The Pet Sit Blog

Why hire a professional?

March 1, 2010

Posted in: Uncategorized

It’s said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.  For those escaping the wintery weather that has blanketed much of the country over the past several months, don’t forget about your pet.

Hire a professional pet sitter now for spring travel and rest assured that your pets and home will be safe in the hands of a professional while you’re away.

The benefits of leaving pets at home are numerous. Research has shown that pets are happier and experience less stress at home. A pet’s diet and exercise routines are uninterrupted and a pet’s exposure to illness is minimized. Professional pet sitters set themselves apart from their competition by:

·         belonging to a professional organization.

·         carrying liability and bonding insurance.

·         becoming Accredited.

·         displaying professional excellence.

·         providing outstanding service.

·         following high-quality standards.

You might not realize this, but pet sitters are responsible for both the pets and property in their care, as well as any property damage or bodily injury they could potentially cause to a third party.

Most people naturally think of the damage a dog bite could cause, but few people consider the costs involved with injuries to the pets or damage to the property that are in the care of a pet sitter.  Consider the following scenarios in which the pet sitters were professionals and carried insurance. 

1. A pet sitter used the bathroom in her client’s home and apparently broke the toilet while flushing it.  She did her best to fix the handle and waited until the water stopped running. Everything seemed to be fine when she left the home. Unfortunately, when she came back later that evening, she found that the water had not only flooded the upstairs bathroom, but it also damaged the room below which included furnishings and equipment. It cost $17,000 to repair the damage.  Since she carried liability insurance, which included the care, custody and control clause, everything was covered.

2. A pet sitter took a dog for a routine walk, returned to the home and put the dog back in the house. The client returned home and found doggie paw prints all over the carpet and furniture. Unknowingly, this sitter had walked the dog through hot tar and the carpet and furnishings were damaged beyond repair. Payouts for these claims have ranged from $1,500 to over $15,000.

For more information or to locate the best care for your best friends, please visit www.petsit.com.