Pet sitting

Pet sitting is a job taking care of a pet in their own home during the absence of their owner.

The professional pet sitting industry is growing rapidly because many pet owners feel there are advantages to using pet sitters instead of other pet care options. Some of the attractive benefits of using a pet sitter include:

• Possible reduced stress on pets because pets are cared for in their own home
• No "travel trama" to pets because they do not need to be transported anywhere.
• Exposure to illnesses and parasites of other animals is minimized.
• Required vaccinations are often less restrictive then those necessary at a kennel
• Pets also stay on their regular routines.
• Pets do not need to adapt to a new environment.
• No inconveniencing neighbors, friends, or family members.

Pet sitting service includes special services for client homes, including watering plants, putting out trash, and other tasks that give a client's home a lived-in look to deter crime while the client is away.

During vacation services a sitter may visit a client home as frequently as four times a day or as infrequently as once every other day depending on the needs of the resident pets and the pet sitter's business policies. The exact length of visit is determined by both pet owners and pet sitters, but on average pet sitting is 15 to 45 minutes per session. Visits are generally scheduled in agreed upon time slots.

Pet sitters also provide professional dog walking services. These services most often used by people who spend long hours at work during the day, and for clients who do not have the time to exercise their pets regularly each day. Disabled clients and the elderly also often hire pet sitters to exercise and care for their pets when they are unable to do so.

Most professional pet sitters charge by visit. There may also be an extra charge for multiple pets, long travel times, and some special tasks.

Professional pet sitters are most often licensed as required by their area, and insured for liability including care, custody, and control of the pet(s) within their care. Many pet sitters are also bonded or insured for theft. Many pet sitters will have some training, such as pet first aid certification and animal husbandry classes. There are a number of major online forums, message boards, associations, and training centers that pet sitters frequent in order to learn more about how to grow their businesses and better their services.

Some questions clients may consider while choosing a pet sitter:

• Do they have availability that fits my needs?
• Are they a member of professional organizations?
• Are they insured, including care, custody, and control of the pet(s) in their care?
• Do they have employees, and are employees bonded or insured for theft?
• Do they have a good reputation with other clients & area pet businesses?
• What kind of experience and qualifications do they have?
• Do they have references?
• Do they have a backup in case of emergencies or personal illness?
• Do they carry a pet first aid kit with them?
• Do they have experience or training in pet first aid?
• Are you comfortable with their payment and refund policies?
• Did they seem comfortable with your pets during the consultation in your home?
• Did they ask many questions and write down detailed care information during the consultation?
• Did you sign a contract for service, as well as a release in case the pet needs emergency vet care?

The above summary was created by members of a major pet sitting organization based on pet sitter experience & surveys taken by pet sitters on the Yahoo pet sitting message board AboutPetSitting.

Notes and references

• HSUS - Article on choosing a pet sitter
• Pet Sitter Portal Resources - Articles and F.A.Q.s for and About Pet Sitting (see bottom of page)
• PetSitterNeeded Resources - A Pet Owner’s Guide to Pet Sitting
• About.com - Article on questions to ask a pet care professional

External links

• Pet Sitters International The world's largest organization for professional pet sitters
• Professional United Pet Sitters Worldwide association, & lists of pet sitter insurance providers, forums, and conferences
• National Association of Professional Pet Sitters (USA) National association of professional pet sitters
• AboutPetSitting Largest Free Pet Sitting Message Board