1. Step one to finding a good pet-sitter for your fur babies is to look. Sounds silly, but it’s one of the hardest steps. There are several websites you can choose from such as Rover or Watch My Wag. There is also Facebook groups that often have pet sitters, or good’ol word of mouth. Personally, I like going by word of mouth. I like to talk to a person who has actually used the sitter before and can tell me their experience.
2. Once you have found your sitter then you need to have meet and greet. It’s best to have your animal with you. Invite them over to your house if you have an animal that can’t be taken somewhere else. If you are hiring a pet-sitter for a dog it’s nice to meet them at your dog’s favorite dog park or hangout. The entire purpose of a meet and greet is to see how your animal and the pet-sitter interact together. Also, how you feel about them. When picking someone I believe in gut feelings. If you don’t feel right about them, don’t hire them.
3. When you have scheduled your meet and greet make sure to have all your questions ready. It is easiest if you have all of them written down beforehand. Some examples are: • How long have you been pet-sitting? • Do you have a list of references that can be contacted? • Do you specialize in any particular animal or age range? • How much do you charge? • How much notice would you need? • Are you pet CPR certified? • Do you have insurance or are you bonded?
4. During your interview the interviewee should be asking you questions as well. Be sure to answer all the questions honestly. For instance, if they ask does your pet have any aggressive behaviors, and your pet has nipped or bit another person/animal…tell the truth. Honesty is the best policy. Be sure to discuss your pets eating habits, their schedule, medication, walks, and anything else you think maybe important.
5. Once your pet-sitter is hired the next step is using them! Be sure to be considerate of their time, and book in advance if possible. It’s best to have a paper with all your pet’sinformation written down and out for the sitter. Be sure to inform your vet that your pet has a sitter and take them a document of medical power of attorney for the time you will be gone. All of these steps are great tools for hiring dog walkers as well. -Victoria Drum- @tortordrum instagram.com/tortordrum?igshid=jsubigd1x0sg [email protected]
Our lovely guest blogger Victoria Drum is a super dog mom, cool chick, Pet-Care Professional, and stays up on the latest of several trends for pets and pet parents. She has a huge passion for animals and gets into some interesting hobbies and travels! Please go give this girl a follow over on Instagram and tag along on her daily adventures.
Huge thank you to Victoria for taking the time to write a blog post ❤️❤️.