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#1
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
For the first time ever, I'm considering a pet sitting service for Meep.
I'll be gone for nearly three weeks. She did very poorly the last time I had her in boarding, so I need to try something new. I'm a very private and somewhat paranoid person. I do NOT NOT NOT like the idea of a stranger in my house when I'm away! However, Meep's needs trump my discomfort. Can those of you who use a service tell me about them? I'm looking at services that were recommended by coworkers, but that doesn't always guarantee they'll do a good job. I'm leaving my cat's life and my personal home in this person's hands - since they're recommended I assume they'll do a good job with Meep, but how do I know they won't go through my stuff while they are here? Any advice is appreciated! I need to do this for Meep's sake, but I might be even more of a nervous wreck than I am when putting her into boarding! jmc |
#2
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
In article , jmc
wrote: For the first time ever, I'm considering a pet sitting service for Meep. I'll be gone for nearly three weeks. She did very poorly the last time I had her in boarding, so I need to try something new. I'm a very private and somewhat paranoid person. I do NOT NOT NOT like the idea of a stranger in my house when I'm away! However, Meep's needs trump my discomfort. Can those of you who use a service tell me about them? I'm looking at services that were recommended by coworkers, but that doesn't always guarantee they'll do a good job. I'm leaving my cat's life and my personal home in this person's hands - since they're recommended I assume they'll do a good job with Meep, but how do I know they won't go through my stuff while they are here? Any advice is appreciated! I need to do this for Meep's sake, but I might be even more of a nervous wreck than I am when putting her into boarding! jmc In this life you can't guarantee anything, but nanny cams even the odds a whole lot...and can be accessed by the internet |
#3
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
I know how you feel--since we've hired several good (and a couple of
bad) sitters. Ask for references and then call them! I've done this, and most people are willing to give you an honest opinion of the sitter. Ask to make sure they are bonded and insured. Set up a meet-and-greet at your house. Most sitters are willing to do this for free, but even if they aren't, IMO it's worth a small fee. Have a list of questions ready to ask (if you Google this, you can find sample questions too). See how Meep interacts with the sitter. Cats are good judges of character. Ask what they would do if a problem should arise. See how familiar they are with the local vets offices and their locations. Most sitters are willing to turn off and on lights, get mail and newspapers, water plants, etc., to make the house look lived in. Ask about this. One big question I've had is medication (we have cats on medications). One sitter we had for a year or two apparently could not medicate our one cat, so she would apparently just leave the pill in his food bowl! It was never in the bowl when we got home, so we guess one of the other cats ate it! (She finally admitted she had problems medicating him, and we never hired her again!) Ask what their procedure is for medications, and then have him/her medicate your pet in front of you. Also ask, if there is a problem with medicating, what is their back up plan. Hope this helps a little. Rene |
#4
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
On Sun, 15 May 2011 16:55:23 -0700, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds"
wrote: In article , jmc wrote: For the first time ever, I'm considering a pet sitting service for Meep. I'll be gone for nearly three weeks. She did very poorly the last time I had her in boarding, so I need to try something new. I'm a very private and somewhat paranoid person. I do NOT NOT NOT like the idea of a stranger in my house when I'm away! However, Meep's needs trump my discomfort. Can those of you who use a service tell me about them? I'm looking at services that were recommended by coworkers, but that doesn't always guarantee they'll do a good job. I'm leaving my cat's life and my personal home in this person's hands - since they're recommended I assume they'll do a good job with Meep, but how do I know they won't go through my stuff while they are here? Any advice is appreciated! I need to do this for Meep's sake, but I might be even more of a nervous wreck than I am when putting her into boarding! jmc In this life you can't guarantee anything, but nanny cams even the odds a whole lot...and can be accessed by the internet Great idea! Also, when you call a pet sitting service, ask for several references, preferably from people who have used their service more than once. I would also ask that the SAME person come every day, and that you get a chance to meet the person, and ask them about their experience with cats. If they don't show any enthusiasm for cats, if they don't have any cats of their own, pass on that person. This makes me glad I never, ever travel. Good luck. |
#5
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
