How do You Choose a Pet Sitter While You Are Away for the Holidays?

2009-11-07T17:53:00.009-07:00

Hello,
This is Wendy with Arizona Home Pet Sitters. There is a well known piece of advice given to parents when leaving their child in the hands of a caregiver, “Trust your instincts!” In other words, if you do not feel 100% comfortable with your child care arrangements; trust your instincts and find another provider. This definitely applies when choosing a pet sitter for your furry, feathered and scaly kids, too.

When making arrangements to meet the pet service provider you have contacted, make sure you will be interviewing the person who will be providing the pet care, not just a company representative. If not, ask to meet the actual sitter(s). Be sure and ask lots of questions until you feel you have gained a true picture of the care your pet(s) will receive while you are away. If you have any remaining reservations, move on and interview others before signing any agreements.

Be sure you understand the policies of the pet sitter and get copies of all signed documents in writing. Find out which services are included and which you will pay extra for. Choosing a pet provider who is bonded and insured is important, but beyond that, make sure your pet sitter is certified in pet CPR and first aid so they can properly evaluate a situation and act quickly if necessary.

You as the pet parent should be able to leave home with confidence that your pet sitter will follow your carefully laid out instructions and that all your pet(s) will be well attended to. Then you can relax and focus on the purpose of your trip.

While price can be a factor in choosing a provider, don’t sacrifice quality care. Allow your pet sitter adequate time with your pet(s) for playtime. Remember there is a plethora of options available to responsible pet owners. Check references and do your research.

Of course we are advocates of professional in-your-home pet sitting. This way pets can remain at home in a familiar environment that eliminates much of the stress associated with transportation and kenneling, as well as exposure to disease. Neighbors or college kids can be unreliable at times, forget, have schedule conflicts, sudden invites, or take on too much leaving your pet on the short end of the stick. Even boarding pets at another’s home has its risks. Some pets may try to escape to return home to you, and there is the variable of other pets and children in the home.

Then you must take your individual pet into consideration, if your pet is aggressive in any way, or not up-to-date on shots, a professional in-home sitter is definitely the way to go. Plus you have the added benefit of someone checking on your home a couple of times per day. And, your happy pet will be waiting to greet you when you return.

You will be able to judge the quality of care your pet received while you were gone by his or her actions when you return. They should be contented, happy to see you and glad you have returned, but not be too over-anxious. If any non-optimum indicators are present, you should “trust your instincts” and act accordingly. If your pet sitter has done an exceptional job, please let them know that, also.

At Arizona Home Pet Sitters, our mission is to provide your pets with the same excellent care, attention and devotion you provide your pets on a regular basis and to conduct business with the highest integrity and fulfill our responsibilities to our clients to ensure your trust and commitment to us in the future.

Please call now to schedule your FREE In-Home Consultation!

Arizona Pet Sitting, LLC

How do You Choose a Pet Sitter While You Are Away for the Holidays?