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What does a pet sitter do?
Why should I hire a professional?
What are the advantages for my pet?
What are the advantages for me?
How do I prepare my home and pets for a pet
sitting service?
What can I do to help my pet sitter take the
best care of my pets?
How much should I tip my pet sitter?
When is it not appropriate to hire a pet
sitter?
What does a pet sitter
do?
Caring pet owners know that most pets adjust
better to their owner's absence and experience less anxiety
and stress when they can remain in their own home
environment. Pet sitters make this possible with daily
visits to your home. In addition to meals, exercise,
playtime, and cleaning litter boxes or cages, professional
pet sitters may also administer medications, walk dogs, and
perform other pet-care duties. Pet sitters may also provide
vital home-care services while you are away, including mail
or newspaper pick up, placing trash cans outside for pickup
or rotating lights and opening or closing the blinds to make
your house look lived in. A professional pet sitter provides
peace of mind for everyone.
Why should I
hire a professional?
Professional pet sitters are just what the
description implies - professional. While having friends,
family, or neighbors care for your pets may seem like a
logical choice, professional pet sitters do this for a
living and have the experience necessary to care for your
animals. All members of our network are insured and belong
to at least one industry trade association: Pet Sitters
International or National Association of Professional Pet
Sitters. This means that you can trust us to act
responsibility when we enter your home. Since this is our
job, you can count on us to be there.
What are the
advantages for my pet?
-
Reduced stress. Your pet stays in
their own familiar secure environment where all the
sights, smells and sounds say "Home"!
-
Diet and Exercise. Customary diet
and exercise reoutines are followed, with no
interruption to upset your pet.
-
No "Travel Trauma". Travel in a
vehicle to a boarding facility or kennel may upset your
pet.
-
Health Concerns. With a pet
sitter, there is minimal exposure to illness with other
animals.
-
TLC. Most importantly, your pet
receives love and personal attention while you are away.
What are the
advantages for me?
-
Travel. You won't be
inconvenienced by transporting your pet.
-
No Imposition. You don't have to
impose on a friend, neighbor or relative to care for
your pet, but instead you can rely on a pet care
professional who will put your pet's needs first.
-
Security. Your home is made more
secure by the crime deterent services provided by most
pet sitters.
-
Peace of Mind. While you're away,
you can feel confident your pet is in capable, caring
hands.
-
Special Services. Pet sitters can
provide additional home service while caring for your
pet, such as bringing in the mail, newspaper and
watering plants.
How do I prepare my home and pets for a pet sitting service?
Preparation can make a big differnce in how
smoothly things go for your pet when the pet sitter comes to
visit.
Here are some tips:
-
Call your pet sitter before you leave
town to confirm travel dates and contact information
while you are away.
-
Make sure the pet sitter has a phone
number where you can be reached, as well as a local
emergency contact number.
-
Provide the pet sitter with a house key.
If you wish to provide a garage door opener, give the
sitter a back up key as well, just in case of a power
outage. If you have new keys made, try them out to make
sure they work.
-
Make sure to test the alarm system, and
provide your sitter with both the keypad code, as well
as the spoken password, in case of a false alarm.
-
Clean food and water dishes before
leaving town.
-
Provide extra food, cat litter and other
supplies just in case you're not able to return when
planned.
-
Clean out the refrigerator to avoid
smelly food spoilage and wash the dishes in the sink to
prevent ants, flies and other pests.
-
Adjust the thermostat to keep the house
comforable for your pet during your absence. In warm
weather, a closed-up house can get dangerously hot in a
short time.
-
Leave a list of phone numbers in case
the pet sitter nees to contact service or maintenance
companies while you are away, i.e., plumber,
electrician, cleaning service, yard maintenance, pool
service, etc.
-
Tell the pet sitter of any household
areas that are off-limits to your pets or to the pet
sitter. Secure access to those areas before leaving.
What can I do to help my pet sitter take the best care of my
pets?
You can help your pet sitter be a better
firend to your pet by making sure there are no problems
while you are awya. Planning and prepartion in the following
areas will smooth the way:
-
Tell the pet sitter about all health
problems you pet my have - major or minor, past or
present.
-
Provide written verification that your
pet is up to date on its vacinnations.
-
Make sure your dog's collar fits -
otherwise he may slip out of a too-large collar while
being walked.
-
If you dog is not accustomed to walking
on a leash, practice with them before you leave.
-
Make a list of your pet's favorite
hiding places. This will prevent the pet sitter from
worrying if your pet is not where expected - the sitter
will know where to look.
-
Provide your own preferred method of
flea control, even if your pets are currently flea free.
Fleas multiply rapidly and can become a problem very
quickly.
-
If you own both dogs and cats, do not
ask the sitter to care for the dogs and "just ignore the
cats;" in order to save a few dollars. A sitter's
professionalism, ethic responsibility and consicence
would not allow the oversight of a cat in need of food,
water, medical care, or human attention.
-
If your dog growls or snaps at a pet
sitter during a "get-acquainted visit", understand that
the pet sitter may ask that you make other arrangements
for your dog's care during your absence.
-
Be honest about your pet's quirks, i.e.,
a dog that is nervous about having a leash put on, or a
cat that does not like to be petted. The more your pet
sitter knows, the better equipped they are to care for
your pets
How much
should I tip my pet sitter?
Pet sitters work hard and often get
overlooked. They care for your pets with a great deal of
love, and frequently go "above and beyond" the call of duty.
If you were provided with great service, it is appropriate
to tip your pet sitter 10-20% of the total bill. And don't
forget about them at Christmas.
When is it not appropriate to hire a pet sitter?
There are some cases where pet sitting may
not be the best alternative for your pet. Here are some
examples:
-
Most pet sitters are able to give your
pet basic oral medication, and many can administer
insulin injections. Some pet sitters can give
sub-coetaneous fluids as well. If your pet is in fialing
health, or requires more intensive care, we would
suggest boarding your pet at your vet's office, which
can provide 24 hour care.
-
If your pet is aggressive, or doesn't
react well to visitors or strange people entering your
house, it would be best to board your pet.
-
If your pet gest very destructive in
your absence, or suffers from severe separation anxiety,
he or she may be better off at a boarding facility
around other dogs and people.
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