(916) 585-3182
We offer cat sitting, dog sitting, dog walking, care for rabbits, chickens, rats, fish and more.
When I first started out, I was what we in the industry call a “hobby sitter”. Many of us start out that way. I didn’t have a website, no paperwork to protect myself and my client, and no emergency back ups.
Still, I had a very sweet 85-year-old women, who lived alone, and knowing nothing but my first name and that I loved animals, hand off the keys to her house and go on vacation. She trusted me with her two most valued possessions: her pets and her home.
Now, I’m an honest, moral, and ethical person and I treat my clients’ homes and pets as if they were my own, of course. Sadly, not everyone is honest, moral, or ethical. Alternately, there are plenty of honest, moral, ethical people who love pets but simply don’t have the knowledge or skills to deal when things don’t quite go as planned.
I’ve said it once and I’ve said it again – pet sitting is one of the easiest jobs for pet lovers – until that one day when it isn’t.
Let’s face it, something will go wrong at some point, it’s just the way the world works. I can’t be perfect, but I can be prepared.
So here are the 5 things I’d ask someone before hiring him/her to care for my pets:
#1 – Do you have references? And please, don’t just ask for them, follow-up on them. I’ve had maybe 2 people ask for references and only 1 of them ever called them. For one thing, I work hard to get good references so it gives me a sense of satisfaction to share them. For another thing, you can tell a lot about someone by how they react to the question. If a potential sitter has any hesitation with providing references – RUN. New sitters might not have many references from actual clients but I wouldn’t ding them for that. Can they provide professional references at least? A former boss, co-worker, teacher? Make sure that at least some of those references are phone numbers to business lines or business emails. For example, if you are handed a reference list that reads, “Amanda StonerChik@live.com”, I’d question that reference. It’s easy enough to have your friends make a bunch of fake email addresses and give out their cell phone numbers. Not so easy to fake a legitimate business voicemail or company email address.
#2 – Are there any breeds you will not work with? Yes, I am a Pit Bull advocate but this isn’t only about that. If there are certain breeds a sitter refuses to work with, I’d have to question their dog handling experience. Another consideration – if someone is deathly afraid of German Shepherds, for example, how is that going to affect how they handle my dog if they are out walking and a German Shepherd comes running up? Will they be able to control themselves or will they drop my dog’s leash and run screaming? A truly dog savvy person can handle pretty much any breed you have.
#3 – Do you know how to break up a dog fight? Ah, this is one that most people do not think about, but it is very important. The person you are considering hiring may be walking your dog quite a lot. What would they do if a loose dog were to run up to your dog and start attacking it? How does the person react to this question? I’ve walked in many different parts of town and have met my fair share of loose dogs – it happens, and your pet sitter/dog walker should be prepared. Of course, prevention is key and your sitter/walker should know how to prevent and avoid fights in the first place (like having a no nose-to-nose with strange dogs policy).
#4 – Are you fingerprinted? Oh yes, go there. Live Scan fingerprinting is affordable and accessible. Your fingerprints are on file with the Department of Justice and most people take that pretty seriously. If your potential sitter is not fingerprinted, ask them if they’d be willing to do so. Again, this is one of those where their reaction should tell you all you need to know.
#5 – Are you CPR/First Aid Trained? Your pet sitter should know basic pet first aid. They should know the signs to look for to determine if a pet needs to be rushed to the ER. Do they have a car to get to the Emergency vet? Do they know where the local 24/7 Emergency vet is? Also, the sitter should have a form for you to fill out that will grant them the authority to seek veterinary treatment in your absence. I’d also advise you to call your regular vet and give them your sitter’s information just in case. Ideally, your sitter will mention emergencies during the initial consult or even during that first phone call, but if he/she doesn’t – you should.
What would you add to the list? Is there anything on here you wouldn’t ask, and if so, why? Let me know what you think in the comments.
In the Sacramento area and looking for a Pet Sitter and/or Dog Walker?
Visit my site at www.pawsitiveattention.com