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The association is advising pet parents to begin their search now for a professional pet sitter for their travel or work plans.

KING, N.C. (March 24, 2021) — As the number of vaccinated individuals rises and airports report their busiest days since the start of the pandemic, many pet parents may be exploring their travel options for this spring and summer. With new safety protocols and service offerings in place, professional pet-sitting and dog-walking companies are prepared to meet pet parents’ needs and fulfill a surge in requests, Pet Sitters International (PSI) reports.

But PSI, the world’s leading educational organization for professional pet sitters, provides one key piece of advice: Don’t wait until the last-minute to select your professional pet sitter.

“While we know that some pet parents may wait longer than usual to plan their trips, due to the pandemic or vaccine waiting lists, we urge them to begin the search now for a professional pet sitter or dog walker for their families,” PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston said. “Conscientious pet parents will want to ensure they have time to find a true professional to care for their pets, whether they hope to take a quick daytrip or travel out of state.”

Many pet parents are also worried about separation anxiety in pets once they return to the office and plan to hire pet sitters and dog walkers to help combat this problem, so pet parents should get themselves on pet sitters’ schedules as soon as they can.

“It takes time to find the right pet sitter—time for phone interviews, an initial consultation and a check of references—so start your search now,” Stultz-Hairston advised. “After a stressful year, pet parents owe it to themselves to select a pet sitter they can trust.”

Professional pet sitters and dog walkers have been expanding their service offerings during the pandemic to meet a variety of needs—from deep litterbox cleaning packages to transportation to the vet or groomer. These professional pet sitters and dog walkers have also adopted additional safety protocols, from contactless dog walking to paperless payment and forms, and taken part in the latest pet-care trainings.

“While we’ve seen pet-sitting companies hit hard by the pandemic and the decrease in travel, we’ve also seen a wave of innovation and a renewed focus on education, as professional pet sitters continue to demonstrate why they stand out from the pack,” said PSI Founder and CEO Patti Moran. “Professional pet-sitting companies have the insurance, credentials and training to provide peace of mind that hobbyists can’t.”

PSI recommends pet owners schedule an initial consultation with a potential pet sitter prior to booking services and ask several important questions. PSI offers a free pet-sitter interview checklist at www.petsit.com/locate. In addition to inquiring about business credentials and training, pet parents should also ask about a pet-sitting company’s COVID-19 safety protocols and confirm the pet sitter has implemented policies and procedures that address the pandemic, PSI advises.

To learn more about PSI or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, visit www.petsit.com.

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