Ruff Life offers loving in-home care for your precious pets when you cannot be there yourself. From potty breaks to daily dog walks, doggy outings to overnight stays while you are away, we will work with you to put together a package that best fits yours and your pets needs! All of our service rates are customized based on your pets, their needs, your expectations, and your location.
Areas Serviced by Ruff Life Portland Pet Care:
We live in SE Portland, therefore we generally service SE and NE Portland.
(south to Woodstock, north to Killingsworth ST, east to I-205, west to I-5.)
Now Serving Sellwood/Moreland!!
Not in our service area? Please see the Links page for other pet sitters and dog walkers in the Portland Metro Area.
We live in SE Portland, therefore we generally service SE and NE Portland.
(south to Woodstock, north to Killingsworth ST, east to I-205, west to I-5.)
Now Serving Sellwood/Moreland!!
Not in our service area? Please see the Links page for other pet sitters and dog walkers in the Portland Metro Area.
| Ruff Guide to Rates* | |||
| Services | Rate (Up to 3 Pets) |
Discounted Rate (for Overnight Stay clients) |
Additional Pets |
| Overnight Stay | $50 | --- | $5 |
| Quick Visit | $12 | $10 | --- |
| 30 Minute Mid-Day Visit | $17 | $15 | $3 |
| 60 Minute Mid-Day Visit | $25 | $20 | $3 |
| Additional 15 minutes
(added to mid-day visits) |
$5 | --- | --- |
| Doggy Outing | $25/dog | $20 | $10 |
| Consultation or key exchange visits
(Per 15 minutes) |
$15 | --- | --- |
| Animal Taxi or Pet Errands
(Plus $1/Mile round-trip) |
$25/hour | --- | --- |
| Holiday Surcharge
(See Details in "Notes" below) |
$5 - $10 | --- | --- |
| Small Animal Massage
See Massage page for details. |
$20 and up |
*Notes about Ruff Rates:
- Rates may change at any time. Established clients will be notified of rate changes before being charged the updated rates.
- Above rates are estimates only. Actual rates will be determined based on your situation, location, and desired dates and services.
- Visits include up to 3 animals; walks include up to 2 large or 3 small dogs, additional dogs may need to be walked separately, which may result in an additional fee.
- Animals requiring lengthy or complicated care may be charged an additional fee, which will be discussed during the initial consultation; however, the time it takes to do a requested task is not always apparent at the consultation, and we therefore may need to charge an additional fee without prior discussion.
- Not sure if you can afford to hire a pet sitter?...We are open to trades, let us know what you have to offer.
- For clients who live outside of our regular service area, please note that a charge of $1 per mile per round-trip-visit will be added to your invoice to help cover traveling expenses and vehicle maintenance.
- Holiday Surcharges:
- A Holiday Surcharge of $10 will be added to each visit on New Years Eve, New Years Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
- A holiday surcharge of $5 will be added to each visit on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, and Halloween.
- Cancellation Charges:
- Regularly scheduled daily visits:
- There is no charge for cancellations of regularly scheduled daily visits IF you notify your sitter via cell phone at least 2 hours in advance of the scheduled visit.
- You will be charged in full for that days visit if you cancel with less than 2 hours notice.
- Advance notice is kindly requested for major changes in your service or cancellation of regularly scheduled services. Major changes to your service schedule that result in a loss of income require 2 weeks notice; if you give less than 2 weeks notice you will be billed in full.
- Vacation Pet Sitting visits and Overnight Stays:
- There is no charge for cancellations of services IF you notify us at least 1 week in advance of the scheduled service start date.
- If you notify us less than 1 week but more than 48 hours in advance of the scheduled service start date & time, you will be charged 50% of the expected charges.
- If you notify us less than 48 hours in advance of the scheduled service start date & time, you will be charged IN FULL.
- If you return early from your trip and therefore end your services before the scheduled end date, the same rules will apply.
Description of Services:
Quick Visit gives your dog a quick break in the middle of the day to stretch and get outside to take care of business. (10 minutes, includes up to 3 animals)
Regular Mid-Day Visit may include petting, brushing, playing, litter box cleaning, feeding, fresh water, walk for the dogs, and anything else you desire for your pets. (30-40 minutes, includes up to 3 animals)
Overnight Stays involve a sitter staying overnight in your home to care for your pets. Overnight stays cover a 10-hour period from approximately 9pm until 7am, though the sitter may be at your home longer depending on other obligations during the day. Morning feeding and a walk for the dogs are included. Visits during the day are available at a discounted rate, see rates above (rates valid only on days before or after an overnight stay). We will do everything included in a mid day visit, and also give your home a lived-in look by rotating lights and curtains, bringing in your mail & newspaper, occasionally moving parked cars, moving trash & recycling to the curb, watering your lawn & plants, and other day to day tasks that you do when you are home yourself. (10+ hours, includes up to 3 animals)
Doggy Outings will be scheduled 1-3 hour trips to a dog park or other dog off-leash area where they can run and socialize with other dogs. Rate includes pick-up and drop-off, Your dogs MUST have off-leash experience and be current on all vaccinations to come along on an outing. They should be comfortable riding in a car or truck while not in a crate. Additionally, I must be familiar with your dog from a previous service (dog walk or overnight stay). If you are interested in doggy outings, please contact me .
