Hiring Pet Sitting Services

One of the many barriers to travel is what to do with your beloved pets. Whether you’re planning a longer trip of a lifetime or a quick weekend getaway, it’s often not possible to take your critters along with you. Even the most easygoing of dogs may not be allowed in hotels and shops or on hiking trails.

Luckily, there are scores of pet-sitting services out there that link pet owners with competent animal lovers who can help while you’re away. The Humane Society recommends several considerations when choosing a pet sitter, including training, references and related services like grooming and play time.

The many preparations you should make ahead of your trip include introducing your pet to the sitter and making sure they’re comfortable with each other, leaving a key with a trustworthy neighbor as back up, buying extra pet supplies, maintaining current vaccinations and medications and introducing the sitter to your home’s security system.

In addition to searching your local listings for independent pet sitters who may live nearby, aggregate sites like Pet Sitters International, Sittercity, Hot Diggity and Care.com are among the most respected names in the business.