Hiring a pet sitter or dog walker to care for your furry and feathered family can seem daunting at first. I'm sure you wonder how can I find a pet sitter that I trust in my home alone with my pets and my possessions.
When you are looking for that special person, you must do a little homework. I recommend calling 3-5 pet sitting services to begin with. You can find excellent pet sitters through Pet Sitters International (PSI) . www.petsit.com PSI has standards of excellence for their members. The members are insured and bonded and pay annual dues that are large enough to ensure that the pet sitter is a serious pet sitter. The Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau are also great places to find reputable sitters.
Once you have your list of sitters that you are interested in, call them. Ask questions. Are they insured and bonded? Are they willing to provide you with copies of their credentials to review? Does the company run background checks on their staff? Does the sitter want to learn as much as possible about your pets? Is she courteous, interested and well informed? Does the service have backup in case the sitter is sick? Once you have narrowed down your list to a couple of sitters that you like, ask if the sitter will meet you and your pets for a get acquainted visit. It's okay to interview several of the services over a few days. This is a great way to compare and not be locked in with a sitter that you might not feel comfortable with.
At your "Get-Acquainted" visit the sitter should provide written literature describing services, policies & fees along with copies of insurance and bonding. The sitter should also have a service contract for you to review that protects you and the sitter.
Does the sitter show a positive attitude during your initial meeting that seems comfortable and competent in dealing with your pets? Are your pets comfortable with her?
Now you are ready to choose a pet sitter. If all of the questions above are true and you and your pets personally like a particular sitter, you have probably found an excellent pet care provider.
To Review:
- Check and Locate Pet Sitting Services through Pet Sitters International, your local Chamber of Commerce & the BBB
- Bonded & Insured
- Written Literature
- Contract
- Competent
- Comfortable with your pets
What a comfort it will be to go on vacation knowing that your pets are being cared for in a loving environment in their own home or knowing your pet is safe and happy with the dog walker.
Purrs & Wags To You!
Compliments of West Valley Pet Sitting, IncSurprise Arizona
Serving Surprise, Sun City, Sun City West, Peoria, Arizona
Daily Visits, Dog Walking, Vacation Care
www.westvalleypetsitting.com
