Business Details
29 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Professional Pet Sitting Services in Dayton, OH
Special Friends Pet Sitting Service has been dedicated to professional pet care in the Dayton area since 1997. Our team of certified professionals provides in-home pet sitting, midday dog walking, overnight stays, and specialized care for pets with unique needs. All staff members undergo rigorous background checks, maintain bonding and insurance, and receive training in pet first aid and CPR. With two certified dog trainers boasting 25+ years of combined experience, we offer personalized training solutions directly in clients' homes. Our service extends beyond pet care to include house sitting, plant maintenance, and mail management, ensuring comprehensive support for pet owners during absences.Operating across Beavercreek, Kettering, Oakwood, Riverside, Downtown Dayton, and surrounding communities, we combine deep local knowledge with unwavering commitment to animal welfare. Founder Alicia Heidorn's 20-year tenure at SICSA and extensive rescue organization involvement underscore our expertise in compassionate pet care. We maintain strict service standards through continuous staff development and client feedback mechanisms, ensuring every pet receives care meeting our own high expectations for our family members.
Services
Dog Walking
Pet Sitting
Overnight Care
House Sitting
Litter Box Cleaning
Pet Transportation
First Aid Classes
Details
- Year established: 1997
Highlights and features
- Certified dog trainers with 25+ years of combined experience
- All pet sitters background checked, bonded, and insured
- 24/7 emergency pet care services available
- Satisfaction guaranteed with personalized care plans
- Serving Dayton communities since 1997 with proven reliability
What people say
Reliable and Trustworthy
Professional and knowledgeable
Happy and healthy pets
Accommodating last-minute requests
Highly recommend
Services
Midday Dog Walking
Our midday dog walking service provides essential exercise and bathroom breaks for pets during work hours. Each 20-minute visit maintains your pet's routine while offering social interaction and security checks for your home. This service particularly benefits dogs requiring regular elimination schedules or those showing anxiety when left alone for extended periods.
Vacation Care
Customizable vacation care includes 30-minute to hourly visits up to four times daily for comprehensive pet maintenance. Our caregivers administer medications, provide feeding schedules, and ensure continuous companionship while implementing home security measures like mail collection and light rotation.
Overnight Stays
Compassionate overnight care services cater to elderly or special needs pets requiring constant supervision. Our caregivers reside in your home to maintain medical routines, administer medications, and provide continuous emotional support while ensuring household security throughout the night.
House Sitting & Plant Care
This comprehensive service combines pet care with household management during owner absences. Our staff waters plants, manages trash collection, performs security checks, and maintains daily household functions to protect property value and provide complete peace of mind.
Pet First Aid Classes
Certified pet first aid courses teach emergency response techniques for common animal emergencies. Participants learn CPR, wound management, and emergency transport procedures through hands-on training led by experienced veterinary professionals, with certification valid for two years.
People
Alicia Heidorn
Founder
With over 25 years in animal care, Alicia founded Special Friends after extensive SICSA volunteer work. Her expertise in pet first aid and rescue operations shapes our quality care standards. She maintains active involvement in multiple pet rescue organizations.
Mary
Pet Sitter
Retired engineer Mary joined in 2019, combining lifelong animal passion with professional experience. SICSA volunteer since 1995, she brings auction organization and therapy program expertise. Specializes in senior pet care and dog walking.
Michelle
Pet Sitter
Team member since 2005, Michelle combines pet sitting with human caregiving experience. Certified in photography and graphic design, she documents pet visits professionally. Her senior Pomeranian informs her empathetic approach to elderly pet care.
Phyllis
Pet Sitter
Joined in 2022 after decades of pet ownership experience. Retired professional focuses on travel flexibility for pet care. Specializes in personalized attention for pets with established routines, drawing from extensive cat and dog care background.
Kristie
Pet Sitter
High school teacher Kristie joined in 2023, merging education skills with animal care. With multiple pets and granddogs, she understands diverse animal personalities. Specializes in compassionate care for pets with specific dietary or mobility needs.
Questions
What pet care services do you offer?
We provide midday dog walking, vacation pet sitting, overnight stays, house sitting with plant care, litter box cleaning, pet transportation, and first aid training classes.
Do you care for exotic pets?
Yes, our trained staff handles birds, reptiles, exotic animals, and horses in addition to standard dogs and cats during in-home visits.
Are your services available 24/7?
Emergency pet care services operate 24/7, with regular office hours Monday-Friday 9am-6pm and Saturday 9am-5pm.
How are pet sitters qualified?
All staff undergo background checks, receive bonding/insurance coverage, and complete pet first aid/CPR training. Our two certified dog trainers have 25+ years experience.
What areas do you serve?
We service Beavercreek, Kettering, Oakwood, Riverside, Downtown Dayton, WPAFB, Fairborn, Eastmont, Bellbrook, Xenia, and Belmont areas.
Can you accommodate last-minute requests?
Yes, we prioritize emergency situations and have successfully handled multiple last-minute bookings, including holiday weekend emergencies.
Reviews (6)
Candace B.
May 29, 2022
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I rely heavily on Alicia Heidorn and her staff to take care of my precious pup, Winston. I am a busy professional who travels several times per week and I always know that Winston is in the best of care when I have to leave him with Special Friends Pet Sitting Service. Put your mind at ease if you leave your "pet baby" with these wonderful folks. They are the best!
Benjamin Putnam
Jan 25, 2022
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We've used SFPSS whenever we go out of town. MJ takes great care of our dogs. We can enjoy our time away knowing that they are taken care of. She takes great care to make sure they get some attention each visit. The service is most definitely worth the price. Wouldn't use anyone else!
Angela Myrick
Jan 23, 2022
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Trustworthy. Friendly. Most important. Family. If you love your pets, you should no longer pay high fees for boarding services. Special Friends Pet Sitting treats you and your fur babies like family and are reasonably priced. Alicia is a professional care giver and we love her. She always went above and beyond caring for my pets.
Melinda Landry
Dec 12, 2021
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We have been using Special Friend Pet Sitting for 12 years and I can't say enough. They are amazing. Our animal love our sitters and we have a house full. I don't have to worry about them when we are gone because I know they are safe and getting the best care. Thank you for your amazing service.
Neha Patel
Jul 04, 2021
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Absolutely the best pet sitting service around. We will miss MJ and Miss Alicia they treat your pets like their own. You will not go wrong in choosing them!
Gnu Graeter
Jun 02, 2021
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We have used Special Friends on multiple occasions for our senior cats and they have done a fantastic job! We get messages and pictures from the visits which we appreciate. :-
