Dan's Papers - September 5, 2008

The number of households with dogs, cats, birds, fish and other pets is growing continually. With that has come four distinct services of some of the fastest growing industries in the United States. Dog walking, pet sitting, doggie daycare and pet hotels are the new solutions to the old dilemmas of "What do we do with Wolfie or Little Phoebe when we go on vacation?" As well as "Who's going to walk the dog or give the cat his medicine if I go back to work?" There are wonderful choices out there if you find the right person, and that's exactly what I want to talk to you about.

You will be told any story you want to hear about how great someone is with animals and how much they love them and want to devote their lives to taking care of other people's pets but like anything else, beware before you bite!

Let's talk about the first two - dog walking and pet sitting. These are designed to lessen the anxiety felt by pets that are left behind when family is away. They are still in their own home where they can maintain the comforts of their own surroundings and continue their usual routine for meals and walks. That's where the dog walker comes in. Pet sitters perform services above and beyond that of the walker. They will give medications, meals, baths, brushings, and playtimes and chauffeur your pet to the vet or groomer. Some pet sitters are also house sitters and what that means is they will water plants, take in the mail and actually sleep in your home if that's what you prefer.

The first thing you want to do is conduct an interview in your home. How this person reacts to your pet and vice versa are really important. But also listen to what they comment on, and not just the answers to your formal questionnaire. Are they patronizing or do they have their own opinion? How do they feel about discipline? What happens if your dog urinates in the house? Do they expect the perfect pet because as we all know, no one is perfect, even the dog? Do they have experience with animal first aid training, or vet tech experience? That would be a definite plus. Can they administer medications, if needed? What is their emergency strategy?

Then follow with the routine questions. Do they have at least three references you can contact? That doesn't mean family or friends; so be careful. I would like at least one veterinarian referral. Someone in the business of caring for animals should have a veterinarian who knows them rather well. Are they licensed, bonded, and insured? If that's important to you, find out what is covered and ask for documentation. Don't be shy - this is business. Keep in mind that this person will have a key to your home. Will they be available for daily routines as well as planned vacations? Are they or the company they work for available to take calls seven days a week and will calls be returned the same day? What training and experience have they had especially with your breed or type of pet? Do they have a back-up plan if they are not able to fulfill their obligation? Do they have a contract explicitly detailing services and charges? Put in writing anything extra that is agreed on.

Being as careful as I am, my advice would be to actually do a trial run. I would have the walker or sitter I choose come on a day that I'm home to perform the services I would request if I wasn't home. If you really want to know what goes on when you're not there, get a Nanny Cam.

Look for signs your pet might show afterwards. Are they depressed, frightened, shaky, not eating or acting unusual in any way? There goes the red flag!

Did you know only humans are capable of making an informed decision to ignore their instincts? If you have a bad feeling about leaving your pet with someone, find someone else.