Pet sitters also called house sitters are like baby sitters who are employed to take care of a pet within the home. Usually, pet owners hire them on a contract basis when they go out on vacations. They can also be employed for a short duration like for an evening. The advantage of hiring a pet sitter is that the pet is taken care of within its environment.
The problem faced by segregating the pet out of its environment is that they become stressed out. In case of travelling before reaching the new owner they can also experience travel trauma. Vaccinations are administered to the pet after studying their lifestyle. Chances are that they can become ill because of exposure to parasites, as that situation wasn't considered during the time of vaccination.
It is a very good idea to conduct a pet sitter interview, before hiring them for the job. The interview can be arranged on phone or in person. It is better if the interview is taken at home as the ability of the pet sitter can be tested with the pet. The pet sitters should be qualified and must have completed an educational coursework.
The coursework should include pet care, nutrition and health along with business and office procedures. It is a bonus if they have taken care of animals similar to the pet you have before because not all pet sitters can take care of all types of pets. Every pet sitter is specialized with certain types of pets. It is very rare that a pet sitter has knowledge about all kinds of pets. They should have good experience in the pet care industry.
The pet sitter should also be insured or bonded in case of accidents. The insurance card and coverage should be checked out for this purpose. They can even be asked for references. The pet owners, whom they have worked with earlier can provide clear picture. The payment terms should also be discussed beforehand.
The pet sitter looks after the food and water needs of the animal. They maintain the normal routine of the animal. They also give medicines to the pet, if it is on medication. Some even provide special services such as injecting insulin; administering subcutaneous fluids, and checking blood pressure and glucose levels. In such cases, the knowledge of the pet sitter should be assessed with the vet of the pet.
Some pet sitters also provide pet walking services. This service is availed by people who are old or are having some kind of disability and are not able to provide the adequate exercise to their pet. They also drive the pet to the vet, groomer or trainer. Pet sitters also pick up pet supplies such as food and medicines. All the additional services are optional and not provided by all pet sitters. They also play with the pet and maintain the litter box.
Pet sitting pets such as dogs, cats, snakes, rabbits, ferrets, lizards, guinea pig, fish, and hamsters can be having a complete stranger also as a pet sitter. But some of the exotic animals are very fussy and shy. They accept pet sitters whom they are familiar with.
In such cases, pet owners must try to develop familiarity between the pet and the pet sitter beforehand, in their presence. The most common method of bonding with the animal is by bottle feeding them. After the initial bond is formed, the pet can be left alone with the house sitter.
The best way to find a pet sitter is to ask your veterinarian or friends who have pets for recommendations. There may be people who do it occasionally, like I do, just not as a business. Some pet sitters will advertise in the yellow pages or newspapers. Most will leave flyers or business cards with veterinarians.
There are professional Pet Sitter organizations that have websites. Some of them offer a search feature, but remember that only their members will be listed. Some smaller towns may not have local professional pet sitters.
Keep your expectations realistic. Normally, a pet sitter will feed the animals, let them out or walk them, change litter boxes and do whatever else is needed to care for the animal. They will spend an average of thirty minutes for each visit. They might even pick up your mail and water your plants.
There is usually an extra charge for additional visits during the day. Some sitters may be willing to spend the night - something you may desire if you have older or sick animals.
A "meet and greet" visit should be arranged before you are to be away. It is important that both the animal and the sitter be comfortable with each other.
Be sure to plan well in advance, as pet sitters are usually in heavy demand. You should ask for the pet sitter's fees and policies in writing, so you know exactly what to expect. I would suggest getting references; a trustworthy businessperson will have these readily available.
Ask what other kinds of animal experience the person has. Someone with veterinary experience, such as a technician, is a good choice for special needs pets. A dog trainer, or someone who has trained a few animals will know how to handle dogs with behavioral issues. A pet groomer will have experience handling both dogs and cats in stressful situations.
Pet sitters are not required to have any special licensing, but those who have gone to the trouble of acquiring accreditation from one of the pet sitter organizations show a high degree of professionalism in my opinion. They will have been required to take a course that usually includes business management, animal care and animal health instruction. Accredited pet sitters will therefore likely have more diverse knowledge and experience than someone who has not been through the course. Once you have found the right sitter for you, be sure to give and get all the information you both will need.
You will want to leave phone numbers for where you can be reached, as well as a friend or neighbor who might be able to answer questions or help out in emergencies. Provide the sitter with the name, address and phone number of your veterinarian, and leave a signed letter giving permission for necessary medical procedures to be preformed. Additionally, make sure you have a way to reach the sitter at all times, in case something comes up.
Be sure to tell the pet sitter of any special behavioral problems or quirks. If your dog is afraid of people in hats, say, the sitter will not make the mistake of wearing her rain hat indoors! Point out where all the supplies are; food, dishes, toys, beds, etc. Tell the pet sitter your rules on treats, how much you feed, how often and when. If you can put everything the pet sitter may need in one central location, so much the better.
If your pet needs to be fed at certain times, or takes medicine on a schedule, you will want to be sure that the pet sitter can accommodate your needs.
Be sure your pet sitter is bonded and insured. Don't forget, she will have the keys to your home. Also, make arrangements for payment and the return of your keys.
It is a good idea to have a contingency plan in place in the event that your return is delayed. Arrange for the sitter to call, or for you to call her at a specific time on the date of your return.
The pet sitter should also have a backup plan in case he or she is unable to attend to your pets for some reason. If not, you had better make a backup plan of your own.
Leaving the pets behind can add unnecessary stress to your trip. Knowing that you have hired an experienced pet sitter, and that you have provided her with everything she needs to do the job right can help ease that stress.
Both Dora Redman & Elyse Grau are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Dora Redman has sinced written about articles on various topics from Dogs, Training A Cat and The Internet. Dora Redman writes articles on various subjects for websites. is an Article Directory Offering A Quality Article Distribution Ser. Dora Redman's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Elyse Grau has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate, Pets and Food for Cat. Elyse is the founder of The Original Dog Biscuit Company. She has in-depth knowledge of pet nutrition, as well as personal experience in their care and training. She is also a herbalist, with an emphasis on holistic pet health. For more articles and infor. Elyse Grau's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.