How much does your pet sitter know?
September is PSI’s Pet- Sitter Education Month!
Having been awarded Pet Sitters International Pet Sitter of the Year 2024, I have learned so much more regarding the history of the pet sitting profession and how it has become a career for many across the nation. The care of a person’s pets, home and property should be the upmost importance to the care giver that is hired to do this service. It is not about hiring someone to do a job but about choosing a professional business minded person with an education in pet care.
Pet Sitters International sets a high standard for the pet sitting industry. Education, support and the available resources they provide pet sitters trickles down to the quality of pet sitter YOU hire. Pet Sitters International has set September as Pet- Sitter Education Month.
Education comes in many forms. Pet sitters need to have experience with pets, along with compassion, caring and common sense. Growing up with pets and having to care for them provide pet experience, but the pet industry changes, so education keeps a pet sitter “in the know”. Education should be a constant and progressive way of life for a pet sitter to run their business. Yes, pet sitting is a real business!
After teaching a class on Pet Preparedness, I really realized how much education it takes to care for your own pet, let alone someone else’s pet. Putting the course together for our client’s really made me think-Pet Sitters have to know so much in regard to; CPR, First Aid, pet diets, breeds of pets, pet personalities, training, health…the list goes on.
Five Questions you must ask your Pet Sitter: (Yes, we do expect to be interviewed!)
- Are you a certified pet sitter? In the state of Missouri, you do not need to be certified or licensed to pet sit in someone else’s home. A certification with a National/International Organization is a business choice for the professional pet sitter. This shows Pet Parents this person/company is invested with their profession enough to learn through required CEU’s about new and changing pet information.
You do have to be licensed with the Department of Agriculture to board or have a dog daycare in your home! Always ask for their license # and check it online to see if they are up to date requirements.
- Are you bonded and insured? People coming into your home to provide pet care has access to everything you own, while you are not there! Being bonded will help recover stolen property. Insurance for your pet AND home is a must for both pet sitting and boarding! You can ask to see their policy cover sheet to make sure it updated and the coverage that is carried for each item covered. Due to insurance coverage, many professional pet sitters will NOT share visits with your friends, family or roommates.
- Are you CPR/ First Aid Certified? This is as important as being insured. When tragedy hits you want to make sure whoever is caring for your pet is trained and educated to know what to do! No, we are not veterinarians, but your pet sitter should know key items to help your pet if your pet was in danger. Honestly, most people only retain about 50% of what they learn visually so certified pet sitters are required to take the CPR/First Aid class every other year.
- What personal experiences do you have with pets? By this, I do not mean, I had pet (s) growing up! Did they own/work at a rescue, do they have Vet Tech experience, or did they work at a pet-oriented business? This is an experienced learned quality you are looking for in a pet sitter. Experiences humans have determined their reactions to situations!
- What kind of care do you provide regarding my home? This question rarely gets asked but is SO important! Once again, Pet Sitters will be in your home, while you are not there. They should provide some sort of help with the “someone is home” concept, getting mail, newspapers and maybe watering plants. The underlying concept is…what would you do if my house had an emergency? Someone broke in, a water leak, something quit working. Do they know how to handle these things?
Lastly, your pet sitter should be educated in the fact that a contract and all paperwork needed should be signed and discussed at a meet & greet with you and your pet prior to any pet sitting visits!
Learn more about professional pet sitters and how to find one in your area at: www.petsit.com
Black Paw 101: You are not just hiring a pet sitter for their time, BUT you are hiring a pet sitter for their education!
Bobbi Wilson, CPPS since 2018