Leaving your pet at home could be a very challenging task, especially if you’ll be away for a long time. Many people are also unable to simply keep their animals in a boarding kennel, and even their relatives and close friends are not always able to assist them. Thankfully, we have a solution for this.

A common solution is to hire a pet-sitting service. Pet sitters might live in your home while you are gone or visit your animals on a set number of days each week. Your pet will not be removed from his usual surroundings, causing him far less stress than the alternative. Even though he will not be exposed to any diseases brought in by clients' pets, you will have to put your trust in someone you have never met. While this may be a convincing yet scary solution, it’s important for pet owners like you to know what you should be looking for in a pet sitter.

Finding a dependable and trustworthy pet sitter is critical to ensuring your pet’s well-being, especially as you are away on vacation or for business. At the same time, hiring a pet sitter means you will allow them to be inside your home, so you have to consider this as well.

Read on to discover some useful tips when looking for a professional pet sitter.

Use Referrals and Recommendations

Request recommendations from friends, neighbors, relatives, your veterinarian, or your dog trainer. Search the internet for local pet sitting services, join Pet Sitters International or the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, or talk to other pet owners in your area.

Get Someone With Certifications

Conduct interviews with potential pet sitters to learn about their experience, animal varieties they have cared for, and training. Ascertain that the pet sitter is competent in handling any special requirements or behavioral issues that your pet may have.

Ask for References

You should request recommendations from the nanny you employ (and you should contact each of them). Furthermore, before you go, the sitter must become acquainted with your pet.

Look for Insurance and Suretyship Provision

Your pet sitter must have both liability insurance and a bond in place (to protect against theft). Furthermore, getting health insurance for your cat may be advantageous.

Establish Clear Communication

When working with a sitter, it’s important to establish clear communication strategies. More than for your pet, this is actually for you as a pet owner.

As a pet owner, your anxiety will be decreased if you can establish consistent communication with your pet sitter while you are separated from them. The abundance of pet sitters available thoroughly documents your pet's daily routine, eating patterns, and personality. Sending digital photographs or text messages is something that some people do daily.

Discuss Costs and Service Fees

As you interview potential pet sitters, know that hours and rates come with the job. You must then reach a middle ground when it comes to the service expectations and the fees. 

Perhaps you can discuss how long they should stay with the pet or if they will stay overnight, the dog’s eating and medication schedule, as well as the schedule of the dog walking activities. You can also ask them for additional services, such as grooming the pet. In case of emergencies, make sure your pet sitter can contact a vet for a checkup. These are only among the list of things you must discuss with the pet sitter. Make sure you keep the floor open for their questions and suggestions as well.

Conclusion

Nobody likes to leave their pet at home when they go away for work or a trip. This is why professional pet sitters come in handy. As you are on the search for a reliable and trustworthy professional, keep these tips in mind to assist you in reducing anxiety for both you and your pet. Despite the added cost, remember that this is simply a worthy investment.

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