When Saying No Is the Most Responsible Thing We Can Do as Professional Pet Sitters

Because sometimes, genuine passion looks like setting boundaries.

At Fairy Dogmothers, we’re in the business of saying “yes” to belly rubs, sniffaris, enrichment, & personalized care. But there’s something else we say - often quietly, sometimes with a heavy heart, but always with conviction:

We say no.

Not to be difficult.

Not because we don’t care.

But because we care too much not to.

In a world where “customer service” often translates to “yes, no matter what,” I've learned over many years of being a pet sitter, the most loving, ethical, & professional thing we can do… is draw a line.

Here’s why.

Saying No When Safety Is on the Line

Let’s start with the obvious - safety.

If we feel that a pet or a situation poses a risk to the pet, to our team, or to the home, we will say no.

That might look like:

• Declining to walk a dog who is leash-reactive without the proper gear or behavior plan

• Refusing to enter a home where aggressive behavior hasn’t been disclosed or addressed

• Adjusting visits during inclement weather (heat, storms, ice, etc.) when it can put your pet at risk

• Refusing a last-minute booking when we know we can’t offer the level of attention your pet needs

• Declining to take care of a cat who's a known door darter when their pawrents refuse to implement a double-door method for us to access the house to ensure the cat cannot dart outside.

  
  

We don’t take risks when it comes to your pets. We don’t gamble with our team’s safety. And we don’t agree to things just to "make the sale". Because once we’re in your home & your pet is in our care, it’s our responsibility - legally, ethically, & emotionally.

Saying No When It’s Not the Right Fit

We’re the first to admit we're not the purrfect fit for every family or every situation - & we’re okay with that.

If we meet a family & feel that they need a different kind of care - like:

• 24/7 medical monitoring that should be conducted by veterinary professionals

• More frequent check-ins than their pawrents are willing to book

  • We do have a minimum requirement of one 20-minute visit per day for cats, guinea pigs, rabbits, & other small household pets as well as three 30-minute visits per day for dogs. We're asked consistently to provide less than this & we will never do so. So much can happen in 24 hours let along 48+ hours. Plus, your fur babies deserve more than

  • In the event that a pet obviously needs more than the minimum & their pawrent isn't willing to book it unfortunately we will have to say no is this instance as well.

• Specialized training or rehab that’s outside our scope

• An energy match or handler experience level we can’t safely offer

  
  

We will be honest with you.

It doesn’t mean we don’t love your pet. In fact, it means we do. Enough to help you find someone better suited to their needs - even if that someone isn’t us.

We don’t believe in overpromising. We believe in collaboration & transparency. Thankfully, we have networked with some truly amazing local professional pet sitters. We would only ever refer someone who we'd trust to take care of our own fur babies.

Saying No When Our Plate Is Full

This one’s hard. Because we love what we do, & we never want to let anyone down.

But if our schedule is full - especially during peak seasons or holidays - & we can’t take on more without compromising the care we already committed to, we will say no.

We will never “squeeze in” a visit if it means your pet won’t get the time, attention, & intention they deserve. That’s not who we are. That’s not the Fairy Dogmothers promise.

Instead, we’ll help connect you with other trusted professionals in our network - because the goal is the highest quality care, not just booking as many visits as possible.

Saying No When Our Small Business Shifts

As our small business grows & evolves (and as life circumstances change - like my pregnancy), we have to revisit what services are sustainable for us & healthy for our team.

For example, we’ve begun transitioning away from overnight care - not because we don’t see the importance in at. As it has always been our specialty for a reason, but because:

• We don’t want to offer a service we can’t consistently staff

• We believe in quality over availability

• We’re leaning more into drop-ins, enrichment visits, & hikes - services we can fully commit to. While still offering overnight care on a limited basis

  
  

Making these hard decisions are a part of responsible growth. We’re not afraid to pivot when it means keeping our standards high.

Saying No to Disrespect

Here’s a tough truth: being kind doesn’t mean being walked all over.

We do not tolerate:

• Clients who ignore our communication boundaries

• Those who repeatedly cancel last minute without reason

• People who expect us to bend over backwards without respecting our policies or time

• Or worse, those who treat our team with anything less than basic human kindness

  
  

If someone makes our team feel unsafe, disrespected, or undervalued - we will remove ourselves from the situation.

Our team is not the “help” - they’re trained professionals who deserve dignity, rest, & kindness.

Our clients are wonderful & are beyond kind to us, but once in a while someone new joins the pack & thinks that they are permitted to speak to us however they want. The relationships with our clients are a two-way street.

Saying Yes to Integrity

Every time we say no, we’re saying yes to:

• Ethical pet care

• Long-term trust

• Transparent communication

• Safe, loving service

• Protecting pets, clients, & our own team

  
  

We don’t exist to do the bare minimum. We exist to do what’s right - even if that means referring you elsewhere, turning down a request, or closing our books for that time period.

Because real pet care isn’t about saying yes to every request.

It’s about showing up fully, honestly, & responsibly when we say yes.

Boundaries Are a Form of Love

We know “no” can feel hard to hear.

We also know that our clients - the ones who truly trust us - understand exactly why we do it.

When we say no, we’re protecting your pet. 

We’re protecting our team. 

We’re protecting the level of care you expect from us. 

And most importantly — we’re staying true to who we are.

Fairy Dogmothers doesn’t just mean showing up. It means showing up right - with purpose, professionalism, & a whole lot of heart.

With love (& lots of treats),

Kaley Reinhart ✨🐾

CPPS & Fear Free Certified Professional

Owner, Fairy Dogmothers LLC

fairydogmothersllc.com | @fairydogmothersllc