Locating a reliable pet sitter to watch over your dog shouldn’t be too hard to find because there are many college students and other dog enthusiasts who are passionate about animals and enjoy pet sitting as a part-time job. There are even full-time companies in communities where dog watching is in high demand.
If you are new to hiring someone to look after your animals when you are out of town, the following questions are important for you to ask the person or organization you hired. Your goal is to ensure that they will watch over your dogs while practicing positive treatment and has a good history with their previous clients.
1. Ask them if they are bonded and insured. Although being bonded or insured does not guarantee quality service, it does, however, protect you against the possibility of theft with your personal belongings. Remember, these pet sitters will be in your home so it is important to ask this question.
2. Ask the organization what their experience levels are and how long they have been pet sitting. College students and other young adults are not the only people who enjoy pet sitting as a way to make money. In fact, there are quite a few men and women who have been involved with animals all of their lives and are considered professionals in their field. Such examples are ex-dog trainers and veterinary assistants. If you are lucky enough to find a person with these qualifications then take advantage of their services.
3. As with any service you are after, whether it’s seeking someone to watch your dogs, paint your house, or prepare a catering dinner, asking for references is commonplace, so do not be shy about this request. Once you have references and contact information of those previous clients, be sure to give them a phone call and thoroughly check out the history of the pet sitter you are considering hiring. There is no better way to find out how a pet sitter has treated a customer and their dog in the past.
4. Every city and state has specific laws that pertain to the care of animals. Although many are common sense, it is always a wise decision to ask the pet sitter if they are themselves aware of the federal, state, and city laws that have to do with animal care.
