Questions to Ask Prior to Hiring a Pet Sitter

So you're looking for a pet sitter and have no idea what kind of questions to ask.  You figure if you meet the person and they seem nice, that should be good enough, right?  Well, there are some important things you will need to know prior to making that hiring decision and handing over your keys.  Here are a few tips and MUST ask questions:


1.  Are you insured and bonded?  The answer to this question should be YES.  If your potential pet sitter responds by saying insurance and bonding isn't important, stop the interview right there, thank them for their time and move on to the next one.

FYI - Insurance for a pet sitting company isn't all that expensive. It should cover anyone from the company coming into your home.  This includes the proprietors independent contracts / employees.  If the sitter caring for your pets and home is under the age of 18, make sure the proprietors insurance covers them. MOST insurance companies DON'T cover those under the age of 18.  Their insurance should cover special property of others which will cover accidental breakage, theft and mysterious disappearance.

2.  Are you Pet CPR & First Aid Certified?  The benefits to having a pet sitter that is pet CPR &First Aid Certified is tremendous. If a pet is acting strange, your pet sitter should be able to distinguish between emergency health related issues and those that can be waited out.  If you are a multi pet household, First Aid comes in handy if multiple dogs are playing and one accidentally bites down too hard to get a toy from another dog and tears some skin.  Your pet sitter should know how to clean a basic wound. If you allow your dogs to chew on rawhides your pet sitter should know CPR in case the rawhide gets lodged in the pets throat.  

3.  What is your back up plan?  It is imperative that your pet sitter have a back up plan.  Is this a single person operation or do they have independent contractors / employees that work for them?  What happens if the sole proprietor gets sick, or in a car accident and CAN'T make it to your home to care for your pets? Working with a pet sitting company that employs other pet sitters is like getting a BOGO (buy one, get one).  This also is a tell tail on what will happen during the holidays when pet sitters are their busiest.  Single sitter operations may not have room on their calendar for you, which will leave you to search for anther pet sitter anyway.

We'd be happy to help you find your fur-ever pet sitter.  Give us a call for more pet sitter interviewing tips and questions.  480-292-9735 / www.PlayTimePetCareAz.com