Book pet care early to ensure happy holidays for your pets, Pet Sitters International advises
Pet Sitters International advises pet owners to only use the services of professional pet sitters this holiday season and to book early.
The holiday season is among the busiest travel periods of the year, with nearly three-quarters of Americans planning to travel at least once between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, according to the Orbitz.com® 2016 holiday survey. With 65 percent of U.S. households owning a pet, the majority of these holiday travelers are likely to face an important question: “Who’s going to take care of my pet while I’m away?”
Pet Sitters International (PSI), the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters, recommends that these pet owners only use professional pet sitters. And with so many people planning to travel, pet owners should book early this holiday season.
According to a membership survey conducted by PSI, more than 60 percent of its members are completely booked for holiday pet-sitting visits two to three weeks prior to the holiday—and nearly 13 percent are usually fully booked at least two months in advance.
PSI members indicated they try their best to accommodate last-minute bookings, but if they are completely booked, they recommend other nearby pet sitters as well as PSI’s Official Pet Sitter Locator.
PSI provides pet owners with access to the largest online directory of professional pet sitters free-of-charge and recommends that pet owners schedule an initial consultation with a potential pet sitter prior to booking services.
“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,” says Patti J. Moran, PSI founder and president. “But, it’s important that pet owners understand what to look for and what questions to ask when selecting a professional pet sitter.”
PSI advises pet owners to ask seven important questions when interviewing a potential pet sitter:
- Does the pet sitter have the proper business license for your city or state, if required?
- Is the pet sitter insured and bonded?
- Can the pet sitter provide proof of clear criminal history?
- Does the pet sitter provide client references?
- Will the pet sitter use a pet-sitting services agreement or contract?
- Has the pet sitter completed PSI’s Certificate in Professional Pet Sitting Program and/or has he or she participated in other pet-care training, such as pet first aid?
- Is the pet sitter a member of a professional and educational association, such as Pet Sitters International?
PSI also warns traveling pet owners that all online pet-sitter directory sites are not created equal.
“Just finding a pet sitter in an online directory—or even on a nationally-publicized site—doesn’t ensure that person is a legitimate, qualified pet-sitting business,” Moran explains. “Anyone can post a profile advertising pet-sitting services, so it’s important for pet owners to take a closer look to ensure they are hiring a ‘real pet sitter’ to care for their pets.”
Even for pet-owners who don’t plan to travel long distances, a pet sitter can also come in handy to help keep pets on their regular schedules while the owners are out shopping late or enjoying holiday parties.
Pet owners who need in-home pet care during the holiday season can visit http://www.petsit.com/locate to find pet sitters in their areas and download the Pet Sitter Interview checklist.
