With professional pet sitting services in high demand due to the rise in travel post-pandemic, Pet Sitters International (PSI) is advising pet parents to reach out to professional pet sitters as soon as possible to secure summer pet care.
PSI, the world’s leading educational organization for professional pet sitters, is offering a free Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist to make pet parents’ job a little easier as they work to secure professional pet-sitting services for their upcoming travel dates.
“We are hearing more and more pet sitters tell us that this is their busiest year yet, so we urge pet parents to begin their search as soon as possible for a professional pet sitter or dog walker for their family,” said PSI President Beth Stultz-Hairston. “It takes time to find a true professional to care for your pets—someone who has important business credentials as well as pet-care training—so save yourself the stress of scrambling for quality pet care at the last minute.”
PSI’s 2023 Pet Sitter of the Year™ Doug Keeling, owner of Bad to the Bone Pet Care in Jacksonville, Florida, is looking forward to a busy summer.
"We have been in business for nine years and have never seen such high demand for our pet sitting and dog walking services!” Keeling says. “Our team is already fully booked for the next two months, and we couldn't be more grateful or excited! Be sure to plan well in advance if you want to secure a spot with a true professional pet sitter this summer!"
PSI advises pet parents to schedule an in-person meeting with any potential pet sitter they are considering. This “meet and greet” or “initial consultation” gives pet parents an opportunity to meet the pet sitter, see them interact with their pets, and review their services as well as their credentials and policies.
Pet parents should also be sure to ask the seven important questions included on PSI’s Pet-Sitter Interview Checklist. With pet-care services in such high demand, more and more pet lovers who lack important business and pet-care credentials are advertising cheap services online as a quick way to earn extra cash, so pet parents should do their homework.
“While it may be tempting to hire a neighbor, a high school student or even a pet lover who has listed a free profile on a ‘pet sitter’ site, isn’t your peace of mind and your pet’s health worth more?” PSI Founder and CEO Patti Moran asks pet parents. “Knowing that a qualified, professional pet sitter is caring for your beloved pet can provide you with great peace of mind this vacation season.”
And PSI provides this additional tip for pet parents: Don’t hesitate to ask your preferred professional pet sitter for a referral if they don’t have any openings for your planned travel dates.
“Even if they are already fully booked, they may be able to refer you to another local business who has availability,” Stultz-Hairston said.
You can also visit www.petsit.com/locate to search for local PSI member pet sitters in your area.
To learn more about PSI or to locate a professional pet sitter in your area, visit www.petsit.com.