For a couple of years or more, Doug has cared for our critters whenever we've gone away, and I have nothing but praises to sing. The dogs and cat are all happy and comfortable on our return, and everything's in order. He's so much more reasonable than boarding, and the animals are a whole lot happier staying in their own house.

Doug's the best.

Friends, please, beware. Ths man (owner Doug Ridenour) lost our beloved family cat. Not only did he lock her outside overnight (a declawed, strictly indoor cat), but when he realized it, he said he couldn't look for her because he didn't have a flashlight! Our neighborhood has coyotes, and he knew that. The next day, he was "too busy" to look for her, and 48 hours later, he still hadn't notified our family that she was missing. From 5000 miles away, we felt helpless. We asked him to PLEASE keep the patio door open so she could come back in, and, to put up flyers. My son arrived unannounced eight hours later to find the patio door LOCKED, and no flyers up even though I had designed and emailed one to him and he had promised to put them up after it "stopped raining." We later learned from neighbors that it had not been raining. Other excuses included that he was "overwhelmed" and "confused" because of all the pets under his care, that he didn't have thumb tacks or tape to put the flyers up, and that our cat was "probably locked in a closet" (he said this nonchalantly after she had been missing four days and needed meds). Besides the negligence, we never got an apology. In fact, he told us he "talked to someone" and is taking no responsibility for the loss of our beloved pet, although he advertises as a professional pet sitter and we paid him to keep our pets safe. Several weeks earlier, he failed to give meds to our other cat (we counted the pills -- he admitted it when confronted). We learned he is not bonded, nor is his business insured, and others in our neighborhood have let him go due to "increasing confusion" and "untruthfulness." We are destroyed over this senseless loss due to this man's negligence. Please don't make the same mistake we did.

I have been using Castle Caretakers for about 5 years now and I am very satified with how he treats my dog. He is trust worthy and honest. I usually call on the last minute and he always accomidates my dog.