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As a professional pet sitter, I see animals of all kinds. Shy ones, hyper ones, playful ones, cuddly ones, and funny ones. I'm taking care of some cats right now, and there's one guy who really likes to eat. On this particular day, he finished his own food, and then decided he hadn't quite had his fill, so he patiently...er...something like that...waited for his sister to finish.
Do you think she caught on to his subtle hints?
What does your cat do to show you he's hungry...or still hungry?
You hear it from tradespeople all the time: LICENSED, BONDED, INSURED. But what does it mean for a pet sitter to be licensed? Is it necessary? Do you know if your pet sitter is licensed?
In the world of professional pet sitting, being licensed means only one thing: You have paid a fee to your city for the right to do business in that city. It's usually a nominal fee, and some cities require it while others don't. It's basically a revenue-generator for the city, which isn't a bad thing, but it doesn't mean as much as you may think. I first opened my pet sitting business in a city that required a business license, so I would pay $50 a year for the right to do business in that city. I moved my home and my business to Phoenix, a city that does not require pet sitters to have a business license. Per the city of Phoenix web site: "The City of Phoenix does not have or issue a general business license. Only certain cities are regulated and require a license or require a recommendation/approval from the city." In our city, those activities are amusements, auction, curb painters, escort bureaus & escorts, massage, sexually oriented businesses & performers, and vending. So unless you're running "Dirty Doggie Dates" on the side, your pet sitting business would not need a license in Phoenix.
Though being licensed sounds pretty official, and it doesn't hurt for a professional pet sitter to publicize the fact that they are, having a business license does not mean that your pet sitter has been through any special training or is any more qualified than another pet sitter. By contrast, a licensed massage therapist has been through courses and training in order to hone their craft. Being licensed means they have training.
So if being licensed as a professional pet sitter does not mean your sitter is more qualified than an unlicensed pet sitter, what should you look for to make sure you are getting a qualified service provider?
• Bonded and Insured. Being bonded and insured doesn't necessarily mean your sitter is more qualified, but at least they have the proper protection for both parties.
• Pet First Aid/CPR training. Though not often used, a pet sitter who is certified in pet first aid and CPR has been through a course giving them that designation.
• Professional Groups. Being a part of a professional pet sitting group such as Pet Sitters International shows a commitment toward education and professional standards.
• Experience and references. How long has the pet sitter been in business, and what do their references say?
By learning about the experiences of your professional pet sitter and by checking their references, you should have a pretty good idea of your sitter's qualifications. And by building a long-term partnership in the care of your pet, you'll feel confident that you've made a good choice. But the license? It doesn't have a much clout as you might imagine.
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So you're in the market for a pet sitter. Scary, right? You're thinking of having a total stranger come into your home and care for some of the most beloved beings in your life, so, naturally, that task can be daunting, if not downright frightening. What can you do to make sure you find a great pet sitter?
As a professional pet sitter with over ten years of full-time experience, I've developed a few tips to help you with the process:
• Ask for a personal or professional referral. There are quite a few web sites on which you can search for care providers, but I prefer the good ol' fashioned referral. Ask your friends who have pets, and ask your vet and groomer. These are trusted "pet people" in your life, and they are more likely to steer you in the right direction than a random guess from a search engine. Ask your referrer why they would recommend the pet sitter they are suggesting. And if you hear the same thing from multiple sources, all the better! If you get different suggestions, call them all and see who you feel most comfortable with.
• Make contact. Call or email the pet sitter. Do you get a good feeling from the person? Are they able to answer your initial questions? Check out their web site. Do they provide clear information about services offered? Do they have adequate experience in caring for pets like yours? If the answer is "yes," then they are a good candidate.
• Meet and greet. Reputable pet sitters will offer an initial consultation, which is usually free. They will come to your home to meet you and your pets, get the lay of the land, and answer and ask questions. If the pet sitter is not willing to meet with you prior to booking, that's a deal-breaker.
• Actions speak louder than words. When your prospective pet sitter meets your pets, how does he or she act. Is the sitter comfortable around your pets? The sitter should be respectful and loving. He or she might ask about the "house rules" right away. For example, do you care if your dog jumps on the sitter? As a professional pet sitter, I follow my client's lead. If they are cool with the dog jumping on me, I'm good with that. If not, I respect the rules from the start. The person you're considering should be professional with you, yet loving to your pets.
• Take note. Does the pet sitter take notes during the consultation? It's a must. There are so many details to consider and remember, so you want to make sure the sitter you're hiring is thorough and writes down the specifics.
• Consider security. Everyone has a different idea of security, but make sure your sitter's sense gels with yours. Are they bonded and insured? How do they identify your house key? Do they drive an unmarked vehicle (they will likely be parked in your driveway while you're away)? Will they rotate lights and window coverings to give your home a lived-in look? These are some security measures to consider.
• Are they flexible? Most professional pet sitters have standard services, but don't be afraid to ask for something special like an extended visit or a visit during a non-standard time. Though it probably isn't reasonable to ask your sitter to visit at 3:00 a.m., and there may be an extra charge for special requests, your sitter should work to help service your needs.
• What's included? Some pet sitters include "extras" such as dog walks, litter box scooping, medication administration, mail retrieval, etc., in their standard rate, as I do, but some do not. Many will be happy to provide you with a daily update or even an update after each visit, but some may charge extra for that. Ask what is included so you know upfront if you'll have added charges for services you need.
