All you need to know about a pet sitter

There are many reasons you may need a pet sitter, including:

• Long work hours those keep you away from your pet, resulting in little to no interaction.
• Guilt feelings when leaving your pet alone during the day.
• Frequent and sporadic travel, leaving you little time to plan pet care.

Whatever your reason may be, if you realize you’re not home enough to care properly for your pet during the day, it may be desirable to hire a pet sitter. It may seem like a foreign idea to you, but ask yourself: would you leave your child unattended for long periods of time? Hopefully, the answer is no. A pet, although unable to communicate their needs all the time, requires regular attention and interaction, just like a child.

What does a pet sitter do?

A pet sitter to a pet is what a baby sitter is to a child. Pet sitters watch over the pet to ensure that they are safe, walked, and interacted with. Unlike dog walkers, pet sitters will usually dedicate individual attention to your pet and spend a good portion of the day with them. By having someone interact and play with your pet while you are away, your pet will usually be well-behaved by the time you arrive home at the end of the day. Because your pet has received attention all day, they will not feel the need to seek attention from you as aggressively as they would if they were alone all day.

How do I find a reliable pet sitter?

First, ask your friends or family members if they use pet sitters in your area. If no one you know uses one, it is still useful to ask as they may have friends that who use pet sitters.

If you are new to the area, the internet is a great research tool. We suggest visiting www.info4pets.com to help find a reliable pet sitter in your area. This site allows you to see reviews and recommendations from local pet owners, which can make the process of finding the right pet sitter easier and faster.

What qualities should I look for in a pet sitter?

A reliable pet sitter should foremost be knowledgeable about your pet. Some sitters specifically watch either dogs or cats because they are more familiar with their behavior. It is important to choose a sitter that is comfortable with your particular pet, so be sure to have an introductory session before hiring them. This session will give you added peace of mind that your pet is safe and comfortable with the person you are choosing as a pet sitter. Previous experience is important, therefore be sure to ask for letters of recommendations to ensure that they are reliable and regarded highly by other employers.

Finding the Right Pet Boarding Option for Your Pet

If you are a pet owner with a busy work or social schedule, you have probably considered dog or cat boarding. Pet boarding is a service offered by some veterinarian, and pet boarding kennels. These businesses allow owners to drop their dog(s) or cat(s) off for a set amount of time. Unlike pet sitters or pet hotels, pet boarding is usually less expensive and offers interaction with other boarders, medical attention, and many other accommodations.

While boarding, pets are fed, walked, and cared for by a knowledgeable staff. A basic pet boarding service will offer regular feeding, a lot of exercise, and monitoring for emergent medical problems. However, it is important to make sure that your pet is well-cared for in such a facility as some of these facilities aren’t clean and may not offer an interactive experience for your pet. Other, more expensive pet boarding facilities offer camp-like environments where pets are able to interact with each other in an active setting.

If you are leaving your pet for the first time in a pet boarding facility, it is important that you follow certain steps that are often enforced by the facilities. For instance, the facility will verify vaccines such as Rabies, DHHP, and Bordetella with the pet’s veterinarian. Some establishments may require further vaccination. Also, a flea-check will be performed once the pet comes in and if fleas are found, the dog or cat will be required to have a flea bath.

It is also recommended to have a walk-through with your pet to make sure that he or she is happy in their new, temporary surroundings. Bringing familiar toys or blankets can help your pet adjust to the pet boarding facility faster. Some high-quality establishments may require a temperament test to ensure that your pet can get along with other boarders. Temperament testing is for the benefit of the facility as well as your pet.

So where can a pet owner find a reliable pet boarding facility? There are several resources available for locating reliable pet boarding establishments in your area. We suggest visiting www.info4pets.com, which is a free tool for pet owners to find local pet boarding, supplies, vets, etc. What separates www.info4pets.com from most other services is the ability for the pet owner to submit their own posts and to read reviews and suggestions from other pet owners. These posts can greatly assist you as you explore pet boarding facilities.