How to Find A Good Petsitter
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Looking for a good pet sitter is not too different from looking for a good babysitter. After all, your beloved cat, dog or what-have-you is like a member of the family. You would not want to leave them in the care of somebody who would give them less than the attention that they deserve.
But we can’t be there for our pets all hours of the day. Inevitably, there’s always work to worry about, and the house will be empty of people every now and then. Once in a while, we have to go on a well-deserved vacation. Unfortunately, a lot of vacation destinations do not allow pets. In situations like this, it’s time to look for a pet sitter.
Whether you’re looking for dog walkers, cat sitters, or something else entirely, one old-fashioned way of catching their attention is to put up ads or notices. The classified ads in a newspaper can work, or you could always print out your own posters and put them up around the neighborhood. You could place some on bulletins or distribute some near colleges. A lot of students are animal lovers and are always looking for a few extra dollars.
You could even go the more passive route. There may be pet sitters looking for an animal to sit at precisely the same time you are looking for somebody to do that kind of work. Call it serendipity, but it is not that unusual. Keep your eyes open and look out for similar ads, posters, and flyers from the other side of the fence.
When you have a list of names and numbers with bright possibilities, start hitting the phone. This will help you narrow down your search because you can already ask a few essential questions over the phone. For example, you can ask about which types of animals the prospective sitter enjoys taking care of, or is knowledgeable about. This is important especially if your pet is something more exotic than a dog or cat. Specialized knowledge may be necessary. If you’re looking for somebody with experience, this is a good time to ask. You also have the option of asking about insurance, just in case something untoward happens when the sitter is on duty.
There is another recommended option and that is to book a sitter from an agency. You can find a lot of reputable ones online and this will save you all the trouble of having to manually distribute ads and flyers. Once you access a site for a pet-sitting agency, all you have to do is browse through the profiles of available sitters and find one suitable to your pet’s needs, which hardly takes up much of your time. You can also do a quick search for pet sitters in your vicinity, and read up on their background. This is a good idea particularly because you can never be too sure if you can find a sitter from your neighborhood who is experienced enough with animal care. An inexperienced sitter’s little mistakes may be damaging for the health of your pet.
When you have narrowed down your search to a couple of sitters, you can schedule them to meet you and your pet. This will be a good time to evaluate their interaction with your pet and tell them about feeding, exercise, and other special routines. If your pet has certain medications or conditions that need special care, this is the best time to orient them. Observe if they are listening intently or taking notes, and if your pet is responding well to them.
It may look like there are a lot of things to take into consideration when looking for a pet sitter, but it will be well worth it if you find somebody you can trust. Then you can go on a hassle-free trip with complete peace of mind and return to a pet who is as happy and healthy as ever.
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