Richmond District Exotic Pet Sitter
The Richmond District has a rhythm all its own. Spread out across the foggy, residential blocks north of Golden Gate Park, it is one of San Francisco’s great family neighborhoods — quiet avenues of flats and single-family homes that give way to the bustle of Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, a renowned hub of Chinese and Russian restaurants and businesses sometimes called the city’s “New Chinatown.” It is the kind of place where people put down roots, raise kids, and keep animals. When that household includes a bonded pair of rabbits, a bearded dragon on a strict UVB schedule, or a conure who needs 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 just across Golden Gate Park in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset, which makes the Richmond a quick, same-city trip — no Peninsula drive, no leaving town. We come to your pets so they can stay in their own enclosures, on their own routines, while you are away, whether you are tucked into the Inner Richmond near the park’s northern edge or out toward the coast in the Outer Richmond.
Why Richmond District Exotic Pet Owners Choose Our Team
The Richmond is full of people who think carefully and plan ahead — families, longtime San Franciscans, and professionals who want their animals handled with real expertise. 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 work. 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 a 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 the Richmond
- 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 Richmond
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 Richmond pet owners, this usually lands on a weekend or an after-work window, and since we are just across the park in the Inner Sunset, getting over to your block on Clement, Geary, or one of the numbered avenues is easy to arrange.
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.
Richmond Areas We Serve
The Richmond stretches from Golden Gate Park in the south up to the Presidio and Lincoln Park in the north, and runs west all the way to the coast. We cover the whole district — the Inner Richmond around the Clement Street and Geary Boulevard corridors near the park’s edge, the long rows of avenues that make up the heart of the neighborhood, and the Outer Richmond out toward Lands End, the Legion of Honor, and Ocean Beach. Whether you are a block from the park or a few foggy avenues from the ocean, we can reach you.
Pricing for Richmond District 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 Richmond is within San Francisco — our home city — just across Golden Gate Park from our Inner Sunset base, so there is no Peninsula travel surcharge. Pricing here is simple and in-city. Boarding at the founder’s San Francisco home is a short trip away too. 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 cover the Richmond District for exotic pet care?
Yes. We are based just across Golden Gate Park in the Inner Sunset, so the Richmond is a quick, same-city trip for us. We cover the full district, from the Inner Richmond near the park to the Outer Richmond out toward Ocean Beach and Lands End. In-home exotic care here is a regular part of our routine.
What kinds of exotic pets do you care for in the Richmond?
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 Richmond?
Yes. Boarding is hosted at our founder's San Francisco home, which is just a short trip from the Richmond across Golden Gate Park. 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 Richmond District 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 the Richmond is within San Francisco, our home city, 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. Looking across the rest of the city? 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 Richmond will want our guinea pig care guide.