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Hiring a Pet Sitter
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If
you've never hired a pet sitter, you might want to consider doing
so the next time you need to go away and need to leave your pets
behind. Employing the services of a professional pet sitter will
allow your pet to stay comfortable in his own home, gives you peace
of mind knowing he's safe and in capable hands, and frees you from
having to rely on friends or relatives. Before you hand over your
keys and wave goodbye to Rover and Fluffy though, take time to educate
yourself about pet sitters and the services they provide. Interview
a few pet sitters, get to know them a bit, and ask questions. Find
out about their experience, how frequently they'll visit your pets,
how long visits last, what they'll do while with your pets, how
they'll handle emergencies, and fees. In addition to general information
about their services, you'll want to cover a few very important
points, as listed below.
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· Insurance and/or bonding: This won't prevent accidents from happening but it will protect you and the pet sitter to a certain extent should a mishap occur. Most sole proprietors are insured, and most services that employ pet sitters are bonded and insured. It's a good idea to ask for proof of insurance. · Pet emergency provisions: If your pet becomes ill when you're away, it'll be important for your pet sitter to know what measures to take if you cannot be reached. He or she should have your vet's contact information, and the type of treatment and/or amounts you authorize if you cannot be contacted. · Pet sitter emergency procedures: Ask what measures will be taken if your pet sitter becomes ill and is unable to care for your pets, if he or she is unable to get to your home due to inclement weather, or in the event of a natural disaster. · Key security: Ask how the key will be identified and stored. Keys should not be attached to anything with your name or address on it, and when not in use, ideally they should be kept secure in a locked safe or other enclosure. Most pet sitting businesses will also offer to keep your key for future pet sitting assignments. · Contracts and other forms: Be sure that your pet sitter provides you with a written contract detailing such things as dates, times, services agreed upon, emergency procedures, key security, rates, etc. · References: Ask for names and contact information for a few clients. Take time to talk to these people and ask about their experiences and whether or not they'd hire that particular pet sitter again. Many pet sitters are also happy to give references from other pet care professionals such as veterinarians, groomers, or trainers. |
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Page 1 
Does our next pet of the month live in your home?
