Following a recent tragic dog death in Hilton Head, here’s how to pick a trustworthy pet sitter
Choosing a reliable pet sitter to watch your beloved furry friend while you’re out of town ranks among some of the more important decisions you have to make prior to spending an extended amount of time away from home.
Your pet’s well-being is a priority and after choosing a designated sitter while you’re away, many families’ worry ends there.
However, without proper research and checking off the necessary boxes, your pets could still be at risk.
Last week, 20-year-old Victoria Marie Spencer was arrested on the morning of Sept. 28 at MCAS Beaufort and released on bond just a few hours later, according to Maj. Angela Viens, a spokesperson for the Beaufort County Sheriff’s office, in previous Island Packet reporting.
Spencer was hired by online pet-sitting service Trusted Housesitters to watch two dogs and three cats belonging to a Hilton Head Island resident, who lives in Hilton Head Plantation. The woman agreed to pet-sit for a nine-day period at the beginning of September, with regular visits to the home to feed the animals and let the dogs out of their kennels.
Spencer, who is also a marine from Beaufort’s Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS), now faces several felony charges of animal cruelty for reportedly neglecting the five pets, leaving one dog to die of starvation after not visiting the owner’s house for a five-day period.
Following the recent tragedy on Hilton Head Island, pet owners are reminded of the importance of ensuring their pet’s safety while they are away.
When done right, finding the right pet sitter for you could help take away any worries you might have about traveling and can help keep your pets in their day-to-day routines without disrupting them.
To help avoid such a calamity, here are four tips to follow to choose a trustworthy pet sitter or service to keep your pets safe while you’re away.
Search online
Searching online for locally serving pet sitter companies or through neighborhood and community websites is a good starting place. Professional pet-sitting associations such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters and Pet Sitters International list members on their websites for you to browse through and to aid your search. For best results, be sure to look through a company’s or individual’s online reviews and view candidates’ Facebook pages to help narrow down your search, detailed The Humane Society of the United States.
Seek recommendations
Opt for a pet sitter that has been used by friends, family or neighbors in the past, so that you are aware of their dependability. If you are unsure of anyone who might have used a trustworthy sitter, try reaching out to your vet clinic, humane society, pet store or local Facebook pages for recommendations.
Consider interviewing your candidate
Having the opportunity to interview your candidate will ensure face-to-face contact prior to your trip. Interviewing your potential candidate(s) will help you choose the right fit for you, give you the opportunity to ask important questions, relay your expectations, check credentials or certifications necessary, familiarize them with your pet(s) help with communication and ease any of your possible worries.
Have the sitter and pets meet
If your pets and potential sitter did not meet during the interview process, it is important to have them meet prior to your planned absence. This will help you watch how they interact with one another, allow the sitter to see how your pet(s) behave and familiarize themselves with the routine. This will also give you a chance to revisit care instructions and necessary daily schedules for each pet.
What else?
Before selecting a pet sitter, making sure your expectations will be met while you are away is essential for trusting that your pets will stay safe. Making sure the sitter is able to care for your pet’s specific needs and can meet your expectations is crucial.
If you are unsure of what to know prior to your time away, here are some topics that might be beneficial to ask a potential pet sitter.
Fees and payment expectations
Training and certifications acquired
What a routine visit will look like and how frequently they will occur
Typical communication style
Ability to handle certain aged pets, allergies and medications
Ability to deal with pet emergencies
Comfort with communicating and providing photo evidence of arrival after each visit
Ability to provide several recent references
What information should you leave your sitter with while you are away?
Care instructions, medication schedule, allergy information and specific needs each pet may need accommodations for
Information provided on what your pet can and cannot ingest
Your contact information
A neighbor’s contact information
An emergency contact
Your veterinarian’s contact information
Contact information for a 24-hour emergency vet clinic and the Pet Poison Helpline
Security or home information they should know
Anything else you wish for them to know prior to your absence
