By J. Altaverde
As the world and travel industries begin to open up again, perhaps you’re considering some time away. While we
love our fur babies, it’s not always possible to bring them with us and we want to be sure they’re in the best care
possible while we travel. There are a lot of different options available these days for pet care, and we break down
a few of them here.
The most obvious go-to is to ask a friend or family member to care for your pet, either by coming to your house or
apartment while you are away, staying there with the pet, or having the pet come to stay with them in their own
residence for a time. It never hurts to offer them some cash, gift cards, flowers, or to bring back unique gifts from
your travels as thanks.
A second option is to hire a professional pet sitter. There are many options online for finding and hiring pet sitters.
Often professional pet sitters are also house sitters, and you may be interested in both services, such as additional
collecting of the mail, putting out and taking in trash bins, managing gardeners or house repairs, or checking in on
the house to make sure it is secure. Most sitters will charge either an hourly or daily rate, depending on what type
of services you would like rendered. In selecting a pet sitter, you will find varying levels of professionalism and
expertise, so choose wisely and interview your pet sitter thoroughly before deciding to hire them and trusting
them with your pets and homes. Some sitters even specialize in certain animals and skills and offer bonuses such
as walking and grooming.
More casual, people-to-people hiring options include looking for a pet sitter on websites such as care.com or
housesitter.com. You negotiate the times, dates, care and pay directly with the sitter via the sites, usually by
posting an ad with your dates and what you are looking for.
There are also business that cater solely to pet sitting and pet care. Many offer the option of both in-home care,
and boarding, or on-site care at a facility with other animals. Reputable businesses serving the Los Angeles area
include lapetsitting.com, 4animalmagnetism.com, and bestfriendsforeverpetservices.com. A simple search will
help find services in your area dedicated to pet sitting and various types of focused, professional care.
With so many good options available, it is easy to find reputable and professional care for your pet while you are
away. Happy Travels, without worry!
Photo by Vizlsafotozas @ Pixabay.com
Photo by Picsbyfran @ Pixabay.com
