I recently went on a long overdue vacation to the Grand Canyon. The hardest thing by far in preparing to leave was knowing that I had to leave all of the adorable furry faces behind. The key to peace of mind at the time of departure is simple. Plan in advance! And when I say in advance, I mean just that. As a former professional petsitter, I was regularly surprised by the number of times that I had new clients call me within a week or two of their planned trip. Whereas for myself, and many of my clients, we planned our vacations around when pet care will be available. I’m certain I would cancel a trip before I’d leave my furries in unknown hands.
As a sitter who specialized in home visits (vs overnights or boarding), I often had to educate potential clients on the benefits of a) using a professional petsitter (who virtually always costs more than the teenager down the street) and b) leaving a pet in the safety and comfort of their own home. There are HUGE benefits to both, and while not all furry kids are good candidates for in-home visits, many more are than you might think. So let me address the two benefits above in greater detail.
Why use a professional petsitter? It’s not enough to love animals. It’s just not. And those who pet sit as a profession know this. They know that among so many other things, it’s important to do all of the following:
- Educate ourselves on pet cpr, first aid, and basic pet behavior. Things happen, especially during times of stress and change (when mom & dad leave). A professional petsitter knows this and will be able to discern between nervous & stress-induced behavior, and something that needs medical attention. They’ll also be able to provide basic medical care in an emergency, which could, quite frankly, be the difference between life and death. (Petsitter 1, Teenager 0.)
- Carry liability insurance. We’re all human. Despite best of intentions, mistakes can happen and a faucet can be left on, or a door left open (and a couch destroyed). When a petsitter makes a mistake that incurs a potential cost to a client, if they don’t carry liability insurance, the homeowner takes the hit… OR you could end up in court, and who wants that? (Petsitter 2, Teenager 0, Teenager’s Parents -1)
- Stay in contact with the human family throughout their time away. The client (and they are the humans, not the furry kids) shouldn’t have to wonder how the kids are doing. If they start to wonder, then they’re starting to worry, and that peace of mind is, in large part, what they’re paying a professional sitter for. (If you have a particularly responsible and tech-savvy teenager, this one might be a wash.)
Why leave a furry kid at home rather than board them? The top 3 reasons that come to mind are:
- Minimize their stress. Unless you have a hugely social dog (think lab or retriever), the stress of being in a new place with strange people, dogs and sounds will have a huge impact. Not only are their humans nowhere to be found, but they’re surrounded by new sights and sounds that they need to acclimate to. I used to board my mastiff Daisy (she loved her people) but each time I’d pick her up she’d be simply panicked to escape the facility and would sleep excessively for 2-3 days after I picked her up. She was exhausted from all the stress and having to be vigilant for the week I was gone. (She was NOT a fan of other dogs so she was on high alert 24/7.) When I finally decided to try in-home petsitting 5+ yrs ago, there was a marked improvement in her adjustment time. She didn’t LIKE that I was gone, but she liked it a whole lot less when everything else was the same.
- Reduce exposure to illnesses. You know the vaccinations you’ve given to your dog, but not all dog owners take the same care, or even have the same beliefs as you. As with any facility that sees lots of dogs through their doors, bugs can be transferred and brought home. Comparable to school aged children and the common cold, and despite the best of intentions- bugs happen. BUT, you’ll be the one paying the bill in the vet’s office to clear your furry kid of giardia, yet again.
- The previous two reasons were for your furry kids, but this last one is for YOU. It’s easier! No scheduling your flights around when the boarding facility will be open. You leave the house as you normally would and your in-home pet sitter takes it from there. The SUPER BIG bonus?? When you return home, the faces you missed the most will be there, eager to greet you and hear all about your big trip.
It’s never easy to find the right solution and the perfect person to care for your furry kids while you’re away, but when you do find it, it will make your vacations that much more enjoyable. Don’t have anybody currently to care for your kids? Check out the locator on the Pet Sitters International website. You’ll find detailed information about petsitting professionals in your neighborhood.
What do YOU do when you travel that helps ensure peace of mind regarding your furry family?
