You need a pet sitter!

The term "pet sitter" (or pet care professional) can mean dog walker, cat feeder, or someone who boards pets at their own home.

But they don't only come in handy when you travel!

REPAIRS & CLEANING

When you invite contractors into the house for repairs, upgrades, cleaning, or even if you are the one doing the housework, it can be safer for your pet to be out of the house, so they don't get into hazardous materials, breathe in chemicals, or make a mess where you just made it sparkle!

HOSTING AT HOME

While our pets are family, it can be easier to have them out of the house when you host family. Maybe they don't do well with big crowds or small children, or you suspect someone will feed your pet the food that gives them the runs!

UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS

Traffic, late work hours, recovering from the flu, and more, can affect off your pet's mealtime or potty breaks. But when you have a pet sitter on speed dial, your pet's routine won't be interrupted!

START YOUR SEARCH by asking around at the dog park, doing a google search, or scanning local Facebook groups.

BOOK THE MEET & GREET

This comes after the introductory phone call or email. The in-person meet & greet with you present will help your dog become familiar with this new person, and help you determine if this pet sitter is the right fit.

If you plan to have someone come to your home for services, the meet & greet takes place at your house. If you plan to board your pet, you'll go to the pet sitter's home, or wherever they board.

THE 3 BIG Q's!

1.) Experience: Personally, I recommend someone who is full time and passionate with rates which reflect that. You get what you pay for so do your research and check rates in your area.

2.) Safety: For pet sitters as well as pet parents I recommend checking out the courses and guides at the links below.

The Dog Safe course is intensive and the worst-case scenario videos can get a bit squeamish, but every time I pass the 152-question quiz, I feel like a super star!

dogsafe.ca

RECOVER Initiative's main priority is veterinary specialists, but they have a quick CPR course that can be completed in less than an hour.

RECOVER Initiative

The ASPCA site shares a lot of safety information including the ASPCA Poison Control Hotline, more about this later.

www.aspca.org

3.) Insurance: This comes in handy for the pet sitter if your dog injures a person or another pet while on their watch, or if the pet sitter unintentionally damages your property.

YOU FOUND A SITTER!

conveniently fits in a large, clear bag to keep medicines with the profile

You had the meet & greet, and it's a match!! Now how do you transfer all of your pet's quirks and needs to your pet sitter? You could use my Pet Sitter's Playbook, available to download from my Etsy shop! Also available for cats, as pictured below.

This is a format that I use with all of my clients, and it can be used if your pet is staying in your home or in someone else's home. Print, Complete and Post on your refrigerator like those 90's babysitting days because to most people, their pet is their baby!

The playbook lists your pet's daily routine like meal times and sleeping habits, their personality quirks like if they need booties to go out in the rain/snow and how they react to fireworks, medical needs and their communication cues, as well as where to find things in your home such as your pet first aid kit and cleaning supplies.

Remember that poison control hotline I mentioned earlier? You'll find it under the Emergency Numbers section of the playbook. I've added it below because this is a number every pet parent and caregiver should have in their phone.

ASPCA Poison Control Phone Number: (888) 426-4435

The Pet Sitter's Playbook is also great to bring on extended family vacations with your pet! Bringing your pup down the shore? With the Pet Sitter's Playbook on the fridge, you can leave the mealtime to your nieces and nephews while you enjoy a private date night.

Have your own pet care business? The Pet Sitter's Playbook is for you, too!

I wish I had this format on DAY ONE!

Local to Delaware County, Pennsylvania? Let's schedule your meet & greet today, and you'll get a pet profile!

If you're outside of Delaware County, you can still access the Pet Sitter's Playbook today!

When you download the file, email your address to thisjes@gmail.com and I'll ship you some fun stickers!!

Boop your pet for me,

Jes