Choosing a pet sitter is, arguably, one of the most important parts of planning time away from your home. Most of us welcome animals into the family from the moment they arrive. And, we fall in love with them just as much as we would our own children. Therefore, the prospect of travelling somewhere without them for a few hours, a few days or longer can be daunting. Pet sitters provide a professional and trustworthy service to help bridge this gap. With the right training and insurance, these animal-lovers themselves step in to give care, comfort and love to your furry/scaly/feathery best friend.
But with so many pet sitters out there offering similar service, how do you know which one to choose? This guide will give advice and tips on how to choose the perfect pet sitter for your pet, family and yourself.
As with any major family decision, researching the options available to you should be the first step. You want to find a pet sitter who lives locally. This ensures that they’ll be able to visit your house daily, or even more frequently if needed. Equally, if you can identify someone who lives in the local area and offers their services nearby, you’ll probably find more flexibility within their schedule. For example, if they already walk 2 dogs from your neighbourhood every Wednesday, they’ll likely be able to fit you into this time frame too.
During your research, identify the animals they work best with. Many pet sitters offer dog, cat and even rabbit sitting. However, if you’re looking for something more specific – say, weekly care for your bearded dragon – you need to make sure the person chosen has the right expertise. If this information isn’t available on their website, drop them an email to enquire. It’s worth looking through a number of different options before you choose to set up any in-home meetings.
Once you’ve found 2 or 3 people who seem to fit the bill, ask if you can book in an in-home meeting. This is a great way to build rapport and get to know the person on a more personal level. You want to have a good relationship with your pet sitter; one that is built on trust and respect. If you’re away from your pet for a few days or a week, you want to know that the sitter feels comfortable enough to contact you in the event of an emergency or if they have any questions. The best way to do this is to build a professional relationship that encourages good communication at all points.
In-home meetings are also the best way to see how the pet sitter interacts with your animal. While many claims that they are comfortable with all kinds of animals, seeing this first hand will provide peace of mind. It’s important not to undermine how the animal feels itself. Some pets are drawn to certain people, even if there is no rhyme or reason for it. This is the sort of relationship you want to be nurturing. If your dog, cat, rabbit or lizard is excited to see your pet sitter arrive, you know you’ve found the perfect partnership.
If you have animal-loving friends, ask them for references for pet sitters they have used in the past. Good word-of-mouth references are worth so much more than the information available on the professionals own website. If they’ve become memorable or well-loved by someone you know, you can likely trust in the quality of their services. Equally, the people in your life are more likely to recommend someone who fits in with your family life rather than the cheapest or biggest company.
If you can’t find any personal references, check for reviews online. Positive references are one of the most powerful things a company can get – remember, people are generally happy to spend time complaining online. Getting a positive review from a customer shows that they have really gone out of their way to ensure they provide good service. You want to see whether any information has been given about reliability, timeliness and care for home environments. This will give you a clearer understanding of how this professional works in day-to-day life.
Pet sitting covers a wide range of activities. You need to know exactly what the contract you sign covers and what ‘additional extras’ may incur additional charges. If you need someone to come into your home every Wednesday to walk your dog, for example, check whether they can allocate the exact time you need or whether it will be flexible each day. Equally, you want to understand what their contingency plans are. If they get stuck in traffic or have a car accident and are unable to get to your cat for dinner time, what is their back-up scenario? What cancellation policies do they have in place? If you have to cancel a weekend away last minute, do you lose a deposit or do you have to pay for the whole weekend regardless? And, if you need to book a last-minute night care package with them, how far in advance do they need to be asked?
Information like this helps to clear up the grey areas of pet sitting. It gives you the information you need to fit their services and packages into your everyday life. And, it allows the pet sitter themselves to outline the way in which they work. Collectively, this supports a clear communication channel and reduces the risk of confusion later down the line.
You also need to clearly understand what services the pet sitter offers. For example, here at Donnas, we offer solo walks, group dog walks, letting the dog out, dog sitting, pet sitting and puppy pop in. Within these, we are able to offer care services for other animals, including rabbits. No matter what pet sitter you go with, you need to know that they can provide the services that you need.
Pet sitters really do become part of the family. We fall in love with your animals, put our all into caring for them and dedicate our days to making sure they are as happy as can be. Following our guide above will help you identify the right pet sitter for your family. And, allow you to get back to work, book that special holiday or simply spend an entire day out with your loved ones.
If you would like to speak to a member of Donna’s Pet Services, for pet sitting services based in Somerset, please do get in contact with our team here today.
