Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure, you want to make sure that any pets you leave at home are well cared for. Hiring a pet sitter is a good option if you want to leave your animals in the comfort of their own home rather than take them to a boarding facility. Here, The Martin Family Adventure presents some things to do before selecting a pet sitter, as well as prior to leaving your pets in the sitter’s care.
Find Good Candidates
Since your pet sitter will not only have unsupervised access to your pets but your home as well, you want to make sure you select someone who you trust. The AKC says it is a good idea to talk to several people and get a feel for how knowledgeable and responsible they are. Ask the potential sitters questions such as what types of pets they have and how they care for them. If you do not know any potential pet sitters personally, you might want to peruse websites where other pet owners review sitters.
Leave Food, Toys, and Emergency Numbers
You should leave your pet’s favorite food out so that the sitter knows what to provide them when you are gone. In addition, leave items such as your pet’s favorite toys and, of course, any medications that your pet might take with the dosage clearly labeled.
It is also necessary to provide the sitter with a number where they can reach you while on vacation, along with the number of your pet’s veterinarian should any situation arise where the sitter needs to contact the vet. If there are other important documents, like information on pet insurance or a recent vaccination record, leave those as well. You can print them out or email the documents to your pet sitter. This tool can create a PDF online and let you edit and combine any relevant files into one document that will be easy for your sitter to find in an emergency.
Make sure that you and your sitter have clear expectations regarding when the sitter will contact you. For example, they might contact you once or twice per day to give you an update, or they might only contact you if they have a question or concern.
Why Hire a Pet Sitter?
Although pets like cats and bunnies might seem aloof, according to experts, they still become stressed when they have no contact with their owners for a longer period of time. Most animals get used to their routines, and hiring a pet sitter to stop by each day or every other day helps to ensure that your pets keep their routine meals and playtime as much as possible while you are away. Dogs need time outside each day so that they can comfortably use the bathroom, and having a pet sitter ensures that their outside time is safe.
In addition to being best for your pets, knowing that you have someone to check in on your pets helps you to relax and focus on what you need to do while traveling.
Agree To Payment Beforehand
Another worry you might have is how much to compensate your pet sitter. Alleviate this worry by establishing payment terms ahead of time. Sometimes a good friend who does the job will accept payment in the form of you buying them lunch or dinner when you return from vacation. However, a professional pet sitter will likely charge by the hour or per visit, according to The Travelling Housesitters.
Choose Wisely for Stress-Free Travel
Taking a much needed vacation should be fun and relaxing, but that means ensuring your pet is well taken care of while you’re away. As long as you choose a sitter carefully and are thorough in your instructions, having a pet sitter care for your dog, cat, or other animals while on vacation reduces stress for both you and your pet.
Are you looking for more travel tips? Then check out The Martin Family Adventure!
