6 Tips to Help You Find Your Pet Sitter

This week, March 5 – 11, we celebrate the 29^th anniversary of Professional Pet Sitters Week. Pet Sitters International (PSI) uses this opportunity to highlight the importance of using professional pet-care services, as well as educating others about this as a potential career at any point in their life.

Why use professional pet sitters? According to PSI, hiring a pet LOVER isn’t the same as hiring a professional.  If your pet has some health issues or is not comfortable in a boarding situation, bringing in a professional pet sitter is a great idea. These people have been trained and are ready to handle any emergency, should something happen. Professionals are certified in the industry and have the most up-to-date coursework completed to make them savvy in caring for your pet.

6 Tips for a Perfect Pet Sitter Experience:

1. Decide where you want your pet to go. Is your pet slightly nervous? Do they have health problems? Having someone come into your home to keep them on their regular routine may be the best thing for them. If your pet is more social, a boarding facility is a great opportunity.
2. Start your search early. Many sitters and boarding facilities are booked early. If you are traveling during peak times of the year such as spring break or Christmas, investigate and find your location for your pet as soon as you can. There are several online resources to check into such as the site PSI has, which is petsit.com or rover.com.
3. Check into different boarding facilities. New ones offer private rooms, small group play areas, and a place to run freely for extra exercise. A simple online search will help you find the one closest to your location.
4. Interview your potential pet sitter and ask the right questions. PSI has compiled several great questions you should ask. Also, be sure their demeanor will fit well with your pet. Are they calm and trustworthy? Or are they nervous? Remember your pet will be nervous enough without you and they do not need to be with someone who is overly sensitive and not flexible.
5. Ask for referrals. Ask those you interview to provide references. At the same point, many of us pet parents know other pet parents. Ask around to see if they have been used by someone you know, or they might recommend someone to you. 
6. Once you have your sitter selected, fill out your Pet Emergency Info Sheet. This way, they have your information and your pet’s information right at their fingertips. Whether you have someone staying at your place or you are taking your dog to someone else, they need to know the answers to questions about your dog or cat. This helps them have all the answers in one organized place.

Maybe you prefer to travel with your pet. If you do, be sure to check out our recent blog about traveling with pets. 

No matter what, enjoy your travel time! Just be sure your pet does too!

Pet sitting as Extra Income? 

Are you looking for extra income? Do you love pets? According to Indeed.com, pet sitting is the 10th most popular job when it comes to the animal health field. There is even a list of job duties outlined in the report if you were interested in what you would be doing specifically to care for a dog. 

Pet Sitters have become more and more necessary as many people travel for work and leisure. Some of our dogs simply cannot go to a boarding facility, or accompany us on our trips. The organization Pet Sitters International was founded by a nationally published author, Patti J. Moran after she wrote Pet Sitting for Profit. Pet Sitters International (PSI) is now the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters. They have classes and certifications that help educate and care for your dog not only as a dog lover, but as a professional who knows how to care for pets. The organization now boots having member pet-sitting businesses located in the United States, Canada and more than 15 other countries. Pet owners can visit petsit.com/locate to find local professional pet sitters.