Experiencing concerns as you head out of town is to be expected. If you’ve hired Animal Admiration Pet Care, you have little to worry about. We take our role as caregivers very seriously. That said, arming your pet sitter with vital information about your pet and home before you leave will ensure success for all involved. The following is our list of what to tell your pet sitter before going out of town.
Tell Your Pet Sitter: Home Entry
Your pet sitter will need to know how to enter your home. We recommend allowing your pet sitter to mimic your routine. Doing so will put your pet at ease because it will prevent surprise or anxiety caused by a door opening that isn’t usually used. Using the usual entrances and exits also alerts others in the neighborhood that someone is “home” because they will see your pet sitters coming and going in the same way they are used to seeing you.
In addition to informing us of the best way to access your home, please leave functioning keys in our possession. Provide current alarm codes, working garage door openers, and other items that allow for home access. Ensuring that we have accurate codes and working keys ensures we don’t have to interrupt your travels if we have an issue accessing your home and pet(s.) We encourage you to leave various modes of entry for extra peace of mind.
Tell Your Pet Sitter: Your Pet’s Behavioral History
Inform your pet sitter of your pet’s behavioral history and general temperament. Does your pet experience anxiety, fear, or aggression in any situation? Do they act out when left alone? Is your pet prone to tearing up the toilet paper, getting into closets or pantries, or self-harming while you’re away? Does your dog try to chase the mailman, cats, cars, or kids on bikes while on walks? Providing your pet sitter with this type of information will keep your pet safe because your pet sitter will know how to prepare for and prevent these behaviors.
Tell Your Pet Sitter: Your Pet’s Mealtime Routines
Pets are creatures of habit. They live by their internal clock, which is often dictated by routines. Keeping your pet’s mealtime routines as close to normal as possible will keep your pet happy and stress-free while you’re away. Plan your pet’s visits according to their usual schedule and let us know if your pet takes timed medications.
Tell Your Pet Sitter: Supplies & Location
Make a list of everything your pet sitter may need for your pet’s care. Think about meals, toys, leashes, poop bags, medicine, grooming items, towels, bedding, extra litter, and more. Leave all supplies somewhere specific. Make sure to safeguard edibles and medicines to prevent any overindulging or illnesses. Using a transparent storage bin is a great way to set your pet sitter and your pet up for success.
Please ensure that you have enough supplies to last your entire appointment. If you place a last-minute order from Chewy or similar online retailers, please let us know so that we can be on the lookout for necessary supplies when we arrive for visits.
Tell Your Pet Sitter: Your Pet’s Medical History
Anything can happen when you’re gone. Your pet sitter should be made aware of any medicine your pet is on or has been on in the past. You should also make your pet sitter aware of any illnesses, food allergies, recent surgeries, etc. Detailed medical information can save your pet’s life if something goes wrong. Having awareness of your pet’s medical history can also prevent issues because many pet-related ailments can become chronic. If we notice signs of relapse or flare-up, we can take necessary steps to prevent a worsening of your pet’s condition.
In addition to medical history, your pet sitter should also be aware of what veterinary clinic your pet goes to as well as your preferred emergency animal hospital.
Tell Your Pet Sitter: Emergency Contact & Pet Guardian Information
We rarely have to contact clients due to an emergency while they are away. Yet, we like to prepare for this possibility. For this reason, your pet sitter should have all the ways to contact you in the event of an emergency. You should also leave contact information for a local family member or friend. If you cannot be reached, we will reach out to your local contact to make decisions on your behalf. Because emergencies such as illness, natural disaster, AC or heating outages, etc. can arise, we must be able to reach someone that you trust with your home and pet if you cannot be reached. Ideally, this contact would have a spare key to your home.
In addition, we highly encourage you to speak to your estate planning team to designate a pet guardian. A pet guardian takes over your pet’s care if you are unable to take over care of your beloved pet. It is in your pet’s best interest for someone to step in should you be unexpectedly hospitalized or worse.
As you head out of town, arm your pet sitter with vital information. It will not only relieve some of your concerns but will also put your pet sitter in the best position to care for your pets. Our goal is for our clients to head out of town with a smile on their faces knowing that the care providers at Animal Admiration Pet Care Services are prepared for anything and everything. For this reason, follow this list of What to Tell Your Pet Sitter Before Going Out of Town and pack your bags knowing everything is set back home.
To learn more about our pet sitting services, contact us at info@animaladmiration.com or call us at (281) 391-1015.
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