photo: spilltojill
When a person becomes a professional pet sitter, he or she has committed their life to the love and care of animals. They have a gift in bonding with animals and exhibit that unconditional love. Let me just share my story.
Many years ago, I had a dog and I had to put him in a kennel when we went away on vacation. When he got home, she was very stressed, and she also got kennel cough. Fast forward fifteen years, when I was in college, I pet sat for animals to make some extra money. I noticed a difference in animals behaviors when I came to visit; they appeared a lot calmer and they were happy to see me.
The animals were content because they were in the comfort of their own home.
People have to understand the concept that animals are like people. They need attention, love, nurturing, and frequent visits. You would not leave your child in a strange place while you were away on vacation, would you? You would not leave your child unattended? That is why if you are going away, start making your plans to hire a pet sitter.
Pet sitters not only take care of your pets, but some pet sitters stay over night, they also take in your mail, make sure your house is secure, open and shut the curtains, water your plants. They are also just a phone call away if an emergency arises and take your pet to the vet. They check in on your pets, and make notes of the animal’s behavior.
Here are some tips for hiring a pet sitter:
- Is the pet sitter certified in Pet First Aid and Pet CPR.
- Is the pet sitter license, bonded, and insured.
- How long has he or she been in business.
- See how the animal behaves towards the sitter.
- Have you received a contract to sign to make the business transaction official.
- Ask for references.
Keep these tips in mind when hiring a pet sitter, as you do not want to put your animals’ life at risk. Your goal is to relax and enjoy your vacation. When you are going on vacation hire a pet sitter and rest assured you are in good hands and have peace of mind that your animal is receiving the utmost care in the comfort of his or her own home. You will be amazed by how your pet behaves when you come home.
About the Author – By June Collins, President, Max-well’s Pet Services, Inc.
June resides with her dog, Maxwell Francis who is a Scottish Terrier/Schipperke mix and her black cat Presley Michael in Jupiter, FL Some other activities June enjoys of course, animals, jazz, Scottish Terriers, walking on the beach, bird watching, walking in nature. She is also an avid believer in alternative health and modalities.
September 26, 2012 at 10:55 am
i love to be around dogs and cats. when i was a kid, i’d wish for a puppy for my birthday!
September 26, 2012 at 11:31 am
Great tips, thanks for sharing. We usually arrange for a friend or family member who already knows our pets to watch them and our house. However, recently, we have begun trying well-reputed boarding facilities where our dogs can benefit from more socialization than they usually get.
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Crystal Wayward recently published..Dog Sitting: How to Handle an Emergency (Guest Blog)
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September 26, 2012 at 4:30 pm
I wish were so lucky. Most people who know can handle three dogs and two cats; but I’m determined to find someone who can. Thanks for stopping by!
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
September 26, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Great tips but there is a slight misconception regarding bonding for businesses.
Bonding is for an employee of a company, if a company only has one employee…let’s say the Pet Sitter is the business owner and he/she works solo, then it adds no extra protection to the client, if that one person is bonded….INS should cover everything.
Because there a lot of confusion in the public eye you will see many single business persons buy bonding so they can state they ARE bonded.
An individual should be fully insured with a reputable INS company and that will cover the client and the sitter.
September 26, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Thanks for sharing that, Barbara – I’m not a pet sitter, but I would have totally made that mistake thinking I had to be covered from all angles. It’s so important for people to make sure their not throwing money away when they’re first starting out.
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
October 16, 2012 at 7:26 am
Barbara is absolutely right, bonding in not necessary (and is overkill) for a one-person pet sitting business. Potential clients don’t realize that, they just hear the term bonding and they expect it. I’m one of those people who paid extra just to have that word on my business card
Twitter: gardnersdogcat
October 16, 2012 at 4:46 pm
That’s such a good point. I couldn’t imagine insisting that someone bond with our pets. I just want a pet lover in our home is respectful, honest, and responsible. That is what will give me peace of mind when I head off on vacation.
Thanks for stopping by, Sue
Kimberly
Twitter: thefurmom
March 27, 2013 at 4:57 pm
I find this useful as often i stuggle to determine who is a good match to wath our dog and who isn’t. Thanks for the tips
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Peaches recently published..American Golden Retriever vs English Creme Golden Retriever
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March 27, 2013 at 5:18 pm
I’m glad you are provideing useful content like this for pet owners
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