Pet care options

As a pet owner, planning a holiday or work commitment always comes with the same first thought. What about can we do to keep them as happy as possible while we are away?  As well as the traditional option of friends and family the Internet and Social Media now present endless options, all declaring themselves to be the best possible options by being free, cheap, convenient, complete with Instagram ready photos, Facebook pages and groups and even Tik Tok videos.  There are just so many options out there! Every pet is different, and it is important that while considering your options you consider what will suit their requirements best, along with doing your due diligence to ensure that the care provided will be safe for them.  We want you and your pets to be happy that you have chosen the right option so have put together a brief guide of the common options out there.

Friends and Family

Traditionally, many pet owners first call when planning a trip away is to friends or family.  Family members know your pets well and are usually the natural starting point.  However, as parents get older, children get busier in their own lives, and when you are invited to family occasions such as a wedding where all the people who would care will be joining you, it is not always possible!  Teenagers can not always be relied on to offer the best care when parents are away, they tend to neglect gardens and cleaning and there is the party fear! A caring friend will often offer to step in but what happens when they are at work etc?  It can also lead to a tricky situation where you are effectively having to ‘tell’ a friend what you want them to do or finding that they have not followed your instructions.  By employing a professional sitter you can be sure that as they are ‘working’ for you, they will follow the instructions that you are encouraged to give as part of your contract with them.

Web Listing Sites

A web search will bring up numerous options from now well-known names, sadly for those within the industry for the wrong reasons! These companies often have a huge advertising budget, sinking local providers in listings, pouring money into fancy adverts, popping up everywhere boasting of being the perfect solution! The reality is they are a faceless website looking for a membership fee from you, and the sitter. You are then left to peruse listings and investigate their credentials yourself. It is important to check these out properly as the site will provide only a basic sitter check on the run up to taking a membership payment from them, sometimes as little as an address verification. In addition to this they have scarily insufficient insurance, an issue that sadly can only come to light when it is too late, and an accident has occurred. There seems to be little ‘control’ over the booking leading to mistakes such as no prelim visit, numerous horror stories and a lot of last minute let downs for a better offer. Unlike us they also have no proper office back up or procedures, leaving you to suffer with only an email enquiry form in the event of a problem. A quick Google or Facebook/Reddit search will open your eyes in a scary fashion!

There is also a tendency with listing sites to attract sitters who have decided to sit because they want free accommodation or a holiday base to explore from. Although very nice for them, how much time will they spend away from the property and your pets? We firmly believe a pet sitter should put the needs of the animals in their care first, not other work commitments, travel plans and days out visiting Tourist attractions that are not likely to welcome, or be suitable for pets.

Dog Walkers

Some dog walkers will now offer live in pet sitting as an addition to their services.  This can be great for dogs, as they already have a good relationship with them!  A regular dog walker is likely to already care for your pet so may well offer as a favour.  Just remember that if they take your dog into their own home, they must be registered with your local Council in order for Insurance to be valid.  It is also important to remember that by the very nature of the service they are already offering, having a dog walker pet sit can be very different to the service we offer.  They will need to leave your property for the majority of the day in order to walk their clients’ pets so may only be able to pop back on occasion.  Indeed, some only offer pet sitting from say 6.00 p.m. until 8 a.m. the next morning.  This may well suit your purposes for a shorter sit, especially if you have younger pets but might not be the best solution for older pets, or those with separation anxiety.  When budgeting, it is also important to remember that although pricing may initially seem cheaper than a dedicated pet sitting service like ours, the reality is that we are on site offering one to one care for a 24 hour period, meaning that you would have to pay them twice for what we consider a day! 

Cleaners, Students, Travellers,Teachers

A glance at Social Media sites such as Facebook will present endless adverts from people offering their services as pet sitters, often at cheaper rates. Sadly, many people now think that dog sitting is a fun and easy way to make money. Indeed, it can be extremely rewarding, if done properly! When looking for a sitter, many potential clients tell us that they have been inundated by people offering to provide care cheaply, even free. They may even have a Facebook page full of photos of them cuddling pets. But be careful and remember that you are responsible for doing all security checks and making sure that they are legit. It is scarily easy to fake a Facebook Page. 

Yes, they might be cheaper and the thought can be that you should give a teenager a chance, or consider paying cash in hand to someone looking to earn a little extra cash but it is also vital to ensure that they are operating legally, that they have proper insurance, contracts and operating systems in place. What happens if they are taken ill? What happens if your pet is taken ill? If there is a flood at your home? Could they cope with what can be the harsh reality of pet sitting?  Have they been honest about how long they intend to leave your property to attend other clients, go to work, likewise travellers to explore: something that is vital to know if your dog has separation anxiety or is older.  Someone travelling is also likely not to have their own transport so you need to consider that you may need to collect them, that they will not bring their own supplies and bedding and have no transport for your pets in case of an emergency.

There is also the consideration that when finding a pet sitter it is beneficial for you and your pets that they are keen work with you on an ongoing basis.  This means that your pets get to know them and vice versa! Plus, quite frankly, finding the right pet sitter can be stressful so it is so good to know that you have someone who will return for years to come! This is not always a viable option with using random people as they tend to go off to travel into other areas or return home.Teachers return to their usual routine and are only available during school holidays which may not always be the best time to be taking holidays!

There are potential sitters advertising on Facebook groups etc who would like to bring mutiple family members and their own pets with them. Not only is this a little cheeky, it is also not recommended by any pet care professional as it opens clients up to so many potential problems. Risks such as a dog fight, your pets getting unsettled, a child getting bitten, damages or that window being left open by 'who' is simply not recommended.  Plus, rather than leaving and returning to a single room as you left it, you are suddenly expected to prepare and launder multiple areas!

Home Dog Boarding

This is a different service to the one we offer and is often confused with dog sitting. In this case your pet will go and stay at the boarder’s home in a dedicated area. Often you will not be able to see where your pet will be staying which can be stressful, but they should offer the professional support required of them in order to obtain a License. They will need to be registered with your local Council or else insurance will not be in place. You can easily check this by visiting their website, or by obtaining their license number. We find that your dog/s will make the decision between needing a pet sitter or choosing home boarding for you. Either they will settle, or they will not! I have heard stories where home boarders have sent photos to show that dogs are happy, when their owners can see that they have simply not settled. However, there are dogs who actively enjoy the change of scenery and chance to mix with other dogs! A home from home situation is most certainly more comforting than a boarding kennel as long as your dog is not dependent on their own routine and environment.

 Boarding Kennels and Catteries

Boarding kennels are one of the most established pet care options and have changed drastically over the generations. Although your pets are confined to a caged area, many now work hard to make them as comfortable as possible.  However, it is important to consider that your pet will have very few home comforts and will need to drop into the routine that the kennel offer. It is important to read as many reviews as possible and I would always recommend just having a drive by and listening as you can literally hear whether their residents are happy or not.