Tips for Making Sure Your Pets Are Well Cared For By Walkers and Sitters

Eventually you may find yourself in the market for a professional pet sitter or dog walker. Perhaps you are working longer hours and require a bit more TLC for your pooch. Maybe you’ve booked a getaway and would rather not send your cat and dog to a kennel. But how does a caring pet parent find that perfect match for their pet?

When researching you want to ask yourself one main question: What do I need from a pet sitter? Yes YOU! Remember - your future sitter or walker will become YOUR back-up. Do you need a sitter who is available seven days a week, 365 days a year? Do you need someone who can give insulin shots if needed? Will a professional service give you more peace of mind, or are you happy with a friendly neighbor?

Finding a great sitter can be as easy as asking friends, co-workers, and family. They can be a fantastic resource and first hand testimonials from someone you trust can be invaluable. Also, check out online reviews from trusted websites. Then set up an initial meeting with your top pick. Cost should not factor into finding a great sitter or walker. In reality, you’re looking at a difference of a few dollars per day. Although not always true, you may find that the more elite services provide extra services to you and employ a more qualified team.

Make sure you’re comfortable not only with how the sitter conducts themselves at the meeting, but also with their professionalism. Are your calls or emails returned promptly? Did the sitter ask many questions?

To help you make an informed decision, here are a list of 10 topics and questions you should cover with any sitter or walker who you are considering hiring. Remember - anyone can “love” pets, but that doesn’t mean they have the responsibility, dedication, and schedule-flexibility to be your go-to pet back-up.

The Staff’s Experience: Are you a pet owner? There is nothing like pet-parenting experience when it comes to being a dog walker or pet sitter. After all, you wouldn’t hand someone the keys to a bus if they’ve never had a license. If you’re going with a professional service ask specifically if your sitter is a pet parent. If not, make sure that you’re comfortable with their pet experience.

History: Always make sure your sitter is background checked. Remember, not only are you trusting this person with your pet, you’re also offering this person the keys to your home, privacy, and valuables.

Schedule Needs: Are sitters available for visits 7 days a week, 365 days a year? If you need schedule flexibility, make sure your sitter can meet your needs.

Customer Service: Along the same lines, are you able speak with a manager, even on the weekends? Let’s face it - life doesn’t stop on Saturday and Sunday. If you’re going with a single sitter - are they easy to get a hold of when needed?

Protecting your Turf: Are you bonded and insured? Even if sitters are well-trained, you should still be protected from the unexpected with insurance. Bonding offers reimbursement in the case of theft.

Pet Emergencies: In the case of a pet medical emergency, are you trained to handle the unexpected? Pet First Aid and CPR training is widely available to professional sitters.

Sitter Emergencies: What happens if the sitter needs to leave town for a family emergency or suffers an injury/illness? Is there a protocol in place to deal with such events so a pet isn’t left behind?

Booking Capabilities: How easy is it to book visits in the future? If you are computer savvy, select pet care services that offer online booking and account management. This is a huge asset for many on-the-go pet parents who require more advanced schedule management tools.

Special Needs Pets: If you have a geriatric pet or special needs critter, does your sitter have experience with pets with health issues?

Dog Walking Policies and Knowledge: How many dogs will be walked at one time? If you live in an urban environment, are you comfortable with “pack” walks, or would you prefer one-on-one attention? Does your walker seem comfortable and knowledgeable with various training techniques? Does the walker seem competent to handle stressful situations on-leash? How about off-leash dog parks?

Pet sitting and dog walking has come a long way in the last few decades. It has changed largely from a service offered by neighbors to an industry filled with dedicated professionals, willing to go the extra mile to please both the client and the pet. A great pet care service should not only keep your pet safe and content and your home secure, it should also allow you to be away from home with total confidence.

Carrie Maria is the co-owner of The Monster Minders. Recognized leaders in Philadelphia’s pet care industry, The Monster Minders are a small core team of award-winning dog walkers and pet sitters. These Philadelphia Magazine “Best of Philly” pet care professionals have years of experience as both pet sitters and pet parents. With over 60,000 visits under their belts, hundreds of Center City pet parents turn to The Monster Minders for their reliable pet care needs. For more information about The Monster Minders, call (215) 925-1119 or visit www.themonsterminders.com.