Grand Valley Pet and Home Concierge, LLC
Dog Walking, Drop In Visits, Pet Transportation, Home Sitting Services in Grand Junction, Fruita and Palisade
ABOUT US
Hi! We're Denise and Russell McDonald.
We were both born and raised in the Skagit Valley in western Washington, and neither of us can remember a time when animals weren't part of our lives. Dogs, cats, horses, cows, parrots, chickens, and more; simply put we love animals.
We have over 55 years of hands-on animal care experience and have finally decided to turn that lifelong passion into a business.
The idea for Grand Valley Pet & Home Concierge came about while planning a vacation. Like so many pet owners, our biggest concern wasn't flights or hotels, it was finding someone we trusted with our senior Coonhound, Tula, for nearly four weeks. We were lucky to find a wonderful pet sitter who stayed in our home, loved Tula like her own, and sent us daily photos and updates. It allowed us to truly relax — and it changed how we thought about pet care.
We realized families aren't just looking for someone to fill a bowl and open a door. They need someone they can trust with their pets, their home, and the routines that make their animals feel safe.
We chose the word "Concierge" intentionally. It means personalized, not one-size-fits-all. Every family, every pet, every home is different, and the care they receive should reflect that.
When we're caring for your pets, we're caring for your family. We look forward to meeting you and all of your wonderful animals.
Denise & Russell
This is Tula, our beautiful 15‑year‑old Treeing Walker Coonhound, lovingly known as “The Princess.” Our search for someone we could trust to care for her with lots of love and attention while we traveled became the inspiration for Grand Valley Pet & Home Concierge.
Our Inspiration
Grand Valley Pet & Home Concierge
Frequently Asked Questions
When you say, "Overnight Services" do you actually stay overnight at our home?
Absolutely! In fact, that's the whole idea. We bring our own sleeping bag, pillow, and food, so there's no need to make up a guest room or stock the refrigerator for us. Once we're there for the evening, we're there until morning—just like you would be. Those middle-of-the-night potty breaks? We've got them covered. Early morning breakfast demands? No problem! (Our own 15-year-old Coonhound has us up around 4:30 every morning, so we're pretty well trained.) One thing that's important to know: As part of our Overnight Services, we don't leave pets alone for more than four hours at a time. We know that's a big difference from many overnight pet sitting services, and it's one of the ways we help your pets feel secure and cared for while you're away. Our goal is to keep your pet's routine as normal as possible. If they're used to sleeping on the bed with you, they're welcome to do the same with us. The less their routine changes, the more comfortable they'll feel while you're away. And because we know you'll miss them, we'll send plenty of photo updates so you can relax knowing they're happy, comfortable, and safe.
I no longer drive. Can I come along on the Pet Transport ride?
That's a great question, and I completely understand why you'd ask. Right now, our commercial insurance only allows us to transport pets, not human passengers, while I'm providing a paid service. That said, every situation is unique. If riding along is important to you, give me a call or send me a text. I'd be happy to talk through your situation and see if there's another option that would work.
How is a Drop-In Visit different from a Dog Walk?
The easiest way to think about it is this: a Drop-In Visit is all about companionship, while a Dog Walk is all about exercise. During a Drop-In Visit, we'll let your pet out for a potty break, refresh their water, offer lots of cuddles and attention, play for a bit, and make sure everything is just as it should be before we leave. (If you have a big enough fenced-in area, we'll be happy to go out and throw a ball for a quick fetch session.) It's a wonderful option for pets who just need a little company and reassurance while you're away. A Dog Walk is exactly what it sounds like - we'll leash up your pup and head out! Whether it's a favorite neighborhood route, a nearby park, or a walking trail close to your home, we're happy to follow the path your dog knows and loves. If you've scheduled one of our 30- or 60-minute walks, we can even, with your approval, hop in the car and head to a nearby dog park for a little extra adventure. Of course, every pet is different. Drop-In Visits are especially popular for senior pets, cats, birds, and other animals who simply enjoy having someone stop by during the day. And speaking as someone with a senior Coonhound, I can tell you that sometimes a slow "sniffari" down the block is every bit as exciting as a long walk.
Absolutely...as long as it's a good fit! If your dogs already live together, enjoy walking together, and are comfortable on leash without being reactive, we'd be happy to walk them together. For many families, that's a great option! If your dog has a neighborhood "best friend," we may even be able to arrange walks together. The only requirement is that each pet has their own client account and service agreement with us. That helps ensure every pet is properly covered and cared for. At the end of the day, safety always comes first. Before we schedule a group walk, I'll make sure everyone is a good match so that every outing is enjoyable—for both the dogs and us!
How do you calculate the overnight charges? Am I charged for a full day if I'm back home by 3 p.m.?
We add up the total hours you book the service for, then divide by 24 to get the total number of days that we will be caring for your pet(s) and home. For example, if you want us at your home at noon on Friday and we are scheduled to leave at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, that’s a total of 51 hours. We divide 51 by 24 and multiply that by the nightly rate of $75, so your total for this stay would be $159.38. If you get home early, we can refund you for the unused time — or you’re welcome to leave it as a tip. Likewise, if you’re running a few hours late and don’t want your pet left alone that long (and if we’re still available), we can simply add the extra time to your total. This keeps it fair for both parties and prevents discrepancies about time billing.
