Learn
Local pet rules, safety and health basics, explained plainly and sourced.
Learn
How long a cat can be left alone
What cat health groups actually say about food, water, litter and the problems that can't wait for your return.
Read the guideLearnDC dog parks and dog exercise areas
What DC requires before your dog runs off leash in a DPR dog park, the posted rules, and how new parks are proposed.
Read the guideLearnDC leash and dog waste rules
The six-foot leash rule, where dogs may be off leash, and the pickup rule, with the DC Code and DCMR sections.
Read the guideLearnDog bite prevention and body language
The warning signs to watch for, safer greetings on busy sidewalks, and what to do after a bite in DC.
Read the guideLearnPet rules in Mount Rainier and Prince George's County
County licensing, Maryland's rabies rule and Mount Rainier's leash law, side by side with the DC rules next door.
Read the guideLearnSeparation anxiety in dogs
How to tell separation anxiety from boredom, what helps, what makes it worse, and when to call your vet.
Read the guideLearnSummer heat and hot car safety for pets
DC rules on pets outdoors in heat and in parked cars, heatstroke signs, hot pavement and walk timing.
Read the guideLearnFoods and plants toxic to dogs and cats
Foods, plants, medicines and household products the ASPCA and FDA flag for pets, and who to call.
Read the guideLearnWinter cold and ice melt safety for pets
DC's cold-weather rule for pets, hypothermia and frostbite signs, ice melt, antifreeze and snow-day walks.
Read the guideLearnDiseases pets can share with people
Rabies, leptospirosis and parasites in pet waste: how they spread in the city and the habits that lower the risk.
Read the guideCompare
Care options side by side, with the pets each one fits.
Compare
Cat sitter vs. automatic feeder
When a timed feeder is enough, what it can't cover, and how a feeder plus sitter visits can work together.
Read the guideCompareCat sitting vs boarding a cat
Why many cats cope better at home, what travel and boarding can do to appetite, and when a vet clinic stay fits.
Read the guideCompareDog park vs leashed walk
Which dogs enjoy off-leash play at a DC dog park, which do better on a leashed walk, and the rules to know first.
Read the guideCompareDog walker vs doggy daycare
How a midday walk and a day at daycare differ, and which dogs tend to do well with each.
Read the guideCompareDrop-in visits vs overnight pet sitting
Which pets do fine with visits, which need a sitter in the house overnight, and how medicine times affect the choice.
Read the guideCompareGroup walks vs solo walks
Which dogs enjoy a matched group walk, which do better alone, and the signs it is time to switch.
Read the guideCompareIn-home pet sitting vs boarding
How a sitter at home compares with a boarding facility for routine, health risks, seniors and cost.
Read the guideCompareVet boarding vs in-home care for medical needs
When a pet on medicine, insulin or post-surgery care does well at home, and when a vet hospital stay is safer.
Read the guideCompareMicrochip vs ID tag vs DC dog license
Four kinds of pet ID compared: who can read each one, what it needs from you, and what DC law requires.
Read the guideCompare15, 30 or 60-minute dog walks
How to choose between a potty break, a standard walk and a long walk for your dog's age, energy and health.
Read the guideDecide
What to check, what to ask, and what to do before your first visit.
Decide
What bonded and insured mean for pet sitters
Plain definitions of liability insurance, bonds and workers' comp for pet sitters, and how to ask for proof.
Read the guideDecideHow to license your dog in DC
Who needs a DC dog license, the vaccines that come first, what to upload, and how renewal works.
Read the guideDecideFirst-week checklist for a new walker or sitter
What to set up before the first visit, what to watch on the first walks, and what to adjust in week one.
Read the guideDecideBooking pet care for holidays and travel
When to book, what to set up before you leave, holiday hazards to put away, and what to do if your flight is delayed.
Read the guideDecideHow to choose a pet sitter or dog walker
A checklist for vetting a sitter or walker: license, insurance, background check, reviews, contract and backup plan.
Read the guideDecideKeys, lockboxes and smart locks for sitters
How to give a sitter or walker safe access: keys, lockboxes, smart locks, front desks and alarm codes.
Read the guideDecideQuestions to ask at a meet-and-greet
What to ask a new sitter or walker in your home, why it matters, and how to run the meeting for a nervous pet.
Read the guideDecideWhen a new puppy can start walks
How to balance early socialization with disease risk, and how to start your puppy's first walks.
Read the guideDecidePet emergency plan while you are away
Vet authorization, a spending limit, emergency numbers, a first aid kit and a disaster plan for your sitter.
Read the guideDecidePreparing your cat for a cat sitter
Supplies, hiding spots, the carrier, toxic plants and the signs your sitter should call you about.
Read the guideMore from Danny's Pet Care
See what we offer on our services and rates pages, check the neighborhoods we cover, or read more tips on our blog. New clients start with a meet-and-greet booked through our client forms.
This guide is general information for pet owners in Northeast Washington, DC and Mount Rainier, MD. It is not veterinary or legal advice. Rules and health guidance change, so check with your vet, DC Health or Prince George's County before you act, and call your vet in an emergency.
