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How to find and identify a trustworthy pet sitter

A snappy business card does not make a good pet sitter.

Anyone can call themselves  a pet sitter. Create a snappy website, choose a catchy title, print smart-looking business card, ask friends to provide references and voila! Instant pet sitter. Heck, under those conditions, even Beelzebub could launch a successful service. I learned that Pet Sitters Associates simply provide insurance. “Hiring a pet sitter is a serious process,” Make sure the person you choose is trained and professional. He or she will not only be responsible for your pet, but also will have regular access to your home. A good pet sitter will meet you and your pet well in advance, before an arrangement is agreed upon, and address any issues that may be identified at that time. I suggest that during your initial meeting with a potential sitter, you should be prepared to get answers to a list of questions, including:

Will you provide a written service contract spelling out fees and specific services.
Can you specify the amount of time you will actually spend with my pet?
Will you provide written proof of commercial liability insurance? Are you bonded?
What training have you received?
Do you take notes about my pet’s issues & needs (fears, medical conditions, and routines)?
What if an emergency prevents you from fulfilling your duties?   Do you have a backup?
Will you provide a list of references?

You shouldn’t be the only one asking questions. I use a questionnaire to make sure I have all the information I need. Clients can avoid problems by paying attention while we’re going through the checklist. Many people think pet sitting is easy, but there are so many things that can arise while they’re gone that they just don’t think about. Among them, unexpected visits from repair people and housekeepers, medical emergencies, and household accidents. Even small oversights can add up to a frustrating pet-sitting experience. People don’t think to leave things where you can find them, like extra food, medicine, brushes, paper towels and cleaning supplies.

TIPS

• Schedule your sitter well in advance, especially if you’re hiring someone for the first time.
• Pay attention to the sitter’s questions and consider what she or he might require in your absence.
• Provide the sitter with a list of essential information, including phone numbers for the vet, security alarm company, local family or friend contact, and ,of course a number where you can be reached; security codes; routine service calls (housekeeper, gardener, repair person); potential visitors (for example, does your brother have a key to your house and tend to drop in without calling first?); location of cleaning supplies, pets medications.
• Be sure to have enough of your pet’s food on hand to last through your anticipated absence always buy extra and tell the sitter where to find it.
• Do not cancel at the last minute; pet-sitting is a business and last minute cancellations can deprive another pet of valuable services.

A little due diligence before hiring a pet sitter can pay off. You don’t want someone who will drop in just long enough to refill Buster’s water bowl. The ideal sitter will spend quality time with your dog or cat, provide the amount of exercise you have requested, and be sufficiently familiar with animals to know when veterinary care is needed. If arranged in advance, a sitter may also handle minor household duties, such as watering plants and collecting mail or newspapers.
So how do you find this trustworthy soul? It makes sense to start with a referral from someone you know and respect –a friend or veterinarian, preferably, someone who has personally used the individual services After all, this is a person to whom you are entrusting your beloved companion. Not to mention the person who will have the key to your house and access to everything within. All the more reason to take steps to ensure that you’re not rolling out the welcome mat for LIZZIE BORDEN or TED BUNDY.

Pet-sitting services can also be found in the yellow pages of the phone book and through organizations such as your local humane society, shelter, rescue groups and veterinary offices. My sole concern is that sometimes I suspect my dog prefers the sitter to me. Which, when you think about it, it is the ideal worry to have.