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Part 1: Tips for finding a dog sitter
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The ninety-degree weather that we’ve been experiencing in the Sacramento area is a little more reminiscent of July than May. So, in the spirit of the imminent summer, let’s think about summer vacation! Perhaps you’ve already booked your tickets and made a hotel reservation or maybe you’re sorting through your options before you decide on a destination. We all know that there’s a lot of organization required when it comes to travel and there’s a lot to think about. However, be sure that making arrangements for your dog’s care is at the top of your vacation-planning list if your trip is not going to be pet-friendly.
You can board your dog at a kennel or veterinary clinic while you’re away, but that can be expensive and is an added stress for your pet. New surroundings, unfamiliar sounds and people and the change in daily routine can be upsetting to your dog. If you can find a pet sitter that gets along with your dog and is someone that you can trust, it’s the best way to go when you’re going away. Having been a pet sitter myself for many years, I thought I’d share some information that I hope will help you choose the right companion for your dog whether you’ll be leaving for a week or just a weekend.
The first place to start, of course, is to get the names of some pet sitters in your area. There are two national organizations for pet sitters, the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (http://www.petsitters.org/) and Pet Sitters International (http://www.petsit.com/). Both services can provide you with contact information for pet sitters in your city. Most pet sitters that are listed with these organizations are certified and insured. There are also many local pet-sitting services that can be found through the yellow pages or a Google search.
These are great resources, but in my experience there’s nothing better than word of mouth for finding a great pet sitter. Ask your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues and veterinarian if they use a pet sitter when they travel. This approach has the added bonus of providing you with a pre-screening of the pet sitter by someone that you trust. Remember, you will need to feel comfortable with this person entering your house while you’re away and being responsible for your dog’s daily care.
Regardless of the glowing review that you receive from your co-worker about a certain pet sitter, you will want to interview him/her yourself. A responsible pet sitter will want to meet your dog prior to taking on the assignment anyway. Be sure to observe how the pet sitter gets along with your dog during the initial meeting. Listen to your dog; he or she is the best indicator of how this arrangement is going to work out once you leave town. Make sure that the pet sitter is willing to perform the duties that you would like taken care of when you’re away.
The bottom line is that most important thing to consider when you are choosing a pet sitter is how comfortable you feel leaving them in charge of your dog and your house. If you are going to spend your whole vacation worrying about Fluffy, you probably haven’t met the right pet sitter for you and your dog yet. There are lots of pet sitters out there and you may need to try a few out before you find the one that’s a perfect match.
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