Pet Sitting is such an enjoyable and heart-warming profession. You get to meet the nicest people and the most awesome of critters! It is a growing trend to hire professional pet sitters! Your pets will be safe and secure in their own homes while you are away. As opposed to kenneling, there is no stress, your pets won't be picking up unpleasant parasites from every Tom, Dick, and Hairy, and there is no exposure to dangerous viruses such as kennel cough. They are well-cared for, get lots of playtime, good food and water, and the attention that they need while you are gone. Bed-time stories are optional :)
Where else is your pet at its happiest - at home of course. There are familiar sounds, smells, favorite beds and couches. Familiar surroundings provide comfort and peace of mind for your pet and no stress. If you kennel your pet, there will be strange surroundings, and sometimes usually loud and obnoxious neighbors, new food, parasites and disease. At home your pet is spared of all these potentially hazardous things. Even though you may be gone, your pet is still in its home and happy!
At home, your pet will continue to eat the same foods (no diet interruptions), and on the same schedule. A professional pet sitter will ensure that your pet gets his vitamins, regular food, fresh drinking water, etc. Exercise will remain the same and playtime will be highlighted.
If you have a professional pet sitter take care of your furry friends, there will be no need to rush them to the kennel just before leaving and then rushing to pick them back up after you have returned from your trip, tired. Your pet will be left in the comfort and security of its own home and will be there waiting for you as soon as you walk in the door!
In a community kennel strange pets are put together from all different environments. There is no assurance that another person's pet may not have an illness that can be communicated to your own pet. The pet's owner may not even be aware that their pet is sick when dropping them off at the kennel. Case in point, a friend of mine had a scare recently when they discovered their cat had a fatal illness which they were completely unaware of. It became a concern to their other pets as well, and all had to be tested for the disease. If this pet had been kenneled at any time during it's illness, other pets would have been at risk. Keeping your pet at home in secure, comfortable premises will ensure that if your pet is currently virus, germ, and parasite-free, he will remain that way.
If you hire a professional sitter you will not need to intrude on friends, family members, or neighbors, requesting that they "look-in" on the pets while you are gone. All of us at one time has probably asked a friend to take care of their pet while they are gone, only to discover upon returning that there were a few visits eliminated because it was not convenient for the friend (neighbor, or family member), to run by and see the pet. You will not be burdened to ask for the favor from your friends, family or neighbors, and by contracting a pet sitter, you will be getting a reliable professional who makes it their job to ensure your pets are as comfortable and happy as they can possibly be while you are away,
giving you the peace of mind to really enjoy your vacation or trip.
Because a pet sitter will be coming and going at your house, it will give it the "lived-in" look which can be enhanced with turning lights on and off, bringing in papers and mail, and checking for any out-of-the-ordinary events. We will also check for problems in the home and can alert you to power outages, surprising leaks, etc. A few problems that I have come across in client's homes are:
Hose on washing machine sprung a leak, house would have been flooded if I had not turned off the water.
Client accidently unplugged freezer, I called to make sure it was supposed to be off since it was full of food - I was able to get it plugged back in before food spoilage. (Client was going to be gone for 3-weeks, I would not have wanted to walk in that house after the freezer full of food had been defrosted for 3-weeks!)
Tree limb had busted window. I was able to get the window taped until the client returned.
When acquiring a pet sitter, please take these things into consideration:
The pet sitter should be bonded and insured
The Pet sitter should be able to provide personal references on demand
The Pet Sitter should be able to provide written documentation (invoice, contract, etc), which includes their rates and all pertinent care information
At the meet-n-greet, the Pet Sitter should be very alert and concerned with your pet's care. They should ask the right questions about your pet's care and the care of your home while you are away. These questions should give you peace of mind,
The Pet Sitter should display competence, confidence, and friendliness when dealing with your pet
The Pet Sitter should uphold themselves in a professional business manner
The Pet Sitter should observe regular hours and be available to answer questions or complaints promptly
The Pet Sitter should ask questions about your veterinarian, establish a method to handle emergencies, and establish a written documentation on how the emergencies will be handled, per your input and instructions. They should request that vet information be left in an easily accessible area to the pet sitter. They should verify that possible pet sittings are for animals that are licensed and vaccinated properly
The Pet Sitter should have a plan for bad weather, especially a hurricane clause
The Pet Sitter should insist on honesty and adhere to obeying all laws.
The Pet Sitter should strive to keep abreast of pet safety techniques, animal welfare, and strive to improve their knowledge of these areas and pet sitting skills.
