Why Choose a Professional Pet Sitter?
“I HATE leaving my pets.”
“I can never truly enjoy my vacation when I have to leave my pets behind.”
“My dog/cat just cannot deal with going to a kennel.”
“I don’t trust people coming into my home.”
These are all phrases that I have had clients say to me, and that I have said myself every time I travel. It’s one of the primary reasons I opened Red Dog Pet Services. I wanted to alleviate as much of the stress and worry that comes with going on vacation and leaving our beloved pets behind. We all love our pets, after all they are our family and bring joy and peace to our lives.
Ever consider the difference between a Professional Pet Sitter vs. a hobby pet sitter? What happens if your pet is showing signs of illness or is having a seizure but the neighborhood kid, friend, neighbor or family member isn’t aware of the signs? This could prove to be fatal depending on the illness. What happens if something is stolen or broken in your home? What if a pet escapes and is injured or worse, killed? These are questions you should be asking yourself when trying to decide on who takes care of your pets and your home. Your pets are not the only ones who benefit from a the qualifications of a true professional.
As a pet sitter, I have had to deal with sick pet’s, some that required trips to the vet, accidents on furniture and carpet that was quickly and correctly cleaned to prevent permanent damage, leaks due to heavy rains and busted pipes, and so much more. I have heard horror stories from my client’s who used hobby sitters that had parties in their house, had cops called, drank on the job, had “partners” over to spend the night. The list goes on and on. I am not saying all hobby pet sitters conduct business this way, but rather I want to provide some things to consider when making your decision on who to choose for your pets well being. I know for me and my pets, I want someone who is going to know what to do and have the ability to handle an emergency situation with my pets/home.
Things to think about when making the choice between hiring a professional vs. a neighbor, friend, family member or hobby pet sitter:
A professional:
-Has a local business license
-Is fully bonded and insured
-Pays taxes and qualifies for federal funds during times of disaster (ex: Covid-19, hurricanes, etc)
-Has service contracts
-Provides screening (background checks) & training certifications to employees
-Offers pet sitting/ dog walking as a primary business
-Is knowledgeable about pet care, exercises integrity and honesty, and provides verbal and written communication to clients
-Reputable, has written and posted reviews, awards etc.
-Holds our client’s privacy & security in the highest regard
-Pursues continuing education in the field of pet care in order to stay up to date on the latest and best care for your pets
A “Hobby” Pet Sitter:
-Is not an actual business, but an individual
-May not have any insurance coverage for clients
-May not be thorough (no contracts, written communication etc.)
-May have very limited behavioral knowledge about animals
-May like pets but has not pursued any ongoing education, certification etc.
-Offers pet care as a side gig for side cash not as their primary job
In order to earn the designation of CPPS – Certified Professional Pet Sitter, a professional pet sitter must successfully pass the proctored Certified Professional Pet Sitter Exam, and agree to adhere to PSI’s Member Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Successfully passing the CPPS Exam indicates that an individual has demonstrated the knowledge necessary to make vital assessments on pet health and nutrition, canine and feline behavior, separation anxiety, pet loss and more (such as how to clean up various types of accidents/stains without harming clients floors, carpets or furniture).
A CPPS has also demonstrated that they are equipped, as a business owner, to make decisions on disaster planning and safety.
Pet sitters earn this certification after successfully passing a comprehensive exam that was designed to rigorously test pet sitters on the knowledge and skill required to excel in the field of professional pet sitting. PSI’s CPPS Exam is the industry’s first knowledge-based assessment created specifically for professional pet sitters.
As a CPPS we are also required to complete 30 hours of Continuing Education hours in the pet care field in order to maintain our yearly certification. We attend conferences, pursue additional certifications and stay abreast of all the latest in pet care.
All this so you can be assured we will clean up the messes & take the utmost care in protecting your belongings & your fur babies! Oh, & we never forget to give your pets tons of snuggles & love, even when they have accidents.
WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND!!!
Lisa Benefiel, CPPS
Owner and Founder