Use the booking form on this page, call or text (203) 665-8213, or email info@secondfamilypets.com. A free Meet & Greet is required before the first paid service so you and your pet can meet Steven first.

Second Family Pet Services

About Steven

The heart behind Second Family

Hi, I'm Steven Frazer, FFCP (Pet Sitter) — founder of Second Family Pet Services.

I spent years teaching science before this. That sounds unrelated, but it isn't — the classroom trained me to observe carefully, ask the right questions, and never assume I know what's going on until I've actually looked. Those habits translate directly to caring for animals, who can't tell you in words when something's off.

I'm a Fear Free Certified Pet Sitter, which means I've been trained to recognize the subtle signs of fear, anxiety, and stress that most sitters miss — the lip lick before a growl, the whale eye, the way a cat's tail flicks once and then freezes. I use techniques like Considerate Approach, Gentle Control, and Touch Gradient to keep visits low-stress, especially during transitions like pickups, vet runs, or the first few days in a new environment. And I don't use force-based tools, ever. No prong, pinch, choke, or shock collars — if a dog pulls, we work with a front-clip harness or head halter and time, not pain.

Right now I personally handle every visit. You meet me, you text me, I show up. As Second Family grows, I'll only bring on people I'd trust with John (my Yorkie) and Lucy (my Chihuahua) — fellow educators, vet techs, and animal welfare professionals trained to the same standard.

Steven on the couch with John and Lucy. — The original second family.

What I promise your pet

✓ I'll catch the small stress signals most sitters walk right past — and adjust before they become a problem.
✓ No choke chains, prong collars, or shock collars. Full stop. Force-free, every visit.
✓ Red Cross Pet First Aid & CPR certified. If something goes wrong, I know exactly what to do — and how to keep your pet stable while we get to a vet.
✓ You'll get real updates — what your pet's body language was telling me, not just "we had a great walk!"
✓ I'll keep learning. Fear Free certified and Red Cross Pet First Aid & CPR certified — with more on the way. The science of animal care moves; so do I.

From a recent overnight

One Weimaraner, two cats, zero kennels — their bed, their routine, their house.

A Weimaraner resting on his own dog bed during an in-home overnight stay. — Settled in on his own bed.

A gray cat walking up to Steven's outstretched hand during an in-home overnight stay. — By morning, the shy one came to say hello.

Fear Free Certified Professional — Pet Sitter

Steven Frazer, FFCP (Pet Sitter)

Certified through Fear Free Pets — committed to preventing and alleviating fear, anxiety, and stress in every pet I care for.

What Families Say

Reviews from Second Family clients

Second Family is a new business, and I'd rather show you nothing than show you something I made up. So here's what I can put in writing today — all of it verifiable before you ever hand me a key.

✓ Fear Free Certified Pet Sitter (FFCP) — certification is independently verifiable.
✓ Red Cross Pet First Aid & CPR certified — certificate available on request.
✓ Insured & bonded through Pet Sitters Associates — $1M general liability, plus bond, property damage, and veterinary expense coverage. Certificate of insurance on request.
✓ A registered LLC, not a side hustle with a Venmo handle.
✓ Background-checked and reviewable on my Rover profile.
✓ A free Meet & Greet before any paid visit — you and your pet size me up first, no obligation, no charge.
✓ Every visit handled by me personally. Not a rotating roster of contractors. You'll always know exactly who is in your home.

Book a free Meet & Greet

Already a Second Family client? I'd be grateful for an honest review — email it over or leave one on my Rover profile. Good or bad, it goes up as written.

Policies

Clear, upfront, and fair — no hidden surprises

📅 Cancellation

48+ hours notice: Full refund or free reschedule
24–48 hours notice: 50% of service fee
Under 24 hours / no-show: Full service fee charged
Holiday bookings: Require 7-day notice; full charge applies within 7 days. A booking counts as a holiday booking if any service falls on a holiday listed below, or on the Friday, Saturday, or Sunday of a Monday-holiday weekend
Recurring weekly clients get one fee-free same-week cancellation per month

💰 Late Payment

Payment is due within 7 days of completed service
A $15 late fee applies after 7 days
Service may be paused after 14 days past due until balance is cleared
Recurring clients are encouraged to set up auto-pay

