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What to look for in a pet sitter
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Luna Greyhound American Princess and up and coming agility dog |
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Ginsing Brown-Throated Conure, "Good Girl" |
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Beekers Yellow-Collared Macaw, Rogers and Hammerstein enthusiast |
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Tristan Goffin's Cockatoo, disassembler, dive-bomber, and escape artist |
| And gone but not forgotten, currently residing at the Rainbow Bridge. |
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Hershey Kisses CGC, AAD, RM, JM, OAC, OJC, NGC, TDI - retired, a.k.a. Her Royal Brownness, Queen of the Known Universe |
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Riker CGC, PD1, NAC-V, NJC-V, TDI - retired |
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Bailey a.k.a. AMF Head Knocker, NGA retired racing Greyhound and Dewey Beach adoptee |
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Midget The Fat Cat |
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JJ a.k.a. Jeremys Jaguar, NGA retired racing Greyhound 1985-1998 |
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Tooties Queen Cat |
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Pepe Rescue Kitty |
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Ciara Heart Cat |
Service Area
| Audubon | East/West Norriton |
| Cedars/Skippack | Oaks |
| Collegeville | Trooper |
| Eagleville | Worcester |
Boarding or a Pet Sitter?
First, you need to understand that in-home pet care is usually more costly than a kennel, especially for a single pet. Boarding at a kennel is charged at a per-pet daily rate, which includes feeding, nature calls, and possibly some exercise for your pet. Depending on the kennel, walking, playing, or TV / radio services could be offered at an additional charge.
Pet sitting in your home is a per-visit rate that requires someone to come in a minimum of three times a day if you have dogs. How would you like to only have access to the bathroom every twelve hours?
Benefits to in-home care include the security of a home that appears occupied, your pets' comfort in their own environment, and more personalized attention for your pet than most kennels can provide.
If your pet is in poor health, has seizures or other serious medical conditions, or is very young or very old, you may be better off using a kennel or a house and pet sitter who lives in your home; a situation with ongoing supervision. Consult your veterinarian if you aren't sure.
Whether you choose boarding or a pet sitter, these people are going to be responsible for your babies while you are away. Investigate them thoroughly. Get multiple references, at least two. Ask for someone who has pets similar to yours. Call these people and talk to them. Show up at the kennel unannounced and ask to see the facilities. If they refuse, keep looking.
What to look for in a pet sitter
If you are considering a pet sitter, the person you
hire is going to have access to your home. Your pets' lives are
in this person's hands. Interview them like you would anyone who
you must trust implicitly. Ask questions. Does the sitter have pets
of his or her own? What kind? You must be comfortable with the person
and their capabilities or else look for another sitter.
On a separate note, many people feel bonding and insurance are indicators of trust. Bonding and insuring are useful to assure that you will be monetarily compensated for damage or loss. But what's money if your precious baby is injured or neglected or if a priceless heirloom is destroyed? Bonding and insuring have no relevance as to a person's reputation or reliability.
A sitter should provide a free introductory consultation to meet you and your animals, gather information on their needs, and spend time getting you know you, your pets, and your home. If you feel rushed through this process, look for someone else.
Did the sitter you are interviewing make a professional first impression? Showing up to a business meeting in less than professional attire, arriving late, not having the appropriate paperwork, ignoring your pets or worse not asking to meet them, or rushing through the meeting are all indications that maybe you should continue looking for someone a bit more focused on you and your animals.
Make sure the sitter is comfortable with ALL your pets. Equally, make sure your pets are comfortable with your sitter. Animals have good instincts. Listen to them.
A sitter should take a complete pet profile on each of the animals in his or her care. Information should include specifics like:
- Species
- Breed
- Coloring
- Sex
- Age
- Emergency contact
- Your veterinarian
And also all information necessary to provide the care you expect:
- Dietary requirements
- Feeding schedules
- Potty times
- Environmental requirements
- Favorite games, toys, treats
- Medical conditions / medications
- Specific grooming needs
- Cage/crate locations
Your sitter should provide a written rate schedule and service contract. Find out exactly what is included in the service you are purchasing.
- Does the litter box get scooped?
- How long is a visit?
- What times does the sitter come?
- Is dog walking extra?
- Is there a charge for multiple pets?
- Will the pets receive personal love and attentionóall the pets regardless of species?
- Will poops be picked up in the yard, on walks?
- Will in-house accidents be cleaned up?
- Are other services available—plant care, outdoor bird feeders, etc.? At what cost?
- After 9/11 we unfortunately must consider; what if there's a national emergency? Will the sitter make every reasonable effort to get your pets out of harms way?
Find out how veterinary emergencies are handled. Some sitters have an on-call veterinarian they use; others require you to make financial arrangements with your own veterinarian to provide emergency care in your absence. Never assume there won't be an emergency. There probably won't be, but if one occurs it could be your pet's life.
If you choose a company with multiple sitters on staff, make sure the same person is guaranteed to come to your home each visit. This is much less stressful on your pets. Also make sure this person is in attendance at your initial meeting.
A sitter should leave you a log of happenings at each visit.
Elderly, very young, medicated, or disabled animals require special care. Make sure your sitter is qualified to handle these situations. Also make sure that it is appropriate to leave these animals unattended for hours rather than boarding them. A qualified sitter should know the difference and recommend you seek alternative arrangements if the animal requires more care than day visits provide.
No dog should ever be left crated all day and night. Dogs who must be crated should be in a kennel or left with a trusted relative or a house sitter who will stay in your home. If a prospective sitter thinks it's okay for your dog to be crated all day and all night, find another one! This is cruelty to animals!
Exotic pets (birds, reptiles, small mammals) have different care requirements than dogs or cats. Make sure your sitter has experience with these types of animals. Keep looking if your potential sitter thinks once-a-day care is sufficient for a parrot.