More and more people are turning to a pet sitter rather than boarding their animals when leaving home. Unfortunately, pet owners are having bad experiences with kennels and pet daycares because of viruses, cleanliness, and overall care of the animals. Pet sitting provides a quieter and calmer environment for your pet because it is in the safety of your own home. There is some risk in using a pet sitter just like trusting a boarding company or vet clinic in taking care of your pet; however, once you find the right pet sitter you and your animal will be much happier. Here are some tips on how to find the right pet sitter for you and your pet:
Make Sure the Pet Sitter Is Insured & Bonded
Make sure your pet sitter is insured. You may ask for proof of insurance if they do not offer it up front. Pet sitter insurance is fairly inexpensive and not hard to get, so professional pet sitters should always have this safety, no excuses. If you are interviewing a pet sitter that does not have insurance, keep looking!
Look For Recommendations
When you are looking for a pet sitter, ask around. Ask your neighbors, friends, and family if they have used a pet sitter before and who they might have used. You always feel more comfortable when a pet sitter gets recommended to you.
Ask For References & Call Them
When interviewing potential pet sitters, ask for references. If your pet sitter knows better, they should offer them up front without you having to ask, however, they may forget, so it is still safe to ask. Don't hesitate to call the references and ask them questions. Ask them how they know them and if they were pleased with the pet sitting service. Ask any questions you like.
Ask Plenty of Questions
Not only should you question the pet sitter's references, you should question the pet sitter. Ask them questions about how they would deal with certain pet situations, such as a medical emergency. Ask about their knowledge of animals and past experiences. Also, ask any questions that would make you feel more comfortable in making a decision. Example questions: Have you as a pet sitter ever had emergency situations with a client's pet. If so, how did you deal with it? Another example question, do you have any employees? If so, are they reliable and insured? What is your backup process for when you cannot complete your pet sitting duties?
Take all the time you need. I suggest you start looking for a pet sitter way ahead of time so that you may find someone you trust to take care of your pet like you would. And find someone within your price range. Pet sitting services are not that expensive. Daily visits range around $12-$20 while dog walks are anywhere between $15 and $20. You should feel absolutely comfortable in your finding the right pet sitter for you and for the right price.
Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting plano tx. Visit http://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.
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