Professional Pet Sitters Week

International Pet Sitters Week is the first week of March! This event was founded by PSI, the world’s largest professional pet sitters’ organization. While your canine buddy would love to go everywhere with you, that simply isn’t always possible. And, while many people have been working from home this year, there are still times that people need to leave their dogs in the care of others. A local Mattoon vet discusses pet sitting below.

Benefits of a Sitter

When should you use a sitter or dog walker? For one thing, they can be a perfect solution for times when you are working long hours. Fido may be pretty good about holding it, but he can only wait so long. The fresh air, exercise, stimulation, and company a dog walker provides will definitely benefit him, and just help break up his alone time.

Sitter or Boarding?

When should you use a sitter, as opposed to boarding Fido? While every situation is different, we would generally advise boarding if you’re going to be gone for more than a day. It’s worth noting that many kennels have reduced their hours or capacity, or even paused services, during the pandemic, which may make pet sitting a great alternative.

Friends and Family

Many people opt to ask friends or family members to watch their dogs. There are some obvious benefits to this: it’s often much cheaper, and people are comfortable leaving their pups are in friendly, familiar hands. However, if something were to go wrong, it could potentially strain—or even ruin—your relationship. You also won’t have the protection that a licensed sitter or kennel can provide.

Choosing Fido’s Sitter

If you are going to use a pet sitter, the first and most important concern is screening applicants. Professional organizations do vet their applicants, but even this isn’t always foolproof. Ask for references, and check review sites. You may also want to ask your friends, family members, co-workers, and your Mattoon veterinarian for recommendations. One thing that’s crucial is making sure that your canine pal’s sitter or kennel is properly licensed, bonded, and insured. Of course, Fido should also be able to weigh in!

Trial Run

Whether you choose boarding or pet sitting, we recommend starting out with a short trial run. In case of boarding, this helps Fido become familiar with his home away from home. With pet sitters, it also allows you a chance to see how things go.

Is your pet due for vaccinations or an exam? Contact us, your local Mattoon veterinary clinic, today!