Choosing A Good Pet-Sitter

So you've booked the hotel, picked up the airline tickets and are all ready to head off on that perfect vacation. But what to do with your beloved pet? If the vacation spot were closer you'd bring him/her along, but that's not an option. And you hate kennels and would never put your baby into one. But how do you find and accommodate a pet-sitter?

The first and possibly best place to start your search is at your local veterinarian, even before you open your phone book. Many times vets have a list of volunteer pet-sitters that are on call to help deal with abandoned animals or those who are being "fostered" out while they heal. Aside from being experienced, they will have almost immediate access to your vet in the case of an emergency.

But what if your veterinarian doesn't have such a list? Well, the second choice should, ideally, be family and friends who live nearby and who can monitor both your property and your pet. Remember, your pet won't be used to dealing with a stranger and anything you can do to lessen the stress would be good. Of course you won't want to pick your elderly Aunt Ethel who's deathly allergic to animals and in a wheelchair, but your neighbours may be willing to help out as well as make sure that your home stays safe and secure in your absence.

Finally, there are professional pet-sitting services that you may choose to hire. Insist on an interview with the person who is going to be assigned to your home and don't be afraid to request references and to follow them up with phone calls and discussions as to how their last client feels about him/her. Most services count on having a good reputation and should go out of their way to supply references as well as documentation on how trained their sitters are to deal with emergencies.