How Pricing Works
A flat start, not a running meter.
Most cases begin at $150, which covers your first deployment — mapping the area and getting professional cameras placed. On top of that are the real costs of getting to you and operating in the city: vehicle, gas, and tolls run about $130 in the NYC area. That's not a markup — it's what it actually costs me to show up, and I pass it through at cost. So a typical first deployment runs around $280 all in.
Here's what that includes that most services would charge extra for: I monitor the cameras myself, around the clock, and stay with you with 24/7 support until your pet is found. You're not paying me by the hour to watch, and you're not left alone to figure it out. I only charge again if we need to physically come back in. If you'd rather save that cost, you can move the cameras yourself to new spots I direct over the phone — and I keep monitoring the whole time either way.
I'm upfront about all this because I don't want the cost of looking to stop you from looking, and I never want you hit with a surprise. My goal is to bring your pet home — not to run up a bill.
Phase 1 — Getting started: setup and a feeding station
The goal: pinpoint where your pet is hunkering down, or which way they're traveling.
I come out, map the area, place professional cameras, and set up a feeding station to draw your pet in. I'll also show you how the feeding station works so it stays active between visits.
$150 — covers your first deployment (first 3 hours on site)
Expenses — mileage at $0.725/mile, plus a $30 supply fee (about $130 total in the NYC area)
Phase 2 — Watching & waiting: my eyes on it, 24/7
The goal: round-the-clock monitoring so nothing gets missed.
This is where I earn the flat fee. I monitor your cameras around the clock — always — and stay in contact with you until your pet shows. You're never watching alone.
If your pet moves and the cameras need to be repositioned, you have two choices:
I come back in and move them myself (covers a return trip's expenses), or
You move them yourself to new spots I direct over the phone — saving you that trip cost.
Either way, I keep monitoring 24/7.
$20/day per camera — covers the cellular camera and its data/upkeep
24/7 monitoring and support always included — no hourly labor
Phase 3 — Bringing them home: the capture
The goal: the safe capture and return of your pet.
When we spot your pet and it's time for a hands-on recovery, I come back to run the operation.
$50/hour — applies only when I'm back on site actively working a recovery, not while you're monitoring
Plus expenses (vehicle, gas, tolls) for the return trip
We won't let cost stop a search.
Some cases run long. If yours goes past 48 hours, I waive my labor fees from that point on — you'd only cover the unavoidable costs (vehicle, gas, tolls, and supplies). I'd rather keep looking than stop over a bill.