For Traveling Pet Owners, Pet Sitters International Simplifies the Search for Professional Pet Care
As the summer kicked off, AAA Travel predicted there would be more travelers this year than any time in the past ten years—and this forecast appears to hold true even as we head into the end of summer and the approaching Labor Day holiday. While USA Today reported these travelers would, unfortunately, deal with increased stressors—from overcrowded airplanes to increased airline fees—there’s one worry travelers with pets can mark off their lists.
For the millions of pet owners with upcoming travel plans, Pet Sitters International (PSI) has made the process for finding professional, reliable pet care easier than ever before with its Pet Sitter Locator, the largest online directory of professional pet-sitting businesses.
“With so many pet-care directory sites popping up in the last couple of years, anyone can post a profile advertising pet-sitting services, even with no experience or credentials,” explains PSI President Patti Moran. “PSI offers pet owners a free search for local professional pet-sitting businesses and provides resources to help pet owners select a qualified, professional pet-care provider.”
PSI is the world’s largest educational association for professional pet sitters and has members in the United States, Canada and more than 20 other countries.
Pet owners can search PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator by ZIP or postal code to view profiles of PSI member businesses serving their areas. The member profiles provide detailed information on pet sitters’ credentials including insurance, bonding and background check statuses. In fact, PSI is the first and only pet-sitter site to provide third-party verification of pet sitters’ clear criminal histories.
Member profiles also include company descriptions and photos, as well as client testimonials, contact information and the option to send a message to the pet sitter directly from the profile.
“Often times, pet owners, and even news outlets, use the term ‘pet sitter’ carelessly, referring to anyone—from a family friend to the neighborhood teenager asked to walk a dog—as a ‘pet sitter,’” adds Moran. “It is important pet owners understand that pet sitting is a professional career and professional pet sitters offer peace of mind that other pet-care options cannot.”
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 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 recommends pet owners schedule an initial consultation with a potential pet sitter prior to booking services and offers a Pet Sitter Interview checklist on its website to guide pet owners in the interview process.
To learn more about PSI, visit www.petsit.com. To find a local PSI member pet sitter in your area, search PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator at www.petsit.com/locate.
