Finding the Ultimate Pet Sitter

If you own a pet that is dependent on daily care (and most are), you understand the problems you face when leaving home for a few days. One option is taking your pet to a boarding facility, but many people prefer to hire a pet sitter to come into their home and take care of their pet while they are gone. This is an important decision, because you need someone you can really trust and depend on.

It isn’t hard to understand why pet sitting has become so popular. A lot of people have the occasion to travel frequently, whether for business or pleasure, and it isn’t always possible to take a pet along for the ride. Having a sitter come into your home is a pleasant alternative to taking your pet to a boarding facility, where they can be exposed to disease and an unpleasant environment.

There are advertisements for pet sitters all over. You can find them in the Yellow Pages, online, and placed on bulletin boards in pet stores. A good idea is to ask your friends, family, acquaintances, and your veterinarian for a few recommendations.

Get in touch with some sitter prospects and have them visit you. Don’t hire anyone solely on references or referrals, if possible. It’s important to have a prospective sitter meet your pet, and see how they react to them. For whatever reason, animals sometime don’t take to certain people, and this will be apparent.

Ask the tough questions. Ask the pet sitter why you ought to hire them and not someone else. They will in all probability say, “Because I LOVE animals!!” This is a reasonable answer, but my four year old niece also loves animals. I don’t think you would trust her to watch over your pet while you are away.

Find out more about their experience with animals. Are they able to recognize the initial symptoms of illness, and discern when an normally healthy pet is hurting? This might seem elementary, but it really takes someone with experience. Just loving animals is great, but a good sitter should have a broader background and some knowledge of animal health.

Ask these questions of any prospective sitter that you might hire:

How often do they check in with your pet every day?

What services will they perform in your home? Feeding and providing water is obvious, but what about playing with the pets or walking with them outside (if it is a dog). If the pet’s stomach is upset and it vomits, will they take care of removing the mess?

A reliable pet sitter, when you find one, is a jewel. Knowing there is someone taking care of your pet that you can trust is priceless. Do your research and choose your pet sitter carefully – it does make a difference.

Your dog or cat is just an animal, isn’t it? Wrong. It’s your pet, and a cherished part of your family. Enjoy learning more about taking care of pets to ensure their health and contentment.