Daly City Exotic Pet Sitter
Daly City is the Gateway to the Peninsula — the first town you hit once you cross the county line heading south, and the place where San Francisco’s fog likes to settle in for the long haul. It is a city of dense, tightly knit neighborhoods, of homes stacked along the hills above Highway 1, and of families who keep busy lives moving along the I-280 and Mission Street corridors. When one of those families is headed out of town and the household includes a bonded pair of rabbits, a bearded dragon on a strict UVB schedule, or a conure who expects his evening millet, the question that surfaces the night before a trip 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 in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset, and because Daly City sits immediately south of the San Francisco county line, our team of exotic pet specialists is only a short trip away when we come to provide in-home care. From the homes climbing through St. Francis Heights to the flatter streets of Westlake, and from Crocker over toward Bayshore, we come to your pets so they can stay in their own enclosures, on their own routines, while you are away.
Why Daly City Exotic Pet Owners Choose Our Team
Daly City is a town full of people who think carefully and plan ahead — nurses and hospital staff, commuters who anchor their days to the BART schedule, families who have lived on the same block for decades. What exotic pet owners here tell us they need is a sitter who brings the same rigor to animal care that they bring to their own lives. 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 this side of the county line.
- 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 a BART commute 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 Daly City
- Small mammals — rabbits (including bonded pairs and trios), guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, hamsters, rats
- Reptiles — bearded dragons, leopard geckos, crested geckos, ball pythons and other non-venomous snakes, 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 Daly City
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 Daly City pet owners, this usually lands on a weekend or an after-work window, since so many residents are commuting in and out of the city during the week, whether by BART from the Daly City station or up I-280.
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.
Daly City Areas We Serve
Daly City is famously foggy and famously hilly, and its neighborhoods each have their own character — that is part of the charm and part of the logistics. Our team covers the full city, including Westlake, St. Francis Heights, Crocker, the Bayshore area near the county line, and the streets around the Daly City BART station and the Serramonte shopping district. From the homes tucked into the hills above Highway 1 to the blocks just off Mission Street, and over toward the Cow Palace, we can reach you. Whether you are perched on a steep, fog-wrapped lane or down on the flats near 280, we will be there.
Pricing for Daly City 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
Because Daly City sits immediately south of the San Francisco county line, it is a short trip for our SF-based team, so a travel surcharge of $15–$25/visit applies, depending on distance. Text us your address and dates and we will confirm your rate. You can read more about what is included on our in-home exotic pet care page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you really travel to Daly City for exotic pet care?
Yes. Our team is based in San Francisco's Inner Sunset, and Daly City sits immediately south of the county line, so it is a short trip for us via I-280 or Highway 1. In-home exotic care in Daly City is a regular part of our route.
What kinds of exotic pets do you care for in Daly City?
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, ball pythons and other non-venomous snakes, 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 Daly City?
Yes. Boarding is hosted separately at our founder's San Francisco home — it is not a local Daly City drop-off — but since Daly City is just over the county line, it is a short drive up. 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 Daly City 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. Because Daly City sits just south of the San Francisco county line, a travel surcharge of $15–$25/visit applies depending on distance. Text us at 415-484-6493 with your address and dates to book.
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. 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 Daly City will want our guinea pig care guide.