Pet Respite Care — Ann Arbor & Surrounding Areas
Life doesn’t pause because your pet has complex needs. Jury duty arrives. Medical appointments get scheduled. A long workday can’t be avoided. A day trip that’s been put off for months finally needs to happen. And through all of it, your pet — with their medications, their behavioral protocols, their supervision needs, their comfort requirements — still needs the same level of attentive, qualified care they’d receive if you were home.
That’s exactly what Telos respite care provides. A Fear Free Certified Professional with deep expertise in behavioral care, senior and geriatric support, and animal hospice and palliative care — available for a single long visit, multiple scheduled visits across a day or evening, or an emergency step-in when life doesn’t give you warning. All scheduled in advance with a one-hour minimum, and calibrated precisely to your pet’s specific needs.
Whatever your day looks like — your pet is covered. Properly, expertly, and without compromise.
Who this is for
COMPLEX BEHAVIOR
Pets who experience the world differently
For pets with separation anxiety, aggression, fear aggression, or other behavioral assessments — where staying home in familiar surroundings, with a caregiver who understands their specific protocol, isn’t just preferred. It’s essential. Including scrupulously timed medications and safety management strategies.
AGING & SERIOUS ILLNESS
Senior, geriatric & hospice pets
For pets with age-related decline, a progressive diagnosis, or a terminal illness — where supervision, clinical monitoring, medication management, and comfort care can’t be left to a standard sitter. A credentialed hospice practitioner steps in so you can step away without worry.
GENERAL CARE
Healthy pets who deserve more than a quick check in
For families who simply want a qualified, attentive caregiver covering a long day — not a neighbor doing a favor. Fear Free handling, full routine adherence, and genuine care for a pet of any age and health status.
What to expect
Every respite visit is built around your pet’s specific situation — their routine, their health status, their behavioral needs, and what makes them feel settled and safe. Nothing is generic. Nothing is assumed.
— Full adherence to your pet’s established routine — feeding schedule, dietary requirements and restrictions, medications, exercise, enrichment, and any specific handling requirements
— Strict adherence to prescription diets, therapeutic foods, and any dietary restrictions — because what your pet eats is part of their medical care, not an afterthought
— Fear Free handling throughout every interaction — minimizing anxiety, stress, and fear for your pet’s physical and emotional wellbeing
— Active monitoring of your pet’s comfort, behavior, and condition — with the clinical knowledge to recognize changes that matter and respond appropriately
— Medication administration, including complex or time-sensitive regimens — managed with precision and care
— Strict adherence to behavioral protocols — including separation anxiety management, crate-and-rotate strategies, and any veterinary behaviorist or certified trainer directives
— For pets receiving palliative or hospice care: full application of Lorrie’s hospice training, quality of well-being monitoring, and clinical attentiveness throughout every visit
— Personalized updates so you know exactly how your pet is doing — without having to ask
The same standard of care. Whether it’s a single two-hour visit or a full day of multiple visits — every interaction is approached with the same attention, the same expertise, and the same commitment.
How it works
WHEN
Any time of day or evening
Respite care can be reserved at any hour, dependent on availability. Morning, midday, afternoon, or evening — scheduled around what your day actually looks like.
VISIT FORMAT
One long visit or multiple shorter visits
Reserved in blocks of time with a one-hour minimum. Some families prefer a single extended visit. Others schedule multiple shorter visits across the day — whatever serves your pet’s needs best.
BOOKING
Scheduled in advance
All respite care is reserved in advance to ensure availability and proper preparation for your pet’s specific needs. Reach out as early as possible to secure your preferred dates and times.
EMERGENCIES
Last-minute availability when it matters
When life doesn’t give you warning, Lorrie can step in last-minute when availability allows. Reach out directly — if it’s possible, it will happen.
A NOTE ON FEES
Fees vary depending on the type of care your pet needs and the length of the visit — behavioral respite care and hospice respite care are priced differently to reflect the level of expertise involved. All fees are discussed during the initial conversation, not listed on the website.
Service area
ANN ARBOR & SURROUNDING AREAS — IN-PERSON ONLY
Ann Arbor, Dexter, Chelsea, Pinckney, Ypsilanti & surrounding areas.
Note: The respite care service area is intentionally smaller than the overnight stays service area. Travel time is a significant factor in time-bounded visits.
If something here resonated — whether your pet has complex needs or simply deserves better than a quick check-in — the next step is straightforward. Send an email and tell us about your pet and what you need. You don’t need every detail sorted before you reach out. That’s what the first conversation is for.
The best first step is an email.
When families first reach out, they’re often overwhelmed and carrying a lot. Email gives you the space to share what’s happening at your own pace — and gives Lorrie the space to respond thoughtfully, with real information, rather than reactively. It’s how this works best, from the very first contact.
Lorrie personally reads and responds to every email — typically within a couple of hours, and always the same day. You will not be waiting.
Or, book a 15-minute Zoom conversation — $35
For families who'd rather talk than type. A brief, focused conversation to share where things are, ask questions, and figure out together whether Telos is the right fit. No obligation beyond the conversation itself.
Your pet deserves qualified, attentive care every time you need to be away. So do you.