Schedule Policies

Schedule Needs. For those who have flexible schedules, please text me your walking needs by around 10:00 am on Saturday. If you know your month's schedule please send it to me so that I can more effectively do the schedule.

Cancellations/Add Ons. All cancellations and add-ons must be received by me no later than 8 am of the same day. Please text me as soon as you know whether you will or will not need a walk– especially if you already know a few days in advance. Please do text me in the middle of the night. I will not wake up but I will have the information available so I can make the schedule changes.

No Show/No Cancel. A cancellation fee of $10 will be charged for every walk that is not cancelled by 8am of the day of the walk. A full rate of $15 will be charged should a walker show up without a cancellation. Please note that I do not require 24 hour notice without penalty; only that you cancel by 8 am of the same to day to avoid penalty.

If you Like it then you Should put a Tag on it.

I have added a very simple requirement to my service. ALL dogs must have current id tags on their collars. 5,500 dogs a day are euthanized - many of them pets - because they couldn't find their way back home. That beautiful collar is only a fashion statement if it doesn't have a tag on it. A chip is a great back-up if the collar comes off. Many people out there still don't know what this "chip thing" is. They do not know to take a lost pup to the vet to get it scanned. Old school is easy. A tag with current phone number is all you need. Hate the sound of it dangling? There are now little rubber things that go around the tag to silence it.
Where to get a tag you ask? It's easier than ever now. Petco has a machine and you can get a simple cheap tag or a super fancy one. Lost Dogs of Illinois will send the tag directly to your house so you don't even have to go out. For....wait for it...$5 (which includes shipping).

Don't have the time to do either? That's what I'm here for. I will order you a tag, have it shipped to your house and bill you for it. Just leave me a note. I am happy to do it.

2016 Rates

All dog walks and feline visits are 20 minutes
Poultry and Exotics care also available.

Weekday Rates
Monday - Friday
10am - 2pm

regular weekday hours 10am - 2pm
$15.00 for a walk for the first dog
$5.00 for each additional dog

$15.00 for a litter box change and cat visit
$2.00 for each additional cat

Before and After Hour Weekday Rates
Please note that our regular hours are Monday - Friday 10 am - 2 pm. We do not have availability for ongoing before and after hours walks. If you need continual off hours walks, I would suggest one of the bigger companies with many employees.
8am - 10am and 2pm -6pm:
$20.00 per walk/visit for the first dog or cat.
$5.00 for each additional dog, $2.00 for each additional cat

6pm - 10pm $25.00 per walk/visit for the first dog or cat
$5.00 for each additional dog, $2.00 for each additional cat


Weekend Rates
Please note that our regular hours are Monday - Friday. We do not have availability for ongoing weekend walks. If you need a continual weekend walk, I would suggest one of the bigger companies with many employees.

All day Saturday and Sunday
$30.00 per walk/visit for the first dog or cat
$5.00 for each additional dog, $2.00 for each additional cat

We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day

December 1, 2015 COLD WEATHER POLICY IN EFFECT

The weather outside is frightful! It’s going to happen. We will be snowed upon, rained upon and hailed upon, all in the same day. I will never call in a snow day. Dogs still have their own business to attend to and it doesn’t stop because of the weather. But if the weather is dangerous, walks will be shortened. Under no circumstances will I jeopardize the safety of your dog or a walker. I want to be very clear, that even if you demand your hairless, coatless chihuahua to be outside for a full 25 minutes I will absolutely not do it. I will however, keep a husky out for the full walk. With that said, throughout the nice whether months, your dog has received multiple extra minutes added to their walks. This is in anticipation of bad weather. If schools are closed and the City of Chicago is shut down, we will still be battling the weather and working outside – but safely. The decision to shorten a walk will be left to my discretion. Thank you and stay warm!

Please "Like" Our Facebook Page

Why? Our facebook page (www.Facebook.com/TheCouchDivas) is not just about The Couch Divas. Here we post events, lost pets, found pets, funny things, tragic things, things that make you go hmmm, articles and so much more. It's a great way to keep updated about what's going on with us and the pet world around us. Thanks!!

Cold Weather Tips from the ASPCA

Cold Weather Tips

Brrrr…it’s cold outside!  The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips.

1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife.
2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If there are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape.
3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm—dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure yours always wears ID tags.
4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.
5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear.
6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death.
7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.
8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him—and his fur—in tip-top shape.
9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information.
10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect.