When looking for a good pet sitter, a great research or home work is needed simply because of two main factors.

1. The welfare of your best friend; your pet.
2. Your home security.

There have been numerous cases of animal caregivers mistreating their client’s pets or even stealing from them like in an article that appeared on Seattle Times where a 64 years old woman dog walker was convicted for stealing jewelry, furniture, artwork, rugs, purses and clothes from the homes of her wealthy clients and pawning them. This and other crimes against pets and or stealing happen every day around America.

Due to the fact that pets tend to be more comfortable in their home environment, it’s so critical that owners should do plenty of homework in hiring a pet sitter so as to maintain this comfort and pet-to- caregiver chemistry. NAPPS (National Association of Professional Pet Sitters) recommends that before you let someone take care of your best friend, have the following question answered:

• Is the sitter bonded and carry commercial liability insurance?
• Is the sitter willing to supply references, both clients and professionals in the area?
• Does the sitter furnish written literature describing services and starting fees?
• Will the sitter visit your house beforehand to meet you and the pet and obtain detailed information? This is important, since it enables you to determine how well the sitter interacts with your pet(s).
• Is the attitude and approach exhibited by the sitter positive during the initial meeting with your pet?
• Does the sitter have a service contract clearly spelling out services and fees?
• Does the sitter have regular office hours or return customer inquiries promptly?
• Does the sitter have a veterinarian on call for emergency services? If so, ask for the name and call that practitioner for a referral.
• What contingency plan for pet care does the sitter have in the event of personal illness or injury or a family emergency?
• Has the pet sitter been trained by his/her company? Are there prerequisites for employment?
• Does the sitter have an established system for handling customer complaints?
• Does the sitter always telephone to determine if the owner has returned home as scheduled or require the client to notify the sitter of his/her arrival home?
• Does the sitter provide a rating form for customers to evaluate his/her services?

The above points work well if you are looking for an established facility to leave your pet when you are away but if you are looking for an in-house sitter, SitterCity is the best place to look for experienced, background checked pet sitters. To find one in your local area, just input your zip code below and search.

Sittercity Petsitter Search Enter your zipcode to find a petsitter or dog walker in your area: Zip Code