during a visit. This could be a dog slipping on stairs, a caregiver breaking something, an injury that requires a vet visit.

• A surety bond is a financial guarantee that protects you if property is damaged or goes missing. Without it, you have no recourse if something is stolen.

• Pet sitter apps like Rover and Wag offer some coverage through their platforms, but the terms are limited and vary by situation. An independent contractor working through an app may have no personal business insurance at all.  An independent contractor working through an app may have no personal business insurance at all.

 
What a good answer sounds like: "Yes, we carry business liability insurance and a surety bond. I can provide documentation on request."

​

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds is fully insured and bonded. Every caregiver is covered under our business insurance policy and bonding on every visit in Marietta, Kennesaw, and Powder Springs.

​

Question 2: Are your caregivers background-checked?

Why this matters: You are giving this person access to your home, your pets, and your keys or a door code. A criminal background check is the minimum standard.

• Ask whether the background check covers criminal history, and whether it was conducted before the caregiver was assigned to any client home.

• On app-based platforms, background check standards and coverage vary. Some run basic checks; others depend on what individual sitters provide.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "Every team member undergoes a criminal background check before their first client visit."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: At Marietta Heart Hounds, background checks are required before any team member is assigned to care for a client's pets or home.

​

Question 3: What is your emergency protocol if my pet is injured or becomes ill?

Why this matters: Emergencies happen. A professional pet sitter should have a clear, written plan stating how an emergency will be handled.

• The protocol should include: who they contact first (you, then emergency vet), which emergency clinic they use if yours is unavailable, and how fast they act.

• You should provide your regular vet's information and a backup emergency vet. A good pet sitter will ask for this proactively.

• If a pet sitter can't describe their emergency protocol clearly, that's a red flag.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "We follow a documented emergency protocol. We contact you immediately, then your designated vet. If we can't reach you, we go to the emergency vet and keep trying."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds follows a set protocol on every visit. We gather your vet information before your first visit and if there's an emergency we follow a clear escalation path if your pet needs urgent care.

​

Question 4: Will the same person care for my pet on every visit?

Why this matters: Consistency matters:.

• Some services rotate caregivers frequently. This creates instability for pets and reduces the caregiver's ability to notice subtle changes in behavior or health.

• Ask whether you will have a team of pet sitters or an individual sitter, and what happens if they are unavailable.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "You will have a dedicated team of 2-3 pet sitters, including a primary sitter."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: We prioritize consistency for your pet by assigning a small, dedicated team of 2–3 trained sitters to your home. This ensures your pet becomes comfortable with familiar faces while also giving you reliable coverage if your primary sitter is unavailable due to illness, time off, or scheduling needs.

 

All team members assigned to your pet are trained in your specific care instructions and have access to detailed visit notes, so your pet’s routine stays consistent every time.   We find this approach provides better long-term consistency than relying on a single sitter.

​

Question 5: Do you do pack walks, or does my dog walk alone?

Why this matters: ​Pack walks (walking multiple dogs from different households together) increase the risk of fights, reduce individual attention, and expose your dog to other animals whose health and temperament you cannot verify.

• Some services use pack walks to increase efficiency. Others charge a premium for solo walks.

• For dogs with reactivity, leash anxiety, or health conditions, solo walks are not optional. They are essential.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "We do not do pack walks. Each dog walks with one dedicated caregiver."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds does not do pack walks. Every dog walks solo with a single dedicated, insured caregiver.

​

Question 6: How will you communicate with me after each visit?

Why this matters: ​As a pet owner, you should never have to wonder whether the pet sitter visited your home or how your pet is doing. Regular updates are a professional standard, not a bonus.

• At minimum, expect a message confirming the visit was completed and that your pet is safe.

• A photo is a reasonable expectation from any professional service. It provides visual confirmation and peace of mind.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "You receive a photo and a text update after every single visit."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds sends a photo and text update after every visit, for every client in Marietta, Kennesaw, and Powder Springs.

​

Question 7: What experience do you have with my type of pet?

Why this matters: ​Dog walkers are not automatically experienced with cats, rabbits, birds, or pets with medical needs. Breed experience also matters for dogs with specific behavioral or physical traits.

• Ask whether they have cared for your specific species or breed before, and how they handle pets with special needs such as giving medication, anxiety, mobility issues, or age-related care requirements.

