Local service guide
Pet sitting in Philadelphia: walks and boarding
Arrange pet sitting in Philadelphia by choosing where your pet will stay, agreeing on visit times and tasks, and meeting the person who will provide care before you book. For dog walks, specify a route and a leash six feet or shorter. For boarding at a provider’s premises, ask for city kennel registration: Philly311 says dog and cat boarding kennels of any size must register. Put access arrangements, emergency authority, and backup coverage in writing. [1] [3]
Choose the care arrangement before requesting quotes
Start with your pet’s routine and the gaps you need someone to cover. Write down feeding times, toilet breaks, walks, litter care, medication instructions, and the longest absence you are willing to accept. Ask your veterinarian about care requirements if your pet has a medical condition.
For visits in your home, agree on arrival windows, time spent with the pet, and the tasks included. For overnight care, ask when the sitter arrives, when they leave, and whether they take other appointments during the day. For boarding, arrange to see where your pet will sleep and ask about other animals, separation, supervision, and outdoor access.
Request an itemized total for your dates. Ask about extra pets, medication tasks, holiday charges, key collection, cancellations, and late pickup. Compare the amount of care you will receive, including any gaps between visits. Keep your written instructions with the booking so a substitute can follow the same plan.
Agree on a walking route and dog-run permission
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation says the city requires dogs to use a leash six feet or shorter and owners to clean up pet waste. On Parks & Rec property, handlers may walk dogs on that leash unless signs designate an animal-free area. The department identifies playgrounds, ballfields, spraygrounds, athletic courts, and gardens as common locations for these restrictions. [1]
Walk your proposed route with the sitter during the meet-and-greet. Point out entrances, posted restrictions, and places you want them to avoid. Explain how you handle passing dogs and crowded sidewalks. Specify whether the appointment includes a solo walk or a group walk, and ask who will hold the leash.
Give separate permission for dog-run visits. Parks & Rec describes dog runs as fenced areas for unleashed exercise and requires users to follow each facility’s posted rules. Its list includes Schuylkill River Park at 25th and Spruce Streets and Pretzel Park at 4300 Silverwood Street. Choose a run only after discussing your dog’s behavior and the walker’s supervision plan. [1]
Check boarding registration and inspection records
Philly311 says all kennels must register with the City of Philadelphia, including dog or cat boarding kennels of any size. Before leaving your pet at a provider’s premises, ask for the registered business name and address. Confirm that those details match the place where your pet will stay. [3]
Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture provides a public search for kennels licensed with its Dog Law Enforcement Office. You can search by business name, license number, county, city, or ZIP code and view inspection documents. If the provider holds a state kennel license, request its exact number and use it for the lookup. [4]
Read the available records and ask the provider to explain concerns relevant to your booking. The department says inspections eight or more years old leave the public search under its records-retention schedule. If you cannot find a provider, ask the provider and the agency about its status rather than treating an empty result as proof of compliance or a violation. [4]
Prepare license records and a weather backup
Philly311 states that dog licenses require annual renewal and that service providers must verify an animal’s license before providing service. Have your dog’s current license information ready when you arrange care. Ask which other records the sitter needs, and leave your veterinarian’s contact details with your care instructions. [3]
For any arrangement that includes outdoor housing, ask to see the shelter and water supply. The city requires outdoor dogs to have drinking water and a suitable shelter with clean bedding. During Code Blue, the shelter also needs a door or another entrance windbreak; during Code Red, the dog needs shade covering its whole body. [2]
Agree in advance how the sitter should change a walk during severe weather, contact you, and provide indoor attention or a toilet break. Ask your veterinarian for limits appropriate to your pet. Do not use the city’s outdoor-housing requirements as a walking-temperature guide; that page supplies no numerical walking cutoff. [2]
Make the handover specific
Introduce the sitter to your pet before the first unattended appointment. Demonstrate the harness, food portions, locks, and any care task you expect them to perform. Ask them to repeat medication instructions back to you, and resolve uncertainty with your veterinarian before you leave.
Decide how the sitter will confirm arrival and departure, report appetite or behavior changes, and reach you if they cannot enter the home. Name a backup contact who can help. Record emergency veterinary authorization and your spending instructions, then confirm who takes over if the sitter becomes unavailable.
Philadelphia’s published annual dog license fees
Local details that affect your job
A nearby park may contain animal-free areas
Parks & Rec allows leashed dogs on its property except where it posts animal-free areas. Ask your walker to check signs along the proposed route rather than assuming the whole park permits dogs. Agree on a route that avoids restricted playgrounds or other posted spaces. [1]
Small boarding operations still need city registration
Philly311 includes dog and cat boarding kennels of any size in the city’s kennel-registration requirement. Ask about registration even when a provider offers boarding in a small setting. Obtain the name and address for the actual boarding premises before paying. [3]
Outdoor care needs a Code Blue and Code Red plan
The city requires an entrance door or windbreak for outdoor dog shelters during Code Blue and full-body shade during Code Red. Ask a boarder how it meets those requirements and where your dog will stay if you agree on indoor care instead. [2]
Match the arrangement to the care you need
| Your need | Arrangement to discuss | Confirm before booking |
|---|---|---|
| Care while you are out | Home visit or dog walk | Arrival window, time with your pet, tasks, and route |
| Someone present overnight | Sitter in your home | Arrival and departure times, daytime absences, and backup access |
| Care at another premises | Boarding | City kennel registration, sleeping area, supervision, and separation |
| Off-leash exercise | A permitted dog-run visit | Your permission and compliance with the facility’s posted rules |
| Care involving outdoor housing | Boarding with an agreed weather plan | Drinking water, shelter, Code Blue windbreak, and Code Red shade |
Your hiring checklist
- Write your travel dates, visit windows, feeding routine, and required care tasks.
- Meet the person providing care and demonstrate handling and home access.
- Agree on a walking route, group-walk permission, and dog-run permission.
- Request the boarding premises’ registration details before booking.
- Provide license information, veterinary contacts, and written medication instructions.
- Confirm the total charge, cancellation terms, and any pickup or key-return charges.
- Name a backup caregiver and agree on emergency authority and spending instructions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my dog walker use a long leash in a city park?
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation states that dogs must use a leash six feet or shorter. Agree on suitable equipment before the walk and have the walker follow animal-free-area signs. Designated dog runs permit unleashed exercise under their posted rules. [1]
Should I ask a small boarding provider about registration?
Yes. Philly311 says dog and cat boarding kennels of any size must register with the city. Ask for the registration details and address of the premises where your pet will stay. [3]
How can I check a Pennsylvania kennel’s inspection history?
Use the Department of Agriculture’s public kennel inspection search with the exact business name or state license number. The search covers kennels licensed with Dog Law Enforcement. Inspections eight or more years old no longer appear in that public search. [4]
How much should I budget for sitting or walking?
Ask providers for written quotes covering the same dates, visit lengths, tasks, and number of pets. The official fees shown here concern dog licensing, not sitter charges. Keep those fees separate from your care budget and ask which extras the provider may charge. [3]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.