What if the opposite is true, and you are not able to find a pet sitter you or your pet is happy with?
You do have other options. You can ask your veterinarian if he or she knows of anyone who is qualified to pet sit, or you can contact the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.
This association offers the best of both worlds, in that your pet will be able to remain in his own environment and not have to go elsewhere. The professional pet sitter is fully trained for any emergency, can administer medication if necessary and, more importantly, the pet sitter is bonded.
If hiring someone from this agency is not suitable, you may want to ask other pet owners in the neighborhood or at your workplace if they have used a pet sitting service, or know of someone who they have used and are completely satisfied with.
If a pet sitter has been referred to you, have him or her come to your home so that you can interview the person. Have the pet available so that you can observe how the potential pet sitter interacts with your pet. Watch every little nuance that clearly gives you a signal that this arrangement is either going to work out or not.
You might also ask anyone you know who has a pet who is home with their kids, or works from home, if they might be willing to do ‘doggie day care’ or play dates, and you could either pay them or offer to return the favor at the weekends when you have free time. If they are walking their dogs a couple of times a day anyway, perhaps they would not mind having another furry friend along.
Supermarkets often have postings for people who offer their services, usually in your own neighborhood. It may be a young girl who attends high school, or perhaps someone who needs to supplement their college tuition and wants a job with flexible hours and not too much commitment.
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