Petsitters Launched Holiday Opening

Owners: Terry and Teri Collins

Address: 13523 Gooseberry Road, Bentonville 72712

Phone: (501) 273-3858

Hours: 24 hours a day

Start-up date: Nov. 19

Husband and wife Terry and Teri Collins launched Home Sweet Home Petsitters in time to oblige holiday travelers who don’t want to board their family pets. Clients who hire the couple to pet sit leave their pets at home, and the Collinses visit the animals daily.

The business offers care for most domestic pets, including cats, dogs, birds and ferrets, but the Collinses do not pet sit for reptiles or spiders.

Home Sweet Home Petsitters can do single- or double-daily visits. Basic rates range from $15 per day for a single weekday visit to $30 per day for two Saturday or Sunday visits. The standard rate includes up to two pets, and each additional pet costs $3 more. Pet sitting for any one of seven holidays — including Christmas Day and Thanksgiving Day — costs $10 extra.

The Collinses also charge 40 cents per mile for visits more than 10 miles away from their Bentonville home.

During the visits, the sitters feed, water and play with the pets. The Collinses also make the house look occupied by bringing in the mail and newspapers, turning on interior lights and watering house plants.

For extra fees, Home Sweet Home Petsitters offers veterinarian visits, bathing, teeth brushing, toenail trimming and walking (for the pets, that is).

Terry Collins said he and his wife operate the bonded business alone, and they are each willing to visit up to six homes per day.