This Guide Gets the Professional Pet Sitters for You

Caring for your precious pet is like caring for a human child. You’ve got to feed, shelter, clothe, and clean it to improve their quality of life. Aside from pet grooming, you’ve got to know how and where to find the best professional sitters to look after them whenever you’re out of town. This guide will help you get the best one for your precious animal who can take care of the basics like pet grooming, feeding, etc.

Begin the Search with an Interview

Like in any profession, before you hire a pet sitter, be sure to interview them. If you’re having someone stay in your home or visit with your pet while you’re out of town, make sure they know how to care for your pet. As you prepare for your interview, make a list of questions: 

What are your credentials and experience? 

Do you know essential pet grooming and feeding instructions?

Do you know about first aid? 

Do you have emergency protocols in place in case of an accident or illness? 

Are you bonded and insured?

Also, ask what sorts of things their plans for caring for your pet entail. The best pet sitters love animals and go the extra mile. These sitters shouldn’t just attend to your pet’s physical needs like feeding them and walking them. They should enjoy playing with your pet and giving them plenty of affection.

Get References for Additional Certainty

Unless the candidates are well-known and trusted, never take their word for it. A great way to research someone's experience and reputation is to get references for that person. Many pet sitters will already have anticipated these questions, so don't be surprised if they present you with a form that includes other people's references. 

This is acceptable and even preferable! You can ask about each contact specifically and why they were chosen to be listed. You can find out which other pets the sitter has cared for and how recently they interacted with those animals.

Schedule a Face-To-Face

You should consider meeting the pet sitter before you hand off your pet. Observe how they interact with your pet. A pet sitter should be affectionate, calm, collected, yet firm towards your pet. In turn, your pet should respond well to the sitter, too.

It's even better to schedule this together with the interview, as it’ll eliminate the hassle of doing both separately.

Watch Out for These Warning Signs

If a pet sitter seems to display any kind of disorganization, ask them about it. Examples of disorganized behavior include forgetting or missing appointments, being late in returning or responding to emails or text messages, or appearing harried and forgetful. The last thing you want is a pet sitter who leaves your animal without care, such as pet grooming or playtime. Poor organizational skills or negligence can easily lead to this outcome.

A pet sitter that seems nervous when asked to respond to an emergency is also a cause for concern. If your furry friend is involved in an accident or becomes ill at the sitter’s house, you and your sitter should have discussed emergency protocols ahead of time. A good sitter should be prepared to take action at a moment’s notice.

Get the Best Pet Care for Your Furry Friend

Going through this guide thoroughly ensures you get the best professional pet sitter for the job. Remember, they’re your temporary replacement until you get back from that much-needed vacation or business trip, so hire someone who knows how to handle animals in any situation, be it a regular day or an emergency.

And in case they need help with pet grooming in Long Island, give them The Happy Hounds Grooming's contact number! We provide hygiene care your pet needs—from nail clipping, filing, bathing, haircuts, and de-shedding, among others! Book your appointment today, and we’ll go straight to you!