When hiring a pet sitter, take the time for an interview and have your questions ready. Check the pet sitter’s references before allowing them to enter your home and care for your pet. Remember, you’re the boss, and this is your home and your pet, so ask anything you’d like to know about the sitter’s professional experiences.

Here are some suggestions to help you get started on the interview process:

Interview process
 
  • Check all references
  • Ask the sitter to visit you and your pet at home to meet them and observe their interaction with your pet.
  • Does the sitter provide literature describing services and fees so that you can review this information at your leisure?
  • Do you and your pet feel comfortable with the sitter and the answers provided?
  • Does the sitter have a veterinarian on call for emergencies?
  • What contingency plans are in effect in the event of personal illness of the pet sitter?
  • Will the pet sitter make contact to assure that the owner has returned home as scheduled? What is the plan if the owner is delayed in returning?
  • Does the pet sitter provide a rating form for customer evaluation?
  • Does the sitter regularly provide the owner with a newsletter containing business updates along with seasonal pet information?
  • After you’ve chosen the sitter, will you meet the actual caregiver?
Building a successful relationship
To ensure a successful relationship, the following will serve as a simple guideline for communication:
 
  • What is your pet’s daily routine? Does your cat have a secret hiding place? Does your dog have to go out at exact times?
  • Does your pet have any health issues? Is there something that needs to be noted or watched, such as behavior or appetite?
  • Are there medications to be administered?
  • Where are the toys? Where do you hide the catnip? Is your dog a chewer? Chewies anyone?
  • Any habits or fears that are best shared with your sitter right from the start?
  • Does your pet have ID tags listing name, address, phone, rabies info and registration.
Plan ahead whenever possible
 
  • There are only 24 hours in a day, so make your pet and home sitting reservations as soon as possible as the summer months and holidays are quite busy. We will attempt to accommodate every partner.
  • Provide us with a house key.
  • In case of an emergency, provide a house key to a trusted neighbor and tell us about it along with your neighbor’s contact information and share our information with your neighbor.
  • Inform your neighbor of our visits and duties.
  • Buy extra food, litter, medications and other needed items for your pet.
  • Remove foods from your refrigerator that may spoil during your absence.
  • Stop your newspaper delivery.