Either it’s the holidays, a family event, or a big business deal on the line. Let’s face it travel is a fact of life. Millions of Americans have a family pet or pets and need to travel from time to time. A properly cared for pet is definitely part of the family and should be cared for as so. Sure some will just dump out a bunch of food and let the animal go to town like the movie Home Alone. What could go wrong right?

The short answer is that pets should be under a watchful eye of a qualified pet sitter when you are out of town. Mature people can make survival decisions AND have the ability to act. Opposable thumbs help! Pets can also make survival decisions, however, they can be trapped, tangled up, or worse at the same time. So, yes if a disaster were to strike your home while you are away a pet sitter could definitely come in handy. The odds of a disaster while you are away are very slim, but there is so much more a qualified pet sitter will provide your loved one.

Does my pet grieve when I’m gone?

We’ve all seen the heart warming videos of a US Service Member returning from deployment and seeing their dog reunite with them. Pure joy and happiness strikes the pet when it realizes their loved one is okay and back home to them. Some may disagree, but it is pretty undeniable, in my opinion, that pets experience grief when a loved one goes away for a period of time. Even though you may be going to Chicago for three days for a consulting job and will come back, your pet cannot process this and when you are gone they will grieve. An attentive pet sitter will make sure to combat this sadness with loving care, proper exercise, and positive interaction.

4 Signs of qualified pet sitter

1. An established pet lover

A “no brainer” I know, but a qualified pet sitter must have a heart for animals. Unfortunately, the pet care industry, just like any industry, can sometimes attract the wrong people just looking to make a quick buck under the banner of pet care. Make sure to interview your pet sitter asking questions about their background with handling pets. Ideally your pet sitter should have pets themselves and experience in the pet care industry. 

2. Experience with handling pets in both good and bad situations

Many people want to become Vets because they “just love animals!” However, they quickly realize that many times you are only seeing animals on their worst of days. Pets, just like people, have moods, hormones, and to put it frankly good and bad days. Pets can have a medical emergency and much more. If your “pet sitter” is the kid across the street saving up for a car, a real intense emergency could be mishandled badly and cause physical or emotional damage to your pet, the sitter, or damage to your home. A qualified pet sitter should have a background working in the pet care industry properly handling pets on their best and worst days. Ask your pet sitter their work history. It would be optimal if they used to work in a vet clinic or an animal shelter. This would ensure they have experience handling pets in all conditions. 

3. They require a “Meet & Greet”

A proper pet sitting experience is a relationship. A meet and greet is vital to ensuring your pet sees you comfortable with their new sitter. This is a great time to establish your relationship with their pet in a comfortable environment. You must make sure your pet is compatible with your pet sitter before leaving town. This doesn’t have to be a big process and just a convenient meet and greet will work wonders for your pet’s happiness while you are away. 

4. Pet Sitting Certifications

When you go to a dentist or a doctor for care you make sure they have been trained professionally. The same goes for pet sitting if you want quality and beneficial care. Look for them to be a member of Pet Sitter’s International. Certified in Pet First Aid and CPR. These are good signs that your pet sitter takes their job very seriously and your pet will most likely have a wonderful pet sitting experience.

It is my hope that this blog post helped you in some way and make your decision to hire a pet sitter simpler. As you can tell proper pet sitting has many variables that can make a big difference. If you are lucky enough to live in the Weatherford, TX area I’d be honored to have your consideration to be your pet sitter. I will be happy to answer your questions and schedule a meet & greet! If you don’t live in my area, I’d recommend being diligent and interview a few different established pet sitters in your area. This article should give you a good feel for what to look for in a qualified pet sitter. In closing, thank you for spending your time reading my blog and again I hope that you found something of value that will help you in some way.

Thank you!

Tammy