Adventures in Pet Sitting - Ask Aunt Deb (Week 5)
How do I choose the right sitter for my pet?
There are an ever increasing amount of resources for finding a sitter. A browser search brings up a variety of national pet specific search pages:
(source)
Each of these services seems to have chosen a particular slice of pet care to cater to. Some offer watching your pet in their home. Some are day care oriented. Most (like me) offer in-your-home pet care. The best way to see what these third party companies offer is to check out the 'careers' link on their websites. This spells out exactly what is expected and/or required of the sitter. It can be very enlightening...
For today's installment I'm going to focus on my niche. We'll tackle the other versions another day.
I recommend starting your search for a sitter by calling your area vets. They generally know the sitters in your location and won't mention any that they think aren't up to snuff.
AngiesList.com is a good resource as the sitter cannot influence the ratings. You can use craigslist.com, too, but be very careful to ask for references -and contact them - on anyone you use from here before setting up a meeting. Don't forget the old fashioned Yellow Pages. Sitters usually have very compact services areas, so the Yellow Pages are a surprisingly good fit for them.
Whether you're calling or e-mailing, the initial contact should include questions about:
- Rate - Per pet or based on time per visit? Do they do overnight visits, if needed? (This can border on house-sitting which is waaaay more expensive.)
- Services Offered - Can they administer needed meds, injections or pill a cat? Will they bring in mail, newspaper, take out/bring in trash bin, water plants, etc? Does that cost extra?
- Experience - How long have they been sitting? References?
- Contact - How do they keep in touch - text, notes, phone pics?
- Oddities - Anything that is out of the ordinary you want to make sure the sitter can / will handle - like live-feeding snakes.
Now you are ready to meet your choices in person!
If you have time, set up 'meet and greet' appointments (which should be free) with several candidates. Try to spread them out so the pets have a chance to 're-set to normal' in between appointments. This way you'll get an authentic reaction from your pet for each sitter.
The main things you're looking for are how the pet reacts to the sitter and how the sitter handles that. In the On Call post, there was a mention of "You could tell she loves animals and was comfortable taking over, in spite of an initial growl from one of our dogs."
Rosie was the one who growled at me. Not only that, she showed me her teeth. The mistake was mine, however, for getting a little too much in Rosie's personal space too soon. I took the hint and backed off. The point is to pay attention to these kind of interactions. If the sitter over-reacts or doesn't get clued in quick, you'll probably want to take a pass on them. For the record, Rosie and I now have our boundaries sorted out and we are good buddies.
Once you have made your choice of sitter, make sure the sitter is...
- Clear on what dates and times the visits are to happen.
- Has the key and/or code to gain entry to the home and arrangements to return key, if needed, after last visit.
- Clear on pay rate for each visit, the total, and when payment is expected. Most sitters get paid up front to cover fuel costs.
- Arrangements for type and frequency of updates.
- Has alternate contact info, including the vet, in case of emergencies.
If the sitter doesn't take notes or have a form for written instructions, be sure to leave clear directions on feeding times, locations, and amounts. A list of commands your pet knows or routines that must be kept are a good idea, too. Basically, the more the sitter knows about your pet the better!
It's helpful to notify the sitter if anyone else is expected during the visits. I've had to work around and with painters, lawn care folks, cleaning crews, and movers. The fewer surprises in this regard the better!
Lastly, don't be afraid to check in. Drop the sitter a text or an e-mail asking how things are going. This a good chance for the sitter to ask any forgotten questions - like where are the paper towels or extra light bulbs (actual questions, btw) - or for you to relay forgotten info - like there's a delivery of 5 giant jugs of water expected (true story).
You'll find having a professional pet sitter a rewarding experience for you and your pet if you follow these simple guidelines.
I don't usually post my pic online, but just the once, to show you what this sitter looks like. (My apologies to those that would rather un-see. You were warned, so scroll fast! LOL!)
Aunt Deb and Tinker on Vacation:
These are awesome tips @aunt-deb!
I've never had to use a pet sitter because I usually take the whole 4-legged crew with me. Thank goodness they're excellent travelers.
BTW - it's GREAT to finally see a face with the name. XOXOX
https://twitter.com/merej99/status/818540983348498432
Disclaimer: I am just a bot trying to be helpful.
Lucky critters get to stay with their people! That's the best, but it's nice to have a backup - just in case. (Oh, and have always been camera shy for one reason or twenty, but thought it might fit here... out of the way. Grin...)
My very first client paid for 3 visits in advance & gave me a key to his house. He worked double shifts a lot & wanted to be prepared. That was seven years ago and he has yet to call. LOL! I guess it was worth it for his peace of mind.
And you sweetie! I think that's the first time anyone every 'tweeted' me. Thank you, thank you and thank you! Hugzes!