Do you do group walks?
Do you have a question that hasn't been answered here?
Please contact us
Grand Valley Pet & Home Concierge did an absolutely fantastic job taking care of my dogs when my family went abroad on our summer vacation. It was the ultimate peace of mind to know that our furry friends were taken care of in our home while we were away. We received daily pictures to stay connected and house updates. We also arranged for them to water our plants. I can’t recommend them enough to take care of your pets and home while you are out of town. I trust them implicitly and will definitely be using them again when I book my next trip!
Kara J.
Grand Junction, CO
Grand Valley Pet & Home Concierge
Testimonials
Denise is the best! She regularly cares for our home and pets. She takes great care of our large dogs, chickens and lizard. She is open to feedback, and the house always looks better than we left it. We trust that they will all be taken great care of when she is here. She is punctual, thoughtful and reliable.
M. Cassidy
Fruita, CO
We were thrilled with the pet sitting services provided by Grand Valley Pet & Home Concierge!
Our two senior rescue dogs generally have issues with strangers, but Denise and Russell were kind and patient, and before long the dogs had joined them on the couch during the meet and greet. We so appreciated the photos and text updates about how our girls were doing when we had to leave them for a few days. The dogs have a very set routine, and it was followed perfectly. We now know that we have reliable folks that we can count on to care for our fur babies. Knowing that we can go away for a few days without stressing out our girls is the best feeling.
B. Graham
Grand Junction, CO
We believe in straightforward pricing with no surprises. Below you'll find a streamlined list of our current service rates and important information to help you plan your pet and home care needs.
Rates
Starting at $75 per night
Additional pets starting at $35 per night, per pet
Overnight Pet & Home Care
Dog Walking & Drop-In Visits
Walking starting at:
Express Walk (20 min) - $23
Signature Walk (30 min) - $31
Adventure Walk (60 min) - $63
Prices shown are for one pet.
Drop-In Visits starting at:
Starting at:
Express Visit (20 min) - $17
Standard Visit (30 min) - $25
Pet Transportation
$15 minimum (includes up to 30 minutes)
Additional time: $7.50 per 15 minute increments
First 5 miles included
Beyond 5 miles: $1.07 per mile
Appointment wait time billed at the same rate
Custom quotes are available for recurring transportation or destinations outside our standard service area.
Pet Transportation is provided exclusively for your pet's safety and comfort. At this time, our transportation service is available for pets only and does not include human passengers.
Home Watch Services
One visit per week — $35
Two visits per week — $70
Three visits per week — $105
Holiday Rates:
Holiday reservations fill quickly. Early booking is strongly recommended.
Overnight Pet & Home Care - additional $25 per night
Walks, Drop-in Visits - additional $15 per visit
Pet Transportation - additional $15 per trip
Home Watch - $10 per visit
Holidays:
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New Year's Day
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Memorial Day
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Independence Day (July 4)
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Labor Day
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Thanksgiving Day + Friday after
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Christmas Eve
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Christmas Day
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New Year's Eve
Every pet, every home, and every family is unique. If you don't see exactly what you're looking for, we'd love to talk with you. We're happy to create a customized care plan tailored to your specific needs.
Policies
A complimentary Meet & Greet is required before scheduling your first service. This gives us an opportunity to meet you and your pets, learn about their routines, answer your questions, and ensure we're the right fit for one another.
Meet & Greets
We understand that plans sometimes change. If you need to cancel or reschedule a service, please let us know as soon as possible. Our cancellation policy helps us manage our schedule fairly and allows us the opportunity to accommodate other clients.
Cancellation Policy
Dog Walking, Drop-In Visits & Home Watch Services
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Cancellations made 24 hours or more before the scheduled visit: No charge.
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Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice: 50% of the scheduled service fee.
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Same-day cancellations after we've started traveling to the client's home, or if we arrive and the service is no longer needed: Full service fee applies.
Overnight Pet & Home Care
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Cancellations more than 7 days before the reservation: Full refund.
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Cancellations made 3–7 days before: 50% of the reservation total.
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Less than 72 hours before: Full reservation amount.
Holiday Reservations
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Holiday reservations require additional planning and often prevent us from accepting other client requests. Cancellations made within 14 days of a holiday reservation are non-refundable.
Unforseen Emergencies
We understand that genuine emergencies happen. Cancellation fees may be waived at our discretion for unexpected emergencies or severe weather.
If you would like to view a copy of our complete Terms & Conditions, which must be signed by both parties before service can begin, please click HERE
Insured with Business Insurers of the Carolinas
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Business Insurers of the Carolinas have been protecting pets, owners and pet caregivers for over 25 years.
Professional Pet
Sitting Organizations
We're proud members of both Pet Sitters International (PSI) and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS). We believe there's always more to learn, and these organizations provide ongoing education, resources, and support that help us grow as pet care professionals. It's just one more way we're committed to providing the kind of care we'd want for our own pets.
