When it’s time to choose among the many pet sitters available in your area, follow these tips to help you find the best one for your pet.
You should start by asking your friends, family and even veterinarian if they know of any reliable pet sitters. You also can check online yellow pages or even just do a Google search, for example, for “cat sitting in Boston, MA.”
Take a look at each sitter’s website to see if the sitter offers the services your pet needs. Does your dog need to be walked more than once a day? Not every sitter offers multiple walks every day; it’s best to find this out at the beginning.
You’ll then want to call two or three sitters to discuss their availability and fees. If you like what you hear, you’ll want to meet the sitter. If possible, ask the sitter to come to your home to meet your pet or at least make arrangements for the sitter and your pet to meet before you leave.
Be sure to get names and contact information of past clients. And then contact these references to see how satisfied they were with the person you found. If they were unhappy with the sitter, be sure to ask why.
If you’re going to need pet sitters around the holidays or summer, you’ll want to be sure you make reservations early. Summer and the holiday season is prime pet-sitting season and you don’t want to find that your favorite sitter is unavailable!
You should purchase extra food and supplies — you never know when your trip home could be delayed.
As you get ready to leave, type up a list of instructions as well as your contact information which you will give to the sitter. Be sure to include your pets’ veterinarian’s number, as well.
Pet sitters understand that you likely will want to hear how your pet is doing while you’re away. Make arrangements before you go as to how the sitter can keep you updated regarding how your pets are doing. You shouldn’t be stressed out about leaving your pet with someone else, so make sure that the company or person you choose is more than capable of the task at hand.
Aaron Garcia has owned numerous pets throughout his life, and has had to find pet sitters for all of them. He understands the stress associated with leaving a pet in someone else’s care and knows how to manage the process.
11 Comments
Not every sitter offers multiple walks every day; it’s best to find this out at the beginning..
Great tips on finding a pet sitter! Good thing I have my favorite sister to watch for my dogs when I’m away or in a trip, so I don’t have any problem looking for a pet sitter. Nevertheless, these tips are great when she is not around, or we have the same out of the town trip. Thank you for sharing!
The very first thing to inquire about pet sitters is feedback from past customer. I am sure you can ask somebody since pet lovers have their circle of friends too, who share thoughts about their pets.
…..Cats are usually happier in their own homes when their human companions have to leave for a few days with a trusted friend or professional pet sitter to check in on them at least daily during your absence. Its important to make sure the surrogate caregiver knows exactly what to do for your cat both in terms of routine care and in case of a veterinary emergency.
Thank you for all the tips provided here. Never thought of such things. I am always concerned about my pets care when we go for vacations. Your article gives a clear knowledge of each and every step. Thank you very much.
Wonderful ideas, thank you for the great article.I am so glad that Pets Blogs keeps all their articles in their archives, love this site!!
Finding the ‘right pet sitter’ is as important as the right child care. Find someone who genuinely loves animals not just someone who runs a business for profits and find someone who cares enough to go the extra mile if needed.
Im a pet sitter myself and cat owner. I love animals and I am sometimes amazed at what I find when I start a pet sit – sometimes not enough food or cat litter to last until the owner returns. I like to leave the pet and the house perfect, so remember to leave us well equipped for your entire trip!
It is very vital that we find the right pet sitter for our beloved pets. So that we can be assured that they are well taken cared of even without our presence. However, it is really hard finding the right pet sitter nowadays.
It so hard to find the best pet sitter for your loved pets. However when you choose a pet sitter make sure that they also love to take good care of pets and that they are good with pets as well so they can get along very well and so that you pets won’t have any anxiety problems when both of you are away from each other.
Well for me, it’s much better that I know my pet sitter so that I can be okay in leaving my dog with him/her. It’s just like leaving your child to a baby sitter. So, better do a background check to ensure your dogs safety.