Pet Sitter Slumber Party

Adventures in Pet Sitting

Finding a trustworthy person to care for your companion

By Trish Bendix

Any pet parent knows that the decision to leave your pet behind can be a difficult. Whether it’s for a quick jog around the block, or an eight-hour day at the office, sometimes her forlorn face is enough to trigger tears. So when it comes time for a business trip, vacation, or other travel plans that don’t include your best friend, there is nothing worse than the thought of separation anxiety, suffered by both you and your pet.
For many animals, staying in their habitats is an ideal situation. When it comes to comfort, many doggie hotels can’t compare to home. Enter the pet sitter.
“The advantages [of having a pet sitter] include reduced stress because [your pets] are remaining in familiar, secure environments where all sights, smells, and sounds are familiar,” says Darlene Ehlers, Pet Sitters International’s Pet Sitter of the Year. “They are following a customary diet and exercise routine, not being traumatized by travel to the boarding destination, minimal exposure to illness of other animals, and most important, the pet receives love and personal attention while the [guardian] is away.”
Ehlers is an accredited and insured pet sitter through PSI (PetSit.com), which offers a resource for locating pet sitters in available zip codes nationwide. She is also the owner of Pampered Pets Home Care in Cleves, Ohio.
“Anyone interested in using a pet sitter should inquire as to if they are insured and bonded and any credentials they have of continuing education, [such as] pet first aid, behavioral issues, or training,” she says. “The final decision, of course, is up to the potential client but the pet sitter should be willing to provide references as well as proof of insurance and bonding.”
For some people, having a stranger stay in their home might be unnerving, but that’s where having an accredited sitter is especially essential. Knowing the sitter is a licensed professional makes it easier to trust her with your pet and your home.

“This is a little higher cost than a kennel but the pet is provided with one-on-one attention and they are in their own environment.”

“[People] won’t be inconvenienced or upset by transporting the pet; don’t have to impose on friends, relatives, or neighbors who may forget to care for the pet; and their home is made secure by the crime-deterrent measures [such as alternating light patterns] provided by most pet-sitting services,” Ehlers says. “Customers can feel confident the pet is in capable, caring hands, and when the [guardian] returns home there is a detailed account of how their pet did while they were away.”
Most pet sitters automatically include other services for clients, which Cathleen Delaney of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters says can include plant care and mail and newspaper pick-up, for example.
“There are numerous benefits of using a professional pet caregiver,” Delaney says. “Each day you are away, the professional will visit your home to feed, care for, and play with your pet. The professional will have the responsibility for both your pet and your home.”
Like Pet Sitters International, NAPPS is an established national referral network for people with pets looking for insured and bonded sitters. Delaney says the organization covers all pets and its website (PetSitters.org) indicates specific sitters in each demographic area.
Besides overnight stays, Ehlers says that her typical day visits last 30 minutes.
“I check for any accidents, check the house to make sure the doors are locked, scoop litter boxes, wash all bowls, provide clean fresh water, take the dog for a walk or let [him] out in the yard to play, clean up after they potty if the customer desires,” she says. “Most of the time is spent petting and playing with the pet.”
Delaney says that “a love of animals, great communication, attention to detail, and organization” are what make a good pet sitter, while Ehlers says it is the pride she takes in herself and her business that allows her to provide “the best quality care possible.”
While the care of your pet is the most imperative issue, the rates for visits are also important to know. Prices vary across the U.S., but generally overnight visits can be from $50 to $75, and day visits can be between $11 and $20, with additional charges for multiple animals.
“Overnight sitters usually arrive at the house between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. and stay until about the same hours in the morning depending on how many sits they have during the day,” Ehlers says. “Prices vary between pet-sitting services. Most sitters provide a minimum of three visits per day for dogs and one per day for cats. This is generally a little higher cost than a kennel but the pet is provided with one-on-one attention and they are in their own environment.”
Affordability of pet sitters in your area is a big factor, but your pet’s comfort is ultimately what matters—especially if your pet is older or has special needs.
“With older pets that don’t want a lot of playtime I may just sit with them and watch Animal Planet, their favorite,” Ehlers says. “I’ve spent much time just lying on the floor with an old dog just petting and talking to them. With cats I’ll play treat-toss games.”
If Ehlers’ enthusiasm is any indication of how attentive and caring one-on-one pet sitting can be, then the cost of that attention is priceless when you can’t be the one with them.
“After attending PSI’s most recent convention, I learned many more games to play with cats to keep them occupied even when I’ve left the house,” Ehlers says. Maybe the only reason not to have a pet sitter is so your pet doesn’t miss her when she’s gone.