🎄 Holiday Bookings

+50% surcharge on the holiday itself (see Surcharges below) — the surrounding weekend days carry the 7-day cancellation window, but no surcharge
Holiday bookings fill quickly — please book 2+ weeks in advance when possible
Holiday surcharges are always stated upfront in your booking confirmation

⏰ Short-Notice Bookings

Same-day and short-notice requests are accommodated when possible — recurring clients get priority
Bookings made under 24 hours in advance carry a +$10 short-notice surcharge
For your preferred time slot, please book 48+ hours ahead
Emergencies (sudden vet visit, last-minute travel) — text or call directly

⛈ Weather

Light rain or snow: Walks proceed as scheduled with appropriate gear
Severe weather (lightning, ice, heat above 95°F, blizzard, high winds): Outdoor walks shortened or replaced with indoor enrichment
Feeding, medication, bathroom breaks, and check-ins always happen regardless of weather
You're notified by text before any change to a scheduled visit

🐾 Aggressive Animals

A free Meet & Greet is required before the first paid service
I reserve the right to decline or end service for any animal showing aggression that puts safety at risk
If aggression develops during a service: the pet is safely secured, you're contacted immediately, and the visit may be ended early (full fee applies for time and travel)
I do not muzzle, sedate, or use aversive tools — if those are needed, your pet needs a professional behaviorist, not a sitter

🛡 Insured & Bonded

Fully insured through Pet Sitters Associates — $1M per occurrence commercial general liability
Bonded, with broadened property damage coverage protecting your home and belongings
Coverage for pets in my care, including veterinary expense coverage
A certificate of insurance is available on request — just ask

📹 Home Cameras

Cameras in common areas are welcome — they're an independent record of the care your pet actually received, and I have no objection to them
Please tell me about indoor cameras and smart speakers at the Meet & Greet — where they are, and whether they record audio
Audio recording isn't permitted while I'm in your home. If a device has a microphone, please switch the audio off for the duration of service
Overnight stays: the room I sleep in and the bathroom need to be camera-free. The simplest way is to disable those devices before I arrive and text me to confirm
If that hasn't happened, I'll temporarily cover the device in those two rooms only — never unplugged or reconfigured — and I'll text you when it's covered and again when it's restored before I leave. Nothing watching an entrance, a common area, or your pet's food, water, or medication is ever touched

📝 Surcharges at a Glance

All additional charges are disclosed upfront in your booking confirmation.

Situation	Additional Charge
Additional pet in the same household	+$5 per visit
Service on a holiday itself (New Year's Eve/Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve/Day)	+50% of base rate
Short-notice booking (under 24 hours)	+$10
Service location outside 5 miles of Stamford	+$5

Questions about any policy? Just reach out — happy to talk it through before you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

The things Stamford pet owners ask most

📍 What areas do you serve?

Second Family is based in Stamford, CT and serves all of Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY — including Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan, Norwalk, and Westport in Connecticut, and Rye Brook, Port Chester, Rye, Harrison, and White Plains in New York. A small +$5 surcharge applies for locations more than 5 miles outside Stamford.

🛡 Are you insured and bonded?

Yes — fully insured and bonded. Second Family carries commercial general liability insurance ($1M per occurrence) through Pet Sitters Associates, plus a bond and property damage coverage that protects your home and belongings, and veterinary expense coverage for pets in my care. A certificate of insurance is available on request.

🚶 Drop-in visit vs. dog walk?

A drop-in visit ($22, 30 minutes) covers feeding, fresh water, a potty break, and real attention — cats welcome. Dog walks are dedicated exercise: a solid 30-minute walk ($25) or a full hour with a longer route and more enrichment ($40).

🌙 Overnight care — your home or mine?

Yours. Overnight stays ($85/night) happen in your home — evening walk, dinner, sleeping on-site, and the morning routine — so your pets stay in their own space.

🏆 Are you certified?

Yes. Steven is a Fear Free Certified Pet Sitter, trained to recognize and prevent fear, anxiety, and stress in pets, and is Red Cross Pet First Aid & CPR certified. Every visit is force-free — no prong, choke, or shock collars, ever.

🐦 Do you only care for dogs?

No — all pets are welcome. Cats, birds, rabbits, fish, lizards, and other exotics. If they live with you, I'll care for them.

📅 How do I book?

Use the booking form on this page, call or text (203) 665-8213, or email [email protected]. A free Meet & Greet is required before the first paid service so you and your pet can meet me first.

Our Services

All pets welcome — not just dogs.