Last month the headlines in the local newspaper were ablaze with ‘Dog Walker Gets 35 Years to Life’. The so-called dog walker was found guilty of burglary from some clients.

My heart fell because I knew that this news would only serve to put pet sitters in a bad light. From what little research I did on the internet, there was no reference to this dog walker or to their company, telling me this person is what we commonly refer to as a ‘hobby sitter’.

So, you ask, what should you the conscientious animal owner look for when hiring a pet sitter or a dog walker?

At the top of my list, ask if the company is insured, bonded and ask if they have a business license. Do they show you proof of liability insurance and bonding when they meet with you? (Be aware that there is no formal licensing for pet sitters. If you hear of a pet sitter advertising they are ‘licensed’ it is only a business license and nothing more.)

Ask how long the person has been in business.

Do they have a website? While not all pet sitters will necessarily have a website, having a website can be an indication you are dealing with a legitimate company.

Does the company perform background checks on their employees?

Does the pet sitting company belong to any professional pet sitting organizations or local pet sitting network groups?

Does the pet sitting company provide references?

Is their staff trained in pet first aid/CPR?

While your pet sitter may not have all of these items listed, it should serve as a good starting point for clients looking for a pet sitter. At the very least your pet sitter should be bonded and carry liability insurance.

It may seem attractive to hire someone with little or no credentials, but sometimes you get what you pay for. The pet sitters I know are honest, hard-working and ethical. To the pet owning public, please do your due diligence when looking for a pet sitter.

–Jan Brown

Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting and is a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor.