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PSI Staff | November 2024

Depending on your location, you may be currently preparing yourself—and your business—for impending winter weather. While some office commuters can work from home and others benefit from delayed business and school openings or the option to take a vacation day, pet sitters don’t often have the option of a “day off,” particularly when pet parent are out of town and their pets still need care.

So, how can you be better prepared for the winter season? This is a discussion we have each year, and we reach out to members in PSI’s private Facebook group to ask about the lessons they’ve learned.

Overwhelmingly, member responses have focused around three main recommendations:

Preparation

It’s important to plan ahead and talk to clients in advance about preparations that need to take place for winter weather.

For example, what is your company’s policy on snow removal—does the client call before leaving town to arrange this service or do they provide you with their preferred snow-removal company for you to contact if needed?

Whatever your preferred policy may be, it’s important to have a plan in place to ensure you are not spending exorbitant amounts of time in frigid conditions to “dig” your way to clients’ front doors for your pet-sitting visits—and it’s important that pet owners understand their cooperation is vital in ensuring you can properly reach and care for their pets.

It’s also important to consider what you would do if icy roads (or a state of emergency/travel ban) make roads impassable and prevent you from reaching clients’ homes. Verify that you have the correct contact information for your clients’ emergency contacts and discuss who you should call if you are unable to reach their homes. For example, a relative may be the emergency contact, but perhaps, a neighbor could check on the pets if you were unable to reach the home for a day—so make sure you have that information as well!

Personal safety

Harsh weather can take a toll on your physical well-being. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that those working outdoors in the winter wear appropriate clothing, sprinkle sand or cat litter on icy patches, be aware of the wind chill factor and work slowly when doing outside chores.

PSI member Jamie Hoad previously shared this advice in PSI’s private Facebook group: “Long johns, scarves and chap stick are your best friends. The cold hasn’t really been a problem—the wind is the issue. It’s quick, fast and the chill brings the temperature down about 20 degrees. Wind burn is no joke, so wrapping up extra good is key!”

The harsh winter weather also makes what would typically be a minor inconvenience—a flat tire or car trouble—a dangerous predicament. The CDC advises checking your tire tread or replacing tires with all-weather tires, if necessary, along with keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle. PSI member Jordan Di Marco shared similar advice in a previous PSI Facebook group discussion: “I keep a good deal of winter stuff in my car—kitty litter, foldable shovel, extra hats and gloves, Yak Trax, flashlights, jumper cables and hand warmers.”

Also consider hand warmers and foot warmers. Both are inexpensive, with many options to choose from and most have long shelf lives as well.

Icy roads and slippery sidewalks make it more important than ever for pet sitters to exercise caution to avoid slips and falls. One pet sitter reported a fractured wrist and dislocated rib resulting from a fall after slipping on ice. Remember, too, that these injuries are not covered under pet-sitter liability insurance. Workers’ compensation covers work-related injuries. Contact Business Insurers of the Carolinas (or your insurance provider) to get a quote.

Pets’ safety

In online discussions about winter hazards, members routinely share that one of their biggest challenges—and concerns—is how the cold affects dogs, particularly possibly irritation to their paws from ice, snow and the salt used on sidewalks.

What effect does this cold weather have on pets and how should pet sitters adjust their services to ensure pets’ safety?

More specifically, harsh winter seasons leave many professional pet sitters asking: When is it too cold to walk dogs? Some pet sitters have also been faced with clients who wanted their dogs outdoors for extended periods of time.

To get an answer to this question, PSI reached out to Dr. Tony Johnson, clinical assistant professor at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine and a consultant to the Veterinary Information Network. He offered this advice: “The rule of thumb is ‘if you're cold, your dog is probably freezing.’ A walk to eliminate and stretch your legs is OK. A 45-minute forced march...not so much.”

Dr. Johnson also added, “Cold and pets don’t mix well in many cases. A dog’s degree of cold tolerance can vary— just like with a person. Some dogs that are accustomed to cold and have a dense fur coat will do fine, even into the single digits, if they can stay dry and out of the breeze. A little Chihuahua with no fur and no tolerance to the cold won’t. Dogs that are acclimated to cold conditions will do better than those that haven’t been gradually exposed. There is no single number I can answer when people ask, ‘How cold is too cold?’ but keeping the above guidelines in mind can help keep your pooch safe and comfortable when the snow flies.”

It is important for pet sitters to share these guidelines with clients and suggest alternatives, such as indoor play time, when frigid winter temperatures make it unsafe for pets to be outside beyond short potty-break times.

Surviving the winter…

In addition to focusing on preparation, personal safety, and pets’ safety this time of year, there’s another important quality to help pet sitters survive a harsh winter—patience. On the worst days, when it’s too cold to walk even the most energetic dogs, when you’ve had to shovel your way to a client’s door or have had to change a flat tire as sleeting rain pelted down, remember…Spring is coming! Your commitment to providing pet care in even the harshest conditions sets you apart and your clients are surely grateful for the peace of mind you provide, particularly during seasons like this