|
Finding a Good Dog SitterUnless you have friends and family nearby that can watch your dog or cat when you need to leave town, You may find yourself in the position of needing to hire a petsitter. You want to be absolutely confident that your dog or cat is getting great care while you are away, otherwise, you won’t be able to relax and do what you need to do! If you travel frequently and have friends or family that usually watch your pet, you may want to set up something with a professional service anyway, just in case your usual sitters fall through. It’s always better to be prepared with a backup, especially when it comes to something important as your pet. There are a few ways one can go about finding a pet sitter: Referrals:The best way, in my opinion, is by a referral. Ask your friends, co-workers, neighbors (who have pets), etc. who they use for pet sitting. Most of our clients at Walk With Me came through word of mouth or referrals from existing clients. This way, you have a reliable source, whom you know and trust, and who already has experience with a company or sitter. Online Searching:
What to Look for in a Pet Sitter:InsuranceYou want to make sure your sitter is fully insured. Better to be safe than sorry. Meet and GreetsMeet and Greets are standard procedure for most pet sitters. Don’t skip out on this because it is time for you and the sitter to “interview” each other and see if it’s a good fit. You also want to make sure they are a good fit with your pet. Do you feel comfortable leaving your pet in this sitter’s hands? Do you feel comfortable having this person in your house while you’re away?
While You're Away:NotesAlways e-mail or leave a note out for the sitter which lays out instructions. Even though you may have gone over everything with your sitter during your meet and greet, it’s always good to have detailed instructions written out anyway. Pet sitters have multiple clients, and notes or e-mails with instructions help keep straight what client needs what. Emergency ContactsAlso make sure you leave the sitter with your emergency contact information and the pet’s vet information. Should anything happen while you are away, your sitter has what he/she needs to handle the situation. Check –in’sYou should ask your sitter to check in with you from time to time with updates on how your pet is doing, especially if it’s your first time working with a pet sitter. I always sent texts and pictures to my clients when sitting, and they appreciated the reassurance. You can arrange check-in procedures during the meet and greet. PaymentEvery sitter has different procedures for payment. This should be made clear before you leave so you are both in agreement on the issue.
Additional Tips:
Professional Pet Sitting Prices may seem high. When looking at charges, keep in mind that along with walking, feeding, playing with your pet and giving love and attention, you are also paying for:
And, most importantly, reassurance. So that you can relax and have a good vacation away from home knowing your pet is in safe, good hands. To me, that’s worth every penny!
For more useful information, please download free Dog manual courtesy of FoundAnimals.org. *Text courtesy of FoundAnimals.org |
|