In-Home Specialty Pet Care

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Always look for a pet care provider who has been in business for several years, and who is licensed, insured and bonded. Many start up companies think this will be a great business taking care of pets, then find out that there really is work involved and not all play. They end up not being available when you need them most; like nights, weekends, and holidays. Most start ups last only a year or two, then go out of business, and you are back to looking for a new pet care provider.

You should also ask for and check for references. You don't want to just hand over the keys to your home to anyone claiming to be a pet sitter. Your home and pet's welfare are at stake.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Going for the cheapest provider is not really a money saver. Many of the cheaper ones are hobby sitters who don't do this on a full time basis. They tend not to be bonded, don't know what to do in a pet emergency and may forget to go if they get distracted by friends. I have hear too many nightmare stories from clients who said they learned the hard way and sometimes it cost them their pet's life. Better to go with a proven company where your know your home is looked after, and your pet's welfare is the priority.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. How long have you been in business?
Do you carry liability insurance & bonding?
May we check references?
Do you have a service agreement?
Do you have written policies outlining cancellations, and holiday fees, etc.?
Do you have a vet release form in the event of an emergency?

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. Have you made your airline and hotel reservations to be sure you can go the dates you would like?

Gather your emergency contact list before meeting with the sitter along with any vet records to go over any special needs for your pet.

Stop the news paper and mail before your trip.

Ask a neighbor to keep an eye on your home for suspicious activity while you are away. Let them know what vehicles the sitters have.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. As a former police officer, you know your pets and home are in good hands. You can also count on me to do my due diligence in making sure my assistants are also qualified to care for your pets. I carry an additional insurance rider that ensures your belongings are covered. You will be well informed when you return home of everything that went on with your pets and home, and if there are any concerns that you may need to be aware of.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. The animals of course!! :-) I love all animals, and they all have unique personalities. I get satisfaction in knowing that they are given loving care while their owners are away. It's not just the neighbor who fills the food and water bowl, then leaves. Animals need more than sustenance. It is very stressful for animals when their owners don't return when expected in the evening after work like they normally do. So when I see how calm the pet becomes when I arrive on a regular schedule, and how they interact with me, then I know I have become the saving angle in their eyes. That give me great satisfaction.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I have attended several Professional Pet Sitter conferences in the past few years. I have also organized meetings for pet sitters across San Diego county to keep up with different pet related education, such as pet nutrition, dog training, search & rescue for lost pets, and advice on the best equipment to use for their client's pets. I encourage pet sitters to respect other pet sitters in and around their service areas, and to not look at them as the competition.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. I would recommend that they try to work for a current well know Pet Sitting business first to see if it is really the profession for them. This way they can learn the business from a professional who has experience in the industry, and they are not putting out all the expenses of a start up company only to find out it is not really the line of work they want to stay in.