The short version
You can leave the house knowing your pet has been fed, walked, and settled, and you’ll get check-ins that show we arrived, what we did, and that the door is locked and the alarm is set.
Most people come to us when work travel or a rota change means the usual backup can’t cover it. You’ll have a sitter who shows up when agreed, follows the routine you’ve written down, and locks up properly after every visit. Next up, we’ll set the meet-and-greet and confirm dates.
We start with a meet-and-greet, then set up home access so we can come and go safely without guesswork. We take routine notes you can glance at later, then run each visit the same way: arrive on time, feed and refresh water, do the walk or check-in you booked, and leave the home secured.
About us
We’re a small pet sitting and walking team based in Galway. Siobhán Kelly set Claddagh Keys up after years of being the person friends rang when they needed a keyholder who would turn up, follow the notes, and not wing it. We do the same thing for clients now, with proper handovers, written routines, and visits that run to time.
Most sitters can walk a dog. The difference is what happens around the walk. We write down the routine you want followed, we confirm access details before the first visit, and we message after each visit with the basics you care about. If something changes on our side, you hear it early, with the plan for cover.
Who you will work with
You’ll deal with real people, and you’ll know who has your keys and who is calling to the door.
Team
Siobhán Kelly, Owner, lead pet sitter. Siobhán is your main point of contact, runs the meet-and-greets, and keeps the routine notes and access details tidy and up to date.
Eoin Murphy, Dog walker. Eoin handles most weekday walks, including towel-downs and lead checks, and he’ll flag anything unusual the moment he sees it.
Niamh Walsh, Pet sitter. Niamh covers drop-in visits and daytime sits, with a steady focus on feeding routines, medication notes, and leaving the house as found.
Ciarán O'Flaherty, Overnight sitter and cover walker. Ciarán covers overnight pet sitting and backup walks, and he’s the one we send when the booking needs an early morning handover.
“Every visit happened on time, and the updates made it easy to relax.”
Dog and cat owner, a household with a changing work rota
What a session looks like
A session is one booked visit, such as a drop-in, a 45-minute walk, or an overnight sit. Sessions happen at your home and nearby walking routes. Before the first booked session, we do a meet-and-greet and agree the routine notes and access setup.
1. Meet-and-greet Before start We meet you and your pet at home, go through feeding and walking routines, and note the small things that stop mistakes. We’ll check leads, harnesses, food storage, bins, and where towels live for wet-weather returns. If medication is involved, we write down doses, times, and where it is kept. 2. Access setup Before start We agree how we’ll get in and out, and we test it once so the first visit is not trial-and-error. That includes keys, lock turns, alarm steps, and any gate codes. You tell us which door to use, where to park, and where the key should live between visits. 3. The visit Each session We arrive within the agreed window, then follow the routine in order. For a drop-in, that usually means feed, fresh water, litter or quick garden break, and a short play or calm check-in. For a walk, we do a lead and harness check, walk to time, then towel down and settle them back in. 4. Review and changes As needed If routines change, you can message us and we’ll update the notes so the next visit runs the same way. If we see a pattern that affects the booking, like food being left untouched or a sore paw after a walk, we’ll tell you what we saw and what we did on that visit.
What it costs
Pick the option that matches how often you need us in. If you’re not sure, start with a single visit and we’ll set a rhythm from there.
Priced items
Getting started
If you want to book pet sitting dates, we can lock them in and get the meet-and-greet in the diary.
1. Sign the proposal to confirm the dates and the type of visits. 2. Send your routine notes, emergency contact, and vet details. 3. Meet us for the handover, then we start on the first booked session.
CAN YOU DO A MEET-AND-GREET FIRST AND SEE HOW THEY TAKE TO YOU?
Yes. We book a meet-and-greet before the first pet sitting session. You’ll see how your pet responds, we’ll go through the routine together, and we’ll agree access and lock-up so the first visit is straightforward.
ARE THE WALKS ONE-TO-ONE OR WITH OTHER DOGS?
You can book a solo walk or a small-group walk. We’ll confirm which one you want before we schedule anything, and we won’t switch a solo booking into a group walk without checking with you first.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF THEY GET SICK, SLIP THE LEAD, OR THERE’S A PROBLEM WITH THE HOUSE?
We follow the emergency contacts and vet details you give us, and we call you as soon as we’ve got the immediate situation safe. If it’s a home issue, we secure the property first, then contact you with what we can see and what we’ve done.
HOW DO YOU HANDLE KEYS, ALARMS, AND LOCKING UP AFTER A VISIT?
We agree one access method, write it down, and test it before the first booking. After every visit we lock the door we used, check the same points each time, and set the alarm exactly as you’ve shown us.
Signature
Fee summary
Payment
For a weekly care plan, we invoice at the start of each week, before the visits happen. For single visits and visit packs, we invoice when we confirm the booking. Every invoice is payable within 7 days of its date.
Meet and greet. We book a meet-and-greet before the first pet sitting session. We use it to go through feeding, walking, meds, keys, alarms, and lock-up, and to confirm whether walks are solo or small-group.
Keys and access. We agree one access method, write it down, and test it before the first booking. After each visit we lock the door we used, check the agreed points, and set the alarm exactly as you showed us.
Cancellations. If you need to cancel or move a visit, tell us as soon as you can. Our cancellation notice window, late-cancellation fee, and no-show fee are set by us and confirmed in writing when you book.
Using packs and plans. Visit packs are used until they’re finished, and weekly care plans cover the sessions listed for that week. Any expiry dates, pause rules, or changes to the weekly rhythm are set by us and confirmed when you book.
Emergencies and pet illness
If there’s a problem, we get the immediate situation safe first, then call you using the contacts and vet details you’ve given us. If we can’t reach you, we follow the next contact on your list.
Home issues. If there’s an issue with the house during a visit, we secure the property first, then contact you with what we can see and what we’ve done. If you want us to wait for a tradesperson, we’ll agree the extra time.
Medication and special feeding. We can do medication and special feeding as part of pet sitting when you show us the routine at the meet-and-greet. We follow your written instructions, and we’ll tell you straight away if something doesn’t go down as planned.
What pet sitting is not. Pet sitting supports your routine, but it isn’t veterinary care, training, or behaviour work, and we can’t guarantee outcomes like eating, toileting, or calm behaviour while you’re away. We’ll keep you informed and follow your instructions.
