For many pet owners, their treasured best friends are as important to them as children are to their parents. To that end, it's very important to be vigilant and well informed when choosing someone to look after your dog or cat and to make sure that the person you choose is enthusiastic and up to the task.
Firstly, you want to make sure that your sitter is has liability insurance. Secondly, check that they have at the very least some experience with pets, ideally formal training with animals. A good background for a pet sitter would be some experience working at a vetinary surgery or animal reprieve. Always ask for references, as you're interviewing for a job in exactly the same way as you would be if you owned a company and were hiring a new member of staff.
Check out an online database of pet sitters. In the UK, Animal Angels is a good one but you can also check out Animal Aunts and Housesitters who both have UK websites.
One surefire way to get a good sitter is to ask friends with the same attitude towards their pets who they use when they're out for the evening or away on holiday. They may either use someone special themselves or they may be able to recommend someone another friend has used.
If your pet has special health needs or medical considerations then it would make sense to hire someone who has specific experience with such pets.
Timing is also a key factor: you want to look for people who are available regularly during the sorts of times you're looking at. It's no good if you find the perfect sitter but they're perpetually unavailable or work at the exact times you need your pet catered for.
Also be sure to check that the sitter who you have chosen is prepared to look after the type of pet you have: it's pointless hiring a cat sitter who only looks after dogs! Also check that the sitter is okay with the SORT of pet breed you have, as sitters who work primarily with small dogs are not always at ease with larger breeds.
Another factor to check is price. Despite the fact that you need to find the best possible sitter for your pet, you still need to consider the cost involved so a competitive price should definitely be a strong consideration.
In the interview, make sure that you're asking the questions you most want answers to. If you make the process conversational, you should get a strong idea of enthusiasm and capability. Make sure that you choose someone YOU like and someone that you would be comfortable having in your home for long periods of time.
