-All pets must have an up-to-date rabies vaccine, while all dogs must also have an up-to-date leptospirosis, distemper & parvo, and kennel cough vaccines. These vaccines are commonly administered during annual veterinary exams. If you're unsure whether your dog has these, feel free to reach out!

-All dogs must be on flea & tick medication and heartworm prevention year-round.

-A meet & treat is required before servicing any pet. This is for everyone's safety and will help me get to know you, your pet, and your pet's individual needs.

-A legal parking space for my vehicle is needed for all visits, and walkable streets are needed for all neighborhood walks.

-The policies form must be signed by a pet parent. I value safety and transparency, so all policies can be reviewed under the "Policies" tab.

-All dogs attending a mountain hike must first attend a local trail hike to ensure that their fitness level is adequate. For their safety and healthy development, all dogs interested in a mountain hike must be 18+ months of age.

-All dogs attending a local trail hike must have a trail within 15 minutes of their home (or be scheduled to hike with a dog who does) and be over 12 months of age.

-All dogs attending a hike or being transported for a group walk must be comfortable getting into/riding in a car and able to get along with other dogs under supervision.

The service areas depend on the type of service requested. 

Walks & Check-Ins:

Auburn

Worcester

Oxford 

(Slightly outside of the service area? Feel free to ask if I can accommodate!)

Mountain Hikes:

 Auburn

Worcester

 Anywhere 15 minutes or less off of I-90 W going from Worcester-Ludlow

Anywhere 15 minutes or less off of I-190 N going from Worcester-West Boylston

Local Trail Hikes:

Most towns within 20 minutes of Auburn (must have a trail of suitable length within 15-minute driving distance. Unsure? Just ask!)

Feel free to reach out if slightly outside the service area; I will fit your dog in if the travel logistics make sense!

A meet & treat will allow us to familiarize ourselves with each other. I will learn about your pet and their specific needs, and will make sure that future services are tailored to your pet. We will go over any questions, and we will make sure that we are all a good fit.

*The meet & treat is complimentary, however, if it must be rescheduled on your behalf then a $20 fee may apply for the next scheduled meet & treat.

Service Modifications: I hike and walk in almost any weather, rain or shine! There are a few exceptions; I always do my best to complete the originally agreed upon service, but the safety of every pet in my care is my top priority and there will be days when it is too hot, too cold, or too stormy to safely be outside for the full duration of your pet's service. In these cases, we will have as much outside time as the weather allows and the remainder of your pet’s service time may be filled with fun enrichment activities, play time, potty break and water refill, basic training (I am not a certified dog trainer, but am confident in some basic training), pet store walks, time in your backyard/pool, etc. You may message me ahead of your pets scheduled service time should you wish to alter the service due to weather. Otherwise, service changes due to weather may be left up to my own discretion based on what I believe is best for your pet as well as the other pets in my care that day (pricing for services modified due to weather will always be adjusted accordingly).

Please note: Mountain hikes require additional driving time and are more sensitive to temperature, wind, elevation, and trail conditions. A mountain hike is never guaranteed if weather conditions pose a safety risk, even if conditions appear acceptable at lower elevations. If I determine that conditions are unsafe for mountain hiking, the hike may be replaced with a safer local alternative or enrichment-based service. 

Service Lengths: Should the weather be too hot/cold to complete group walks and hikes, these may need to be adjusted to solo services consisting of any of the alternative activities listed above. Because of this, service lengths (including neighborhood walks and check-ins) may need to be shortened in order to split time evenly and ensure that all pets are able to be seen that day. I will only shorten service lengths when necessary, and this would be communicated with you before any changes are made. Service pricing would be adjusted accordingly.

Service Time Changes: In the event of unsafe driving conditions (such as snowstorms), service times may need to shift to ensure the safety of your pet and myself. During these situations, visits may be prioritized based on medical and time-sensitive needs (such as medication or essential care), rather than scheduled order. I will always do my best to communicate any changes as early as possible. If your dog’s visit time is adjusted due to weather, please know this decision is made thoughtfully and with the well-being of all pets in mind.

Cancellations: The only time that your pet’s service may need to be cancelled is when weather conditions are too severe to drive in or are forecasted to be severe later on in the day. This may result in me needing to make scheduling changes as described above, although changes are made only when necessary. If your service needs to be cancelled due to poor road conditions, you will not be charged (again, I know that you and your pet depend on me for quality care and I would never cancel unless out of absolute necessity). 

I have 5 years of experience as a professional dog groomer (although I no longer groom). I've spent about the same amount of time hiking New England, so I am familiar with caring for dogs and with many trails in MA and even out of state. I am also canine and feline CPR and first aid certified, and carry a dog first aid kit with me on all adventures. Paws & Peaks is fully insured. 

Photos and a visit report card will be sent to you after every adventure, walk, or check-in! Additionally,  the PetPocketbook app can be used to track mileage, the exact location and duration of the walk or hike, send messages, and make payments. 

Most pets have their services on a recurring schedule, such as 1-4 walks/hikes weekly. If you do not wish to set up recurring services for your pet, that's okay! There is limited availability on a week-by-week basis. I will fit your pet in wherever possible, but may not be able to guarantee availability as I am a one person operation and some weeks fill up more quickly than others. 

My arrival time will be somewhere within an agreed upon two or three hour window. I do my absolute best to provide on-time care for your pet, but there are times when circumstances out of my control (heavy traffic, bad weather, etc.) may cause me to run off schedule. If ever this is the case, it will be communicated with you as soon as possible. 

I want your dog to be comfortable during transportation and therefore, hiking is done in smaller groups of 2-4 dogs total. This makes it manageable for everyone while your dog still gets the chance to become friends with the other dogs in the group. 

It is important not to under or overexercise your puppy, as their bodies are still developing and movement that is too intense can disrupt bone development, interfere with joint health, etc. The general rule is 5 minutes of walking per month of age, 2-3 times daily. For this reason, only dogs 18 months and older will be considered for mountain hikes and only dogs 12 months and older will be considered for local trail hikes.

Yes! I provide check-ins for cats and other animals on a case-by-case basis. This can include litter cleanup, habitat cleaning, giving medication, water and food refill, etc. Please feel free to text 774-415-4159 to describe your pet's needs, ask questions, and/or go over details.