What Do Pet Sitters Do?

Pet Sitters International declares September as Pet Sitter Education Month. PSI would like all pet owners to learn about the benefits of hiring the right pet sitter and not "the kid down the street." There are many things to look for in the "purrfect pet sitter."

PSI is the world's largest and leading educational association for professional pet sitters—and its website, www.petsit.com, is the top online educational resource available to those in the industry. PSI was founded in 1994 by Patti J. Moran, author of Pet Sitting for Profit, and who created PSI’s motto "Pet-sitting excellence through education."

Patti Moran states, "More than three decades ago when I started pet sitting; there were no pet-sitting specific resources available to me. That's why it has always been so important to me that PSI provides members with easy-to-access educational tools—from books and our member magazine to our Certification Program and member webinars—to improve their businesses and the services they provide to clients."

What do pet sitters do?

Pet Sitters supervise cats, dogs, and other pets while their owners are away or at work for most of the day. Key responsibilities include providing food and water, grooming, vet appointments, administering medicine, taking dogs out for a walk, keeping your pet from getting lost and providing companionship.

Pet sitters are professionals in dog walking and animal care. The best pet sitters in the area will be well-versed in the best business practices and caring for other people's pets. There are specific attributes every pet sitter should possess, including a calm demeanor, experience in pet sitting, consistency, reliability, sensitivity, and trustworthiness.

Find the best pet sitter

Finding a pet sitter doesn't have to be a chore. There are many resources to find a professional pet sitter. Referrals are always a good start and checking out reviews of the person. Get to know the sitter with an interview - asking a lot of questions will make both pet sitters and owners feel good about their potential relationship. Compare prices and be sure you get a contract before committing to the person. Most importantly, perform a meet-and-greet with the pet and potential sitter; they will be the best judge of character. Here are a few websites that might be able to help you find a Pet Sitter near you:

• Care.com
• Rover.com
• Petsitter.com