Characteristics of a Professional Pet Sitter
As Professional Pet Sitters, you might imagine that we strive to be the best caretakers of your pet while you are away. And you’re right! Some characteristics of a Professional Pet Sitter might seem obvious, but truly being invested in a pet is hard work that involves lots of care, love, time, education and passion.
We encourage you to look at the list below. Here at Pet Pals, our job is our passion. Professional pet care is what we love to do, and so we make sure to encompass all the traits listed below. However, before hiring any pet sitter, it is important to evaluate whether the person you hire is best suited for your pet or not.
Here are characteristics of a Professional Pet Sitter.
Is The Person Calm?
Some pets are already nervous nellies when their parents take a vacation or are out of the house. What child enjoys being separated from his or her parents? This is where a calm personality is important. Some anxious cats and dogs participate in unusual behavior they would not normally do. If the pet sitter comes in to find a mess on the carpet or a pet who won’t eat, will the person stay calm and clean up the mess without becoming angry at the pet? Will they spend time with an anxious dog who refuses to eat and slowly encourage him to have his meal by trying different techniques?
Is The Person Trustworthy?
This one may seem obvious, but it is a necessary point to bring up. When you hire a Professional Pet Sitter for the first time, you are inviting a stranger to come into your home, care for your beloved friend and stay respectful of your property. When it comes down to it, follow your instincts. If you have a bad feeling, listen to your gut.
At Pet Pals, a Pet Pals Meet and Greet is always included before your hire us to make sure the fit is a perfect one for the pet, the parents of the pet and the pet sitter. All of our pet sitters are background checked. Our experience and positive reviews from our clients are a testimony to the diligence and seriousness of our passion.
Is The Sitter Insured And Bonded?
Again, this is an important point. Essentially, a pet sitter that is insured and bonded shows that the company is professional and they take things seriously. Insurance guarantees the protection of you and the pet sitter if something unexpected were to happen with your pet, the pet sitter or your property. Being insured and bonded makes the relationship even more trustworthy, because you can have the peace of mind that nothing will happen, and if it does, you are covered.
At Pet Pals, we are fully insured and bonded.
Is The Pet Sitter Flexible?
Of course, a pet sitter’s flexible (or not so flexible) schedule is a make or break deal. If the sitter cannot care for your pet at the times you need them to, things will not work out. Again, who wouldn’t have thought of this key point? But it is also necessary to consider how much the pet sitter is willing to do during non-typical work hours. Will the pet sitter take extra time with your pet? If there is an emergency and your pet needs to be taken to the vet, will your pet sitter have that information and be equipped to do so? Not all pet sitters put their heart into dealing with these situations.
When you hire someone to take care of your pets, how qualified are they to walk or sit your pet? What's their level of training? Are they prepared to handle emergencies? How will they respond if something goes wrong? Who's responsible if your property is damaged or your pet gets hurt, bites someone?
With the explosion of pet care services nationwide, these are questions every pet owner should ask in depth before agreeing to pay someone for pet care services.
Many pet sitters and dog walkers work for small pet care businesses, which evaluate, train, monitor and assume accountability for the people they hire. Many are sole business owners in full control of the services they provide.
A growing number of pet care providers are part-time walkers and sitters who find work through apps and websites that offer the service of connecting dog and cat owners with people who sign up to be pet care providers. Online reviews about app-based services range from glowing compliments, to scathing complaints. The facts are, that the people are not vetted. That there is no rigorous testing in the care of an app-based pet sitter.
“A May 14, 2019 review by an outside source of the online Terms of Service of the two biggest app-based pet care companies, offers enough fine print and legal jargon to make your eyes glaze over. But there are important disclaimers.
One app based business says upfront " MAKES NO REPRESENTATION, WARRANTY, OR GUARANTY AS TO THE RELIABILITY, TIMELINESS, QUALITY, SUITABILITY, AVAILABILITY, ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE SERVICES."
Other app based business says: "We make no representations or warranties about the quality of boarding, pet sitting, dog walking, house sitting, or other services provided by Service Providers."”
If you're dealing with a professional pet care company, what kind of training do they require for their employees? How well do they vet their employees before they hire them? What are their standards and policies? Are they insured and bonded? If they are, what exactly does that mean?
Ask if they belong to an established professional pet sitting or pet care association. Keep in mind, there are excellent pet care providers that do not belong to a professional organization so don't make that a deal killer, but membership in a organization that promotes high standards and ongoing education can be a plus.
You should ask the same of any app-based pet care provider. Can you provide references, beyond online reviews? Have you been certified in Pet First Aid or training? What's your previous experience with animals? Will you be bringing anyone with you to the pet care visits? Do you have insurance (there is not a legal requirements at this time, it is up to the individual person to carry insurance.)? What's your backup plan if you can't make it? What are the potential danger areas you watch for when caring for or walking dogs?
At Pet Pals, we say, “Your Pet will Thank you!” and surely they do; yet beyond that, Pet Pals thanks you! Thank you for your support. Thank you for the dreams you have, the motivation to see them become reality, and the will to maintain a high quality of life for your pet(s) at the same time. Thank you for not giving up! Thank you for partnering with Pet Pals in our resolve to maintain our mission and values that will always see us through. Thank you for being part of something that is making a positive difference in people’s and pet’s lives.
The next time you have to leave town for a few days, consider all the available options for pet care while you’re gone and consider the above points. Choose a Professional Pet Sitter! Pet Pals would love to connect with you!
info@HirePetPals.com
605-999-1355