Choosing The Right Pet Sitter

I recently received a frantic call from a friend of mine while I was out of town on business. She was going to be traveling and needed the name of a good pet sitter for her two cats (one of which was diabetic). I gave her the name of a professional pet sitter, someone I trusted, whom I've known for years through my visits to the local dog parks, my work with dog rescue and the pet-centric community at-large. I felt very comfortable recommending All Friends Pet Care to my friend, who ended up pleased with the arrangement.

I have never boarded my dogs Flip and Tiki, and never plan to, as I prefer to use in-home care. When I lived in Reston, I used a professional pet sitter for several years to make a few visits a week to walk Flip during the day while I was at the office. The other days, I came home and walked him mid-day. This arrangement was affordable (about $12 -$15 per 20 minute walk with a little play/petting time), and seemed to work well for both Flip and I. Now, I am fortunate to have my sister living next door and a housemate upstairs who help out with pet-sitting when I am out of town.

But not everyone has such an ideal arrangement. There are many advantages to in-home pet sitting vs. boarding your pet, and there are many excellent and well-qualified professional pet sitters out there to choose from. So, how does one go about selecting the right pet sitter for their needs?   

First, do your homework. A professional pet sitter should be affiliated with one of the major trade associations that represents their industry, such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (NAPPS) or Pet Sitters International (PSI). You can also find professional pet sitters listed in novadog magazine, through the Northern Virginia Professional Pet Sitters Network, and in the Pet Lovers Companion guide.

Second, ask your friends, family and co-workers for personal recommendations. It's nice to know someone who has used a particular sitter before and had a positive experience, or perhaps a bad experience to avoid.

Third, determine exactly what your needs are so that you can accurately convey them to the potential sitter. For example, will you need a daily mid-day dog walk for one large dog? Or perhaps two-times-a-day feeding for your three cats with medication administered?  Your potential pet sitter needs to know all the facts.

Fourth, meet with the prospective pet sitter in your home to conduct an interview and allow your pet and the sitter to meet. Don't expect your pet to become instant friends with a sitter, that is an unrealistic expectation. During the in-home interview, you should determine several important things:

• Can the pet sitter provide written proof they have commercial liability insurance (to cover accidents and negligence) and is bonded (to protect against theft by a pet sitter or her employees)?
• What training has the pet sitter completed? Pet CPR is a good start.
• Will the pet sitter record notes about your pet—such as his likes, dislikes, fears, habits, medical conditions, medications and routines?
• What will happen if the pet sitter experiences car trouble or becomes ill? Do they have a backup?
• Will the pet sitter provide related services such as in-home grooming, dog walking, dog training and play time?
• Will the pet sitter provide a written service contract spelling out services and fees?
• If the pet sitter provides live-in services, what are the specific times they agree to be with your pet? Is this detailed in the contract?
• How does your pet sitter make sure that you have returned home?
• Will the pet sitter provide you with the phone numbers of other clients who have agreed to serve as references?

Once you have selected your pet sitter, signed a contract and made appropriate arrangements, you will want to be fully prepared for the sitter's first appointment by going over the pet's routine, showing the sitter where leashes, food bowls, treats, toys and supplies are and posting important contact/emergency information. They should also have this important information in the signed paperwork on file.

Now that you've done your due diligence, sit back and relax knowing that your pet's in-home care will be in good hands while you're away.