This holiday season, pet owners are struggling to find someone to take care of them. The first concern that often comes to mind is cost. People want a good VALUE for their dollar, but do they take into account the VALUE they have of their pets?

Example: I received a call from an older pet owner in November who lived in a very wealthy neighborhood. She was referred by my vet. She normally used one of the technicians from our vet clinic to care for her dog overnight, but they weren’t available during the Christmas season. She asked me how much I charge and I replied $ 65 / night. He literally gasped on the phone and said he would get in touch with me. Obviously, she’s spoiled that the technician takes care of her dogs for less cost. When her daughter convinced her to call back to book because she had no other choice, I was already booked. She was referred to my affiliate who normally charges $ 75 per night. However, since she was referred by me, she would receive care for my rate of $ 65 per night. This was explained to him. So why the price differences?

The technician who normally takes care of the owner’s dog does it as a hobby for some extra money. His main source of income is working at the veterinary clinic. They are NOT tied or insured or have a business license. They don’t have a legitimate business where they operate at a professional level and pay taxes, etc.

Example: I received a call from a lady on Monday night who needed care for her dogs from Wednesday to Sunday night. Apparently he had asked a friend to do it and they canceled it 2 days before his departure. Now she is on a panic quest to find a babysitter for her dogs before she leaves. It was already booked and I couldn’t make it 2 days in advance, so it was again referred to my affiliate.

The pet owner, in an attempt to save money, asked a friend or family member to take care of their dogs. That person has no obligation to her or contract, so it’s easy for them to cancel or they may not even show up. A professional pet sitter will have a contract or service agreement that you sign. This unites the two of you in caring for your pets. You get a guarantee that they will take care of your pet and promise to pay them for that care.

Example: a couple is planning several trips to Russia to adopt a baby. The wife works at home and is with her 3 cats most of the time. They are very concerned about their cats being left alone while traveling. They have to go to a seminar for 4 days as a step prior to their adoption. A coworker of the husband volunteers to take care of the cats. Along the way, you don’t want to go down to the basement on a spiral staircase to see the litter box area. The couple at the bottom of the stairs have to convince her to come down and show her an alternative staircase on the ground floor. While they are away, several days have passed and they have not heard from the cat sitter. No texts or calls. They finally decide to call her and she answers the phone. She tells them that she is in the house right now and that everything is fine. When they return home and walk through the front door, the smell overwhelms them. The litter boxes had obviously not been cleaned in a few days. When faced with the litter boxes, the person claims that they had cleaned them every day and even asks / offers to take care of the cats on their next trip.

Pet owners had a friend / coworker do it to save some money and without knowing any other option. Obviously, the person did not know how to properly care for cats. They had no idea if the person was actually there and showed up to take care of them while they were away. The person left evidence that the cat was not properly cared for, denied it, and then offered to take care of the cats again. Pet owners saw Shannon’s pet care sign near her home and realized that this would be a better option to investigate.

Even if it’s a friend, family member, or kid next door looking to earn some extra cash, do you value your life and pet care to save a dollar? Do you want to wait for them to appear? Or do you expect them to take good care of your pets? People forget, accidents happen and things come up. Chances are, your pet is not your first priority.

For a professional pet sitter: your pet IS the priority!

A REAL PROFESSIONAL pet sitter is:
1) consolidated
2) Insured
3) Graduate
4) Has PET CPR, first aid or some ANIMAL healthcare training.
5) Use a service contract and pet information forms.
6) Has a website
7) Has references
8) Has a safe or secure key system
9) Has experience and knowledge in working with animals.
10) Makes a consultation to meet with you and discuss your pet care routine.
11) Send text messages, calls or emails with regular updates with photos of your pet while you are away
12) Book early – there is a high demand for a good pet sitter!

Now look at that list and consider how much more VALUE those items have and keep in regards to the VALUE of life and caring for your pets while you are away.

The fewer items on the list, the less you pay and the less chance you have of your pet getting good care while you are away. The horror stories that I have heard and seen over the years speak for themselves. The stories above are just a small handful of recent examples within a month-long period that I have heard!

When you look at websites like Care.com and Sittercity.com, there are literally HUNDREDS of people posted there who want to take care of pets. They are college students, retirees, unemployed, men, women, teens and EVERYONE LOVES PETS, HAVE HAD PETS AND WOULD LOVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PET! What I’ve seen as a result of these sites: People are looking for the cheapest pet care possible. I could send you the best resume possible in terms of being a professional pet care provider! Then the moment they hear my rates, the emails and contact stop.

Pet sitters seem to be a penny a dozen. It’s a quick and easy way for an animal lover to earn some extra money in today’s economy. The quick, easy and inexpensive way could put your pet’s life in danger. Is it worth your life to save a few bucks? As a client of mine repeatedly tells me: “Peace of mind is priceless!”