Ten Tips to Help You Find Your Perfect Pet Sitter

Hiring a pet sitter to care for your companions in their own environment is a wonderful alternative to placing your pets in a boarding facility but it can be difficult to find the right pet sitter if you don't know what qualities to for.

The following 10 tips will help you find your perfect pet sitter:

1) Make a list of everything you need in a sitter and a list of the needs of your pet.   

For example: Does your pet require medication? Would your pet be happier with a male or a female pet sitter? Do you want a pet sitter who will water your plants, take out the trash, etc, at no extra cost?

2) Ask pet owners in your neighborhood for recommendations.

3) Seek recommendations from your veterinarian and vet techs. 

Some vet techs provide pet sitting services for clients at a low cost but if they are unavailable many veterinarians such as my pet's veterinarians at Oyster River Veterinary Hospital located in Lee, New Hampshire, have a community bulletin board where pet services are advertised. 

4) Contact PSI (Pet Sitters International) for referrals. 

Pet Sitters International offers a certification program for qualified pet sitters.

5) Speak with employees at your local pet store for recommendations. 

The owner at All Critter's Corner, located on 10 3rd Street in Dover, New Hamsphire, will not only offer pet sitting recommendations but she will also book your next grooming appointment, offer pet nutrition advice, and hand your pooch a well deserved treat!

6) Your local animal welfare or rescue organization may know of capable, caring, professional people who pet sit.

Patty had no problem introducing herself to her new pet sitter during her new client meeting!

7) Make sure your potential pet sitter insists on meeting you and your pet in your home before hiring him/her. 

Meeting new clients in their home prior to the dates of service is very important because you and your pets need to become familiar with each other and your pet sitter needs to know where everything pertaining to their care is located, etc.

8)Every pet sitter should arrive at your home with paperwork for for you to review and complete.  

If your new pet sitter does not have paperwork available be sure to leave detailed notes pertaining to the care of your pets so that he/she can refer to them whenever necessary. Also provide him with contact information, phone numbers and addresses of your vet, and friends and neighbors who can help out if necessary.

9) Make sure your pet sitter is licensed and bonded and has excellent references and experience.

10) Make certain your pet sitter is able to handle an emergency and is aware of the phone number and location of the nearest veterinary emergency hospital as well as your vet’s office.

Are there other tips that you would like to include in this list? If so, please add your tips as they will be helpful to all who read this post! Thank you!