Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Petsitter

I am so excited because it looks and feels like our part of the world is returning to “normal” again! This means gathering with our friends for parties, maybe going to a concert again and…traveling! So many of us are eager to get away, and that means looking for a pet sitter to care for your furry loved ones. As somebody who has owned a professional pet sitting business for eight years, I’ve seen a thing or two, and honestly have some stories to tell – I’ve learned over the years what works best for my clients, and keeps their pets safe and happy. On that note, I want to share with you what I’ve learned over the years, and some common mistakes to avoid when looking for a pet sitter.

1. 1. Asking a personal friend. Here’s an unfortunate thing I’ve seen over and over again – somebody will ask their friend to watch their pet because they know and like this person, and they know their friend loves them! But then…somehow the dog will get into a fight and get bitten by another dog, or the cat will run out of the house and be near impossible to catch. Or perhaps, they struggle to give the pet their medication and miss a dose. Please understand: liking somebody, and knowing they like your pet, does not mean they can keep your pet safe or provide what they need. Of course, it is important to have a pet sitter you like and click with; at the same time, it is vital that this person has firsthand experience working with animals so all the bases are covered and accidents (and trips to the vet) are avoided.
   2. Hiring the neighbor kid. I’ll be honest – my first pet sitting gig was for a neighbor when I was 15, and I did a fantastic job. There are lots of tweens and teens out there who will be just as great. There are also a lot of others who may overlook something that leads to an injury or illness. The truth is, even if they have the best intentions, most minors simply don’t anticipate or plan for certain situations the way adults do. Hiring a younger person to watch your pet is essentially a gamble, and there is no real way to predict if it will go well. Also, when you ask a neighbor to watch your pet, this is not a business relationship; this means that the communication and expectations on both sides will be more casual, leading to the higher chance of a mishap or overlooking something important.
   3. Overlooking insurance. Did you know there is actually such a thing as pet sitting insurance?? While hiring a professional pet sitter will drastically reduce the chances of an accident, there is always a small chance that something could happen to your pet or home when you’re away. When you hire somebody who is bonded and insured, this means that possible damage to your home, or a trip to the vet, will be covered, and you won’t have to foot the bill for it (if the pet sitter is responsible for the accident). What if the sitter loses the key or something from your home mysteriously disappears? Being bonded means you’ll be covered in these cases, too. If you hire somebody who is uninsured, you won’t have this kind of protection, and may be financially responsible if something happens to your pet or home while you’re away.

I hope this was helpful! If you’re looking for a pet sitter for your own fur baby or have any other pet care questions you’ve been wondering about, feet free to send me an email directly at sam@pawsandclaws.pet or visit www.pawsandclaws.pet.