The Ultimate Guide to Pet-Sitting Preparedness

Pet sitting is an ideal way for animal lovers to earn additional income. When my husband and I travel, we often hire a pet sitter to watch our dogs. Our pet sitter is a trusted friend and local college student who greatly appreciates the additional income. We save money and eliminate anxiety-especially since one of our dogs has fear aggression towards other animals and has resulting negative experiences in kennels with other dogs. Our pet sitter checks in with us when we're away and isn't hesitant to ask questions about pet care.

If you've been asked to pet sit, you'll need to know the basics to adequately care for the pets and prevent misunderstandings.

Information Sheet

If you pet sit frequently, you can make the arrangement more convenient and organized for yourself and your clients by creating an emergency contact information sheet. Keep one copy of this for yourself (or on an electronic device) and post another on the refrigerator at the house.

One time my dog jumped onto the fridge, grabbed a copy of his feeding schedule and ate it. His pet sitter then had to call us to ask about his feeding schedule. Fortunately, he had our number in his cell phone. If he hadn't, it would have been digested along with the paper.

Your information sheet should include spaces for the following:

• Pet owner emergency contact info
  
• Feeding and walking schedule (for pets who must go outside, such as large dogs)
  
• Veterinarian contact information
  
• Local 24 hour emergency vet information
  
• Habits or problem areas (chewing or scratching furniture, going in the house, aggression towards other animals)
  
• Security alarm codes
  
• Names of any others who hold keys to the residence and are permitted entry
  

If the pet owner is friendly with any neighbors, he may wish to leave your contact information with them. It is also polite for the pet owner to inform her neighbors that you will be dropping by to care for the pets while she is away; this avoids any confusion about who is allowed access to the home.

Ask for Clarity

Make sure you understand exactly what the pet owner needs. Is the dog an anxious one who requires your attention? Are you expected to live at the residence and also house sit? Is it permissible to raid the fridge?

Always avoid misunderstandings by discussing this information prior to the assignment.

Additional Budget

If you are pet sitting for an extended amount of time, you may require an additional budget from the pet owner. This budget could be used for food and other pet supplies.

When inclement weather threatened to interfere with my travel plans, I let my pet sitter know that he could purchase extra dog food and that I'd reimburse him for the product.

Pet Supply Area

Ask the pet owner to place any pet-related items you'll need in one box or location. This will minimize frustration and possibly additional costs. Important items such as leashes, keys, pet brushes, puppy pads, kitty litter and pet food are necessities you'll need to find.

You should also know the location of any cleaning products in case of an animal bathroom accident as well as the owner's preference for cleaning such a mess.

Professional Pet Sitting

If you enjoy pet sitting, it could become a job. As a business owner (and even as a freelance pet sitter just helping someone out here and there), you're open to liability issues. Before offering your services professionally, you should do the following:

• Become bonded and insured
  
• Consult a lawyer regarding any liability issues associated with entering someone else's home
  
• Create a lawyer-approved standard contract
  
• Invest in a professional website for immediate exposure
  
• Purchase business cards
  
• Consider offering referral discounts
  
• Strictly track all business income and expenses, including mileage to and from clients' homes
  

More by Tara M. Clapper

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Pet Safety: Leaving Your Dogs Home Alone

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