Professional Pet Sitters Week

The first week of March is International Pet Sitters Week! This event was founded by PSI, the world’s biggest professional pet sitters organization. While your faithful dog would love to go everywhere with you, that just isn’t always possible. And, while many people have been working from home this year, there are still times that people need to leave their pups in the care of others. A local vet discusses pet sitting below.

Benefits of A Sitter

Why should you use a sitter or dog walker? They can be a perfect solution for times when you are working long hours or just busy. It’s also a good option for people with young puppies. Fido is usually pretty good about holding it, but he can only go so long. The fresh air, exercise, stimulation, and company a dog walker provides will definitely benefit him, and just help break up his alone time.

Sitter Or Boarding?

When should you use a pet sitter, as opposed to boarding your dog? While every circumstance is different, we would generally advise boarding if you are going to be gone for more than a day. It’s worth noting that many kennels have reduced their hours or capacity, or even paused services completely, during the pandemic. This is also something to consider.

Friends And Family

Many people ask friends or family members to watch their dogs. There are some obvious benefits here: it’s often cheaper, and people are comfortable leaving their pups in friendly, familiar hands. However, if something were to happen, that could really strain—or even ruin—your relationship. You also won’t have the protection that a licensed pet sitter or kennel would offer.

Choosing Fido’s Sitter

If you are going to use a pet sitter, the first and biggest concern is screening applicants. Professional organizations do vet their applicants, but even this isn’t always foolproof. Ask for references, and check review sites. You may also want to ask your friends, family members, co-workers, and veterinarian for recommendations. One thing that is very important is making sure that your canine pal’s sitter or kennel is properly licensed, bonded, and insured. Of course, Fido should also be able to weigh in!

Trial Run

Whether you choose boarding or pet sitting, we recommend starting out with a short trial run. In case of boarding, this helps Fido get used to his home away from home. With pet sitters, it allows you a chance to see how things go.

Is your pet due for vaccinations or an exam? Contact us, your local veterinary clinic, today!

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