If you’re looking for a cat, dog or pet sitter for an upcoming trip here are some tips to ensure you find the right carer for your precious fur-baby.

Experience:

One of the most important questions to ask a pet sitter, is how much experience they have. All animals are very different, with different personalities and needs as well as being different sizes and shapes so it’s important that the person who you entrust your pet with has had a lot of experience. With the rise of sites that allow anyone to join as a pet sitter regardless of experience, these are some important questions for you to ask and consider:

• How long have you been pet sitting for?
• How many animals have you cared for over these years?
• What animal experience do you have- for example, have you volunteered for an animal rescue and in what capacity?
• Are you trained in administering medications and what level of experience do you have?
• In an emergency, what would you do? Do you have a contingency plan in place if for some reason you were unable to fulfil your duties?

I would love to assist you if you’re looking for a pet sitter in the Newcastle region, having been pet sitting for over 15 years. During that time I have provided pet sitting for well over 100 furbabies with 100% 5 star reviews and repeat visits. I sat on the committee for Hunter Animal Rescue as Vice President for over 8 years which allowed me to learn obedience training, learn how to administer medication and gave me exposure to hundreds of cats and dogs- all of different sizes and personalities.

Trust:

You want to know when you go away that your furbaby is in trusted hands. It’s a big commitment having someone look after your pets and to come into your home so there are a few things you should ask when consider a pet sitting:

• How many reviews do you have and how are you rated?
• Do you have a police check? This is particularly important if you have someone coming into your home
• Are you able to provide me with ID?
• What level of experience do you have?

I treat all pets as though they are my own, and as such have all 5 star reviews from happy owners. I provide a police check and ID on request to give you full peace of mind while you’re away and have over 15 years pet sitting experience.

Going over and above:

As well as caring for your pet, there are some ways a great pet sitter will go above and beyond:

• They’ll offer contact throughout the time they’re looking after your pet, including photo updates to put your mind at ease
• They could have special experience such as dealing with timid pets
• They will be skilled in administering medication
• They will have a range of obedience skills including walking on a lead
• They will assist with any other things while you’re away such as watering the garden, bringing in mail and bins etc

I’m able to assist with all of the above and ensure that I give the best love and care possible. If you have any special requests such as a rescue pet who is a little shy or daily medication needed please let me know as I would be more than happy to help.

Personality:

Finally, you want to ensure that the pet sitter you choose is kind, fun and has a genuine love of animals.

Why choose in home dog and cat sitting over a kennel or boarding facility?

One of the most important decisions when planning a holiday or trip away is deciding who is going to pet-sit your precious cat, dog or pet while you go away.

I always recommend an in home pet sitter as the best way of ensuring your pet maintains their normal routine and stays as happy and comfortable as possible. I am able to visit your house regularly so they are able to continue all of the things they are comfortable doing. Pets are very accustomed to their own routine- whether this is sleeping spots, exercise and feeding routines so suddenly being placed in an unfamiliar environment has the potential to make them very stressed.

Whilst a boarding kennel does provide a solution for care while you are away, it can mean your precious furbaby can be caged and given limited space and interaction. In addition, during hot weather outside enclosures do not offer adequate protection from the elements. Add to this the noise levels of many other animals within the same facility and a lack of one-on-one attention and it’s highly likely your pet will not come back from their holiday as relaxed as you are.

I’m happy to work in with your animals normal routine as much as possible- this includes feeding them at the same time (and frequency) that they’re accustomed to and taking them out their favourite spots. If it’s hot, I’ll follow your instructions for the best way to keep them comfortable whether this includes more regular visits or putting the air con on at certain times of the day.

The added benefit is that you don’t need to travel anywhere- I come to your house for the initial meet and greet and then come to your house while you’re away, so you can have more time planning and packing for your trip rather than travelling to drop your pet off at a boarding facility.

Your animals get one-on-one care from me directly, so you know exactly who is going to be seeing them without having to worry that different people will be handling your animals with different levels of experience.

So you have peace and mind knowing your pets (and house) is in the best of hands, I have a current police check, security ID as well as references if required. I’ve been pet sitting for over 15 years and have experienced animals of all shapes, sizes and personalities.

Request a quote or no obligation meet and greet via email or text today for your next trip away.