FAQs
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Nothing strikes as much fear in the hearts and minds of a traveling pet owner than worrying if Fido or Felix is being properly cared for while they are away. In fact, an ever-growing number of pet parents are avoiding kennel, boarding and daycare facilities, and even family members or the neighbor's kids, in favor of home-based pet care out of concern for their pet's physical and emotional health, well-being and safety. This, coupled with the difficulty of finding reliable, around-the-clock animal care service, has spawned the need for firm guidelines on selecting professional care for pets. For guilt and worry-free vacations and work days, pet owners wanting complete peace-of-mind opt for sitters who have undergone their own professional training, are bonded, insured and have been criminal history background checked such as those provided by FETCH! Pet Care (www.fetchpetcare.com) - America's largest and most sophisticated pet care franchise offering professional at-home pet sitting and dog walking services. Here are some suggestions: -Diligently check all of the pet sitter's references - at least three should be voluntarily provided. -Ensure the sitter is fully bonded and insured. -Confirm that your sitter has undergone a criminal background check and has undergone their own proper training - Pre-interview your sitter with your pet(s) present to observe interactions and establish a "comfort level" for you, the pet(s) and your sitter -Ensure the company offers 7-day per week telephone and email availability and rapid response -Make sure the sitter can accommodate both your desired vacation schedule, especially during busy holidays, and the pet's daily feeding and walking schedule -Ensure the sitter has pre-planned and readily available "backup" sitters in place should your sitter have an emergency that prevents them from completing your assignment -Confirm that your sitter will leave you a report card at the completion of their assignment so you know what occurred while away -Determine if the service offers a satisfaction guarantee policy in case you're unhappy with any aspect of the service provided -Clearly state how you would like the sitter to use his/her visit time in terms of walking, playing, feeding, cleaning, etc. -Provide medical and behavioral history about your pet(s) as well as veterinary and other emergency contact information, and gather all necessary supplies, including food, vitamins, treats, and a leash, in one central location