It can be a scary thing to trust someone with your pet(s) and home.  You hire someone and hope they live up to what they said. Where do you even start?

Your first stop could be trusted friends and family to see if they know of anyone.  Another stop may be to reach out on social media for recommendations.  I will suggest that if you are  looking for particular vacation dates do not post the dates on social media.  You could mention the season but you may not to put the dates out there for all to see. Another source to find a professional pet sitter is to check out National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International to locate a professional pet sitter in your area.  These two groups are dedicated to professional pet sitters that own their own businesses.  

After you get recommendations check out their website, social media and a quick Google search.  Are they posting regularly?  What is the content of what they are posing?  We once had someone reach out to us because they saw that we posted pictures of goats. They were planning on getting goats and saw that we had experience.  Look on their website to see if they list they are insured and bonded.  What certifications do they hold? Do they provide the services you are looking for? What are their reviews? Are there any legitimate complaints against them? 

Make sure that the pet sitter carries their own insurance. There have been too many horror stories of pet sitters/dog walkers who don’t have their own insurance. There have been times when a pet sitter had had an incident and did not have adequate insurance. Leaving the owner with a terrible mess. Insurance doesn’t mean that an accident won’t happen but if it does they are prepared. A professional pet sitter will carry their own insurance for your peace of mind and theirs. 

Bonding is something we hear a lot of in this business. If the professional pet sitter you want to hire has employees then they should be bonded.  If they are solo or business partners then bonding is optional. 

The majority of your professional pet sitters will have a criminal background check done yearly.  They will also have it done on their employees if they have any.  Professional pet sitters understand that you are trusting them with your home and pets which they don’t take lightly.  They want to give you peace of mind.

Education is important for the professional pet sitter.  Professional pet sitters will keep up on the latest information regarding pets.  They also want to be able to educate you the pet owner.  They love to share their knowledge.  

Not all professional pet sitters belong to an organization such as National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International but it does help.  These organizations are educational focused and promote best practices for pet sitters.  Personally I have found that I have learned and grown as a professional pet sitter from these groups.  Each has a yearly conference that can be invaluable to learn from some of the best speakers in the industry and learning from fellow professionals from around the country.  

After you have made your decision check their website for the best way to reach them.  Please keep in mind that when you reach out they may not be able to get back to you right away since they will be working but they should indicate a timeframe to when they will get back to you. 

Good luck on your search! Find the best fit for you and your pet will thank you.