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Beth Stultz-Hairston | Pet Sitters International

Small Business Saturday^®, created in 2010 by American Express, is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (and the day after Black Friday) to encourage consumers to support their local small businesses.

While this event likely makes you think of local boutiques, neighborhood restaurants or independently-owned jewelry or home décor shops, there’s another business you shouldn’t overlook when you focus on shopping local—your local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business.

The growing need for pet-care services has prompted many tech companies and venture capitalists to enter the industry in recent years and launch large pet-sitter directories, but don’t let the click-and-select convenience of the online sites and apps overshadow the benefits of selecting and supporting a local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business established in your community.

Many of these small pet-care businesses were hit hard by the pandemic but have persevered, adopting expanded sanitation practices and adding new pet-care services to meet clients’ unique needs during this time.

Benefits of using a local professional pet sitter

While some apps and sites offer on-demand pet sits and dog walks, there are many advantages to taking the time to seek out—and book—the services of a local professional pet-sitting business:

1. You avoid the “middleman.” When you use your local professional pet-sitting business, you can contact the pet-sitting business owner directly and book your services through them. You also handle payment directly through the business (versus a third-party site), so this gives you more flexibility in payment options, depending upon the pet sitter’s policies. Many independently owned pet-sitting and dog-walking businesses use pet-sitting software and/or payment-processing systems that allow for the same online booking and payment options as the national apps.
   
   
2. Your pet-care provider will have insurance customized to their specific business needs. While some online pet-sitter directories or apps may provide insurance for pet-sitting visits booked through the site, using a local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business—that maintains its own pet-sitter insurance—allows you to confirm that the pet sitter has insurance specific to their business and the services they provide. 
   
   It’s important to note that the insurance coverage offered to contractors and gig workers who advertise on some of these pet-sitter apps requires a large deductible to be paid by the pet owner should an issue occur. When using your local professional pet sitter, you can ask for proof of insurance and confirm that the business has an insurance policy that is customized for pet sitting. This ensures that your pet and home are covered should an accident occur during the pet-sitting assignment.
   
   
3. You put more money into your local economy. While apps and online pet-sitter booking sites may offer a convenient online payment option, most sites and apps keep a portion of the payment, with pet sitters and dog walkers able to keep only around 70-80 percent (or less) of what the client pays.
   
   Working directly with a local professional pet-sitting business allows you to fully contribute to your local economy, with your entire payment for pet-sitting fees going to a local business owner—who in turn, is likely supporting other local businesses. It’s a win-win!

Read this recent Facebook post from PSI with a warning for pet parents.

Advantages of "shopping local" for your pet-care needs

With more pet-care options than ever before, it’s more important than ever that pet owners devote time for their search to find the perfect professional pet sitter for their pets. Whether you need a dog sitter, cat sitter or dog walker, the peace of mind that comes from using a professional pet-sitting business that is insured, bonded and can offer proof of a clear criminal history is priceless. 

Plus, seeking out the services of a local professional pet-sitting business ensures you are utilizing the services of a local professional that is rooted in your community, involved in local pet-related efforts, and is contributing to your local economy.

For pet owners who want the best care for their pets—and are committed to shopping local and supporting the #shopsmall initiative—you can find your local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business listed on PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator.

PSI is an educational association for pet sitters and dog walkers, and our Locator is not an app or an online booking site. Instead, it allows you to search for your local professional pet sitter by ZIP code, then contact them directly to learn more, schedule an initial consultation and book services.

For more information on questions to ask to ensure you select the right pet sitter, download PSI’s free Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist.