Hiring a Professional Pet Sitter
Have you finally booked that long overdue vacation…or perhaps an unexpected business trip will take you out of town? Who will be there to take care of you pets while you are gone?
Well, if you are like millions of other folks you will be searching for a Pet Care professional to take care of things while you are away. In year’s past there were not many alternatives for a pet owner. Asking friends or family to help out or using a kennel were the only choices available. If kenneling was the choice pet owners had to deal with the stress of transporting animals and the worry of exposure to illness. Trading favors with friends or family to keep everyone at home could be difficult to arrange.
Professional pet sitters have changed all of that and have lessened the anxiety of an owner who wants quality care while they are away. Pet sitters visit pets in their own home. This allows pets to stay on their own diet and maintain a daily routine to which they are accustomed. The result is a much happier pet (and owner!).
Pet owners do need to do their homework when looking for the right pet sitting company. A reputable pet care company should be experienced, carry insurance and be bonded with references you can check. A professional sitter will want to meet ahead of time to get to know you and your pets. Be prepared to show the sitter around your home and explain feeding needs and schedules as well as where supplies are kept for clean up. If you have dogs, where are the leashes kept? What is the best dog-walking route? Where do waste bags go? How is you pet when meeting another dog? If you have cats where is the litter box? Do they enjoy company? Where are the favorite hiding spots for kitty?
Getting to know your animals is key to providing quality care while you are away. There should be contract paperwork such as pet sitter agreement and a Vet release form to explain company policies so everything is clear to both you and the sitter. You should also know what rate you will be paying per visit before you leave. You want to know what experience does the sitter have and who will actually be doing the visits. If the sitter has an emergency there should be a plan in place for your coverage. A communication plan should be discussed so you know how the visits went. Does the sitter have the ability to call, email or text for a quick update?
One of the more important aspects for your peace of mind…how does your sitter interact with your pet? Most professional pet sitters have left other careers to follow their passion and love of animals and are ready to provide the loving care your pets deserve.
If you are in the Chelmsford, Westford area please look us up at www.pricelesspetcare.com or go to www.petsit.com for a sitter who covers your town.