Animal Taxi or Pet Errands include yard clean-up, animal taxi, pick-up and delivery of pet food & other pet products, locksmith services (for clients with keys on file), and any other services that are above & beyond regular care. Feel free to suggest other services that you would like to see offered by Ruff Life!
Quick Visit gives your dog a quick break in the middle of the day to stretch and get outside to take care of business. (10 minutes, includes up to 3 animals)
Regular Mid-Day Visit may include petting, brushing, playing, litter box cleaning, feeding, fresh water, walk for the dogs, and anything else you desire for your pets. (30-40 minutes, includes up to 3 animals)
Overnight Stays involve a sitter staying overnight in your home to care for your pets. Overnight stays cover a 10-hour period from approximately 9pm until 7am, though the sitter may be at your home longer depending on other obligations during the day. Morning feeding and a walk for the dogs are included. Visits during the day are available at a discounted rate, see rates above (rates valid only on days before or after an overnight stay). We will do everything included in a mid day visit, and also give your home a lived-in look by rotating lights and curtains, bringing in your mail & newspaper, occasionally moving parked cars, moving trash & recycling to the curb, watering your lawn & plants, and other day to day tasks that you do when you are home yourself. (10+ hours, includes up to 3 animals)
Doggy Outings will be scheduled 1-3 hour trips to a dog park or other dog off-leash area where they can run and socialize with other dogs. Rate includes pick-up and drop-off, Your dogs MUST have off-leash experience and be current on all vaccinations to come along on an outing. They should be comfortable riding in a car or truck while not in a crate. Additionally, I must be familiar with your dog from a previous service (dog walk or overnight stay). If you are interested in doggy outings, please contact me .
Animal Taxi or Pet Errands include yard clean-up, animal taxi, pick-up and delivery of pet food & other pet products, locksmith services (for clients with keys on file), and any other services that are above & beyond regular care. Feel free to suggest other services that you would like to see offered by Ruff Life!
How to Request and Schedule Services
We require an initial consultation and pet meet for all new clients before services will be provided. This allows us to meet you and the animals and familiarize ourselves with your home and the animals' routine. It is also a time to discuss your and your pets needs, to determine your estimated rates for service, to answer any questions you have about Ruff Life and our services, to look over our forms and contract, and to pick up your house keys. The initial consultation is free, even if you decide not to use Ruff Life for your pet care needs.
If additional consultations or key exchange visits are required, you will be billed based on the length of time needed ($15 per 15-minutes).
To request services and set up an initial consultation, please fill out a contact form
- First look at the calendar to determine if we are available for the dates you plan to be away. We will clearly indicate if we are fully booked on the calendar. If it says "overnight stay", that means we are staying at a clients home, though we may still have openings for mid-day visits.
- Second, contact us and let us know what services you are interested in and when. Please be as specific as possible when emailing or leaving a message.
- Third, we will get back to you with any additional questions we may have, and if we are available for the dates you need, we'll set up an initial consultation and go from there.
Please note...We try to return calls as quickly as we can, though when really busy or staying clients home it may take
several days to get back to you. We are usually able to respond to emails daily, so if you
need last-minute services, email is best.
We require an initial consultation and pet meet for all new clients before services will be provided. This allows us to meet you and the animals and familiarize ourselves with your home and the animals' routine. It is also a time to discuss your and your pets needs, to determine your estimated rates for service, to answer any questions you have about Ruff Life and our services, to look over our forms and contract, and to pick up your house keys. The initial consultation is free, even if you decide not to use Ruff Life for your pet care needs.
If additional consultations or key exchange visits are required, you will be billed based on the length of time needed ($15 per 15-minutes).
To request services and set up an initial consultation, please fill out a contact form
Benefits of hiring a pet sitter vs. bringing pets to a boarding facility or kennel:
- While some pets do just fine in a boarding facility, many become stressed out due to too many changes all at once.
- Your pets can stay in their regular environment.
- Your pets can stick to their normal routine.
- Your pets get individualized attention from the pet sitter.
- Your pets won't have the stress of an unfamiliar environment on top of the stress of their owner being away.
- Your pets won't have to share space with a bunch of animals they don't know.
- Your pets won't have to be confined in a kennel or small room for a large part of their day.
- Your home has someone keeping an eye on it and making it look lived-in while you are away.
- You can relax on your trip knowing that your pets and home are being well cared for, and that all of their needs are being met by a loving pet sitter.
