So you hired a Professional Pet Sitter...........Now what?

Okay, part of this is me venting, most of it is simply to help make your life easier once you've hired a pet sitter. I want to share a couple of important things with you that will help you get everything in order for your pet sitter before you go out of town. I know hiring a Pet Sitter for the first time can be time consuming for you with preparation, contracts to sign, notes from your Pet Sitter to read, finding all your pet's veterinary information, and writing your own notes for the Pet Sitter. If you have an organized Pet Sitter, you should not have to leave ANY notes. The Pet Sitter should have all the Information needed within the contract you initially filled out. Once all the first time paperwork is completed, unless any changes, you should not ever have to fill anything out again.

The following are some really, really helpful things for you to do to make everyone's life easier while you are away.

FIRST OFF WOULD BE:

PRE-TRIP INFORMATION TO HELP YOUR PET SITTER DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE CARING FOR YOUR PETS. THIS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:

• Please pick a special “COMMUNICATION” spot, like the kitchen counter or the table, so your pet sitter can look for notes as well as leave you daily notes after each completed visit.
• Be sure to contact your pet sitter if your departure or return is delayed. Take their telephone number or business card with you in case you need to them.

• Please phone or text them when you return home so that they KNOW you are home safely and can confidently close the JOB.

• Set Thermostats or AC Units/fans at temperatures that will be comfortable for your pets. Leave any special instructions for adjustments.
• Stock up on enough paper towels, pet food, kitty litter (if you own a cat), medication, etc. to last your entire trip. Consider leaving extra supplies in case you are delayed. Fees will be charged if your pet sitter has to “shop” for supplies. Remember, they are not house cleaners, they do not usually carry cleaning supplies.
• Clean the litter boxes and fill with fresh litter before leaving. (this way your pet sitter can assess your cats urine/bm output in case of a potential problem eliminating) Urinary Blockages in male cats is always a concern for an aware pet sitter.
• Count heads before you leave. Make sure all your pets are safely indoors
• Inform neighbors who may be looking out for your property (no one else) that a pet sitter will be making visits to your home. Most pet sitters do not have signage on their cars and wear plain clothes when visiting. This is to protect your home from anyone knowing they are there and you are not.
• Remember to leave emergency contact numbers for your pet sitter.
• If you have a security alarm system, please notify the company that a pet sitter will be coming in to your home. Provide your pet sitter with a password in case the alarm goes off.
• Keep all your client information up to date. Phone numbers, vet info, etc.

• Please let your pet sitter know if you plan on anyone else entering your home besides them. Most pet sitters are unable to “split” pet sitting with your friends or neighbors due to insurance policies.
• Leave a Flash Light in case of a Power Outage. Tell your pet sitter where your power boxes are located (fuses and switches)

• Some things they need to know before you leave are:

o If your pet has been ill, gotten in the garbage or placed on a different food so that they can watch for vomit/diarrhea/poop changes (this is for HEALTH reasons and the safety well being of your pet!)
o If one pet does not get along with another
o If you have changed your pet’s diet right before you leave (dietery indiscretion)
o Any food restrictions, food allergy or intolerance to any treats your pet sitter may bring if you allow
o If the pet has had a recent injury or diagnosed with a new medical condition so that your pet sitter won’t be alarmed if they notice limping, etc.
o If your pet does not like to be touched in a certain area or reacts badly to the touch of a certain area, ex: doesn’t like head petted, feet touched or tummy rubbed
o If your pet/s have any unusual hang ups, such as garbage cans, noise such as storms, garbage trucks, etc. This list will help your pet sitter to care for your pet/s in the best possible way!

OKAY...... now for the Venting (and I do mean this in the nicest possible way)

Please don't ever tell your potential pet sitter that "Fluffy" who is a diabetic cat or dog, is a nice "Fluffy" when you KNOW she fights you tooth and nail each time you go to give her your injection! Not only is this dangerous to the health of your pet, it is also dangerous for your pet sitter. If you think you are fooling yourself by pretending they will just "make do" because you are desperate for someone to watch her, you are wrong! If a pet sitter can't administer your pets insulin, your pet is the one who will suffer the consequences! If a pet sitter gets bit or scratched, they could end up in the hospital. Seriously! Cat and dog bites are extremely dangerous if bitten bad enough. Cats are very fast. They can turn on a dime.

Think about it......

Also, when a pet sitter states that they do not work with Aggressive Animals, they mean it! Please do not expect your pet sitter to try to enter your home with a 100 lb. Mastiff who does NOT like strangers! Who is going to feed him now? A plane ticket back from Iowa would probably really tick you off, not to mention it would be expensive.

I can't tell you how many times I have stressed to clients to Pleeeaase, leave out cleaning supplies! I do not clean litterboxes with my hands, nor do I pick up dog poo in the back yard without some means to pick it up and a bag for it to go into. Litter all over the floor?? Pretty hard to clean up without a broom and dustpan...... I know, I know..... What am I thinking? I should have all this, right? Well, when you think about it, I have 3-5 clients on average each day. If I carried supplies to take care of all of them, my car would be exploding! So, for those of you who may be first timers, please, please, leave some papertowels, cleaning supplies, etc. All of us forgive you, we know it is alot to remember. Once you've had a pet sitter, there should be NO excuses. Okay?

Our clients always have the best of intentions! Please don't get me wrong, it's just little things that the average person wouldn't think would be such a big deal, but to your bubble headed pet sitter...... they are.

Thanks for letting me remind you of these small but important tasks! They really do make a difference in how well we can take care of your home and pets while you are away. We want your home and pets to be spotless when you return! It's how we are! We work for YOU!

Thanks Sherry! I am sorry if it sounded offensive. I know a young girl (The Mastiff problem) who this happened to and the owner would NOT come home. They said they could not afford the last minute flight change. The poor girl had to take a window apart and pour water into a bucket she placed on the floor inside as well as the food, and carefully so. If the dog heard her he came running into the room. Thank goodness the dog had a doggy door to potty. No food bowls outside or water. This pet sitter also hoisted a bucket over the fence and filled it with their outside water hose, which was thankfully on the other side from the dog. Unbelievable, isn't it? Poor girl is scared to pet sit now. I know clients mean well. But some people just don't care. They want to think everything will be ok, as long as they get out of town. Thanks for letting me vent now and then! Hope you are well, hugs to Parka! Thanks for your support Sherry! Big Hugs

Comments

Sherry Dryja 1 year ago

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You're awesome. What a great reminder that, in order for pet sitters to care for our pets, we must be responsible enough to provide the most complete and accurate information and supplies. You are so right about how being honest about a cat or dog's behavior can affect how well they are cared for. Way to go, Kim!
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Kim MacCrone 1 year ago

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Thanks Sherry! I am sorry if it sounded offensive. I know a young girl (The Mastiff problem) who this happened to and the owner would NOT come home. They said they could not afford the last minute flight change. The poor girl had to take a window apart and pour water into a bucket she placed on the floor inside as well as the food, and carefully so. If the dog heard her he came running into the room. Thank goodness the dog had a doggy door to potty. No food bowls outside or water. This pet sitter also hoisted a bucket over the fence and filled it with their outside water hose, which was thankfully on the other side from the dog. Unbelievable, isn't it? Poor girl is scared to pet sit now. I know clients mean well. But some people just don't care. They want to think everything will be ok, as long as they get out of town. Thanks for letting me vent now and then! Hope you are well, hugs to Parka! Thanks for your support Sherry! Big Hugs
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