At the heart of any home is the family living in it. And most families have a special furry and bright-eyed friend they call family. Pets bring joy to families everywhere, and because they do so much for us, we like to take care of them. We love them and treat them like we would a child or sibling, but sometimes life can have us so swept up in all its chaos that we may not be able to care for our pets as often as we’d like to.
Sometimes it’s work and other times it’s a vacation. Regardless, these moments keep us from really being there for them. We may not all feel comfortable leaving our pets at home alone, while we’re away. Maybe they have medical issues that can’t be left unattended, or maybe it is as simple as having a troublesome terrier. Luckily, a pet sitter can provide a viable solution to these pet problems.
3 Basic Tips to Find the Perfect Sitter
A pet sitter supplies temporary care for your animals either in the comfort of their own home or yours. Finding a pet sitter may be difficult for those who don’t know where to start, but here are some tips to help you with your pet sitter journey.
#1 Know The Types of Sitters at Your Disposal
It’s important to note the variety of sitters out there and how each one can benefit you. Some are just overnight sitters whose main job will be to check on your pet, walk them, and feed them for the night until you can return home. The care they supply is limited, but still very helpful for those stuck working nights.
There are drop-in sitters that’ll pop in for a quick ‘hello’ and a walk, and daytime sitters who will act as a form of daycare for your pets. In addition, there are sitters that allow boarding for your pet for those who will be going away for any amount of time.
#2 Evaluate You and Your Pet’s Needs
Observing you and your pet’s needs will help narrow down what kind of sitter to search for. But where do you start? We can start our search for pet sitters with the assistance of apps and websites like Rover. The website offers a seamless search for sitters near you, and all you need to do is input your pet’s information, and instantly a list of eligible pet sitters is at your disposal.
Now that part may seem like the end of your search, there are still things you must consider before deciding who will be the lucky person caring for your friend, and this decision will be made with clear communication.
#3 Communication is Key
Communication is a significant part of whether or not you’ll be able to find the glass slipper of sitters. It’s important to be aware of the jobs they may or may not be comfortable doing. For instance, if your dog or cat needs to be administered medication, some sitters may feel uncomfortable doing so. This is why upon contacting the potential sitter/sitters you should open up the conversation about what you expect of them and vice versa. As a pet parent you want to find the right person that will go above and beyond for your cuddly creatures.
Though Rover provides the information as to which pets they may or may not be able to take care of, you may be dealing with a sitter you’ve found through a friend or from sites like Facebook. If this is the case you’ll have to be extra clear and precise with your expectations. Some sitters may not be able to house a large dog, while others may have pets of their own that might not get along with other animals.
After communicating your needs to your prospective pet sitter, it is important to set up a date for a brief meet and greet for your pet and the potential sitter. This will help you see firsthand how the sitters and your pet interact with each other. Not only are you giving yourself the time to be comfortable with them, but it also gives your pets a chance to get comfortable with them as well. Remember that finding the perfect pet sitter is just as important for you as it is for your pet.
Pet Sitters In and Around Oakland Park
To make step one a bit easier on you, we have compiled a list of some pet sitters that service Oakland Park. You can contact them directly or through Living in Oakland Park Facebook group:
- Kaitlyn Reaves is familiar with dogs of all sizes as well as cats.
- Spirit Pet & House Sitting provides in-home animal sitting and care services.
- Anamaria Moreno, who’s also a writer for Living in Oakland Park, can do everything from in-home pet sitting to walking.
- Coral Ann Mulvey, owner of Five Paws Pets provides an expansive amount of pet services for both cats and dogs.
- Jackie’s Pet Sitting & Walking has lots of experience with dogs.
Whether you use one of the sitters we have suggest above or another one, be sure to keep these simple tips in mind when interviewing any sitters you are considering using to help you care for your pet.
