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Sit, Stay, READ!
June 7, 2011
It's summer time and families are making plans to get out and see the country! Everyone is heading out to have a great time on a big adventure and make memories that will last a lifetime. Part of the pet owner's planning is what to do with the pets - and whether you board, have an in-home professional pet sitter or one of your left-behind friends or family care for your pets is a big decision. No one wants to leave their beloved pets behind and wonder if everything is going to be alright. To help you in your planning process this month Lindsey explains why a professional pet sitter is an optimal solution to your travel/pet dilemmas - and most importantly why having a plan B in place is essential for every pet sitting situation.
If you have a story you’d like to tell us about, write me. We love hearing about people or animals or groups that make the world a happier, better place to be, and if we use your story you'll get a free pound of cookies!
Why You Need a Back-Up Pet Sitter
It was a pretty typical Monday morning back in 2005 when I sat down to check my email. One post stood out. I had an upcoming overnight pet sit for these clients, and I thought this email was an early confirmation for the trip. However, I was immediately and completely confused at what I read: “When we returned home yesterday afternoon, the key and note we left you looked exactly the same. Did you make it by?”
“What?” I thought. My heart sank into in my stomach and my head began to buzz with panic. “There must be some mistake!” “They weren’t supposed to leave for another two weeks!”
“No, wait. Calm down.” I told myself as I frantically reached for my organizer. I opened it to the current month and, sure enough, they weren't scheduled to leave for another two weeks.
I had not forgotten them. Had I? It certainly sounded like they already had taken their weekend trip. Second guessing myself, I went through all my old email. There was nothing from them about changing their trip dates.
I wrote back that I had them scheduled to leave two weekends from then, and eagerly awaited her reply.
“Oh my gosh!” She soon wrote back “We forgot to tell you we changed our dates!”
I had a moment of relief knowing that I had not made a mistake, but it was instantly replaced with concern for their Golden Retriever and elderly Labrador. Had the dogs been inside for the whole weekend with no fresh water or food and no one to come by and check on how they were doing?
No, they had not. Fortunately, my client had a good plan in place for the care of her animals. She always asked me to call and leave a message for her daughter that I had arrived and that all was well. When her daughter did not receive my call, she became worried and stopped by the next morning. She could tell no one had been by and she watched the dogs over the weekend.
Receiving this email was my first almost-panic attack of my pet sitting career and the first time a back-up plan saved the day, or weekend as it were. It was a potential disaster avoided through my client’s planning – and a learning experience I will never forget.
Even though everything turned out fine and the dogs were taken care of, the outcome could have been much worse if my client did not have her daughter on standby. Communication between pet care provider and pet owner while the pet owner is away is very important. Many of my clients ask me to call or text them that I have arrived at their home the first night. I’m happy to follow through, and I recommend this step for everyone to request of a pet sitter, especially the first time you place your pets in their care.
Summer is here, one of the busiest travel times of the year and the busiest time for pet sitters. Not everyone who leaves pets at home will have a back-up plan in place, but take my cautionary tale to heart. Even with the most dependable sitters, situations such as a car accident, illness or family emergency can arise. Mine ended well, but what about the horror stories that don’t end well? In some cases, lack of supervised care can be deadly serious.
Consider this: If a cat does not eat for more than 24 hours, its organs may start to shut down. A dog with no water will get dehydrated within 24 hours and can die in as few as three days. A dog can overheat with heat stroke if the power goes out and the AC shuts off during the summer. Time is critical. A back-up needs to fill in quickly in these scenarios, so whenever possible choose someone close by.
Choosing your back-up pet care provider is just as important as choosing your primary one. Friends, relatives, or neighbors may be convenient choices as back-ups, but be absolutely sure your pet’s well being is their first concern. Using a qualified professional pet sitter will ensure that the needs of your pets come first. He or she should have a network of qualified pet sitters who can be referred to with confidence. You can ask your pet sitter as early as the initial phone call who he or she uses or recommends as a back-up.
Your back-up, whether friend, neighbor, or relative, should be equally able to handle a crisis and put your pet’s needs first. Having an adult pet sitter will help to ensure this will happen. Many young people make themselves available over the summer or the holidays to do pet sitting because they love animals – that’s how we all get started in this business - but they may not fully understand the responsibility that goes with caring for your pets. Would your friend’s teenaged daughter know what to do if a water line broke? A professional pet sitter would have the location of your water and gas shut off valve on file. If the pet was showing signs of illness would the boy across the street be able to catch it before it turned into something serious? And if he did catch it, does he have the means to get your pet to a veterinarian and make a qualified decision on treatment? A professional pet sitter has the experience to deal with these crises – and if they don’t have firsthand experience with it, then they know someone in their professional network who does.
Having a back-up is especially important if you are not going to be reachable while away from home. Make sure that your back-up sitter has the primary pet sitter’s contact information and vice-versa. Let friends and family members know you will be traveling and have hired a pet sitter to care for your pets. You may even want your pet sitter to call your back-up sitter when he or she arrives for the first visit to offset any worry. An email with all pertinent contact information can be sent so everyone knows there is a network in place.
Such a plan should be in place even if you choose to board your pets at a kennel facility. In case of fire, earthquake, pet illness or behavior problem - basically any situation where your pet needs to be moved - the facility needs to know this information as well. Treat a boarding situation no differently than when the pets are staying at home with a pet sitter.
A licensed, bonded and insured pet sitter is a hired contractor. We are hired to care for your pets and home and will have forms on file for your pet’s daily care, additional contacts, veterinarian and preferred emergency clinic. You should inform your primary vet that a pet sitter will be caring for your pets while you are away, and leave a note authorizing your pet sitter to seek medical care for your pets. A friend or neighbor may not give priority to your pets and they may be overlooked from time to time. Hiring a professional is a contractual agreement. Additionally, it absolves you of repaying a favor in the future.
Speaking from experience, if your primary sitter needs a piece of information, they are more likely to call a friend or colleague with questions instead of calling a stranger. When your pet sitters know each other, this relationship provides them with a resource who knows your pets and home in the event you can’t be reached.
If you encounter a pet sitter who prefers to work without back-up, I suggest you continue looking. Having a back-up pet sitter should be no threat to your primary sitter.
If your pet is nervous with new people, you may feel that you need to have the same person care for your pets all the time. You may even schedule your trips around your sitter’s schedule. However, you may be surprised to find out that this really is all the more reason to have more than one pet sitter who can care for your pets. Why? If your primary sitter isn’t available, you have a second choice rather than no choice, which is a lousy position to be in if you have a last minute trip or emergency.
As an added bonus, having multiple pet sitters can, over time, have a positive influence on your pet’s reaction to new people. When meeting a new person means walks, feedings and love, pets begin to realize that new people aren’t so bad. I have had many clients with dogs like this, and they all improved their perception of people. One such client was a 110 pound German Shepherd who was very leery of new people. Not exactly one you want to be on his bad side when you are spending the night with him! After a couple years of having multiple sitters, this dog learned to accept new people more readily and understand that we were there for him, not against him.
Leaving your pet in someone else’s care is already a nerve-wracking experience. Make it easier by putting your pets in the hands of a trusted professional who has an extensive network to fall back on if things go sideways. Of course, you should always confirm your dates and any additional house changes with your sitter a few days prior to your departure. An email will give them a written reference before they ever get to your house to pick up your notes. Check in on your departure day and confirm your return home so they know their responsibility to your pets and home are over. Taking these steps could save your pet’s life!
