Share This Page

Tweet

The association offers tips for pet parents still in need of a professional pet sitter for their holiday pet-care needs.

KING, N.C. (December 4, 2023) — With the busy winter holiday season now underway, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is advising pet parents with last-minute holiday plans to act fast to ensure they can hire a professional pet sitter to care for their pets.

PSI, the world’s leading educational association for professional pet-sitting and dog-walking business owners, advises that demand will be high for professional pet sitters this holiday season, as many Americans plan to travel. Plus, with a mysterious respiratory illness spreading to several states, more pet parents are expected to hire pet sitters as a safer alternative to boarding their dogs in a kennel.

“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,” said PSI Founder and CEO Patti J. Moran. “That’s why it is important for pet parents to act right away to select a legitimate, professional pet-sitting business to care for their pets.”

PSI offers the following tips for pet parents looking for a professional pet-sitting or dog-walking service this holiday season:

1. Ask for a recommendation. Some professional pet sitters get booked up weeks or even months in advance of major holidays. If your preferred professional pet sitter is already booked, ask them for a referral to another local, reputable pet-sitting company. Most pet-sitting business owners are happy to provide recommendations. You can also search for local PSI member pet sitters at www.petsit.com/locate.
2. Do your due diligence before booking services. Scheduling a “meet and greet” or “initial consultation” at your home gives you an opportunity to meet the potential pet sitter, see them interact with your pets, and review their credentials and policies to ensure they are a true professional. PSI’s free pet-sitter interview checklist includes questions you should be sure to ask.
3. Ask how you can prepare your home. If you will be traveling out of town for the holidays, it is important to ask your professional pet sitter how you can best prepare your home for their arrival, whether that means moving (or removing) certain decorations to keep them out of pets’ reach, making provision for snow removal, etc.

“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. “Contact your preferred professional pet sitter as soon as possible to minimize the stress of scrambling to find a professional pet sitter at the last minute.”

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

###