Pet Sitters International advises pet parents to book holiday pet care a.s.a.p.
The association provides tips for pet parents who have not yet secured a professional pet sitter for their holiday pet-care needs.
KING, N.C. (November 3, 2022) — With travel experts expecting 2022 holiday travel to return to or even surpass pre-pandemic levels, professional pet sitters are gearing up for a hectic season. Pet Sitters International (PSI) advises pet parents to book their holiday pet sitter as soon as possible to avoid a last-minute scramble for pet care.
PSI, the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, surveyed nearly 500 member businesses last year and found that 44 percent of respondents said they began accepting holiday pet-sitting reservations at least six months in advance for the mid-November through early January holiday season.
“Finding the right pet sitter for your family allows you to truly enjoy your holiday, but it takes time—time for phone interviews, an in-home meeting and a check of references,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “We advise pet parents to include ‘securing pet care’ as one of the first items on their holiday travel checklist to avoid the unnecessary stress of trying to find a professional pet sitter at the last minute.”
PSI also shares these additional tips for pet parents in need of holiday care:
- Ask for a recommendation if your pet sitter is booked. Most professional pet sitters are happy to provide a referral to another local, reputable pet-sitting company if they are already booked. You can also search for local PSI member pet sitters at www.petsit.com/locate.
- Schedule an in-person consultation with any potential sitter. Scheduling a “meet and greet” or “initial consultation” at your home gives you an opportunity to meet the professional pet sitter, see them interact with your pets, and review their credentials and policies.
- Download PSI’s free Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist. Not sure what to ask during the meet and greet? The questions in this free checklist are a great place to start.
“Knowing that a beloved pet can enjoy the stress-free environment of its own home during the holiday season can provide great peace of mind for pet owners,” said PSI Founder and CEO Patti J. Moran. “But remember, anyone can post a profile online advertising pet-sitting services, so it’s important for pet owners to take a closer look to ensure they are hiring a legitimate, professional pet-sitting business to care for their pets.”
While securing pet care as soon as possible is recommended, PSI advises pet parents not to panic if they have a change in holiday plans that requires them to seek a professional pet sitter at the last minute. According to last year’s holiday survey, 35 percent of pet-sitting respondents said they accept last-minute holiday requests (reservations less than one week before the holiday).
To learn more about PSI, visit www.petsit.com. To search for a PSI member pet sitter in your area, visit www.petsit.com/locate.
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About Pet Sitters International
Founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, author of Pet Sitting for Profit, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, with member pet-sitting businesses in the United States, Canada and more than 12 other countries. PSI members have access to the widest array of business services and educational resources available in the professional pet-sitting industry. PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator is the largest online directory of professional pet sitters, and pet owners can visit petsit.com/locate to find local professional pet sitters.
