Posted by: Pet Sitters International
The definition of pet sitting
In 1997 Pet Sitters International (PSI) successfully campaigned to have “pet sitting” added to the Random House Dictionary.
“Pet sitting” is defined as “the act of caring for a pet in its own home while the owner is away.” Dog walking is also a form of pet sitting since it involves coming to the pet’s home to provide exercise and companionship.
While some pet sitters and dog walkers offer additional services, such as limited in-home boarding (less than 30 percent offer this service, according to PSI's 2020 State of the Industry Survey), these are separate services, and not considered "pet sitting."
Caring for pets in the clients’ homes is what separates pet sitters from boarders or doggie daycares.
What are the advantages of pet sitting (over other pet-care options)?
• Pets are happier and experience less stress at home in their familiar environment.
• Diet and exercise routines are uninterrupted.
• Travel trauma for both owner and pet is eliminated.
• Pet's exposure to illness is minimized.
Occasionally, extenuating circumstances (i.e., a pet with special health issues or severe separation anxiety or repairs taking place in the pet’s home) warrants a pet sitter caring for a client’s pet in his or her own home, and the group-rate pet-sitter insurance coverage available to PSI members does offer a limited "in the pet sitter’s home" pet-care coverage option.
Pet sitting is a requirement of PSI membership.
PSI’s mission and identity require that regular membership be limited to those who provide pet-sitting services.
PSI recognizes that many pet-sitting businesses are rapidly growing and diversifying. PSI membership is open to pet sitters who offer supplemental services (grooming, training, waste removal, etc.), but it must be in addition to pet sitting. PSI reserves the right to randomly audit member businesses to determine whether pet-sitting services are being offered. Links irrelevant to pet sitting and links to listings on other pet-sitting/pet-care directories are not permitted on the PSI locator.
What does a pet sitter do?
As the definition above indicates, pet sitters care for clients’ pets in the clients’ homes. Pet owners often use pet sitters when they go on a vacation, travel for business, work long hours or when they are too sick or injured to care for their pet(s).
Pet sitters often offer more than one pet-sitting visit per day, and some pet sitters offer overnight stays as well.
During the pet-sitting visits, pet sitters perform a variety of tasks, including:
• Feeding the pets and changing their water bowls
• Providing exercise and play time (may include walking the dog)
• Cleaning litter boxes and cleaning up any other pet messes
• Administering pet medications, if needed
• Providing lots of TLC!
Pet sitters also often bring in mail or newspapers and alternate blinds and lights to give the home a “lived-in look” if the owners are away. Pet sitters may also perform other tasks as requested by the pet owners.
Original Article: https://www.petsit.com/what-is-a-pet-sitter
Posted by: Beth Stultz-Hairston
Small Business Saturday®, created in 2010 by American Express, is celebrated each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving (and the day after Black Friday) to encourage consumers to support their local small businesses.
While this event likely makes you think of local boutiques, neighborhood restaurants or independently-owned jewelry or home décor shops, there’s another business you shouldn’t overlook when you focus on shopping local—your local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business.
The growing need for pet-care services has prompted many tech companies and venture capitalists to enter the industry in recent years and launch large pet-sitter directories, but don’t let the click-and-select convenience of the online sites and apps overshadow the benefits of selecting and supporting a local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business established in your community.
Many of these small pet-care businesses were hit hard by the pandemic but have persevered, adopting expanded sanitation practices and adding new pet-care services to meet clients’ unique needs during this time.
Benefits of using a local professional pet sitter
While some apps and sites offer on-demand pet sits and dog walks, there are many advantages to taking the time to seek out—and book—the services of a local professional pet-sitting business:
You avoid the “middleman.” When you use your local professional pet-sitting business, you can contact the pet-sitting business owner directly and book your services through them. You also handle payment directly through the business (versus a third-party site), so this gives you more flexibility in payment options, depending upon the pet sitter’s policies. Many independently owned pet-sitting and dog-walking businesses use pet-sitting software and/or payment-processing systems that allow for the same online booking and payment options as the national apps.
Your pet-care provider will have insurance customized to their specific business needs. While some online pet-sitter directories or apps may provide insurance for pet-sitting visits booked through the site, using a local professional pet-sitting or dog-walking business—that maintains its own pet-sitter insurance—allows you to confirm that the pet sitter has insurance specific to their business and the services they provide.
It’s important to note that the insurance coverage offered to contractors and gig workers who advertise on some of these pet-sitter apps requires a large deductible to be paid by the pet owner should an issue occur. When using your local professional pet sitter, you can ask for proof of insurance and confirm that the business has an insurance policy that is customized for pet sitting. This ensures that your pet and home are covered should an accident occur during the pet-sitting assignment.
You put more money into your local economy. While apps and online pet-sitter booking sites may offer a convenient online payment option, most sites and apps keep a portion of the payment, with pet sitters and dog walkers able to keep only around 70-80 percent (or less) of what the client pays.
Working directly with a local professional pet-sitting business allows you to fully contribute to your local economy, with your entire payment for pet-sitting fees going to a local business owner—who in turn, is likely supporting other local businesses. It’s a win-win!
Advantages of "shopping local" for your pet-care needs
With more pet-care options than ever before, it’s more important than ever that pet owners devote time for their search to find the perfect professional pet sitter for their pets. Whether you need a dog sitter, cat sitter or dog walker, the peace of mind that comes from using a professional pet-sitting business that is insured, bonded and can offer proof of a clear criminal history is priceless.
Plus, seeking out the services of a local professional pet-sitting business ensures you are utilizing the services of a local professional that is rooted in your community, involved in local pet-related efforts, and is contributing to your local economy.
Original Article: https://www.petsit.com/3-reasons-your-local-professional-pet-sitter-is-your-best-pet-care-option