Having to look for a pet sitter

[ScooterandAnnette]

Well the days of relying on a relative to watch the bunnies are over.   I was going to say “sadly” but to be honest I’m not sure that it’s a bad thing.  Except that going with a professional sitter is going to cost more.

We’re going away in a few weeks, my mother and her boyfriend are joining us.  What we’ve been doing for a while is having her boyfriend come look after the bunnies and cats while we’re gone and the dog goes to stay with them, and for times when we’re all away then my cousin’s daughter (late teens) comes and stays at our place and looks after all the furries.  We haven’t been horribly impressed with her and stressed last time that it was important that she do a really good job with cleaning the bunny cages, which she did.  However this time she’s been really avoiding getting back to us about staying here this time, and I finally had to send another email to my cousin this morning saying listen we really need to know because we’re going to be in a bit of a pickle here if she can’t.  And she’s decided that no, she can’t.   A teenage girl doesn’t want to get paid to stay at a relative’s place, in addition to having food left for her and food money left for her, in exchange for cleaning up after the bunnies.  So, fine.

After doing some research I found only ONE pet sitter in my area listed by Pet Sitters International.  One.  I wasn’t holding out much hope that they’d still have openings.  But they can squeeze us in, and even stay here overnight for most of the nights that we’re away.  Yeah okay so it means a complete stranger staying in my house, it’s still preferable to having to kennel the dog.  We’re meeting with her tomorrow afternoon to see what she’s like.  I’m hoping she’s good!!

– Annette

 

[KatnipCrzy]

I would recommend calling your vet and asking if there are any employees that petsit.  They would not be licensed/bonded/insured like a pet sitting company should be- but you often get someone that is knowledgable about pets and loves animals.  Just be sure to ask if they are petsitting anyone else at the same time, etc.

I petsit for select people- and I will only petsit one pet/family at a time- either staying at their house or bringing the pet to my house.  Someone else I work with will accepts 8+ dogs at Spring Break and kennel them at his house- totally unethical in my opinion.  When I petsit I care for the pet as if it were my own.

[ScooterandAnnette]

I actually did ask my vet and they didn’t have anyone they could recommend. I also asked my dog groomer. The problem is finding some solution that will take care of all the pets – bunnies, cats and dog. The dog does NOT take well to being in a kennel – when we adopted her from the humane society she was down to 27 pounds (she’s about 37 pounds now). They told us she hadn’t been eating since her spay but I think she hadn’t been eating before that as well. My mother’s dog also does not handle a kennel well, she goes through some separation anxiety as it is.

The meeting with the pet sitter went very well though and I’m very impressed, so I think we’ve found the answer!
– Annette

[Sage Cat]

Yea, glad the pet sitter was impressive!
It makes going away so much less stressful if you know the pets are taken care of!

[babybunsmum]

good thing you liked her! yay! i had success hiring a service to drop by my house. i also met the woman before had and got a great impression of her and the company itself was very reassuring and professional. only problem… when i came home my door was left unlocked fortunately nothing was missing or messed with. i chalked it up to an honest mistake. and was greatly sweetened by the fact that the woman wrote twice daily notes about the pets which were so sweet that i saved them. i also had my neighbors keeping an eye on my place as a backup to be sure the sitter came every day

i hope your service works out well. it’s nice to know you have an option… even if it costs more money at least you don’t have to feel as though you’re putting some one out. and for the record… if i was a teenager your offer would’ve sounded pretty sweet to me!

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