• Cats in particular are often misunderstood by caregivers with dog-first experience. Ask specifically about feline behavior and in-home cat sitting protocols.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "We have experience with [your pet type] and are comfortable with medication administration, special needs, and anxious animals."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: The Marietta Heart Hounds team cares for dogs, cats, and small pets throughout Marietta, Kennesaw, and Powder Springs, including pets with medications, senior animals, and those who need extra patience.

​

Question 8: Can I meet the caregiver before the first visit?

Why this matters: ​A consultation lets you see how the caregiver interacts with your pet before you trust them while you're away. It also allows your pet to get to know the sitter with you.

• Any professional service should accommodate an introductory consultation. If a service resists this, reconsider.

• Use the meeting to observe: Does the caregiver greet your pet calmly and let the pet come to them? Do they ask questions about your pet's routine, medical needs, and temperament?

 

What a good answer sounds like: "Yes, we do a consultation in your home before the first visit."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds schedules a consultation before your pet's first visit. Yvonne, the owner of Marietta Heart Hounds, does initial consultations. She will bring your team of sitters to your home to meet the pet at the first visit. The visit could be done by any of the sitters, but Yvonne tries to keep the same people on the same pets most of the time. This mandatory consultation, which must occur before service begins, has a $25 fee to cover administrative costs and the team member’s time.

​

Question 9: How long have you been in business, and can I read reviews?

Why this matters: ​Longevity and reviews are the two most verifiable trust signals available to a new client. Years in business indicate stability; reviews tell you what real clients experienced.

• Look for reviews that mention specific services, specific pets, and specific experiences, not just generic praise. The more detailed a review, the more credible it is.

• Also look at how the business responds to reviews. A professional company monitors and responds to feedback.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "We've been in business since [year]. You can read our reviews on Google at [link]."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds was founded in 2014 by Yvonne Rosenberger, serving pet owners in Marietta, Kennesaw, and the surrounding Cobb County area. Our reviews are publicly available on Google.

​

Question 10: What is included in each visit — and what is not?

Why this matters: ​Pricing means nothing without knowing what it covers. A low per-visit rate may not include services you consider standard. Get clarity before you book.

• Ask specifically: feeding, fresh water, litter box scooping, medication administration, photo update, potty break, playtime. Which of these are included at the base rate?

• Also ask what is not included and what would trigger an upcharge?

 

What a good answer sounds like: "Every visit includes [specific list]. Medication administration is [included / priced separately]. You receive a photo update after every visit."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Every Marietta Heart Hounds visit includes feeding, fresh water, potty breaks, playtime, and a photo and text update. We are transparent about our pricing. Visits start at $25 for 20 minutes, with 30-, 45-, and 60-minute options available. We charge by time so no extra fees.  We cover medications, mail, trash cans brought out and in.  If we feel it will take more time I have a discussion with client.  

​

Question 11: What is your cancellation and last-minute booking policy?

Why this matters: ​Life changes. Trips get cut short. Plans shift. Knowing the cancellation terms upfront prevents frustration and unexpected charges.

• Ask about: the cancellation window, whether there is a fee for same-day cancellations, and how last-minute bookings are handled when your schedule changes unexpectedly.

• A professional service should have a written policy.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "Our cancellation policy is [X]. Here is our policy in writing."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds has a clear cancellation and scheduling policy. When you contact us, we will walk you through the details specific to your service type and frequency.

​

Question 12: Are you a professional pet sitting company or an independent sitter on a platform?

Why this matters: ​This distinction matters more than most pet owners realize.

• On platforms like Rover or Wag, the sitter is an independent contractor. Vetting standards, insurance coverage, emergency protocols, and backup plans vary by individual. If your sitter cancels, the platform finds a replacement, who may be a stranger to you and your pet.

• A professional pet sitting company operates under a defined business model: consistent staff, business-level insurance, a backup caregiver system, and accountability to an owner who stands behind the service.

• Neither is automatically wrong for every pet owner — but you should know which one you are hiring.

 

What a good answer sounds like: "We are a professional pet sitting company, not a platform. Our team is employed and vetted by us. We carry business insurance and bonding, and we have a backup caregiver system."

 

How Marietta Heart Hounds answers this: Marietta Heart Hounds is a locally owned professional pet care company, not a platform, not a franchise, not an app. Yvonne Rosenberger founded the company in 2014 and is reachable directly at 770-342-8685. We serve Marietta, Kennesaw, and Powder Springs, GA.