Castro Exotic Pet Sitter
The Castro is one of those San Francisco neighborhoods that wears its history on its sleeve — one of the most storied LGBTQ neighborhoods in the world, anchored by the bustling commercial heart of Castro Street, the rainbow crosswalks at 18th and Castro, and the marquee of the landmark Castro Theatre glowing over it all. It is a neighborhood of dense Victorian flats and newer condos stacked along streets that climb out of Eureka Valley toward the slopes of Twin Peaks. The people who live here are deeply attached to their homes and their routines, and increasingly those homes include exotic pets — a bonded pair of rabbits, a bearded dragon on a strict UVB schedule, a conure who expects his evening millet. So when a trip comes up, the question that surfaces the night before is always the same: who is going to take care of the exotics? Conventional boarding kennels are built for dogs and cats, and most pet sitters have never weighed a guinea pig on a gram scale. That is the gap our team fills.
House of Guineas Pet Care is based right here in San Francisco, in the Inner Sunset just over the hill, which makes the Castro a quick, same-city trip for us. We come to your pets so they can stay in their own enclosures, on their own routines, in the home they already know — whether you are in a Victorian flat near Castro Street, a condo up toward Twin Peaks, or a building tucked into the quieter Eureka Valley blocks.
Why Castro Exotic Pet Owners Choose Our Team
The Castro is a neighborhood of people who care intensely about getting things right — and when it comes to an exotic pet, that instinct matters, because the margin for error with a rabbit or a reptile is small. What exotic pet owners here tell us they need is a sitter who brings real clinical rigor, not just good intentions. Here is what sets us apart:
- Veterinary background. Our founder, Alexandria, is an exotic veterinary assistant who volunteers with the House Rabbit Society, administering subcutaneous RHDV2 vaccines. Every specialist on our team is trained under that same clinical lens.
- Species specialization. Exotic pets and cats are our whole focus — rabbits, rodents, reptiles, and birds. That kind of focus is genuinely hard to find anywhere in the city.
- Clinical-grade care. We can syringe-feed a GI stasis rabbit, weigh a guinea pig on a gram scale, check a reptile enclosure’s humidity, and recognize the early signs of a crop issue in a parrot. We also know the local exotic vet landscape, so if something seems off while you are in another time zone, we know where to turn — see our San Francisco Bay Area exotic veterinarians directory.
- Flexible scheduling. Early-morning visits before work or a flight, evening visits after a long day, and mid-day medication timing — we build the schedule around your itinerary, not the other way around.
Exotic Species We Care For in the Castro
- Small mammals — rabbits (including bonded pairs and trios), guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters, rats
- Reptiles — bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, turtles and tortoises
- Birds — parrots, cockatiels, conures, budgies, lovebirds, finches
If your species is not listed, call or text us — if we have not handled it, we will tell you honestly and usually point you to someone who has.
How It Works in the Castro
We start with a free meet-and-greet at your home — a real-time walkthrough of feeding routines, enclosure setup, medication schedules, and your pet’s quirks. For Castro pet owners, this usually lands on an evening or a weekend window, and since the neighborhood is so walkable and well served by the F-line streetcars and the Castro Muni station, getting to you is easy.
Once you book, we schedule visits around your travel itinerary. Most exotic pets do well with twice-daily visits — morning and evening — so the rabbits get a fresh salad before the day starts and the reptile enclosure gets a proper lights-out check after dinner. We send photo and video updates from every visit, plus written notes on appetite, output, and behavior. If something seems off, we reach out before you land.
Castro Areas We Serve
The Castro packs a lot into a compact, hilly footprint, and we cover all of it. That means the flats and storefronts along Castro Street and around the Castro Theatre, the blocks near the rainbow crosswalks at 18th, the Victorian-lined streets of Eureka Valley, and the homes climbing the slopes toward Twin Peaks. We also reach the edges near Market Street, the corridor served by the F-line streetcars and the Castro Muni station, and the pockets that blend into the Mission and Noe Valley borders. Whether you are in a third-floor Victorian flat or a hillside condo, we can reach you.
Pricing for Castro Visits
- 30-minute visits start at $85
- 60-minute visits start at $115
- Routine twice-daily care runs $140–$190/day depending on visit length and number of pets
The Castro is within San Francisco, our home city, so there is no Peninsula travel surcharge — pricing here is simple and in-city. Text us your address and dates and we will give you a straightforward quote. You can read more about what is included on our in-home exotic pet care page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you cover the Castro for exotic pet care?
Yes. We are based in San Francisco's Inner Sunset, just over the hill, so the Castro is a quick same-city trip for us. In-home exotic care throughout the Castro, Eureka Valley, and up toward Twin Peaks is a regular part of what we do.
What kinds of exotic pets do you care for in the Castro?
We care for exotic pets and cats. That includes small mammals like rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters and rats; reptiles like bearded dragons, leopard and crested geckos, and turtles and tortoises; and birds like parrots, cockatiels, conures, budgies, lovebirds and finches. New guinea pig owners can start with our guinea pig care guide.
What if my exotic pet needs medication while I'm traveling?
Medication administration is part of our standard service. Our specialists are trained in oral syringe feeding, topical applications, and nebulizer treatments. Our founder's clinical background — including subcutaneous RHDV2 vaccine administration at the House Rabbit Society — sets the bar. If your pet is on a complex protocol, share it during the meet-and-greet and we will match the schedule exactly.
Can I board my exotic pet instead of booking in-home visits in the Castro?
Yes. Boarding is hosted at our founder's San Francisco home, which is a short trip away from the Castro. Boarding runs $75 per night, your pet gets their own room with soothing music, and we ask that you bring their usual enclosure and supplies. Full details are on the boarding page.
How much does a Castro exotic pet sitter cost?
Our 30-minute visits start at $85 and 60-minute visits at $115, with routine twice-daily care ranging from $140–$190 per day depending on visit length and the number of pets. The Castro is within San Francisco, our home city, so there is no Peninsula travel surcharge — pricing is simple and in-city. Text us at 415-484-6493 with your address and dates for a firm quote.
Ready to lock in coverage for your next trip? Call or text us at 415-484-6493 and we will get a meet-and-greet on the calendar. You can also read more about our in-home exotic pet care service, our boarding option at the founder’s San Francisco home, or browse the full FAQ page. Want to see the whole city we cover? Start with our San Francisco exotic pet sitter hub. Still getting set up with a vet? Our San Francisco Bay Area exotic veterinarians directory is a good place to start, and new guinea pig parents in the Castro will want our guinea pig care guide.