Celebrate Pet Caregivers!
At the tail end of National Pet Sitters Week (March 6-12), we wanted to recognize pet caregivers who help pet parents by providing care for their furry loved ones. Choosing a caregiver for your furry loved one can be almost as taxing as finding a babysitter for your child.
Just because it’s your pet, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t find someone who has the experience and is properly insured and bonded. More pet owners use the services of professional pet sitters to take advantage of the benefits in-home pet care provides.
According to Pet Sitters International, the benefits of pet caregivers are:
- Happy, less stressed pets.
- No interruption of “the routine.”
- No “travel trauma” for owner or pet.
- Less exposure to illness.
- No imposition on friends and family.
- Peace of mind.
For full peace of mind, ask lots of questions. Find out about their background, philosophy about pet care, what their services include, and how long they’ve done it. Most importantly, ask if they’re certified, bonded, and insured. PSI offers a full questionnaire for interviewing potential sitters here.
Most importantly, have a meet and greet before deciding on your sitter. Allow your pets to meet them and vice versa. Watch your pet’s as well as the potential sitter’s behavior. If either side looks uncomfortable, take a step back and think hard before hiring.
While an in-home service can be a benefit for many pets, having a certified, qualified kennel to take Fido and Fluffy to is another boon. Some cats get sick from the stress of their owners leaving. In a kennel situation, they monitor your furry loved one while they relax at their home away from home.
For active dogs, boarding or daycare provides a well-needed outlet for boundless energy. Whether your pets are cared for by a pet sitter, boarding, or daycare facility, make sure you thank those pet caregivers for everything they do!
