We’ve got news!
After 23 years since founding The Pet Elf, Kim is retiring in April. We’re excited to welcome Brandon Savage on board as our new owner/operator. Brandon is an experienced business owner, entrepreneur, leader and pet lover. I believe under Brandon’s leadership that The Pet Elf will only improve and grow to new heights.
The past 23 years have been the most rewarding and fulfilling job I could have ever imagined. We’ve cared for thousands of pets, and I’ve come to know many of you like family. I thank each and every one of you for helping create The Pet Elf into the flourishing company it is today. We thrive because of wonderful clients like you. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure caring for your pets.
Brandon looks forward to continuing the legacy of The Pet Elf, and our commitment to our clients remains unchanged. We look forward to providing you with years of service for you and your pets. Please feel free to give us a call with any questions you might have, or reach out to petelf@petelf.com.
~ Kim & Brandon
COVID Protocol – Update
Everyone has done a great job of adhering to the mask mandates for the last year, and the number of active cases has dropped. The Governor’s office has released Executive Order 79, which ends public health restrictions and encourages following mask wearing guidelines.
Clients and staff are still encouraged to follow the Virginia Dept. of Heath and CDC guidelines referenced in the order.
- Fully vaccinated people do not have to wear masks or practice physical distancing in most indoor or outdoor settings except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.
- Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people aged 2 years and older should continue to wear masks and practice physical distancing in most indoor and outdoor settings in accordance with CDC recommendations.
In our office: (Regus Policy) Unvaccinated customers and team members must still wear face coverings, per CDC guidance in all common areas. Masks will not be required when inside private offices or meeting rooms.
In clients’ homes: Our staff continues to wear a mask when indoors with clients whose vaccination status is unknown.
We advise you to continue to adhere to the advice on precautionary hygiene measures and physical distancing for the time being and to help keep everyone safe.
COVID Update/Mask Mandate
I want to remind everyone that we are still under a mask mandate, as COVID cases and positivity rates continue to rise.
For the protection of all of us, we ask that you please wear a mask when interacting with your dog walker or pet sitter.
If you are working in another part of the home, the dog walker can enter and leash the dog and exit. If space limitations or other concerns necessitate greeting them at the door, please mask up.
We’ve all been doing a great job of dealing with this for 10 months, and we appreciate your efforts to keep each other safe.
Governor’s Executive Order Dec. 10, 2020
VA Dept. of Health Recommendations
Please, stay safe, mask up and keep washing your hands. We appreciate it so much.
COVID-19 Precautions
As we move into Phase 2 reopening, we want to remind clients of our ongoing COVID-19 precautions.
- Our sitters continue to monitor their own health, and if sick, do not continue to make visits.
- Continue practicing washing our hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after each dog walk.
- Use hand sanitizer in car between each visit.
- Wear a mask, covering our mouth and nose, when we go into a client’s home to leash the dog and drop them back off.
- If we are entering an apartment building, use single-use gloves and/or hand sanitizer when opening the common doors/elevators etc.
- Maintain at least 6 feet distance between ourselves and another person.
- Limit in-person work-related gatherings.
Clients can help by also adhering to the recommended safety practices. We will also be limiting our contact in your home such as food/water clean up (if you are home while we are dog walking). For pet sitting clients, we will follow our normal pet care routines, and clean kitchen/pet areas after each contact.
Our collective efforts have made a positive difference in fighting this virus, and we must remain vigilant as restrictions are slowly lifted.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response
As you all know, this situation is changing rapidly and as such our response may change in the next coming days and weeks. This is our response as of March 16, 2020. -Kim 
Dear Clients,
The health and well-being of our clients and staff is of the utmost importance at The Pet Elf, and I wanted to update you all as we navigate the evolving impact of coronavirus on our community.
At this time, no one knows how severe this outbreak will be. Given this uncertainty, and the fact that the seasonal flu virus is also widespread, we want to make sure everyone is taking proactive steps to stay healthy. First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of both sitters and clients. We also want to ensure the continuity of business operations in the face of a pandemic, if possible.
Our pet sitters and dog walkers are following CDC and WHO guidelines to take necessary steps to reduce the transmission of communicable disease. This includes washing hands frequently, and using hand sanitizer, which as pet sitters, is a commonly accepted practice in the course of a normal workday. Sick sitters are requested to stay home, and we would ask that if you have anyone sick in your home, please cancel your visits.
If you are working from home, but healthy, please consider keeping your scheduled walks in place. The routine is important for your dog, and reduces the financial impact on your dog walker. We have not assessed any cancellation fees for cancelling dog walking or pet sitting visits, but our sitters do not get paid when they are not working. If you don’t want to have any contact with a dog walker, you may also cancel the walks while still being invoiced as usual. While not everyone is in a position to do this, we want those clients who have offered to keep paying to know how appreciated they are.
The good news is working outside is one of the safest places to be, and the virus is not spread in the air. It is spread person to person through respiratory drops when one person coughs or sneezes and another inhales the droplets. According to the CDC, It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. And according to the World Health Organization, there is no evidence to suggest that dogs or cats have become ill with this virus or will become a source of infection of COVID-19 in other animals or humans.
Our management team (Kim and Nikki) will be working from home, and email to petelf@petelf.com is the best way to reach us. Please feel free to email or call to discuss your particular needs.
We want everyone to feel safe, while continuing to serve our clients to the best of our ability.
If you have any concerns, please let me know.
Kim Waite-Williams
President & Owner
Holiday Happenings (Pet Friendly!)
The winter holidays are underway, and here’s a roundup of pet-friendly events in our area (and close).
Pet Photos with Santa to benefit HART
Friday, Dec 6th
6:30-8:30 PM
Pet Supplies Plus
5629 Stone Rd
Centreville, VA 20120
Saturday, Dec 7th
11:00 AM-2:00 PM
Banfield in the Greenbriar Shopping Center.
13063 Lee Jackson Mem Hwy
Suite H
Fairfax, VA 22033
Bull Run Harley Davidson
Sun, Dec 8, 10:30 AM
Photos with Santa (and your pets, dogs and cats!)
Manassas, VA
Free
Benefits Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation
Pet Photos With Santa Fundraiser
Sun, Dec 8, 11:00 AM
The Brig DC, Washington, DC
Starts at $15.00
Benefits Rural Dog Rescue
Merriweather “Tail Lights”
Merriweather Post Pavilion
Columbia, MD
Monday, December 9, 2019
6:00pm – 7:30pm
$10 – 15
Enchant Christmas
Paws & Claus
Christmas Light Maze & Market
Nationals Park, Washington DC
Monday, December 16, 2019
4:30 – 11:30 pm
$16 – 31
We’ve Moved!
Our office has moved!
To continue our commitment to excellent customer service, we’ve moved to the Regus professional building at 12020 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 137, Reston, VA 20191.
To continue our commitment to excellent customer service, we’ve moved to the Regus professional building at 12020 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 137, Reston, VA 20191.
Effective April 1, 2019 we will be located in the Regus building, conveniently located on Sunrise Valley in Reston. There is plenty of parking, and we’re right inside the double doors to your right as you enter the building.
Our office hours remain 9:00 – 5:00, Monday – Friday, and you may drop off and pick up keys during those hours. The Regus Community Manager, Roland and his front desk team are happy to assist you!
*Note: please call for an appointment to see us personally, as we are often out with clients and pets. The front desk is fully staffed for drop offs 9:00 – 5:00.
Please call us at 703-476-9286 with any questions, or for help with directions.
We’re conveniently located on Sunrise Valley and Reston Parkway.
A Safe & Happy July 4th!
Did you know more pets go missing this time of year than any other? While there’s plenty to do on the 4th of July holiday in Reston and Herndon, it’s not a dog-friendly time of year. The commotion, stress, heat and parties can be too much for our pets. According to the ASPCA, one in five dogs go missing due running from a loud noise; including fireworks. They’ve developed an important mobile phone app that can help you be prepared in the event of an emergency.
Don’t let your dog become a statistic. Keep him indoors, and walk on a close leash for his relief breaks. Please don’t leave your dog unattended in a yard. If you’re having guests, let them know not to feed him “people” food. And if you’re gathering outside, don’t let your dog become overheated, and keep him on a leash.
Always make sure your pet has current ID, or a microchip, to improve the odds of reuniting.
Keep the radio and TV on to help cover outdoor noise. And once dusk falls, it might be a good idea to move your pets to a quiet, back bedroom where they will feel safe. Play some indoor games, with treats as rewards. Nothing is distracting as a good treat!
If you need to be away from home, our overnight staff will be happy to stay with your pets, and keep them safe, happy and entertained. Our holidays book months in advance, so it’s never to early to get on the schedule for major holidays!
Have a safe, happy 4th of July!
Why Is My Pet Sitter So Nosy??
We do ask a LOT of questions! Find out more about the experiences that shape and test our policies.
