HomeWhen traveling away from home, options for taking care of your pet while gone used to be limited to boarding facilities or employing the help of family or friends. But over the last several years there's been a new choice - hiring a professional pet sitter. These pet care givers come to your house once or twice a day to feed, walk, and play with your pet while your away.
"We deal in all pets, big and small," says Laura Heineck, owner of Home Alone pet sitting service in Naples. Over the past six years, Heineck and her husband, Ron, have taken care of everything from snakes to horses. Besides caring for your pet, taking in the mail, watering the plants and making your house looked lived in to deter crime are just some of the other services offered. But the best part of using this unique service is that your animals get to stay at home keeping their daily routines and don't have to be exposed to illnesses or parasites from other animals.
The Heinecks are members of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters, who's goal is to bring credibility to this fast growing profession by offering members on-going education, liability insurance coverage, and a mediation service where customer's complaints can be heard.
Services offered and fees charged can vary widely depending on what state you live in or even what town. In a recent survey done by the NAPPS, members charged on average $10 per visit, which is what the Heinecks also charge. Cats usually need one visit per day while dogs need two.
When hiring a pet sitter, interview several candidates before making a decision, having all your questions ready in advance. Remember this person will have the responsibility for both your pet and home, so making the right selection should be given careful consideration. You should find out if the pet sitter is bonded, has commercial liability insurance coverage, and is willing to provide references. Ask for documented proof of these and check references.
Once you've hired a sitter, let her know your pet's daily routine schedule - eating, sleeping, and walking. Health problems should also be disclosed as well as any medication your pet is on.
To make sure everything runs smoothly while your away, advanced planning is recommended. The following are a few suggestions from the NAPPS:
Make an extra copy of your house key for the sitter (make sure it works). As a back up, give another copy of the key to a neighbor. Let your sitter know the name and phone number of this neighbor.
Buy extra food, litter and supplies just in case you stay away longer than anticipated.
Leave a list of helpful phone numbers like your veterinarian, where you can be reached, yard maintenance, etc.
Leave everything needed for the care of your pet in one area - leashes food, and medicines.
If the sitter will be visiting in the evenings, provide a timer light so she won't have to walk into a dark house. It will be friendlier for your pet as well.
If you will be returning earlier or later than expected, call to inform your sitter.
Unplug any appliances that won't be used to prevent damage during electrical storms or injury to pets.
To find a pet sitter look in the yellow pages under "Pets" or call the NAPPS pet sitter referral number at 800-296-PETS