HomeAs the owner of 417 Pet Sitting, I want every pet owner to be well informed and feel good about their pet care decisions. Whether you are away from home for work, play, or medical reasons, we want your tail covered. Most people have considered various pet-care options; from asking for help from a family member, coworker, or friend to hiring a real pet sitter or even boarding and kenneling.
The pet care industry is growing, rapidly, and it is no secret that Americans spend billions of dollars every year on their pets, yes billions. Regardless of who you contract to care for your pets, it is more important than ever to be diligent in your research. There are online directories being added constantly, and droves of hobby sitters that use pet care to make extra money on the side. Pay extra attention to requirements for certifications, site listings, and memberships; does this person operate as a solo-sitter or an actual business; are they a professional or hobby sitter; is this person licensed, bonded, and insured; do they pass a background check? There are a lot of people who love animals, and as such hobby sitters who want to make some side cash are on the rise; but for pet owners who want the utmost care for their pets and the peace of mind associated with a professional pet-care provider 417 Pet Sitting is your best choice! I might be bias.
Pet Sitters International (PSI), is committed to providing pet owners with the information you need to select the best possible pet-care option for your pets. In addition to offering pet owners free access to PSI’s Official Pet Sitter Locator, they also want to ensure you have the information you need to choose a professional pet sitter that is right for you and your pets. Feel free to check out their questions and suggestions for hiring pet sitters.
According to PSI, “Pet sitting” is defined as “the act of caring for a pet in its own home while the owner is away.” Dog walking is also a form of pet sitting since it involves coming to the pet’s home to provide exercise and companionship.
As the definition above indicates, pet sitters care for your pets in your home. Pet owners often use pet sitters when they go on a vacation, travel for business, have to be hospitalized, or are working long hours. Pet sitters can tailor make a schedule that best meets the needs of your pet(s) that include feeding and watering, play time, dog walks, and/or exercise, cleaning the litter box, administering medication, watering the plants, taking out the trash, bringing in the mail (or packages), rotate lights/window coverings, and of course making sure that your home and pets are safe in your absence. When you are looking for pet care, make sure to ask if these are all included or if there will be additional costs, I have heard of there being additional fees for several of these items, additional pets, and/or work being performed on holidays.
Every day I hear from clients who are so glad to have chosen a professional pet sitter because more than anything, professionals provide peace of mind. Being licensed, bonded, insured, with clean background checks means you can trust your sitter and the company. There are added benefits to your pets when they get to stay at home; they are surrounded by their own environment, smells, and toys. They are not exposed to illness, other dogs’ bad habits, incessant barking from kennels, or parasites. All in all, pets are much happier and have less stress when they get to stay at home, not to mention there is less stress to the pet owner not having to transport their pets, plus the beds, toys, and food/medication (that also needs to be measured and labeled for each pet, each day).
With winter get-aways, sporting events, Spring Break, and even summer vacation on the horizon, we want you to be a well informed consumer and your pets to be well cared for – regardless of who you hire to care for your home and pets while you’re away.