www.petloverscompanion.com • 703.780.4400 31 Why Hire a Professional Pet Sitter By Claire Burns, Manager, Sit-A-Pet Friends and neighbors are certainly trustworthy to look after your pets, and finding a local teen can be more cost-effective, however here are some good points to consider when choosing care for your pet. Hiring a professional has significant advantages . Experience. Whether it’s dealing with hairballs or gaining the trust of a shy pet, professional sitters have seen and done it all. If your kitty hides under the bed, a professional has the experience to know what signs to look for to ensure she’s OK, as well, they know to give her space to come out when she’s ready. Often a pet behaves differently when you are not around for a few days. There may be anxiousness or anxiety. If your pet’s habits or behavior suddenly change, a professional has the toolset to know when it’s time to talk to you about a trip to the vet. Many sitters even have experience giving medications. While you can’t necessarily expect a friend to know all about animal care, you can expect it from a professional pet care company. Clarity. Asking a neighbor can also create some murky areas. For example, what should you pay them? Should you offer to reciprocate, if they have pets of their own? Where is the line of asking too much? Professional pet care companies provide additional services beyond pet care, such as bringing in the mail and packages, Watering indoor and outdoor plants, picking up food if you should happen to run out, bringing the garbage cans around and they can alternate lights to ensure it looks like someone is around while you are out of town. Knowing that professionals provide these services consistently and systematically ensures consistency for your pet as well as not overstepping the bounds of asking for favors. They say good fences make good neighbors. Hiring a pet sitter instead of a neighbor is a good way to keep those fences mended Professionalism. Since pet care companies CITY PAPER READER’S POLL WingzDesign/Morguefile have substantial experience and dedicated professionals, they are thorough. They collect detailed information needed to care for your pet, asking the questions you may forget to convey from the location of your pet’s favorite toys to feeding instructions, health history, medications, exercise routine and vet information. Professional companies have specific processes and procedures in place to let you know when your pet has been cared for, how they are doing, and contacting as necessary if there is a concern. Professionals can also easily make care adjustments as needed if something in your travel plans or your pet’s health requires it. Probably the best thing about hiring a professional is that there’s are very few challenges they haven’t already encountered and overcome.
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