Suddenly, without warning, at dot Gandalf exclaimed (5/16/2011 5:37 PM):
On Sun, 15 May 2011 16:55:23 -0700, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote: In , wrote: For the first time ever, I'm considering a pet sitting service for Meep. I'll be gone for nearly three weeks. She did very poorly the last time I had her in boarding, so I need to try something new. I'm a very private and somewhat paranoid person. I do NOT NOT NOT like the idea of a stranger in my house when I'm away! However, Meep's needs trump my discomfort. Can those of you who use a service tell me about them? I'm looking at services that were recommended by coworkers, but that doesn't always guarantee they'll do a good job. I'm leaving my cat's life and my personal home in this person's hands - since they're recommended I assume they'll do a good job with Meep, but how do I know they won't go through my stuff while they are here? Any advice is appreciated! I need to do this for Meep's sake, but I might be even more of a nervous wreck than I am when putting her into boarding! jmc In this life you can't guarantee anything, but nanny cams even the odds a whole lot...and can be accessed by the internet Great idea! Also, when you call a pet sitting service, ask for several references, preferably from people who have used their service more than once. I would also ask that the SAME person come every day, and that you get a chance to meet the person, and ask them about their experience with cats. If they don't show any enthusiasm for cats, if they don't have any cats of their own, pass on that person. This makes me glad I never, ever travel. Good luck. Nanny cam on it's way... I got the references first I asked for recommendations of pet sitters from coworkers, since there's a plethora hereabouts. Helped narrow it down to less than a half dozen. Some research and it's down to two that get "interviews" this week. Both will be with, or include, the person who'd actually care for Meep. One used to be a veterinary nurse and a vet tech, I'm leaning towards her due to her stated experience with "special needs" and older cats. She handles visits to cats like mine herself. This one is also a cats-only service - the other one seems to be more typical of the area, mainly dogs but also does cats and other animals. Isn't cheap though - will cost me around $45 per day (two visits plus meds). That's the going rate based on my research, which is about twice what the boarding place charged and about $10 more per day than the vet did... but Meep should be happier, plus I also get my plants watered and my house watched, so provided they don't rob me blind (me? paranoid?), I'll consider that worth the added cost. Truly, I have no choice. The vet bills from her stressing in the kennel would end up overtopping the cost of just getting a pet sitter, anyway. I have a whole list of questions to ask, courtesy of the Humane Society website. Appreciate the responses. Would welcome your personal experiences with pet sitters as well! jmc |
#6
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
Gandalf ingold1234 (at) yahoo (dot) com (Gandalf) wrote:
On Sun, 15 May 2011 16:55:23 -0700, "Malcom \"Mal\" Reynolds" wrote: In article , jmc wrote: For the first time ever, I'm considering a pet sitting service for Meep. I'll be gone for nearly three weeks. She did very poorly the last time I had her in boarding, so I need to try something new. I'm a very private and somewhat paranoid person. I do NOT NOT NOT like the idea of a stranger in my house when I'm away! However, Meep's needs trump my discomfort. Can those of you who use a service tell me about them? I'm looking at services that were recommended by coworkers, but that doesn't always guarantee they'll do a good job. I'm leaving my cat's life and my personal home in this person's hands - since they're recommended I assume they'll do a good job with Meep, but how do I know they won't go through my stuff while they are here? Any advice is appreciated! I need to do this for Meep's sake, but I might be even more of a nervous wreck than I am when putting her into boarding! jmc In this life you can't guarantee anything, but nanny cams even the odds a whole lot...and can be accessed by the internet Great idea! Also, when you call a pet sitting service, ask for several references, preferably from people who have used their service more than once. I would also ask that the SAME person come every day, and that you get a chance to meet the person, and ask them about their experience with cats. If they don't show any enthusiasm for cats, if they don't have any cats of their own, pass on that person. This makes me glad I never, ever travel. Good luck. i like to get my initial referrals from my vet, who usually have their own vet techs do pet sitting on the side. they would know how or have access to medical expertise, and you can give them a blanket statement to have your pet treated if need be. you do need to follow up on their references though, like others have said. |
#7
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
jmc wrote:
