The other day I received a call from a prospective client. Since this was the first time this client needed a professional pet sitter, they weren’t quite sure what questions to ask or what to look for in a professional pet sitter. With summer here and vacation plans in the works for many of you, I thought I would give some pointers on what to look for when hiring a pet sitter.

First, a common misconception I would like to clear up is about “licensing”. I think this is one of the most frequent questions I receive from prospective clients. So, I am here to tell you there is no formal licensing for pet sitters. If a sitter advertises they are licensed, it is only a business license — something that is required of all businesses no matter what the type of business one may have. So please don’t think it means anything other than someone who has a business license should you be told they are licensed!

A pet sitter should be bonded and insured. They should be able to show you a certificate of coverage when they meet with you.

At the initial meeting with your pet sitter, do they ask lots of questions? This is one time when asking for a lot of details and asking a lot of questions is a good thing! Do they ask about odd hiding places “kitty” may have? Do they ask about feeding and the animals’ routine? Do they ask about current or past medical issues the animal may have had? I find the more questions I ask or are covered on the paperwork, the more prepared I am for those unforeseen events that sometimes crop up.

Is the sitter and staff, if applicable, trained in pet first aid/CPR? They should be and ideally their training should be within the last two years or so.

Also, consider how comfortable you are with the pet sitter! On rare occasions through no fault of the client or the sitter, personalities may not mesh. Although a sitter may be excellent, if you don’t feel comfortable with them, be prepared to find another professional pet sitter.

Does the sitter take any job that comes their way or are they willing to admit if a job is beyond their ability? If I think a job is beyond my scope, I will tell the client. For example, I do not have expertise in handling larger birds such as Macaws and African Greys. Better for me to walk away from a job than to take a job I am not comfortable with. And if that is the case, I am more than willing to refer you to someone I think may be better suited for the job.

Finding the right pet sitter for you will help ensure your peace-of mind that your animal family will be well taken care of and will help you to relax during your vacation!

–Jan Brown

Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting and is a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor.