Recommendations for pet owners

Pet owners should consider the following list of items when searching for a professional pet sitter to care for their pets and home in their absence.

General business issues

• The pet sitter visits the client's home before the first pet sitting assignment to meet the pets and get detailed information about their care.
• The pet sitter presents himself or herself in a professional manner. He or she should give you his or her undivided attention, be courteous, interested and well informed.
• Pet sitter conducts business with honesty and integrity and observes all federal, state and local laws pertaining to business operations and animal care.
• Your pet sitter should have liability insurance, and if the pet sitting company employs pet sitters, bonding may be necessary as well.
• Does the pet sitter have a business license, if it's required? Please note there is no occupational license for pet sitters, however, a business license may be required to own and operate a business in your locale.
• The pet sitter provides a service contract, and goes over specific services and their associated fees.

• Observe your pets' reactions to the pet sitter. They need to be comfortable with whoever comes into your home to care for them.
• Does pet sitter seem genuinely interested in learning as much as possible about your pets? This includes health issues, temperament, eating habits, exercise, etc.
  
• Does the pet sitter have a back-up plan? This is essential in case the pet sitter becomes ill, injured, or in any way incapacitated and unable to care for your pets.
  
• Does the pet sitter have a contingency plan for pet care in case of inclement weather or natural disaster?
  
• In case your pet has a health emergency, does the pet sitter have a list of emergency veterinarians in case yours is unavailable?
  
• Is the pet sitter knowledgeable about general pet issues, pet first aid, and current concerns (i.e. pet food recalls)?
  
• Does the pet sitter have experience caring for the types of pets you have?
• Will the sitter be taking another pet sitter, friends, or children or their own pets to visits? Regardless of whether you do or do not feel comfortable with someone else being with your pet sitter on visits to your home, you should both be in agreement.

• Pet sitter keeps regular office hours and answers clients' inquiries promptly.
  
• What is the pet sitter's general availability? Do they work on holidays? Weekends? All year around?
  
• How long has the pet sitter been in business?
  
• Ask the pet sitter some pointed questions to determine their experience: What would the sitter do if they arrived and couldn't find the cat? What would the sitter do if there was a storm and they couldn't get to the house right away? What if the pet was injured and required veterinary care?
• Some pet sitters ask clients to confirm their trip prior to leaving and again when they return home. Ask your pet sitter what, if any, confirmation procedure he or she uses.
• The pet sitter keeps interactions with clients confidential.

References

• Does the pet sitter volunteer for any pet related groups?
• Is the pet sitter a member of any industry trade groups or networking groups?
• Is the pet sitter involved in any public education, does he or she write a column for a local pet magazine, teach pet related classes?
• The pet sitter provides the client with a service feedback form.