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Frequently
Asked Questions about Pet Sitting services
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Why should I use a
professional pet sitter?
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Is it affordable for me to
hire a professional pet sitter?
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Do I have to give my pet
sitter a key to my house?
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If my friend can do
morning visits can you do evening ones?
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Can I schedule every-other
day visits for my pet?
Why
should I use a pet sitter?
There are many reasons for choosing to
hire a pet sitter. The number one reason though is your pets stay in the
comfort of their own home, in their familiar surroundings. Other reasons
are:
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Your pet experiences less stress - no
other animals, no parade of strangers, no noises from barking /
meowing.
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Travel time - no trips to or from a
kennel.
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They are kept on their regular
routine.
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They don't need to have any special
shots.
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Your pet is not caged (unless your pet
is crate trained to begin with).
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They are not exposed to other animals
who may be sick.
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You don't have to impose on friends,
neighbors, or family to care for your pet.
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Pets at home are a crime deterrent.
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We bring in the mail, water
plants/lawn, and keep an eye on your home.
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Your pet receives one on one
observation, pampering, love, and attention while you are away.
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Your pets deserve the best!
Is it affordable for me to
hire a professional pet sitter?
Yes. Considering all you
receive, we believe it is. If you have multiple pets, pet sitting can
actually be more affordable than kenneling. Would you pay more for a
service that comes to your home catering to the needs of your home and
pets? There are advantages to having an in-home service that offers
crime deterrent services such as: rotating light and blinds, picking up
mail and newspapers, watering plants and rolling the trash down to the
curb. If you have dogs their presence is also a crime deterrent measure. All of this gives your home a lived in appearance while you are
gone. Pet sitters check on homes as well as pets and can report problems
such as broken pipes, break-ins or anything suspicious.
Service rates and extra fees should be discussed before services take
place. Rates vary but in Michigan you can expect to pay from $13-$20 a
visit. Prices can be effected by how long the visit is for, where you
live, the number of pets that need care, and other factors. If you're
pet has special needs or you just want more pampering, some pet sitters offer
overnight services too.
Leaving the care of your home and pets to someone who understands what a
profound responsibility it is for them to be there makes the fee seem
quite small. It is important to remember that pet sitters are busy and
hard working professionals; many who work 365 days a year to provide
these services to their clients. Pet sitters have many business
expenses: insurance, registrations and licenses, bonding, printing and
office costs, advertising costs, field supplies, phones and other
communication devices, taxes and one of the biggest is automobile and
fuel costs.
Hiring a devoted professional is a caring investment and provides piece
of mind that your pet is well cared in the comfort of your loving home.
Do I have to give my pet sitter a key to my
house?
In most cases, you are not
required to give your pet sitter a key. However, not providing a key can
actually cause delays in your pets' care. Here are some of the problems
that can happen when a pet sitter doesn't have actual keys:
Keyless Entry
"Keypads/Codes":
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Do not function in a
blackout
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Have been known to
malfunction
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Are not as secure as a
completely locked house
Garage Door Openers:
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Occasionally openers
can open the wrong garage and can put contents within at risk
(Including pets, if pets are kept in the garage.)
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Have been known to
malfunction
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As with exterior
doors, the interior door between house and garage should remain
locked for security (Without a key, this door has to remain
unlocked, which increases security risks.)
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Batteries need to be
kept fresh and checked each time you leave
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Not as secure as a
completely locked house
Hidden Keys:
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Not secure: someone
could find your hidden key (A lock box is a better alternative, but
still poses some security risks.)
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Often keys are moved
to a new hiding spot and the client forgets to inform their pet
sitter
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The key needs to be
kept dry as it can malfunction if it rusts (Lock smith call is
charged to the client in such a case.)
Please consider the above when opting not to give your pet sitter a key to care for your
pets. As with all services you hire to come into your home, you will
want to check their credentials and references. It is not unreasonable
for you to ask them if they are commercially insured, if they have
references for you to contact and if they have bonded employees. You can
also ask them if the keys are kept in a locked safe when not in use and
if the keys are specially coded in case stolen. Professional pet sitters
work hard to establish a good reputation for providing reliable, secure,
and professional services. Some pet sitting businesses will not take on
keyless assignments. Each business member has their individual policies,
procedures and protocols regarding keys.
My friend can do the morning
visits. Can you do the evening ones?
Many professional pet
sitters will not take assignments that include shared job arrangements.
There are many reasons for this, but the most substantial one is
liability. Some of the concerns are as follows:
Liability
Pet sitting businesses carry insurance, which does not cover your shared
helper's participation in the pet sitting duties. The responsibility for
the care, custody, and control of your pet is shared which can cause
confusion as to who is liable if a problem should arise. (For example: a
lost pet, a door left unlocked or open, a dog bite, a break-in, broken
or damaged property, lack of quality pet care...etc.)
Reputation
Pet sitting businesses reputations are built upon the quality in which
they provide the services. The only way professionals can be assured
that all the tasks are tended to in the quality standards they offer is
for the businesses to be allowed to completely provide these services.
Communication
Communication between your shared helper and pet sitting business is
important but often overlooked. There needs to be defined instructions
as to what each is doing so that the care is provided as specified and
of the quality agreed upon. It is also important that they both
communicate daily by written notes or diaries as to the animal's
condition, behavior and care. Such duties as medications, feeding and
other routine schedules need to be documented so both know what has been
done and when. It is important that both pet sitter and shared helper
know what warrants a visit to the veterinarian, or your pet could be at
risk.
Being deeply involved in the responsibility in caring for your pets is
everything to the pet sitting business. These professionals are strongly
invested in their reputation and often can't afford to risk sharing
their duties with another.
Can I schedule every other day
visits for my pet?
Some pet sitters provide
every other day services, though this is not recommended or provided by
most professionals. Often low maintenance pets can maintain fine with
minimal assistance, but pet sitting professionals can tell you from
experience, not always! It makes a pet sitter cringe when someone
divulges that they leave their pet for days with plenty of food and
water. We cringe because we know what can happen to a pet left
unattended. We understand the need to save money, but this could be a
costly decision. Members have expressed the following concerns with
every other day services:
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Pets can get their
claws stuck in the carpet. If they can free themselves, broken claws
can bleed and be painful
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Pets can accidentally
lock themselves in rooms
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Several illnesses can
be life threatening, needing veterinary intervention immediately
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Pets can hang
themselves if their collars get caught on something
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Pets can ingest
string, toys, pill bottles or other such items
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Pets with diarrhea
left for 48 hr. period - no need to get graphic
If you do decide to leave
your pet for extended periods, please take precautions to prepare a more
safe environment for your pet:
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Close all doors and
confine pets to a safe room
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Take off collars or
use safe break-away type
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Trim nails/claws
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Pick up things that
could be harmful if ingested
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Outdoor yards should
have perimeters checked for holes
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Gates to the yard
should have locks (Keeps people out and dogs in.)
A professional pet sitter
is always concerned for the safety and well being of the animals in
their care. Professionals understand what can happen in that extended
time between visits and it causes additional concern for them. Please
make this decision carefully, as it could be a costly one for you and
your beloved pet.
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