Yeah, you love animals. At first pet sitting / house sitting sounds like it would be fun. You enjoyed it the first couple times you did it. Now your feeling obligated to say yes every time they ask. So you hesitantly agree. It turns out you're working all weekend and don't have the time to feed their dogs so you have to rope someone else into doing it for YOU. What a mess this has turned out to be! How am I going to get out of doing this again? I do love their dogs, I just don't have the time or desire to do this anymore.
Sound slightly familiar? As a pet sitter I hear this story quite frequently. Except I'm usually hearing it from the potential client that is frustrated with their "pet sitter" because their "pet sitter" just bailed on them and now they don't know what to do. Let's be honest...you aren't a pet sitter. You are who you are, working for whomever you work for and going over to a friends house to feed their pet eventually can become a burden on you.
Wouldn't it be great if you could have a simple conversation with your friend / neighbor / co-worker / family member and be able to save face and make everyone happy? Well, I'm here to help you with that conversation. Cause that's all it really needs to be...and it doesn't have to be a hard one. Especially when you have a great professional pet sitter to refer them to!
So here is how the conversation goes:
Out of town friend says, "Thanks so much for watching our pets for us. We had a great time and we really appreciate you doing this for us."
You say, "You're welcome. I just love your pets...their so sweet. Ya know...it turned out that I was able to pick up some extra shifts at work this weekend and I found it difficult to visit with your dogs without feeling stressed for time. That just isn't fair for your dogs. I do know this great pet sitter...I would totally trust her with my dogs. She's great! I could give you her name and number for next time. I know she will do a great job and you'll just love her. Would you like me to give you her number or should I have her call you?"
OR:
"You're welcome. I just love your pets...their so sweet. I'm glad you had a great time. I was so swamped at work this weekend I found it difficult to visit with your dogs without feeling stressed for time. That just isn't fair for your pets. I do know this great pet sitter...I would totally trust her with my pets. She's great! I could give you her name and number for next time. I know she will do a great job and you'll just love her. Would you like me to give you her number or should I have her call you?
Now, those sound like genuine statements and completely natural responses. Making the reason why you can't, or don't want to, pet sit for them again about how their dogs deserve more time and attention will help you save a friendship...then offering them a simple solution will help alleviate any stress they may feel by you telling them they will need to find someone else the next time they go out of town. You will need to actually have a great pet sitter to refer them to. If your friend lives in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Apache Junction, Gold Canyon or San Tan Valley, Play Time Pet Care IS your solution. If they live somewhere else in the valley, Play Time Pet Care can help you find a great pet sitter that services their location. With my network of Pet Sitters I'm sure to have one I can refer you to.
If you have a different type of situation and still need help educating your friends on the benefits of hiring a professional pet sitter feel free to give us a call. We are more than happy to offer some simple suggestions.
Play Time Pet Care
480-292-9735
www.PlayTimePetCareAz.com
