Pet Sitters to the Rescue During Summer Vacation Season

With Memorial Day here and gone, summer vacation season is officially in full swing. This can be a challenging time for pet parents who often cannot bring their furry kids along for the ride.

Back in the day, it was easy to ask a friend for a relative to care for your pets while you were away on vacation and then return the favor at a later date. But these days, everyone is so busy, there is rarely time to assist with these types of commitments.

Pet sitters give pet parents an alternative in a world of kennels, catteries, pet hotels and daycares. When using a pet sitter, pets enjoy: staying at home in their safe, secure environment; being surrounded by familiar sights, smells, and sounds; following their regular diet and exercise routine; playtime and receiving personal attention; eliminating the trauma of moving them to an unfamiliar environment; ensuring good health and negating exposure to other animal’s illnesses or parasites.

Pet parents enjoy: knowing their pet is in caring hands; having the confidence that a professional sitter can deal with issues such as emergencies, as well as taking care of grooming and vet visits; eliminating the trauma of having to transport and leave pets behind; not having to impose on family, friends, or neighbors; feeling their home is more secure with someone going in and out several times a day.

Hiring a pet sitter is a serious process. Not only will they be taking care of your pets, but they will have regular access to your home. When choosing a professional pet sitter, here are some things to consider:

• Is the sitter available for or do they themselves require a consultation interview?
• Does your pet react well to the sitter that will be handling your pet?
• Can they provide proof of insurance and bonding?
• How do they handle security (i.e. keys, credit card numbers, logos on cars and apparel, etc.)?
• Do they have an emergency preparedness plan?
• Is your sitter a member of any professional organizations such as The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (www.petsitters.org) or Pet Sitters International (www.petsit.com)?
• Is your sitter certified with one or more of these organizations?

Planning ahead with this checklist and finding a sitter that is right for you and your pet family will ensure a hassle free vacation season. Visit www.petsitters.org or www.petsit.com for more information about the profession of pet sitting.