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The association provides tips for pet parents who have not yet secured a professional pet sitter for their summer travel needs.

KING, N.C. (May 24, 2022) — With a busy summer travel season expected to kick off this Memorial Day weekend, professional pet sitters are gearing up for their busiest summer travel season since the start of the pandemic, and Pet Sitters International (PSI) says there are a few tips pet parents should keep in mind to secure professional pet care for their summer travel needs.

PSI, the world’s leading educational organization for professional pet sitters, provides its first timely tip: Begin the search right away for your professional pet sitter.

“With many would-be travelers planning their first summer vacation since the start of the pandemic, we urge pet parents to begin their search as soon as possible 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—someone who has business credentials as well as pet-care training.”

PSI’s 2022 Pet Sitter of the Year™ Morgan Andenas Weber, owner of Lucky Pup Adventures in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, says her company is looking forward to their busiest summer yet.

“We have a large number of weekends through July that our team is already at full capacity,” Weber said. “We are excited to be seeing many of our regular travelers, but we are also seeing a lot more requests coming from people who mostly stayed home during the last two years.”

PSI offers additional tips for pet parents who have not yet secured a pet sitter for their summer travel or work needs:

1. Go ahead and contact a professional pet sitter—even if your vacation dates aren’t finalized. Whether your travel dates are finalized and you simply forgot to secure pet care well in advance—or you still haven’t nailed down your vacation plans—go ahead and contact a professional pet sitter in your area. Since many professional pet sitters get booked up for the summer travel season months in advance, they will be able to tell you whether they have availability for the travel dates you’re considering.

2. Ask a professional pet sitter for a recommendation. If your preferred professional pet sitter isn’t available for your planned vacation dates—don’t panic! Ask them if they can provide a referral for another reputable pet-sitting company in your area. Most professional pet sitters will be happy to provide a recommendation. You can also visit www.petsit.com/locate to search for local PSI member pet sitters in your area.

3. Schedule an in-person meeting with any potential pet sitter. Last-minute flights and hotel rooms can be booked in a snap, but pet owners need to take time to schedule an in-person meeting at their home—with pets present—before booking pet-care services. This “meet and greet” or “initial consultation” will give you an opportunity to meet the pet sitter, see them interact with your pets, and review the sitter’s services, credentials and business practices. You can download a free Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist on the PSI website.

“Knowing that a beloved pet can enjoy the stress-free environment of its own home this vacation season can provide great peace of mind for pet parents,” said PSI Founder and CEO Patti Moran.

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

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