• The price is right. The saying "you get what you pay for" often holds true for pet sitters. I'm not saying to select the pet sitter with the highest price, but I am saying to be skeptical of sitters whose rates seem too good to be true. They probably are. A professional pet sitter's time is valuable, so consider that when making your selection.
• References. Ask your prospective pet sitter for references. He or she should be able to direct you to multiple people who will give a glowing review. Think about the aspects of hiring a pet sitter that are most important to you, and ask the sitter's references about those things.
Finding a professional pet sitter who is a great fit for your family doesn't have to be scary. By following these tips, you should be able to find someone who will love your pets as much as you do, and a partner in your pet's care you can trust for life!
Did you know it's National Pet Sitters Week? Do you have a pet sitter you love? Tell me why!
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Though the most common pets I sit for are cats and dogs, I sit for all kinds of animals. Believe it or not, chickens are some of my favorites. You'd think they just run around all hectic-like or retreat upon approach, but that's not the case at all. Though some of them are more skittish than others, it has been my experience that most are friendly and very happy to see me when I visit. There is one brood I am particularly fond of that I get to see on a fairly regular basis. I saw them the other day, and they literally ran toward me when I arrived. It made me so happy. I took a couple of videos of them because they were so fun and silly, so I thought I'd share.
They follow me. So does the cat.
And here's me trying not to get pecked. I told you they were friendly!
Aren't they fun?
Do you have chickens? Have you hung out with chickens? I'd love to hear about it!
Isn't it true that anyone can be a pet sitter?
Technically, yes. I got my start taking care of the neighborhood pets when I was twelve years old. Looking back, I definitely left room for improvement. I was a pet sitter, but I was not a professional. I was a neighbor. I was a kid. I was cheap. Would I have hired me? Even though I was probably more responsible than the average twelve-year-old, I'd have to go with "no."
There is definitely a difference between a pet sitter and a professional pet sitter. Pet sitters can be neighbors or friends. If I had a dollar for every time a potential new client informed me that they "tried the neighbor, but it didn't really work out," I'd be a retired pet sitter. Neighbors and friends are great–as neighbors and friends. They have other stuff to worry about, so it's rare that your pets are their top priority. A professional pet sitter has chosen to make pet sitting a career and will place your pet's needs first. Sure, you'll pay more for a professional pet sitter than a neighbor, but, in the long run, it's worth it.
There are several things that set professional pet sitters apart from pet sitters:
• Being bonded and insured. A professional pet sitter should be bonded and insured. If something happens, everyone is covered. If the neighbor leaves the water running and floods the house, you're SOL.
• Having a license. It is important to have a license to do business in your city and state, but realize that a business license does not require any knowledge in a field. A licensed pet sitter is simply one that is registered.
• Professional associations and knowledge. A professional pet sitter will likely belong to professional pet sitting organizations and will have training such as pet first aid.
• Will do a consult. Professional pet sitters should come to your home to do an initial consult where you will see them interact with your pet and they can get a good feel for your pet's routine. Never hire a pet sitter you have never met.
• References. A professional pet sitter will have references you can call upon to verify the quality of his or her work.
• Service contract. A service contract should be signed in order to protect both parties.
• Experience. Depending on how long a professional pet sitter has been at it, he or she likely has much more experience dealing with animals and vacant homes than the neighbor does. A professional has a list and checks it twice and can draw upon their knowledge to deal with difficult or unusual situations and circumstances.
• Love. Professional pet sitters become such because they love animals. You should be able to see that love during the initial consultation and feel assured that your pet will be in the hands of someone who will not only provide food and water, but will go the extra mile to make sure your pet feels happy and secure in your absence.
Since a professional pet sitter is being contracted to take care of your pets and your home for a designated period of time and they are being paid to do so, a quality sitter will honor that or even go above and beyond. Even though a neighbor or friend may be receiving some sort of compensation, it is more likely that they will rush the visit and not spend an optimum amount of time with the animals. Details may be overlooked.
This past holiday season, I was sharing the care of a client's pets with a neighbor. It's not something I like to do, but I was flexible about it because I know the client really needed to save money. Whenever another party will enter the home during the service contract period, I remind my client of my "dual care clause (included in the initial service contract)," which releases me of all liability during the service period. Since I don't have complete control over the situation, I cover my butt. I was contracted to go in once a day in the middle of the day to walk the dogs only, and the neighbor was making morning and evening visits, in charge of feeding and cleaning and what not.
The pets were all healthy and seemed happy, and nothing disastrous happened, but I definitely noticed some things that I would have done differently, had the care been contracted to me 100%. For example, I don't believe the litter box was scooped at all during the course of the four days, and the area around the litter box was never swept. In addition, I noticed a puddle of piddle on the tile floor. I let it sit for two days to see if the other party would notice or clean it. When that didn't happen, I cleaned it. Newspapers were brought in by me...they may have sat in the driveway otherwise, alerting passers-by to the client's absence. The pets were fine, mind you, but the differences between what was being done by the neighbor and the care I would have provided as a professional were marked.
When choosing a pet sitter to care for your fur babies, there are many factors to consider. Whether you choose to go with a neighbor, friend, or professional, it's important to be educated about the differences between pet sitters and professional pet sitters.
Leave it to me. I'm a professional.
Pet photo source: petsgetslim.co.uk
