How to Find a Trusted Pet Sitter
Some pet sitters follow professional standards more than others, which make them stand out above the crowd. When looking for a pet sitter, consider taking into account whether you like the person or not. Your perceptions will likely match those of your dog.
- Look online for professional pet sitting organizations. If you're looking for a worldwide organization that lists certified pet sitters, try the website Pet Sitters International. For those in the United States, try the website The National Association of Professional Pet Sitters. Navigate to their home pages and type your ZIP code into the locator form.
- Ask the pet sitter to meet your pet in advance. This will help you gauge if there is compatibility between your pet and pet sitter.
- Make sure that your pet sitter keeps regular hours and returns any messages within 24 hours. If there are any emergencies that you have, you want to make sure that your prospective pet sitter is reachable.
- Get references from your prospective pet sitter. You should get the names and numbers of recent and past clients.
- Make sure you know the pet sitter's fee schedule. The fee schedule should be printed and available for you to see. Also, make sure to discuss payment terms and whether payment is expected in advance.
- Ask if the pet sitters have websites providing more information about the services that they provide. A website will usually offer more information than a simple flyer can contain. It should also allow you alternate methods of contacting your pet sitter, including email and instant messaging.