Top rules to prep for a pet sitter

WITH the holidays fast approaching, many have already started planning for a mid-year vacation. But, what happens to your beloved pet while you’re away?

“An empty home is easy enough to leave behind when you are travelling: simply lock up and leave. The process becomes complicated when you have to leave your furry loved ones behind,” said the regional director and CEO of RE/MAX, Adrian Goslett.

Due to a pet’s need for human interaction, Adrian advised pet owners to either book their pets in at a pet sitter, hire somebody to pet sit from their home, or ask a friend or family member to house sit or visit daily.

ALSO READ: Clermont resident rescues and cares for stray cats

Pet sitting made easy:

1. Ensure your pet sitter has a spare set of keys.

2. Have a list of instructions pinned somewhere easily visible for the pet sitter on duty. “You should also remember to mention where the closest vet is, or to leave the number of your pet’s vet in case of an emergency,” said Adrian.

3. Do a quick run through of your home to help familiarise your pet sitter with their surroundings. Run through the various rules you have in place for your pet before you leave.

4. “While it might seem obvious, many people tend to forget they need to make sure there is enough pet food to last for however long they are away. They also need to make sure there is food and refreshments for whomever is pet sitting for them,” said Adrian.

5. Leave emergency cash for the pet-sitter in case something runs out.

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