How to Find a Pet Sitter for the Holidays

Traveling for the Holidays?

The holidays are right around the corner and you’re excited to celebrate with family and friends! Oftentimes that means you need to leave your furry best friend at home while you travel for days, or sometimes weeks. How do you find a pet sitter who you trust, is reliable, will treat your pet with the love and care they need and makes sense in your budget?

Where do I Look for a Pet Sitter?

With the internet and mobile apps to connect you with people who provide a wide variety of services, there are many new ways to find a pet sitter these days — in addition to the tried and true methods of the past. Here are some ways to find a pet sitter:

• Ask friends, family, co-workers, neighbors or your veterinarian for recommendations. Word of mouth is a great way to find someone you can trust. When your favorite Aunt gives the stamp of approval to a pet sitter, there’s an added layer of reassurance you’ll feel knowing what to expect and trusting that your pet will be cared for well.

• Use a Pet Sitting Certification organization such as Pet Sitters International (PSI) to find a local professional certified Pet Sitter. Professional Pet Sitters take an exam to become certified, carry Pet Sitter Insurance & Bonding, adhere to Quality Standards and PSI Member Code of Conduct and Ethics and complete continuing education hours to maintain their certification.

• Use a service like Rover to find a local Pet Sitter who has undergone a basic background check. You can read verified reviews of the Pet Sitter to provide more information and help you make a decision.

What Should I Take into Consideration? 

Everyone’s situation is different — your specific needs will determine what works best for your pet while you travel.  Always keep in mind to prioritize their overall wellness of your pets.  For example, do you need someone to come and stay in your home, or would you bring your pet to the sitter in their home? Will your pet stay in your home and you need someone to stop by a few times throughout the day? Do you want play time, outdoor exercise, training or grooming for your pet while you’re gone? To know how your pet responds to a sitter, you can always do a trial run.

Once you’ve figured out what level of care you’ll need, you are well on your way to finding the best fit for your pet sitting needs over the holidays!

References 

• https://www.petsit.com/finding-the-right-pet-sitter
• https://www.petsit.com/stuff/contentmgr/files/0/29c7765bd8e4601c70461fadbcf844cd/files/tips_for_conducting_a_professional_pet_sitter_interview.pdf 
• https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/living-with-your-dog/choosing-a-pet-sitter/ 
• https://www.petmd.com/dog/slideshows/care/top-ten-tips-on-finding-a-qualified-and-professional-pet-sitter