The first full week of March is National Professional Pet Sitter’s Week, recognizing professional pet sitters around the world and thanking them for their hard work and dedication during the past year. If you’re an overprotective pet parent like we are, or if you have a pet that requires significant expert care, trusted pet sitters can be lifesavers and become like extended family. Knowing your four-legged companions are getting the TLC they deserve makes it just a little bit easier to book that once-in-a-lifetime trip, or do nearly anything that requires you to be away from home for extended periods!
We are often asked how to find a great pet sitter. While Leo&Lucky’s is not affiliated with any of these sites, they can be useful tools for finding and screening sitters: Rover (app), Care.com, PetSitter.com, Nextdoor (app). Searching online offers a quick and convenient approach, however, a more traditional and, in our experience, proven method for finding a wonderful and trustworthy pet sitter is through word of mouth. Reach out to friends, family, and fellow pet owners to see if they’ve used anyone locally that they recommend.
Once you’ve obtained some names, interviewing candidates is the next step. Ask many questions and pay attention to how the sitter answers; this will let you know how experienced they are and if they are truly a professional. Some sample questions could be:
- Are you insured or bonded?
- What types of animals have you worked with before?
- Can I have your permission to run a background check?
- Why did you choose this career?
- What will you do in the event of an emergency?
- Do you have a working relationship with any other animal professionals, such as dog trainers or veterinarians?
- How long have you been doing this?
- How do you manage behavioral problems?
You should also ask for several references. When you speak with the references, pay attention to the tone of their responses and any hesitation or uncertainty in their answers. While most references will likely provide positive feedback, listen for any red flags or concerns that may indicate a less-than-ideal experience with the pet sitter. Trust your instincts and intuition about whether the pet sitter is the right fit for your pets. If you have any reservations or concerns based on the feedback you received, it may be worth exploring other options. When in doubt, go with your gut!
Please let us know if you have any additional questions about finding a pet sitter. A great big thank you to all professional pet sitters; we thoroughly appreciate what you do!
