“More Than Just a Pet Sitter”

Cat and Dog CPR and First Aid Certified

Elite Fear Free Certified

Licensed, Bonded, and Insured

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STAY AND PLAY’S PHILOSOPHY

Animals deserve the best life we can give them and it’s important that they are properly cared for while you’re away. They deserve to be comfortable, happy and most importantly, loved.

Stay and Play promises to treat your furry family members with the same respect and kindness as our own. We aim to be part of your family; someone you can trust, communicate with and depend on.

Your pet will always be in the hands of someone who is educated, experienced, compassionate, and prepared.

STAY AND PLAY CODE OF ETHICS

As a member of the Stay and Play team we pledge…

To treat every pet trusted to our care as if they were our own by providing compassionate and loving care.
To always provide the highest quality pet care and customer service.
To be trustworthy and honest by fulfilling promised duties as requested by clients.
To respect and protect the client’s home and property.
To always observe the client’s confidentiality.
To have open and timely communication with the clients.
To respond promptly, respectfully and clearly in all forms of communication.
To be on time for all meetings and pet care assignments.
To act with professionalism and respect the instructions of the pet parents.
To continue our knowledge and understanding of pets with continued education.

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It’s Important To Me That Your Pet(s) Are Comfortable, Relaxed, and safe in their own environent & I’m Fully-Prepared When I Stay!

STAY AND PLAY PEACE OF MIND PROMISE

We have designed our service with the essential goal of providing our incredible clients with peace of mind. We guarantee you will be delighted with the compassionate care you and your pet receive. Here is what you can expect from our pet caretakers:

Our team offers backup support, detailed meetings, and a genuine commitment to showing up for your pet, no matter what.
Punctuality and will stick to your pet's daily schedule and pet care plan. We aim to keep the pet's routine as consistent as possible and provide the best in-your-home pet care through open communication.
Established in 2014 with hundreds of satisfied repeat clients who are like family.
From Pet CPR/First Aid certifications to knowledge of animal behavior, we're equipped to handle the unexpected with calm professionalism.
We care for more species than just dogs and cats! We have experience with a wide variety of companion animals including, but not limited to, Guinea pigs, rabbits, hamsters, mice, rats, chameleons, snakes, bearded dragons, tortoises, fish, birds, etc.
Meticulous and cautious during all tasks such as feeding, medicating, walking, etc. Our paperwork and meetings are very thorough so that we may provide the best care possible.
Stay and Play is a professional pet care company providing in-your-home care. Our clients trust their loved ones and homes to a well-established, experienced, qualified, certified, licensed, insured, and bonded business. Pet Care Insurance covers your home and pets. We are members of The Temecula Chamber of Commerce, Valley Young Professionals, Fear Free Certified Professionals, and The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.
Your pet/s and home are protected by Pet Care Insurance in case of an emergency.
We realize that no two homes or two pets are exactly alike, so we offer a wide variety of services to fit your needs precisely. You will tailor your own pet care plan. We offer an estimate of all charges before our registration meeting.
We employ ONLY dedicated pet care professionals. We work with sitters with practical experience in the pet care field and view their time with Stay and Play as part of their career path. We run an extensive screening process on all applicants. We hire employees (not independent contractors) who are fully committed to Stay and Play.
Please read about our fantastic team.
Stay and Play offers one-on-one services for the safety of the pets in our care. Each pet gets 100% of our attention because we focus on one household at a time. You don't have to worry about travel trauma, diseases, parasites, or pet altercations when your pet is in their own home. Additionally, all of our sitters are residents of Riverside County, so if an emergency arises, someone is nearby. We vary our visit times, so it is not predictable for an onlooker to know when your home will be uninhabited.
Stay and Play strongly believes in the constant renewal of knowledge. As such, we are constantly updating our animal behavior and care expertise. All sitters have current cat and dog CPR and First Aid certifications. We excel in the care of special needs pets and the gentle administration of medications. Sitters are trained to care for pet seizures, epilepsy, diabetes, injuries, safety considerations, choking, etc. Sitters have a First Aid kit in their car for emergency preparedness. We share our knowledge about pet care on our blog.
We use a high-tech scheduling and database system, so NO pet is ever left behind. This portal also provides convenience for our clients to book pet care, view their personal service calendar, and update their contact information, billing information and password.
PocketSuite
We are here to provide our clients with a phenomenal pet care experience. This is done not only with top-notch pet care but also with spectacular customer service. We understand the value of open communication. You can reach the office between the hours of 9 AM & 5 PM Monday through Friday. We will respond to all messages received during the week within 24 hours , and for those received on the weekend, we will respond on Monday. Additionally, our sitters write detailed messages after every visit to update you on your furry loved ones. We also send out emails to keep you informed on all business matters and promotions and provide you with educational blogs about pet care.
To best service our clients, it is vital that we obtain feedback so we always follow up to receive an assessment of your Stay and Play experience. We highly encourage our clients to let us know what they love about the process and what suggestions they may have.
www.temeculapetsitting.com/testimonials
We choose a local non-profit each year to support financially by donating, sharing social media content, volunteering, etc. So you know that a portion of your payments is going to a good cause. Our chosen non-profit for 2024 is Animal Friends of the Valleys in Wildomar. AFV is dedicated to promoting humane care of animals through education and a humane, proactive animal services program. They are committed to preventing the suffering of animals and to ending pet overpopulation in the cities they serve. To make a donation please follow this link.
Stay and Play was founded on Melinda’s passion for animals, which is still the root of our success. All of us at Stay and Play prioritize providing your pets with as much love, attention, and affection as you would. We aim to promote your pet's physical and mental health and well-being.