Isn't cheap though - will cost me around $45 per day (two visits plus meds). That's the going rate based on my research, which is about twice what the boarding place charged and about $10 more per day than the vet did... but Meep should be happier, plus I also get my plants watered and my house watched, so provided they don't rob me blind (me? paranoid?), I'll consider that worth the added cost. Truly, I have no choice. The vet bills from her stressing in the kennel would end up overtopping the cost of just getting a pet sitter, anyway. what area of the world are you in? my pet sitter comes in 1/day and spends an hour or so. she feeds/waters/tcleans letter boxes/akes care of 7 cats (pill medicating 1), checks and installs http://softpaws.com on them all, waters the many plants (20-30), feeds and adds water to 2 sal****er fish tanks, takes in packages/mail, puts the garbage cans out at the curb and brings them in, and does general checkups around the interior and exterior of the house. she then keeps a journal of what she did/found/who she played with/how each of the cats deals with her/etc. on our long trips she'll either email us, or skype us from the house for status reports. i've used her for up to 4 weeks at a time. she charges $15/visit. regards, charlie |
#8
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
Suddenly, without warning, chaniarts exclaimed (5/16/2011 7:09 PM):
jmc wrote: Isn't cheap though - will cost me around $45 per day (two visits plus meds). That's the going rate based on my research, which is about twice what the boarding place charged and about $10 more per day than the vet did... but Meep should be happier, plus I also get my plants watered and my house watched, so provided they don't rob me blind (me? paranoid?), I'll consider that worth the added cost. Truly, I have no choice. The vet bills from her stressing in the kennel would end up overtopping the cost of just getting a pet sitter, anyway. what area of the world are you in? my pet sitter comes in 1/day and spends an hour or so. she feeds/waters/tcleans letter boxes/akes care of 7 cats (pill medicating 1), checks and installs http://softpaws.com on them all, waters the many plants (20-30), feeds and adds water to 2 sal****er fish tanks, takes in packages/mail, puts the garbage cans out at the curb and brings them in, and does general checkups around the interior and exterior of the house. she then keeps a journal of what she did/found/who she played with/how each of the cats deals with her/etc. on our long trips she'll either email us, or skype us from the house for status reports. i've used her for up to 4 weeks at a time. she charges $15/visit. regards, charlie Near Washington, DC. Things are outrageously expensive here in general, due to too many rich people and congresscritters living hereabouts. The $45 gets two visits per day, plus medication, pick up of newspapers, watering of plants, and some scritches if she'll allow it. Probably just sitting in my Lazyboy providing a quiet presence for a few minutes, which though Meep wouldn't admit it under torture, she would probably appreciate I think both probably do daily email reports, and can do mail but I'll put a hold on it, daily checkup around the house would be built in 'cause they'll have to find her first jmc |
#9
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
On 5/15/2011 6:32 PM, jmc wrote:
For the first time ever, I'm considering a pet sitting service for Meep. I'll be gone for nearly three weeks. She did very poorly the last time I had her in boarding, so I need to try something new. I'm a very private and somewhat paranoid person. I do NOT NOT NOT like the idea of a stranger in my house when I'm away! However, Meep's needs trump my discomfort. Can those of you who use a service tell me about them? I'm looking at services that were recommended by coworkers, but that doesn't always guarantee they'll do a good job. I'm leaving my cat's life and my personal home in this person's hands - since they're recommended I assume they'll do a good job with Meep, but how do I know they won't go through my stuff while they are here? Any advice is appreciated! I need to do this for Meep's sake, but I might be even more of a nervous wreck than I am when putting her into boarding! I asked my community via a Yahoo group for recommendations. Since the main person recommended didn't usually participate in any way online I called her to meet her. She brought her backup with her to my house. My first time using them I got a phone call on the first day to let me know they started service. I got another couple of calls and I was satisfied. When I got home I had a stack of notes written each day of my cats' behavior, eating habits and any issues. The litter boxes were immaculate. Just ask for recommendations. I completely trust these ladies now. They knew how to use my security system and I trust them with a key fob. Even my shy cats came out to visit with both of them. Just need to let them know about favorite toys. My sitters will stay and play for a bit. |
#10
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What do I need to know about pet sitters?
On 5/16/2011 9:22 PM, jmc wrote:
Near Washington, DC. Things are outrageously expensive here in general, due to too many rich people and congresscritters living hereabouts. How near DC? I'm in this area and I love my pet sitter. I'm in Bowie. |
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