Choosing a Pet Sitter
Provided by P&G Everyday Solutions
If you're planning on taking a vacation, hopefully you'll be able to take your pet
with you. However, if that's not an option, you may want to consider hiring a pet-sitter.
To choose a pet-sitter that's right for you and your pet, consider the following
five guidelines:
1. Interview More Than One Candidate
The best way to find a pet-sitter you can trust is to interview a variety of candidates.
Fellow pet owners, veterinarians, pet groomers, pet food and supply store owners
and family members are all excellent sources for referrals. When compiling a list
of prospects, you may also want to contact the National Association of Professional
Pet Sitters at 1-800-296-PETS for general information and a referral.
2. Get to Know the Candidate
Once you have a list of candidates, it's time to start the interviewing process.
Begin the interview by simply getting to know the person. Learn about her interests,
hobbies and pastimes. Ask her about her pets, and feel free to share your own experiences
as a pet owner.
3. Ask Specific Questions
After you've taken the time to get to know the candidate, and given her a chance
to get to know you, move on to specific questions. It's a good idea to be prepared
with a list of questions. Standardizing your questions in this way will make it
easier to compare the strengths and weaknesses of each applicant. Consider asking
the following questions:
- Do you have any special training?
- What do you feel qualifies you to care for pets?
- What would you do if your car broke down, or if for some other reason you were unable to keep your appointment?
- Can you provide related services, such as grooming, dog walking or training and play time?
- Do you have commercial liability insurance to cover accidents or negligence?
- In the event of a medical emergency, what would be your course of action? Are you affiliated with a veterinarian?
- Do you offer a written contract that details methods, services and rates?
4. Ask for References
Always ask for and follow up on references. Ideally, the candidate will provide
you with a minimum of three references from former or current clients.
5. Let Your Pet Be the Final Decision Maker
After you've screened a number of prospective pet-sitters, ask your pet to make
the final decision. Invite the candidate to spend time with your pet. Let them get
to know each other. Your pet's reaction to the pet-sitter is the best way to determine
if there's a match.
