I discovered a wonderful way to communicate with our Happy Pets clients. I have been leaving a written daily journal of each visit, so when Happy Pets client returns home they have something to read to see how Pet Sitting their babies went.
I acquired a new Smartphone and sent texts and photos to our clients while they were away instead of the daily journal. After I received permission to send photos to their cell phones, I could reassure our clients at each visit with not only texts but with photos during each visit. Instead of the client wondering and worrying (if you’re like me) during their whole time away from their pets, they knew how things were each day at each visit.
I, as a client would find it very comforting to know that the pet sitter was at my house explaining that they are fed and have been taking care of and they are fine. If there was an issue we could address it right away. An example was that I sent pictures to a client to show them what their 3 cats have done to their home and that they can see what I was seeing. Every day they have been into something different in the house. One day they got into a box of packing popcorn (the Styrofoam kind that look like little “s”) and the packing popcorn was from one end of the home to the other. The 3 young cats got into everything. CD’s and DVD’s were off the shelf, they had somehow got the buns and bread off the top of the fridge and got into each package and ate on them., knocked over the trash can, which was empty thankfully and even a lamp was on its side. It was like a tornado came through. I did send photos of the disaster to the client and asked “Are you sure these are cats and not dogs?” I could not help but laugh. I guess when mom and dad are away the cats will play. I of course cleaned it up and put what the cats may get into again in a room with the door closed. I forewarned the client that they may come home to something like this, because it has been something different the cats get into with each visit. They laughed and said “Duly noted”.
The clients that I did send texts and photos to as a trial test with my new Smartphone was such a success that I will continue to do so. If the client has the capability and agree that they would like us to text them, then we will. Of course, we still offer the written Daily Journal to our clients as well if texts or emails are not possible.