Do you have questions?

Please email us at StayAndPlayPet@yahoo.com or call the office at 909-568-7897. Office hours Monday through Friday from 9 AM - 5 PM.

About Melinda: Worry-Free Care for Your Furry Family

If you're like me, the thought of leaving your pet behind stresses you out. Will they be safe? Happy? Does someone truly understand how special your furry companion is?

That's what led me to found Stay and Play Pet Sitting: to build a team offering the kind of reliable, compassionate care that puts pet parents' minds completely at ease.

Why I Get It: A Lifelong Animal Lover

My whole life has revolved around animals. Pets have always been a cherished part of my family, and I love getting to know their quirky personalities.

Over the years, working as a veterinary assistant, pet store associate, dog walker, and professional pet sitter showed me the joy of connecting with animals on their terms. Every dog, cat, or any other critter is unique, and it's the bond we create that matters most.

Specialized Care for Optimal Wellbeing

My approach goes beyond basic pet care. I incorporate two specialized practices to provide the most comfortable, beneficial experience for your pet:

Animal Reiki: This complementary practice focuses on your pet's overall well-being. It uses gentle touch and a calm presence to create a positive, supportive environment. I'm trained to observe your pet's cues and tailor the experience to their comfort level.
Fear-Free Philosophy: Understanding animal behavior is crucial. My Fear-Free certification means I use techniques designed to minimize fear and anxiety, especially for sensitive or apprehensive pets. This creates a safe, positive environment during their time with me.

Peace of Mind: How Stay and Play Makes a Difference

We know it's not just about pet care – it's about your trust and your pet's wellbeing:

Expertise Matters: My background (B.A. in Psychology, A.A. in Math and Science, Veterinary Assisting experience) informs my personalized approach. Staying Elite Fear-Free Certified ensures I handle even the most sensitive animals with respect and care.
Your Home, Respected: We follow your routines for a seamless return. Open, constant communication (photos and updates included!) mean you're never in the dark about your pet's happiness.
Prepared for Anything: Pet CPR/First Aid, Animal Reiki, and a clear understanding of animal behavior allow me to handle unexpected situations with calm professionalism.

Happy Clients – The Best Validation

“Melinda goes above and beyond – she takes time to play with our cats and truly understands their needs. Coming home feels good because they’re well-cared for.”

— Millie Blakey

“Melinda is the one you want watching your pets when you can’t! I’ve had her stay with my zoo a couple of times now and I couldn’t recommend her more. We have a large dog, two cats (one is very old), a parrot, fish, chickens, and tortoises and she handles it all. She is very detail-oriented and professional. Her communication throughout is very reassuring. My mind is at ease when she is taking care of them as I know they are her top priority.”

— Kim Townsend

“For our two senior cats, finding Stay and Play was a lifesaver. Melinda’s patience and expertise give us complete peace of mind when we travel.”

— Emily Petty

Let's Make Your Pet's World Even Brighter

The idea of finding just the right pet sitter can feel overwhelming. Let's take that first step together! A meet-and-greet gives us a chance to learn about your pet's specific routine and how we can ensure they feel safe, happy, comfortable, and loved while you're away.

Let's connect and ensure your pet gets the best while you're gone!

Testimonials

Testimonial Entries

“We have had Melinda care for our older and special needs dogs. We feel much more comfortable with her staying at our home so our dogs get undivided 24 hr care. Our dogs require medication on a regular basis and we can count on her to do this without any concern. As our oldest Setter is 13, her day to day needs can change and Melinda is aware of this and will make sure she gets the needed help and attention. We would never be able to leave our dogs without this great care. Also, we have asked Melinda to come in the evenings to walk our younger dog. She will also come for a 2-3 hour pet sitting need. She keeps us informed about our dogs and sends pictures. She also does extra things like watering plants, dishes and things ”

— CAROL H.

“Melinda was phenomenal. She took care of our seven Frenchies while we were gone for three days, stayed in touch with us, sent pictures and instilled confidence in us that she had the pack in control. She went above and beyond by learning the personality of each of the dogs, playing outdoors with them and left our home in better condition than when we left. We would love to have her sit our dogs again and recommend her to anyone wanting a true professional pet sitter.”

— TOM D.

“Melinda did an excellent job with our two difficult dogs. She was completely thorough in getting all the information about the dogs and our home, since she was spending the night. Her resume is outstanding and she has a wealth of information and education about the safety and health of animals. She truly cares about our animals. She kept us up-to-date about the dogs, sending texts and pics. When we arrived home, Melinda had cleared the bedding and sheets. I would highly recommend Melinda. I can’t think that anyone else could have done a better job. She is truly a professional.”

— RUTH D.

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