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From the August 2018 400: The Life
By Pamela A. Keene
When you’re going to be away, you may have choices about how your puppy will likely be sorted. You can board Fido with your veterinarian, you’ll believe creating a reservation at an area puppy resort, or you’ll ask a pal or circle of relatives member to test on your puppy periodically.
There’s an alternative choice and it’s changing into in style throughout the country — rent a puppy sitter.
“A pet sitter can care for your pet right in your own home, so that the pet stays in a familiar environment,” mentioned Beth Fasnacht, proprietor of Pet Watch Inc., primarily based in Cumming. Beth may be the founding father of the Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters, a registry of puppy sitters.
“Pet sitters can do much more than just make sure your pet has food, water and is walked regularly or her litter is regularly changed or cleaned,” she mentioned. “Some pet sitting services will open and close your blinds, rotate your lighting, bring in the newspapers and mail and even water plants.”
It is dependent upon the puppy sitting provider and what the puppy proprietor needs.
“Different people expect different care for their pets,” she mentioned. “When you’re looking for a pet sitter, ask questions about their experience with your type of pet and how they will care for your pet while you’re away. You’ll want to tell the sitter about any special issues with your pet and any specific requests.”
Fasnacht started her puppy sitting trade, Pet Watch, in 1995 to permit time and versatility to care for her circle of relatives. She additionally discovered that with the 1996 Summer Games coming to Atlanta, many citizens could be going away, and perhaps they would want care for their pets. To get advantages each puppy homeowners and puppy help Atlanta petsitting corporations, she created the Georgia Network of Professional Pet Sitters to help fit purchasers with puppy sitters.
Today, the group supplies referrals and provides a commonplace bond amongst skilled puppy sitters. She may be lively with Pet Sitters International, (www.petsit.com,) a club group that gives trade strengthen and insurance coverage services and products for puppy sitters, in addition to data for the public. “It is an excellent resource for both sitters and pet owners,” she mentioned. “The group hosts annual educational conferences and expos to help pet sitters keep up to date on pet first aid, pet care and even ways to grow their businesses.”
Perhaps one in every of the largest demanding situations that puppy homeowners face is connecting with a puppy sitter as a result of puppy sitting calls for dedication and a love for animals.
“We are always looking for more sitters to help fill the need,” she mentioned. “Hours are flexible and if you love pets and have the right temperament, it’s a great job.”
Pet Watch calls for a written software, a background take a look at, a face-to-face interview, then a Three- to Four-hour orientation for every candidate. Fasnacht is going over Pet Watch insurance policies and procedures and provides preliminary hands-on strengthen as sitters turn into established. Pet Watch may also deal with administrative duties and different bureaucracy for every sitter.
“Many pet sitters work part-time, either because they are retired or they want to supplement their regular income,” Fasnacht mentioned. “We look for people who are responsible, level-headed, have the availability to spend time with the pets they care for and love pets.”
Pet sitting is a shared accountability between the sitters and the puppy homeowners.
“The services provided are discussed between the pet owner and the sitter, but we also ask pet owners to prepare,” Fasnacht mentioned. “Making positive there’s sufficient meals, treats, kitty clutter for the time you’ll be away is known, but additionally please go away your touch data, the touch data for your veterinarian and any information about care or drugs. Let your vet know the identify of the one who will likely be being concerned for your puppy while you’re long past.
“It’s additionally necessary to inform the sitter the place your puppy’s leash and their provider is situated,” she mentioned. “We always recommend that sitters use a leash, because even though the pet may stay close to the owner, a pet may try to run free with a sitter. Be sure to put ID tags on your pet and update your chip registration information before you leave.”
For extra details about puppy sitters and Pet Watch, discuss with www.petwatchtoday.com or name (770) 887-7930.
