Using a professional provides pet parents with a peace of mind that other pet-care options ultimately fail to do. Just because you’ve seen pet sitters in an online directory — or even on a nationally-publicized site — doesn’t ensure they are legitimate, qualified pet-sitting businesses, bonded and insured, and more.
Anyone with any level of experience, reliability, or integrity can post a profile advertising pet-sitting services. It's important for pet parents to educate themselves on the credentials needed and questions to ask when selecting a pet-care provider. After all, we lock our doors for a reason when we leave the house. For that same reason, we shouldn't just give anyone a key to our house and invite them to be there when we are not!
We love our pets and want to protect them while giving them the best care possible. Many of us have to go to work daily leaving our pets alone for many hours. We may even have to leave them for a weekend or a week or two. While there are alternatives such as day care and boarding kennels, pet sitters offer our pets individual one-on-one attention and do things your way. Our pets can remain in the same environment and enjoy their regular routines without interruption, thanks to pet sitters. Just as important, pet parents get the freedom to come and go as they please instead of working around some facility's hours of operation. Pet parents using a Professional Pet Sitter leave when they want, come home when they want, and come home to their beloved pet already there and happily greeting them!
Going away and planning for a trip can be overwhelming enough without having to worry about what to do with your pets while you’re gone. If you’re like me, your pets are family. I can’t simply leave them behind with just anyone.
Before going on my trip I must put my mind at ease and feel confident in the care they will get during my absence. Whether to board or hire a Pet Sitter is one of those questions we’ll need to consider. Adding to the mixed feelings of the moment is the idea that we may not know much about either option.
To help you arrive at an informed conclusion I’ve prepared this list. Or what I’m calling, the good and the bad the ugly (you do your research on the ugly of major apps). Hopefully it’s a fair and impartial list, although you probably know which way I’m going to lean. It should serve as a good starting point for anyone wanting to get more details about either choice.
Professional Pet Sitter
If you’re leaving town for any period of time the advantage of having a professionally insured and bonded Pet Sitter to visit your house regularly is an added benefit. A Professional Pet Sitter will watch over your house, turn on or off any lights, bring in the mail, and generally ensure that the house looks lived in. This alone can be a big deterrent to possible burglars and a stress reliever for you.
A Pet Sitter will most likely have general knowledge of many different kinds of pets and not just cats and dogs. Pet Pals has cared for horses, birds, turtles, hamsters, fishes, reptiles, guinea pigs, and rabbits, to name a few, and know how to care for each.
Dogs and cats feel safer, less anxious, and more secure
in a comfortable and familiar environment as opposed to being transferred to a kennel. My choice has always been, and always will be, to leave my dogs and pet kids in their home.
Pets can get extra play time and individual attention with a Professional Pet Sitter without the extra charge that is often billed at kennels.
A Professional Pet Sitter are qualified to deal with most emergencies as well as be able to administer medication on a regular schedule.
Certain pets such as puppies, kittens, seniors or disabled dogs, or those on medication may require a more regulated schedule and intense care and supervision. They may also undergo a fair amount of stress in kennel environments.
A dog who has separation issues or is reactive to other dogs will certainly be better off with a Professional Pet Sitter than in a kennel.
****VERY IMPORTANT - Pet Sitting is a very easy business to set up with very little restrictions (especially with the explosion of Apps) . This means that in the mix with some highly qualified, caring, responsible, care providers you’re also bound to find many unprofessional, uneducated, smooth talkers who are looking to make a quick buck. Do your research. Hire a Professional Pet Sitter like Pet Pals!!!
