Toolbox

July 7, 2023: Episode 104

There are countless first hand stories of bad experiences with pet sitters. Some are upsetting while others are absolutely horrific. This industry is unique in that clients are entrusting complete strangers with several intimate & important aspects of their lives. Pet sitters are responsible for the safety & care of beloved animals, as well as a home, all the contents within that home, intangible items such as private information, and so much more. In addition, jobs may last for weeks or months.

Whether you're in the market for a new pet sitter, or you're already established with one you love & trust, we can always enhance our toolboxes. Perhaps your tried & true sitter leaves for vacation, gets sick or injured, or relocates. You need to have suitable backup care. Or, maybe you're traveling with your pet, and find that you unexpectedly need pet care. Since you're away from home, you don't have the luxury of knowing who is trustworthy, dependable, etc. Toolboxes, just like first aid kits & important documents, need to be checked periodically. Make revisions, improvements, alterations, etc. as necessary.

Your interview process should include a mix of tools, processes, gut feelings, etc.

One vital tool in my toolbox is technology. As an employer, I am grateful that technology has provided expediant access to information. The background check is a great tool. I can very easily discover information that assists me in decision making processes. The background check process has a minimal cost in time & money. If you locate a pet care provider who you like, but who doesn't have a background check, get their permission to run one on them. Make a contract stating that should you hire them, that your invested amount will be deducted from their bill. You can then provide them with the report, which will in turn assist them going forward. Should you decide not to hire them, then you paid a nominal fee to dodge a bullet. Given the choice, I would not hesitate to pay for this check rather than risk harm to my animals, my house, my private information.

Of course, a background check alone won't tell you all you need to know. Just like anything else, they have their limitations. This check may only cover a small geographic area, such as a county or state. More extensive searches require larger monetary investments. In addition, the check only covers a certain time frame.

A clean check doesn't guarantee that a person has never committed criminal acts, or that they won't in the future. It also doesn't guarantee that this person will provide loving, responsible care. On the flip side, perhaps someone's check isn't entirely clean, but they've evolved into a different person. Words rarely tell the entire picture. This is why we encourage using a mix of tools with each and every interview process.

Animals are often better judges of character than people are. Listen to your pets. Evaluate their initial response / reaction to meeting the pet care provider. How did the person interact with your pets? Did your pets warm up quickly, eventually, or not at all? Is this typical for your pets? Did the provider respect & honor the animals' space, timelines, etc? What did your animals' body language say?

Another tool is the dry run. Once you've vetted, interviewed, etc... invite the sitter to visit your home & pets while you're away from home but still in town. Request that they video record the visit, especially their entry and how your pets respond to them. Or watch from your installed cameras.

Another tool is time. This one isn't always available, of course. If you have the luxury of time, interview multiple candidates well in advance of the needed dates. Have them walk your dogs, play with your cats, etc, to build a bond that will strengthen over time.

With time, you can also speak with the sitter's clients. I recommend not only reading reviews, but calling or meeting current & / or former clients. This is all valuable information.

Also with time, you can request additional consultations. If you're interested but not yet satisfied, see if your candidate is willing to meet you and your pets again.

Cameras are another tool that we advocate the use of. I've spoken about this previously, so I won't spend much time here. All I will say is that if you're not doing anything you shouldn't be doing, you should have no problem with cameras.

Local pet care providers, veterinarians, groomers etc are a wonderful resource. They ate embedded in the animal world & typically have more resources & pertinent information than the client does. Ask your questions. Request opinions, referrals, etc.

Sits & Wiggles offers a free service to our community, where we will guide you in interviewing potential providers. We will join you in the in person meeting if you desire.

Request proof. Proof of insurance. Proof of licensure, background check, certification, reviews. Ask to see their contracts before hiring them.

Inquire about policies. Have they ever lost a key & what safeguards have they implemented to avoid this? Have they ever lost an animal? How did they perform in an emergency situation? Have they been locked out? Did they communicate effectively with the clients? Do they carry pet specific first aid kits? Are they dog & cat CPR / first aid certified? What are their procedures if a pet is dying & they can't reach the pet parents?

Safety is so very important. Please verify that your toolbox works for you.

Nakala Matthews